PVC Celuka vs Co-Extruded Board: 5 Cabinet Buying Factors

PVC Celuka Board vs ‍‍‍PVC Co-Extruded Board ‍‍‍– 5 Factors to Consider when Purchasing Cabinet Boards

Both PVC Celuka and co-extruded PVC boards can be used for cabinet manufacturing. PVC Celuka boards have a fairly high density skin on the surface of the board produced in the extrusion process. Co-extruded boards have different layers for the surface and core. When selecting the board, there are 5 factors to consider regarding the surface quality, CNC processing, fixing capability, panel rigidity and cost of the finished part.

1. Board Construction – How Are They Different?

The main difference between the two boards is how the surface is created.

The PVC Celuka board creates a fairly high density skin on the surface during cooling after extrusion. The surface and core will depend on how the board has been formulated and processed as well as the amount of foaming.

The co-extruded board creates a very different board by having separate boards extruded into each other. This means the surface and core can be created with different formulations.

Both panels can create a fairly rigid surface with a lighter foamed core. However, it will not necessarily mean that one board is stronger or harder than another due to the different production methods.

It is important to make sure that the board grade will suit your requirements.

2. Surface Quality – Which is Best for Cabinet Doors?

Cabinet doors need a consistent surface for laminating, painting and decorative finishes.

Both Celuka and co-extruded boards can have surfaces suitable for furniture applications. How well they perform will depend on how they have been formulated, produced and finished.

If you are producing a bathroom cabinet with decorative PVC film it is important to test how well the film will bond to the surface. If you are producing painted cabinet doors then you may need to consider how well the surface can be prepared, coated and how the cut edges will look.

Look for:

Flatness of board and any visible blemishes.

Blemishes such as scratches, pitting etc.

How well the board will bond to your film, adhesive or coating.

Appearance of cut edges.

Even if the sheet has a good finish it may not be ideal for CNC processing.

Ask your customer what process they are using for finishing the board.

3. CNC Processing – How Will It Be Cut?

Many cabinet makers will use CNC routers, panel saws and drilling machines to process the PVC foam board.

Both Celuka and co-extruded boards can be processed but depending on how thick the skin is, the core construction and density you may get a different finish.

If you are cutting 18mm cabinet doors with decorative grooves,

The CNC tool may cut through the skin exposing the foam. This means the appearance of the groove will depend on the core construction.

It is best to test the boards to see how they will perform when cutting straight, profiling, grooving and drilling.

Try to ensure that you are using the same tooling, speed, feed and depth of cut to ensure that any issues are not due to the material quality.

If you are supplying to furniture workshops it will be more useful to have a sample big enough to actually test on a CNC machine.

4. Density, Fixing & Rigidty – What Should I Look For?

One of the most common things to look for when buying PVC foam board is density.

Depending on the application, some cabinet makers will look to buy 18mm boards with a density between 0.55-0.65g/cm3. Whilst this can be a good guide it is not always required for all cabinet components.

A higher density board will generally weigh more. Whether it will give better screw holding, rigidity or machining will depend on how it has been constructed and formulated.

Depending on the application,

Bathroom cabinet doors may need consideration of the panel weight, hinge fixing, exposure to moisture and rigidity.

Office cabinet shelves may need consideration of span, expected load, spacing and deflection over time.

Just because an 18mm sheet performs well for cabinet doors doesn’t mean it will perform well for heavily loaded shelves.

This also applies to Celuka and co-extruded boards. Just because one has been produced using a certain method it does not mean it will have better load capabilities or screw holding.

Test how well the screws, hinges and fittings work. If you are cutting horizontal panels consider how much load they will be under.

Moisture:

PVC Foam boards will generally have a low water absorption compared to many wood based panels. This makes them great for using in bathroom furniture.

However, you will still need to consider how well your adhesives, fittings, joints and whole cabinet will perform.

Consider how suitable it will be for your finished product.

5. Cost – Which is the Best Value?

Sometimes the cheapest board per sheet may not be the cheapest to manufacture.

Your furniture manufacturer may need to consider waste, CNC processing, edge finishing, fixing and wastage.

Let’s take an example of 2 different 18mm boards.

Item

Board A

Board B

Price per sheet

$20

$23

Number of finished parts per sheet

8

9

Cost per part

$2.50

$2.56

This is just an example and not actual prices for Celuka or co-extruded.

In this example, Board A will have a lower material cost. However, if one of the boards needs extra finishing or causes more waste then this could change.

When comparing prices as a distributor, ensure the thickness, size, density, finishing and order quantity are all the same.

When looking at the cost for cabinet factories it is more useful to look at the cost per acceptable finished part.

What Should I Ask My Customer?

As a distributor you will often supply multiple types of furniture makers. One customer may be producing bathroom cabinets whilst another may be creating office furniture or decorative internal panels.

They may not need the same material.

Ask your customer and supplier what they need:

Specification

Board type:

Celuka or Co-extruded.

Thickness:

What thickness and tolerance do they require?

Density:

What density range do they want? What tolerance is acceptable?

Size:

Standard or bespoke size?

Surface:

Will they be laminating, painting or applying a finish?

Processing:

Will they be cutting, routing, drilling and edging?

Fixing:

Will they need good screw holding, rigidity or load?

Quality:

Do they have an approved sample? What are the inspection requirements?

Packaging:

Will it be packaged to protect during handling and transit?

When ordering in bulk you should note down these details in your purchasing specification.

Having an approved sample is a good idea but it is also important to have quantifiable requirements so you can check future batches.

So Which Should I Choose?

Choose the board that will suit your finished product.

If your application will need a foam board with a high density skin then Celuka would be worth considering. If your application will benefit from a layered board with different surface formulations then co-extruded would be worth considering.

For cabinet doors consider the surface quality, processing and fixing. For shelves and structural components consider the rigidity, load and deflection.

As a distributor having clear specifications and testing representative samples can help to avoid any issues.

Before asking for a quotation make sure you know what you will be using the board for, thickness, density, size, finishing and how much you expect to order.

Ningbo Ecoplastic Industry Co., Ltd manufacture PVC foam boards for furniture and internal applications. We offer Celuka and co-extruded boards. Contact us to find out what specifications we can offer and what samples you will need for bulk orders.