PVC foam boards have been registered as the fastest growing panel products for furniture making in last 4 years. Mushrooming of 100 of manufacturing establishments pan India has made this product reach to entire country especially in key cities through plywood dealers. But the present situation about this product shows a trust issue among good retailers who have struggled and lost customers due to quality issues and trust. Since the market is covered by low density PVC foam boards of approx. 20-21 kg, the product USP has taken a bad hit hence retarded its acceptance and growth during last two years.
Talking to The Ply Reporter, dealers complain about arrival of new company without any certificate or credible quality standard. Variation in weight, color, thickness, density, holes and even bending are the issues that have been faced by dealers after installation of the materials at customers places. Trade people say that PVC foam boards producers are fighting with each other, who claimed and promised to present a suitable alternate of plywood.
According to plywood dealers in a recent survey, 65% respondents spoke about issue related to quality consistency and problem in screw holding property. PVC board manufacturers blame the extrusion technology and raw material suppliers for quality material supply. Eighty percent Producers felt that same formulation at same machine in exactly the same circumstances behaves in strange manner next day. The survey conducted among 37 manufacturers and 85 dealers during last two months indicates that PVC foam board sales can pick up momentum if ISI mark and standard specification is mentioned on PVC boards apart from strong awareness drive to be conducted in various timber and retail markets in India.
It is known fact that PVC foam board machines are supplied by Chinese producers. In last 3 years growing demand of PVC foam board has attracted number of big business houses as well and leaders like Century Ply, Greenply, Sintex, Rushil Décor etc have started offering these products. Mid level companies like Amulya Group, Black Cobra Group, Ashoka Foam, TVL Engineers etc are also entered into its manufacturing. Big giant like Reliance Industries has also entered into this segment by offering compounds for wood composites.