3 grades of LVL from Vietnam - How to choose the right one

3 popular LVL from Vietnam

1/ Packing LVL

Due to its strength characteristics, LVL is popularly used to make pallets and packing materials. Different from plywood, it has no layers of cross-grain as the highest bending strength parallel to the grain is required.

Structure of Packing LVL:

Core: Hardwood (Eucalyptus, Acacia)
Glue: MR E2

Advantage:

• Strong, durable, and good load-bearing capacity.
• Simple in the production process.
• Easy to make pallets of different sizes and load capacity, regardless of available specifications such as plastic pallets.
• Economic Price

2/ Furniture LVL

LVL is one of the most interesting materials for furniture design in the future. It is used to produce indoor furniture such as tables, beds, and sofa frames,...

LVL making Sofa Frame

Structure of furniture LVL:

Core: Hardwood (Eucalyptus, Acacia, Poplar)
Glue: MR E0
Advantages:

• Cheaper price than natural wood.
• Ensures aesthetics and durability are quite good.
• Various in Sizes, no limit on the length
• Flat surface and durable
• Easy for cutting

3/ Construction LVL

LVL is made up the veneers that are oriented in the same direction, so it is suitable for a wide range of structural applications such as: making beams, headers, door and window frames, lintels, mid-floors, and roofs. LVL for building used Water-Proof Glue that makes the sheets water boiled proof. LVL is a great substitute for solid lumber.

Structure of Construction LVL:

Core: Hardwood (Eucalyptus, Acacia, Mixed)
Glue: WBP Melamine, Phenol
Advantages:

• Stronger, straighter, and more uniform. 
• Much less likely than conventional lumber to warp, twist, bow, or shrink.
• Waterproof
• Sizes are more accurate than the timbers. Quality is more stable.
• Cheaper than others formwork materials: Steel, Plastic, …
• Sustainable sources
• There’s no limit on length/thickness as the solid timber
• Health safety.

How to choose the right one?

   Because of the difference between the requirement and demands of each market, you can choose the right grades with the standards.
For example,
   Each grade of LVL is used different glue. Furniture LVL is usually made from MR E0, and E1 glue because it needs to comply with the formaldehyde emission standard in the indoor environment. In contrast, packing LVL is produced with MR E2 glue for the outdoor environment. As for construction, LVL is laminated by Melamine (MUF) glue that makes it Water Boil Proof. Thus, it is more durable than MR LVL in humidity conditions.
   About the core of Packing and Construction LVL could be a hardwood such as a eucalyptus, and acacia to stronger and load-bearing capacity better. For furniture, if you need the plywood being used purely for structural purposes, we will highly recommend our hardwood core of LVL due to its more solidity and strength than a softwood-like poplar.
   In terms of aesthetics, LVL for making furniture needs to be sanded to create a smooth surface and covered with laminate to create gloss for the product, while packing and construction do not.
The above are 3 grades LVL from Vietnam. Depending on the requirement of the quality, demand, and budget, you could have a suitable choice.

FOMEX GROUP