Smith & Fong plyboo indroduces coconut-palm flooring, plywood and woven panels

May 6, 2008 - San Francisco, Calif. - Smith & Fong Co. has introduced Durapalm® coconut-palm flooring, plywood and woven panels made from 100-percent plantation-grown palms.

"Coconut palm is a remarkably beautiful and versatile raw material," Smith & Fong President Dan Smith said. "The grain and texture, just the pure energy of this unique material sets it apart from other wood products."

Durapalm coconut-palm lumber comes from reclaimed logs that are a byproduct of a palm plantation primarily devoted to the production of coconuts. Coconut palms are typically productive up to approximately 60 years, when coconut harvest diminishes to the point that replacing the palm becomes practical. Smith & Fong purchases older, non-productive palms directly from coconut farmers.

All Durapalm products are manufactured using urea formaldehyde-free adhesives and contribute points toward the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credit EQ 4.4: No Added Urea Formaldehyde.

Durapalm flooring is available in both a flat-grain and edge-grain pattern. These planks can be installed like other flooring using either a nail- or glue-down method. Durapalm flooring comes in a 5/8" x 3" dimension in random lengths from two to six feet. It is available both as an unfinished or prefinished product and looks great in home or retail environments. A full line of trim parts is also available.

Durapalm plywood is available in flat-grain, edge-grain or end-grain construction, in both 3/4" x 30" x 72", 3/4" x 36" x 96" and 1-1/8" x 36" x 96" dimensions. All plywood comes unfinished and is sanded to a smooth 180-grit surface. Individually wrapped, these panels can be treated to meet a Class A fire rating if needed. Applications include, but are not limited to furniture, fixtures and cabinetry.

Durapalm woven wall panels have a unique and textured surface and are constructed with a unique finger lock system that allows the panels, size 3/8" x 6" x 48" to lock together seamlessly. They can be fasten to a wall surface both vertically or horizontally using a nail or glue installation system. This enables seamless coverage of a wall surface of any size or height. The product is very versatile and works well in both a commercial or residential environment.

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in San Francisco, Smith & Fong Co. was the first U.S. company to manufacture bamboo flooring in China for sale in North America, offering its initial product under the brand name Plyboo in 1993. In 1996 the firm began producing bamboo plywood, followed by coconut palm flooring and plywood products in 2000. Smith & Fong is committed to sustainability through innovation. For information call 866-835-9859 or visit www.plyboo.com.