Located in Mafra, in the state of Santa Catarina, Madeireira EK specializes in certified plywood to meet the requirements of the North American and European markets. Capable of laminating more than 8,000 cubic meters per month, it serves different thicknesses of plywood sheets ranging from 5mm to 30mm, even in special formats. “We are able to meet from the structural market required by European companies to the packaging sector of the United States”, said Raul Kollross, director of Madeireira EK.
The family business is already in its third generation and began operations sawing native timber in 1939. In the mid-1970s the company began the activity of reforestation with exotic species such as Pinus taeda and elliottii and Eucalyptus, and other native species such as Araucaria and Imbuia. Today it specializes in pure pine plywood and mixed ones with eucalyptus kernels.
Quality of certified plywood
The production process of Madeireira EK is rigorous to meet the most demanding quality standards. It all starts in the wooden yard, where the logs are received, both from the forests themselves, as well as from third-party suppliers. Still, in the yard, the woods are classified according to their thickness and whether they are FSC® certified, or not.
After the classification, the wood passes through the cookers and then is transformed into very thin sheets, which will later compose the plywood plate. Each sheet is dried in one of the three dryers and goes through the classification process again according to its structure and appearance and, according to its classification, is destined to the most suitable product.
“For example, denser sheets with fewer knots go to structural products. Sheets without any knots, which are plates A and B, go to furniture products, and sheets with more knots go to non-structural products for export, such as packaging materials, for example, “explained Raul.
After this careful selection, the blades go through the application of glue and then go to the press, where effectively the plywood sheets are mounted. Strict classification criteria are applied according to the end use of customers’ products. In some cases, specific certifications are required.
This is the case of plywood exported to the United States, which requires CARB certification, which ensures that the product is free of formaldehyde. Already plywood that will be used in structural products in Europe needs the CE2+ certification.
The certifications of Madeireira EK, are:
CE 2+ (EN 13986, structural): marking that allows free access of loggers to the European market for structural use.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): aimed at segments, such as logging, being a seal that guarantees the commitment of the enterprise with environmental, economic and social issues.
California Atmospheric Resources Board (CARB): aimed at sustainable companies and 100% free of formaldehyde. It is demanded by the US timber exporters.
The right product for the customer’s need
Plywood can be composed of 100% pine wood, 100% eucalyptus wood, or mixed when the core has eucalyptus and external pine. So far you can see that Madeireira EK is focused on the newest in the market, adapting its production to the needs of customers.
Thinking about it, for six months it has been in the market of plasticized plywood. A novelty in the Brazilian market and soon will also be marketed outside the country. The plasticized plywood has a layer of 125g of black plastic on the outer faces of the plate and is used in forms of exposed concrete and to make truck floors.
Special sizes and measures
Madeireira EK’s certified plywood can have different thicknesses and different sizes. The thicknesses start at 5mm and go up to 30mm, depending on their purpose, as we said before.
The great differential of Madeireira EK is in the various possibilities of measures, from traditional to special sizes requested by the market. According to Raul, this ability to meet the needs of customers is mainly due to the presses of different sizes that the company has.
See the main formats served: 2440 x 1600mm; 2440 x 1220mm; 2500 x 1250mm; 2200 x 1600mm; See the main formats served.
Visit Madeireira EK Lumber Company
On the WoodFlow website you can digitally visit the Madeireira EK in two ways. One of them is the video where the CEO of WoodFlow, Gustavo Milazzo interviews the director Raul Kollross and can also take the virtual tour where you can access the main locations of the factory without leaving the place. See below: