Philippines Birch Plywood Export to USA Quality Control Report
Report No.: PH-BP-USA-QC-20251017
Inspection Object: Birch Plywood (12MM×1220×2440MM, C2 Grade)
Quantity Inspected: 15 Containers
Inspector: MR. Fang
Inspection Period: October 11, 2025 – October 17, 2025
Inspection Location: Philippines Manufacturing Base
Export Destination: United States Market
Inspection Purpose: To verify the quality of birch plywood meets the relevant standards and requirements for export to the United States, ensuring no unqualified products enter the market.
1. Scope of Inspection
This inspection covers the appearance quality (focusing on birch veneer natural and processing defects), physical and mechanical properties (laboratory testing items), and other conventional quality indicators of the 12MM×1220×2440MM C2 grade birch plywood in 15 containers. Key inspection items include core board delamination, birch veneer blistering/bulging, etc.
2. Inspection Standards
1. American Plywood Association (APA) standards
2. Standard according to customers’s birch Plywood grading rules
3. Customer-specified quality requirements for export to the US market
3. Birch Veneer Defects (Natural & Processing Defects) Inspection Results
Random sampling was conducted on the birch veneer of the plywood in 15 containers, with a sampling rate of 5% per container. The following are the common natural and processing defects and their inspection results:
| Defect Type | Description | Inspection Result | Judgment (Qualified/Unqualified) |
| Natural Defects – Knots | Including live knots, dead knots, loose knots; characterized by local protrusions or depressions on the veneer surface, affecting appearance and structural strength. | The number of knots with diameter > 10mm per square meter is ≤ 3; no loose knots found. Knots are evenly distributed and do not affect the overall structural integrity. | Qualified |
| Natural Defects – Wood Grain Deviation | Grain direction is not parallel to the edge of the veneer, resulting in uneven texture and reduced mechanical properties. | Grain deviation angle ≤ 5° for all sampled veneers, meeting the standard requirements. | Qualified |
| Natural Defects – Color Difference | Uneven color on the veneer surface due to differences in wood growth environment. | Color difference on the same veneer surface is slight, within the acceptable range of the US market; no obvious color patches. | Qualified |
| Processing Defects – Veneer Blistering/Bulging | Local bulging or blistering on the veneer surface due to improper gluing, insufficient pressing pressure or uneven temperature during processing. | No blistering or bulging found on the veneer surface of all sampled plywood. The veneer is closely bonded to the core board. | Qualified |
| Processing Defects – Veneer Cracking | Cracks on the veneer surface caused by excessive drying, improper cutting or handling. | Only 2 pieces of plywood in 1 container have micro-cracks (length < 50mm, width < 0.1mm), which do not affect the use performance; other samples have no cracks. | Qualified |
| Processing Defects – Veneer Delamination | Separation between the veneer layers due to poor gluing quality. | No veneer delamination phenomenon found in all sampled plywood. | Qualified |
| Processing Defects – Surface Roughness | Uneven veneer surface caused by inadequate sanding during processing. | The surface roughness Ra of the veneer is ≤ 6.3μm, meeting the smoothness requirement for export to the US. | Qualified |
| Processing Defects – Stains | Oil stains, water stains or other contaminants on the veneer surface during processing or storage. | No obvious stains found on the veneer surface of all samples; individual slight water stains can be removed by simple cleaning, which is acceptable. | Qualified |
4. Laboratory Testing Items & Results
5 samples were selected from the 15 containers for laboratory testing to verify the physical and mechanical properties of the plywood. The test results are as follows:
| Testing Item | Testing Method | Standard Requirement | Test Result | Judgment (Qualified/Unqualified) |
| Bond Strength Test | According to ISO 4869, conduct shear test on the bonded surface of plywood. | Bond strength ≥ 0.7 N/mm² | Average bond strength: 0.92 N/mm² | Qualified |
| Thickness Deviation Test | Use a precision thickness gauge to measure 5 points (four corners and center) of each sample, calculate the average value and deviation. | Thickness deviation ± 0.3mm | Average thickness: 12.1mm; maximum deviation: +0.2mm, minimum deviation: -0.1mm | Qualified |
| Density Test | Measure the volume and mass of the sample, calculate the density. | Density ≥ 550 kg/m³ | Average density: 620 kg/m³ | Qualified |
| Moisture Content Test | Use the oven-drying method: weigh the sample before and after drying, calculate the moisture content. | Moisture content 6% – 14% (in line with US market requirements) | Average moisture content: 9.5% | Qualified |
| Flexural Strength Test | Conduct three-point bending test on the sample according to APA standards, measure the flexural strength and modulus of elasticity. | Flexural strength ≥ 12 N/mm²; Modulus of elasticity ≥ 4500 N/mm² | Average flexural strength: 15.3 N/mm²; Average modulus of elasticity: 5200 N/mm² | Qualified |
| Core Board Delamination Test | Immerse the sample in boiling water at 100℃ for 4 hours, then dry it in an oven at 63℃ for 20 hours, observe whether there is delamination. | No delamination, no cracking | No delamination or cracking found in all test samples after treatment | Qualified |
5. Conventional Quality Inspection Items & Results
Comprehensive inspection was carried out on the conventional quality indicators of the plywood in 15 containers, including size, flatness, edge straightness, gluing quality, etc. The results are as follows:
| Inspection Item | Standard Requirement | Inspection Result | Judgment (Qualified/Unqualified) |
| Size (Length×Width: 2440×1220MM) | Length deviation ± 5mm; Width deviation ± 3mm | Average length: 2442mm (max deviation +3mm); Average width: 1219mm (min deviation -1mm) | Qualified |
| Flatness | Maximum warpage ≤ 2mm/m | Average warpage: 1.2mm/m; no obvious unevenness on the surface | Qualified |
| Edge Straightness | Maximum deviation ≤ 3mm/m | Average edge straightness deviation: 1.8mm/m; edges are neat, no burrs | Qualified |
| Core Board Delamination (Key Item) | No delamination between core board layers; tight bonding | Randomly inspected 100 pieces of plywood, no core board delamination found; the bonding between core board layers is firm | Qualified |
| Birch Veneer Blistering/Bulging (Key Item) | No blistering, no bulging on the veneer surface; close bonding with core board | Full inspection of the veneer surface of all plywood in 15 containers, no blistering or bulging phenomenon found | Qualified |
| Gluing Quality | No missing gluing, no empty gluing; the bonding surface is complete | No missing gluing or empty gluing found in all inspected plywood; the gluing is uniform and complete | Qualified |
| Surface Cleanliness | No obvious dirt, oil stains, or debris on the surface | The surface of the plywood is clean, with only a small amount of dust that can be removed by cleaning; no oil stains or debris | Qualified |
6. Summary of Inspection Results
After comprehensive inspection of the 12MM×1220×2440MM C2 grade birch plywood in 15 containers, the following conclusions are drawn:
1. The birch veneer has no major natural or processing defects; the number and size of knots, grain deviation, and color difference are within the acceptable range; no veneer blistering, bulging, or delamination is found.
2. All laboratory testing items (bond strength, thickness deviation, density, moisture content, flexural strength, core board delamination resistance, etc.) meet the APA standards, ISO 4869, and the quality requirements for export to the US market.
3. All conventional quality inspection items, especially the key items such as core board delamination and birch veneer blistering/bulging, are qualified. The size, flatness, edge straightness, and gluing quality of the plywood all meet the relevant requirements.
7. Conclusion
The 12MM×1220×2440MM C2 grade birch plywood in 15 containers inspected this time isqualified overall, meeting the quality standards and requirements for export to the United States. It is allowed to be exported to the US market.
8. Inspector’s Signature & Date
Inspector: MR. Fang
Date: October 17, 2025
