IIR(Indian Interior Retailing) a joint platform of SRPR ( Surfaces Reporter & Ply Reporter) reached to God’s own country, ‘ Kerala’. The plywood manufacturing hub of Asia ‘ Perumbavoor’ witnessed More than 250 ply-boards manufacturers, Retailers, Architects & Interior designers from Perumbavoor, Aluva, Calicut, Kannur, Mangalore, Bangalore etc.The event was held at the Whispering Waters Resort, Ernakulam located in lap of nature beauty.

The event acted as a great industry update as well as a learning experience for the experts and the aspirants of the industry, alike. The seminar was held in association with All Kerala Ply Board Manufacturers Association (AKPBMA), Sawmill Owners & Plywood Manufacturers Association (SOPMA) and Greenply Ind. Ltd.

The key theme for the event remained as: “Market Acceptance of New Face Veneer & Future of Plywood Industry”. The distinguished speakers were Dr. S.K. Nath, Retd. Jt. Director, IPIRTI, Mr. Sanidhya Mittal, Executive Director, Greenply Industries Ltd, Mr Jose Chako, Senior Vice President, AIPMA and Managing Director of Delta Plywood, Mr. M.M. Mujeeb, President, AKPBMA & SOPMA and Mr. Pragath Dvivedi, Founder, Ply Reporter Magazine. The entire event was moderated by Mr. Rajiv Parashar, Managing Editor, Ply Reporter magazine.

Technical experts from Greenply such as Mr. Girish Sharma, Mr. Praveen Choudhary along with Mr Ashok Kumar Singhi presented the latest innovation and R&D of dipping technology for using Okume Face Veneers for Plywood manufacturing. This dipping technique assured the change of finished plywood color same alike Gurjan face without affecting quality, bonding and other strength properties.Mr. Sanidhya Mittal, Executive Director, Greenply Industries attended the event all the way from Kolkata.

“Dr. S K Nath, Rtrd Joint Director, IPIRTI, was also there at the event and said” You cannot hope for the future that wood prices, chemical, electricity, manpower and fuel cost will come down, so who will survive? Definitely this is the technological innovation, by which you can make, “I have worked with some good industries, they invited me to work, and I can tell you with full guarantee that you can convert upto 98% from the A grade material given any sort of product – any kind of plywood, if you properly utilize the technology” Dr. Nath added.

Founder of Ply Reporter Magazine Mr.Pragath Dvivedi shared his experience in the industry and said: “When I understood how the wood is needed to contribute to save the environment. I learned during my study in IPIRTI that how plywood saves forest and that made me very thoughtful about taking plywood industry as a career”. “In last 6 years, I’ve seen in Kerala, advancement, development, people have started manufacturing quality plywood with mix of timber, with treatment. Perambavoor is famous among market for manufacturing affordable plywood” he said.

The product knowledge and new technologies ideas shared by manufacturers was very well taken from the seller, since they are the one who take this burden to deliver this product in the market with their innovative approaches, Architects and interior designers were also enlightened by many facts and technical aspects of the products which was very helpful for them while taking on some projects, they shared their experience using plywood of different grades in their interior projects and they also discussed the challenges.

Mr. Babu, Treasurer of Association Thanks all participants, Greenply, Ply Reporter magazine for organizing such an interactive seminar for the benefit of plywood industry and trade. The meeting was followed by dinner.