Mentakab Veneer & Plywood Sdn Bhd (MVP) was incorporated in 1986 as a joint venture company by Malaysian and Taiwanese shareholders. Situated on a 30-hectare site at 5^th Mile, Jalan Karak in Mentakab, Pahang, MVP is strategically located, approximately 120km from Kuala Lumpur, 180km from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and 190km from Port Klang, a major port in Selangor.

In its initial years, MVP produced and marketed its plywood products for the local market and a small volume for export. Today, it is fully Malaysian-owned and an active member of The Malaysian Panel-Products Manufacturers’ Association (MPMA) with its main business engaged in the manufacture and marketing of hardwood veneer and Urea Formaldehyde, Phenol Formaldehyde and Melamine Urea Formaldehyde plywood.

Elaborating, its General Affairs and Quality Control Manager, Sugunalan K, said: “Currently, we utilise three types of adhesives in our plywood production process. For Weather & Boil Proof (WBP) plywood, water resistant adhesives are used and this type of plywood is suitable for both interior and exterior usage. For Moisture Resistant (MR) plywood, non-water resistant adhesives are used and this type of plywood is suitable for interior usage only. Melamine Urea Formaldehyde (MUF) is used in our MUF plywood, which is specifically for outdoor application.”

In terms of grades, MVP’s plywood comes in four categories. The B/BB Grade plywood is used specifically in high-end furniture. Both surfaces are sanded and are available in white or light yellow face veneer. Its BB/CC/OVL Grade plywood is of export standard and comes with a smooth surface with no uneven thickness and overlapping. Well-sanded, this plywood type is specifically used for secondary processing such as with paper overlay, polyester, PVC, fancy plywood and Formica laminates.

The BB/CC Grade plywood, with both sides sanded and a hardwood core is also for export. The main markets for this plywood are Australia, countries in Europe including the UK, Middle East, Asia, Africa and North America. Its blockboard of BB/CC Grade incorporates a Albizia falcata core with both surfaces sanded.

To cater for buyers’ requirements, MVP produces different thicknesses ranging from 2.7mm to 25mm. These are produced in various sizes, which are 915mm x 1830mm, 915mm x 2135mm, 915mm x 2440mm and 1220mm x 2440mm.

“After being in the business for 31 years, we have established a strong reputation as a leading supplier of quality plywood and veneer in the local and overseas market. Our plywood is made mainly from tropical wood species, mainly Meranti. Known for their durability, tropical timbers can stand the test of time. As such, we can assure that our mill can supply good quality tropical plywood,” he added.

MVP, with a workforce of 660, also meets many international standards; hence the plywood it supplies can be produced according to Japan Plywood Inspection Corporation (JPIC) and the International Wood Products Association (IWPA) standards. The company also adheres to International Organization for Standardization’s ISO9001, the European Union’s CE Marking, Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) for plywood and California Air Resources Board (CARB) standards as well as certification schemes of the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC), Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Explaining the company’s decision to acquire third-party certification, Sugunalan said: “International buyers are increasingly demanding for products that are sourced from sustainably managed forests.  Exporting timber products today requires more than just having an export license.

“For us, the need to provide evidence through third-party certification was the main reason to obtain MTCC, PEFC and FSC certification. Through acquiring certified raw timber materials, the company is contributing to responsible forestry and sustainable management of Malaysia’s Permanent Reserved Forests.”

With the European Union Timber Regulation, US Lacey Act and the Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Act all requiring some proof of legality for timber products, having third-party certification certainly ensures that MVP’s products can be exported to all markets including the environmentally-sensitive markets in Europe. The recent acceptance of MTCC’s Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) by the Dutch Parliament is another proof that sustainable forest management is practised in Malaysia,” added Sugunalan.

Specifications of MVP’s Products