MDF manufacturer, Segamat Panel Boards (SPB), started production in April 2003, merely eight months after taking vacant site possession of an 18-acre site in Segamat, north of Johor state where its office and factory have since been established.

Its major shareholder, Shigetoyo Takeuchi who is the son of Hikozo Takeuchi the founder and co-founder of Takeuchi MDF and Merbok MDF, respectively, assembled an experienced team with MDF manufacturing background led by Peter Fitch as Managing Director.

Besides his over 15 years experience in the wood-based panel business and an additional 12 years experience in the manufacturing, engineering and project related business, Peter brings with him to SPB a philosophy that can assure the company’s employees and investors a secure and profitable future with sustainable growth.

In terms of its core business, SPB produces high quality wood-based thin MDF panels, with a choice of thickness and sizes. This is done in compliance to international quality standards such as International Organization for Standardization’s ISO9001 and California Air Resources Board (CARB).

Explained Peter: “SPB is well-equipped to provide solutions to customer’s specific needs. These include the production of low emission boards that comply to either European or U.S. standards, moisture resistant boards as well as paper laminated panels. The latter come with smoother and harder surfaces using decorative papers printed and supplied by our sister company, U.C Gravure Sdn Bhd.”

Currently, SPB is producing on monthly average more than 6,000m3 or nearly 2.5 million m2 of Premium Grade thin panel MDF to exacting International Standards. Some 30% of their panels are distributed locally while the rest are exported to countries in South and South East Asia, the Middle East as well as Japan.

“We have specialised in thickness from 1.5mm to a maximum of 6.0mm, and manufacture these from E2 down to E0 formaldehyde emissions complying with either European or CARB regulations,” said Peter.

He added that SPB’s customers have the choice of MDF which is made from different wood species. These include MDF made entirely from Rubberwood or tropical mixed wood. The difference is that the MDF panels made from Rubberwood are very light in colour while those from tropical mixed wood are totally latex free.

While SPB, which has a total workforce of 185, can produce MDF of many sizes, the main sizes offered are as follows:

• 4ft x 8ft ( 1220 mm x 2440 mm )
• 4ft x 6ft ( 1220 mm x 1830 mm )
• 6ft x 8ft ( 1830 mm x 2440 mm )
• 7ft x 8ft ( 2135 mm x 2440 mm, unsanded )
• Multiple Door Skin Sizes

Besides manufacturing MDF, SPB also invested in a particleboard line in 2009 and the production started the following year. The capacity of this line was about 3,500m3 monthly and most of the sizes and resin specifications for their current MDF boards range were also offered in their particleboard.

However, with the increase in particleboard prices since two years back, rendering the product uncompetitive, SPB decided to concentrate on producing MDF. This development has enabled SPB to focus on moving into value-adding and semi-finishing of their MDF products.

According to Peter, “SPB’s acquisition of U.C Gravure took place last September. After which, we have installed a state-of-the-art paper lamination line capable of laminating at speeds of 40m/min using either polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) or urea formaldehyde (UF) resin systems.

“The idea is to use the quality papers printed by U.C. Gravure. As UC Gravure is part of our group of companies, customers can be assured of consistent quality and unrivalled service. From May this year, we are able to work with our customers to ensure perfect colour matching or to develop unique designs and patterns, especially for furniture panels.”

And SPB’s ambitions continued, as Peter revealed: “Since August 2017, we have been producing moulded door skins for both the international as well as domestic markets. With the trend towards urbanisation such as in China, India and other parts of South Asia, the demand for interior doors in new high-rise buildings is increasing.”

This development is providing greater opportunities for SPB as well as for other Malaysian MDF manufacturers,” said Peter who is also Chairman of the Malaysian MDF Manufacturers’ Association.