Eucalyptus is a kind of hardwood (Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus) widely planted in Vietnam and Guangxi Province of China. This kind of core veneers are suitable for the production of furniture plywood and film faced plywood. Its quality is premium compared with poplar softwood plywood. Eucalyptus plantations are being raised over an area of 8 million hectors in the world. It grows well in poor soil and is fast growing in a humid environment. After seven years, some species can reach 35 meters in height.
Plywood Manufacturing With Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus logs were steamed at 60-70°C for 20 hours before rotary cutting with circular saws. The thickness of the veneers is about 2.6 mm. Veneers were dried to the moisture content of 4 to 6% by a veneer drier. Plywood is manufactured where urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin was applied to the veneer layers by a glue spreader with a rate of 300 g/m2.
Eucalyptus Plywood from China
In mainland China, Eucalyptus ply is not a specific kind of plywood because it indicates the core type of plywood. The face and back of the plywood can be Malaysia Hardwood or tropical hardwood Okoume, bintangor, meranti (Red Canarium), and other premium-looking hardwood. Besides commercial plywood and furniture plywood, eucalyptus is also used in the manufacturing of film faced plywood. Hardwood plywood made from hardwood veneers is expensive for some clients who will choose combi core (a combination of poplar and eucalyptus).
According to film faced plywood manufacturers, the hardwood plywood usually needs the face and back veneers in poplar wood rather than eucalyptus. Because poplar is much easier for the lamination with phenolic coated film or thin veneers.
How to tell eucalyptus ply from poplar plywood?
- Euca ply edge looks darker compared with poplar.
- Euca ply density is about 600 kgs/m3 and poplar ply density is only 530 kgs/m3.
- Eucalyptus price is at least 20% higher than poplar.
Eucalyptus Core 
Poplar Core
Should I buy Eucalyptus plywood?
Euca ply is generally a premium grade plywood for furniture and formwork ply. It is good quality with higher price. If you have high requirement on your projects then you should choose eucalyptus as plywood core. Otherwise choose poplar.
