What is Film Faced Plywood?
Film faced plywood — also sold as shuttering plywood, formwork plywood or contreplaqué phénolique — is a plywood panel faced on both sides with a resin-impregnated paper film, pressed under heat so the film fuses to the veneer. The result is a dense, non-absorbent surface that releases cleanly from cured concrete and resists water, cement paste and repeated handling on site.
We produce film faced plywood in our Linyi mills on 12 hot presses, using poplar, hardwood or combi cores with WBP (weather-and-boil-proof) phenolic adhesive. Every batch is checked for film adhesion, thickness tolerance and bonding strength before it is strapped for export. Standard production is 12, 15, 18 and 21 mm in 1220 × 2440 mm; other sizes can be cut to order.
Specifications
Standard production range. Sizes, glue types and grades outside this table can be produced to order — tell us the specification your customer requires.
| Panel size | 1220 × 2440 mm (4 × 8 ft), 915 × 1830 mm, cut-to-size |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 12 / 15 / 18 / 21 mm — tolerance ±0.5 mm |
| Film weight | Black 120 g/m² standard, 220 g/m² heavy duty; brown 120 g/m² |
| Core | Poplar, hardwood, combi, finger-joint |
| Adhesive | WBP phenolic (MEL/PSL) — boil-proof |
| Edge | Sealed with water-repellent paint on request |
| Reuse cycle | 8–15 pours depending on thickness and site handling |
| Moisture content | 8–12 % |
| Loading | 20GP ≈ 20 m³ · 40HQ ≈ 28 m³ |
Why buyers choose our Film Faced Plywood
Film that stays on the board
Film adhesion is the failure point of cheap formwork panels. We press at controlled temperature and pressure and pull-test samples from every batch, so the film does not bubble or peel after the third or fourth pour.
WBP glue, not MR
All our film faced panels use phenolic WBP adhesive rated for boiling-water exposure. MR-glue panels are cheaper but delaminate after two or three wet pours — a false economy on any project longer than a few weeks.
Thickness you can build a schedule around
Panels are calibrated to ±0.5 mm, so a 18 mm panel plus a 18 mm panel really is 36 mm. That matters when formwork is designed around a fixed wall thickness.
Cut edges can be sealed
We can seal all four edges with water-repellent paint before packing. Sealed edges are the single cheapest way to add two or three extra pours to a panel's life.
Applications
Concrete wall and slab formwork
The core application. 18 mm and 21 mm panels for high-rise cores, 12–15 mm for foundations and repeated small pours.
Bridge and infrastructure works
Heavy-duty 21 mm with 220 g/m² film where panels are craned and re-set many times.
Precast concrete
Clean film release gives a fair-faced finish that needs no plastering on architectural precast.
Basement and retaining walls
Water-resistant phenolic surface copes with damp excavation conditions better than standard plywood.
Site hoarding and temporary works
Reused panels downgraded from formwork work well as painted hoarding.
Packing & container loading
| Container | Volume | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 20GP | ≈ 20 m³ | About 370 panels of 18 mm |
| 40HQ | ≈ 28 m³ | About 520 panels of 18 mm |
| Pallet | 20–24 pallets per 40HQ | Steel strapped, waterproof film, corner protectors |
All shipments are palletised, steel strapped and wrapped in waterproof film. Loading photographs and a full document set are sent for every container.
Frequently asked questions
How many times can film faced plywood be reused?
What is the difference between black and brown film faced plywood?
What is the price of 18 mm film faced plywood?
Do you supply cut-to-size formwork panels?
Can you print our company name on the panel edge?
Need a price for Film Faced Plywood?
Tell us the specification and destination port. Formal offer within 24 hours, samples available on request.
