New Zealand leads the world in the manufacture and use of medium density fibreboard or MDF. This wood panel product delivers good working properties and stylish looks to furniture-makers, joinery companies and builders.

MDF is a wood residue-based composite material, pioneered in New Zealand. Fine wood fibres are bonded under heat and pressure with an adhesive. The resulting product is available in a wide range of thicknesses, including ultra-thin sheets.

New Zealand's abundant radiata pine is the acknowledged leading raw material for MDF. Innovation and state-of-the-art technology delivers product which is noted for:

• consistent density
• pale colour
• smooth finish
• material uniformity
• ease of machining

These qualities ensure strong consumer demand within New Zealand, and a premium in markets such as China, Japan and the United States of America. New Zealand has been a major force in the large growth of Pacific Rim MDF capacity.

New Zealand MDF manufacturing plants access a stable supply of radiata pine. Supply is expected to substantially increase over the next decade, enabling New Zealand to meet growing global demand for MDF products. World demand for MDF is growing at 2.6 times the rate for all wood products.

Excellent environmental credentials give New Zealand MDF strong consumer appeal. These credentials include:

• all radiata is grown in environmentally-sustainable plantations
• New Zealand MDF utilises special formulations to enable the smallest possible amount of adhesive use.

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