Technological Issues-manufactured sheet materials

Manufactured sheet materials were developed for a variety of reasons. These include its cost to develop, manufacture, transport and produce. The sizes in which it is manufactured in are standardized therefore mass produced. Environmental issues are constantly being addressed as the plantation from which the pine comes from changes. Manufactured sheet materials are cheaper to make, therefore cheaper to buy. They are made from the off cuts of solid timber, usually pine, therefore using recycled …

…the appearance if solid timber. It is easier to use in mass production situations as it is knot and grain free and always the same colour. MDF has greatly benefited the furniture industry and woodworking in general as it has provided a cheaper, environmentally friendly and safe alternative to solid timbers, while looking exactly the same. While it has its downsides, VMDF and MDF can, and does replace solid timbers in most mass production situations.