Market Opportunities for E-MDF

中密度和高密度纤维板（MDF和HDF）是用于建筑和家具的木纤维基板。制造商目前通过使用木饰面和箔包装来创造木纹效果。沃里克激光系统已经开发出一种激光工艺（称为E-MDF），允许木纹饰面蚀刻到MDF和HDF表面，具有真木材的外观和感觉。不需要额外的材料&最终产品是实木的更具成本效益的替代品。我们已经开发了一种以前很慢的工艺，其运行速度在商业上是可行的。产品制造商已经表达了将这项技术商业化的愿望。商业化过程将使制造商能够提供更广泛的产品范围和市场，成为高端实木和低端现有mdf产品的中端市场替代品。木材不规则，如劈裂，是不存在的，从而最大限度地减少浪费和减少垃圾填埋。减少对进口硬木贴面的依赖，同时保护濒危树种。目前的原型工艺允许加工大约180毫米宽的中密度纤维板。更多的投资将促进技术改进，使更大的碎片得以加工。通过潜在的新制造设施、就业机会和环境效益，商业化将使英国plc市场受益。研究让我们相信，这项技术在其他地方无法商业化。英国的先发优势可能会带来出口机会，例如将该技术授权给中国、德国、马来西亚和美国的全球中密度纤维板生产商，这些国家的中密度纤维板产量都比英国高得多。我们的目标是进一步与供应链中更广泛的制造商，规范者和消费者接触，以评估需求，市场规模和所需的预计产能。TSB的资助对于证明该工艺商业化所需的专家市场研究至关重要。

Medium Density & High Density Fibreboard (MDF & HDF) are wood fibre based panelsused in construction & furniture. Manufacturers currently create wood grain effects by usingwood veneers & foil wrapping. Warwick Laser Systems have developed a laser process(called E-MDF) allowing a wood grain finish to be etched onto the surface of MDF & HDF,with the look & feel of real wood. No extra materials are required & the end product is a morecost-effective alternative to solid wood. We have developed a process, which was previouslyslow, to an operating speed that is commercially viable. Product manufacturers haveexpressed a desire for this technology to be available commercially.The commercial process will allow manufacturers to offer wider product ranges & themarketplace a middle-market alternative to high-end solid wood & low-end existing MDFproducts. Wood irregularities, such as splits, are non-existent thereby minimising wastage &reducing landfill. Reliance on imported hardwood veneers are reduced as well as conservingendangered wood species.The current prototype process allows for approximately 180mm wide MDF pieces to beprocessed. Greater investment would facilitate a technological modification allowing largerpieces to be processed. Commercialisation will result in UK plc market benefit throughpotential new manufacturing facilities, employment opportunities & environmental benefits.Research leads us to believe the technology is not commercially available elsewhere. Firstmover advantage for the UK could lead to export opportunities, such as licensing thetechnology to global MDF players in China, Germany, Malaysia & the USA who all producesignificantly more MDF than the UK.We aim to further engage with a wider range of manufacturers, specifiers & consumers in thesupply chain to assess demand, market size & projected capacities required. TSB funding isessential for the expert market research required to justify commercialisation of the process.