The fear of viruses right from the beginning of this year has put a pause to almost everything, affecting the entire world including India. This resulted in a huge challenge for all industries, the wood panel and decorative surface industry being no exception. It got affected both by unavailability of manpower and drop in demand from end consumers.
During this trying time, CenturyPly employed its Research and Development unit to come out with a sustainable solution for its customers by addressing one of the key issues faced by customers – the fear against Viruses. In a world where consumers seek to buy the best at the lowest price, CenturyPly has consistently innovated to strengthen its value proposition. Established in 1986 by two very young and dynamic entrepreneurs, Mr Sajjan Bhajanka and Mr Sanjay Agarwal, who laid down the foundation of what we now know as CPIL – CenturyPly Plyboards (India) Limited, an indigenous company striving to realize the Prime Minister’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
The humble beginning of a small venture has now turned into a huge conglomerate and today CenturyPly and CenturyLaminates have become one of the largest sellers of multi-use plywood, doors, laminates, decorative veneers in the Indian organized plywood market. CenturyPly has been the front-runner in applying innovation at work.
The company have successfully developed a form of Nano Technology ingrained on the surfaces of its plywood and laminates that enable them to kill viruses that comes in contact with 99.99% mortality rate.
The company have successfully developed a form of Nano Technology ingrained on the surfaces of its plywood and laminates that enable them to kill viruses that comes in contact with 99.99% mortality rate.
This simple philosophy of Sarvada Sarvottam (The Best, Always) has been the cornerstone of all operations and technologies. It has led the company to design and deliver contemporary lifestyle products that have become synonymous with modern living.
The pandemic has created many challenges but CenturyPly managed to take the situation to its stride. During the lockdown the R&D arm of the company brainstormed on the idea to create a killer technology for invisible viruses. Although CenturyLaminates has used Nano Technology for many years to address other kinds of microbes like fungus and bacteria, now the company have successfully developed a form of Nano Technology ingrained on the surfaces of its plywood and laminates that enable them to kill viruses that comes in contact with 99.99% mortality rate. This indigenous effort is a stamp of new India’s resolve to fight adversity with cutting edge technology, a testimony to self-reliant India.
So how does this ViroKill technology work? Actually CenturyPly uses specially designed Nanoparticle based Self Doctoring Surface Treatment against microorganisms. These particles are by nature, antimicrobial, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral. The highly activated and energized Nanoparticles physically rupture and kill microbes that come in contact with it through contact killing mechanisms, always keeping the surfaces safe and hygienic.
CenturyPly was one of the first in India to introduce superior strength plywood varieties that were borer free, termite free, boiling water proof, fire resistant, while CenturyLaminates with one of the largest range of designs had introduced anti- bacterial, anti- fungal, anti- fingerprint laminates. The latest from the company is ViroKill – technology that kills viruses that comes in contact with its products with 99.99% mortality rate.
This has been tested and certified by Biotech Testing Services, Mumbai under Antiviral Efficacy Test as per international standard, the certification declares an efficiency of 99.99% in killing viruses. The nanoparticles are effective throughout the lifetime of furniture as they are embedded in the polymer matrix system.
The Nano technology based ViroKill is completely thermostable. Also this surface treatment is nonleachable and normal exposure to humidity, moisture or sunlight does not affect the antiviral properties. It is completely safe for human contact and does not react to external polishing or painting.
The Virokill technology is the ultimate answer to the customer’s innate need of protection from viruses. CenturyPly has decided to apply this technology on the entire product range without charging any extra cost. The ViroKill offering is an addition to the anti-bacterial & anti-fungal products that CenturyLaminates has been giving to its customers for the past five years.
As the pioneers in many product innovations like Borer& Termite Proof, Boiling Water Proof superior strength Plywood, Decorative Veneers, Laminates and Doors in India, the company has successfully transformed itself in a leadership position in the competitive lifestyle segment. CenturyPly and Century Laminates are the preferred choice of many architects, interior designers, contractors, carpenters, dealers, retailers and consumers.
Century Laminates with a capacity of over six million CBM, uses a unique technology in which special resins impact extra strength to its laminate sheet, making it highly resistant to scratches and abrasion. The company’s exotic range of decorative laminates is characterized by high colour fastness and is also carpenter-friendly.
CenturyLaminates has six production lines in its integrated plywood plants in Kolkata. Twenty per cent of its products are exported. It is the largest single location laminate plant in the country. The company is adding one million more to its capacity to mark up total production to seven million CBM by next year.
When consumers think of any product of CenturyPly, like plywood, doors or laminates or veneers, the first word that is evoked is ‘protection’. CenturyPly is among the handful of players within the industry to offer upto life time warranty for plywood. Each plywood and laminate sheet possesses a unique code number fortraceability that helps address qualityissues with speed. This means that whoever buys CenturyPly neverneeds to worry. This quality assurance has been derived from the security of process certifications. The Joka plant in Kolkata, an ISO 9001-certified unit, was India’s first plywood manufacturing facility to be certified. The Company is also ISO14001-certified, validating its environment-friendly practices. The result is that when a consumer buys CenturyPly, the latent assurance is that “It must be completely right”.
Now in its 36th year of operations, CenturyPly enjoys a unique brand identity as the market leader, with offerings that are considered industry benchmarks. The company is guided by a simple philosophy of adding more valuefor-money products and at the same time, improving upon their existing product portfolio through extensive research and customer feedback.
CenturyPly was one of the first in India to introduce superior strength plywood varieties that were borer free, termite free, boiling water proof, fire resistant, while CenturyLaminates with one of the largest range of designs had introduced anti- bacterial, anti- fungal, anti- fingerprint laminates. The latest from the company is ViroKill. One can visit www.centuryply.com for more details on Virokill. The end result is that whoever buys CenturyLaminates, CenturyPly, CenturyDoors buys into a world of safety, security and peace of mind.
VIROKILL FAQS:
HOW LONG WILL THE EFFECT OF VIROKILL TREATMENT REMAIN?
Nanoparticles are effective throughout the lifetime of furniture as they are embedded in the polymer matrix system unless and until the surface is not chemically and physically damaged.
IS VIROKILL THERMOSTABLE? WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF MOISTURE AND DIRECT SUNLIGHT?
Yes, it is thermostable. This surface treatment is nonleachable and normal exposure to humidity, moisture and sunlight does not affect theantiviral property. However, any structural damage of surface by chemical and physical treatment may affect the property.
IS IT SAFE FOR INTERIOR USAGE?
Yes, ViroKill is completely safe for interior usage.
IS IT SAFE FOR HUMAN CONTACT?
Yes, it is completely safe for human contact.
DOES VIROKILL HAVE ANY WARRANTY COVER IN LINE WITH THE PRODUCT WARRANTY?
ViroKill is a special treatment and doesn’t affect the functioning of the product so the existing, standard warranty terms covering manufacturing defects are applicable.
DOES VIROKILL WORK AGAINST COVID-19?
The test certifies killing of 99.99% viruses i.e. singlestranded RNA viruses close to COVID-19 virus as a category. There are many published scientific papers and reports which support the fact that the specific nanoparticle being used in our manufacturing process is strongly effective against many viruses. There is, however, no test specifically available, as of now, for materials to be tested for COVID-19. Hence CenturyPly & CenturyLaminates is not in a position to claim that it can be used as a form of protection against COVID-19.
DOES SURFACE CLEANING DEPLETE THE PROPERTY OF VIROKILL?
Our prescribed surface cleaning methods will not deplete the efficacy of ViroKill
IS IT HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH?
No, ViroKill is completely safe and doesn’t have any health hazards.
ALONG WITH VIROKILL PROPERTY ARE ALL THE OTHER PRODUCT PROPERTIES RETAINED?
Yes, all other product properties as applicable will be retained.
IS IT SAFE IF A CHILD COMES IN CONTACT WITH THIS PRODUCT?
Yes, it is completely safe and doesn’t have any health hazards
NOTE FOR PLYWOOD: DOES THE TREATMENT REACT TO EXTERNAL POLISHING & PAINTING?
No, it doesn’t react to external polishing and painting
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT?
- Everyone can now work safely with CenturyPly & CenturyLaminates without worrying of getting infected Carpenters, contractors, architects, interior designers & retailers can now work safely with our plywood.
- End users will have no cause to worry about infection from their newly made furniture with our laminates
- Being embedded in the polymer matrix system, Nanoparticles are effective to the lifetime of furniture
CERTIFICATION FROM INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
- Test certificate from Biotech Testing Services (BTS), Mumbai - a laboratory renowned for conducting tests for material properties.
- Tests conducted - Antimicrobial Efficacy Test and the Antiviral EfficacyTest of specified virus
- est Results certify that CenturyPly & Century Laminates kills 99.99 % viruses.
- Process of killing starts instantly and it may take few minutes to afew hours to complete it It will not kill any viruses in the surroundings of the furniture
- Mishandling of the product, like exposure to excessive sunlight andtemperature, humidity, moisture may affect the performance.
- Specific type of Nano-particles used by CenturyPly & CenturyLaminates is in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved list of materials that work against viruses
- This specific Nanoparticle certified w.r.t. virus protectionby Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India through Dept. of Science and Technology (DST)
VIROKILL TECHNOLOGY CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS:
PLY
Architect Ply | Architect Plus, Club Prime | 710 Plus, Firewall, Bond 710 | Pro 710, WIN MR, IS:710 Marine
Century Teak: Entire range
Blockboards: Club Prime, Bond 710, Win MR
LAMINATES
Century Laminates: all laminates
CENTURYPLY - THE STORY SO FAR
1986 - The journey begins
1996 - Introduction of PF plywood
1997 - Introduction of borer proof plywood
1999 - Introduction of BWR grade decorative veneer
2000 - Inception of fire retardant plywood
2002 - Flexoply, India’s only flexible ply introduced
2003 - Fantasy range of flexible decorative veneer
2004 - Decorative laminate plant starts operation
2005 - Pre-lam unit Inception
2006 - Merger of SCFL with CPIL
2007 - Merger of Sharon, Chennai. Merger of CMCL with CPIL
2009 - Additional plant in Guwahati 1st privately held container freight station in Guwahati starts
2015 - Century Doors launched: Flush, panelmoulded and decorative ranges Lab Veneer Unit set up for supply of raw materials and backward integration Century Indonesia Pvt. Ltd – set up to explore new markets
2016 - Launch of new age products: Zykron& Starke (Cement Fibre Boards & PVC Boards) Particle Board Unit set up in Chennai
2017 - Launch of Bond 710
2018 - Launch of Sainik 710
2019 - Launch of Fire Wall fire- resistant plywood
2020 - Launch of ViroKill technology for plywood and laminates