A useful formwork plywood specification combines finished thickness, sheet or part size, core, working face, waterproof bond and protected edges. Bring your form layout, existing panel or cutting list to PanelSource. We help develop the construction, samples and factory processing, then quote the panels your project needs.
1220 × 2440mm sheets and 12mm or 18mm thicknesses are familiar starting points. Your order can use the sizes and construction required by its formwork design, with holes, cuts and edge completion included in the supply scope.
- Film faced shuttering plywood: plan the core, working face, thickness and sheet or part schedule.
- 12mm film faced plywood: develop thinner facing and fitted parts around the required support and direction.
- 18mm concrete shuttering plywood: coordinate the main faces, infill, corners and prepared components in a project kit.
Start with the details that shape the order
You do not need a complete specification to contact our factory. Start with the application, dimensions, quantities and destination. The checklist below helps fill in the construction and processing details as the quotation develops.
| Specification | What to put in your enquiry | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 12mm, 18mm or the thickness in your formwork design | Keeps panel selection aligned with the support layout. |
| Sheet or part size | Full sheet format or a dimensioned cutting list | Lets us compare usable yield and delivered part quantities. |
| Core | Poplar, hardwood, birch or the construction you want to match | Makes weight, handling and price comparisons meaningful. |
| Working face | Black, brown or red film; concrete finish required | Connects the film choice to the surface you want after stripping. |
| Bond and edges | Wet-service bond, factory sealing and protection after cutting | Includes the exposed boundaries that need attention on site. |
| Supply | Quantity, destination and delivery timing | Allows us to quote production, packing and shipment together. |
Choose the supplied stage
Full sheets give your workshop control over final cutting. Factory-prepared parts can bring dimensions, holes, edge protection and part identification into one order. Send the current drawing revision and mark which operations you want completed before shipment.
Compare complete supply
Use our formwork plywood price range as a starting point, then compare the selected core, film and processing on the same quotation basis. Include useful part yield, spares, packing and delivery alongside the material price.
Choose the product route around the work
Start with the concrete-contact surface and the construction needed by the formwork design. Then select the most useful product route for colour, core, thickness or production scope. These pages keep their own dimensions and properties, so you can quote a named configuration.
| Your requirement | Product route | What to compare |
|---|---|---|
| General sheet and part schedule | Film faced shuttering plywood | Core, face, thickness, supplied dimensions and protected cuts. |
| 12mm facing or fitted part | 12mm film faced plywood | Finished thickness, panel direction, fit and cutting yield. |
| 18mm black or brown face | 18mm black film / 18mm brown film | Working face and each page's selected core and specification. |
| A complete 18mm component set | 18mm concrete shuttering plywood | Main faces, infill, corners, openings, part marks and packing order. |
| Brown film across thicknesses or birch core | Brown film faced range / Birch core brown film | Thickness range, timber construction and working surface. |
| Branding or repeated panel identification | Custom logo film / 18mm logo shuttering | Print, orientation, face reference and full panel specification. |
| Specified FSC supply | FSC film faced plywood | Selected construction, requested supply claim and order records. |
| A paper-overlay or painting brief | One-side MDO / Double-sided MDO | Working face, reverse, coating or concrete-contact preparation. |
| Three-layer timber panels | 3 Ply Panel | 21mm or 27mm timber construction and its own face and edge treatment. |
| Textured floors, decks or access panels | Mesh anti-slip / Hexagrip anti-slip | Grip pattern, exposure and relevant test method for the walking or working surface. |
Use the smooth concrete-facing route for a smooth concrete brief and the textured anti-slip route for its intended floor or access-panel duty. For a decorative or painted MDO surface, include its coating preparation in the order. Our team helps keep each surface with the right component and construction.
APA’s concrete forming guide covers panel grades, surface characteristics, ordering, maintenance and form design. For an appearance-sensitive pour, bring the required texture, joint pattern and finish reference into the panel brief.
Match finished thickness and orientation to the form
Choose 12mm or 18mm, or another specified thickness, from the project formwork design. Record the finished limit and measurement method so new sheets and replacement parts fit the intended joint, support and hardware.
| Selection question | Why it matters | Evidence or drawing needed |
|---|---|---|
| Actual finished thickness | Joint alignment and system fit depend on tolerance | Quotation limit and sample measurement method |
| Panel orientation | Bending behavior may differ with veneer layup direction | System plan and applicable panel properties |
| Support spacing | Deflection and bending depend on support layout | Qualified designer’s calculation or approved formwork drawing |
| Fresh-concrete pressure | Vertical form pressure changes with placing conditions | Concrete method and temporary-works design basis |
| Handling weight | Thicker or denser panels may need different lifting and packing | Quoted panel mass and site handling plan |
Panel direction, core and layup matter alongside thickness when reviewing the design properties. Keep these with the material schedule, especially when changing the core or replacing a facing. Our factory can prepare the relevant panel information for the project's design review.
The ACI 347R-14 formwork guide excerpt discusses loads, concrete pressure and placing conditions. Those inputs belong with the support and connection layout when the project team selects the panel and its operating arrangement.
Quote the finished sheets, parts and protected edges
| Field | What to state |
|---|---|
| Form component | Wall, column, beam, slab or a specific insert; component drawing revision |
| Panel dimensions | Full sheet or cut part, size, thickness and permitted tolerance |
| Core | Species or layup, permitted gaps and repair limits, design data required |
| Working face | Film colour, finish, approved sample, concrete surface expectation |
| Bond | Applicable test or grade requirement and evidence scope |
| Edges | Factory sealing and responsibility for later cuts, holes and repair |
| Packing | Pallet size, protection, marks, quantity and destination port |
Add the drawing revision, permitted part rotation and usable dimensions to the cut list. Include trimming allowance and the factory operations required: cuts, drilled openings, recesses, edge sealing and part marks. The quotation can then show both the supplied quantity and the work completed before dispatch.
Identify the working face, reverse and film specification with the retained sample. For waterproof supply, specify the required bond and treatment after cutting or drilling. Our WBP guide explains how to connect the bond request to the applicable test method and product information.
For a mixed order, separate thicknesses, surfaces and component codes. Include spares in the quantity list and set a useful packing sequence, such as by form set or installation zone. This makes a sheet-price comparison more useful for the crew receiving the finished parts.
Record the selected core, bond, overlay, edge seal and panel format against the project brief. Use the panel schedule to keep the quoted sheet and any cut pieces aligned with the forming plan. Use the panel schedule worksheet.
Plan useful reuse around the concrete finish
- Keep the working face and panel direction identifiable through cutting and installation.
- Complete exposed edges, holes and later site cuts with the selected protection.
- Use the release treatment suited to the face and project process.
- Strip carefully, clean promptly and inspect face, edge and joint condition.
- Store accepted panels supported and protected, ready for the next scheduled use.
APA’s form maintenance guidance supports careful stripping, cleaning, release treatment and protected storage. Keep the panel construction, site conditions and required concrete finish with your own use record.
If your target is 10 reuses, include that target in the enquiry with the intended duty and finish. Review the chosen panel through the project trial and record accepted use, repairs and replacement. A useful cost measure is the actual included material, preparation and care costs divided by the accepted concrete-contact area achieved.
Agree production and receiving checks
Compare the panel with the retained sample and order specification. Record the measurement positions and sampling plan for dimensions, review the working face for damage or press defects, and inspect the selected edges and machining. Include quantities, pack identity, separators and shipping marks in the dispatch check.
On receipt, record visible pack damage and the condition of panels before further cutting. After use, follow the project's inspection and repair process for the face, holes, edges and connections. Photographs linked to the pack or order reference help our team review any supply concern.
Check the board strength behind your formwork quotation
The SGS report for our hardwood film faced plywood records a tested board thickness of 18.23mm, bending strength of 54.7 MPa under GB/T 17657-1999 and surface bond strength of 1.40 MPa under GB/T 15102-2006. It also includes modulus of elasticity and formaldehyde results. These give your purchasing team named strength and facing-adhesion results to review alongside the panel specification. Send your core, film, finished dimensions and required properties with the document request.
Keep this hardwood report with its named configuration when discussing the order. Send the construction and properties required for your selected product so the available documents and inspection scope can be assembled for purchasing approval.
Carry the accepted panel from sample to shipment
Identify the sample by panel-schedule line and drawing revision, including its face, core, finished thickness and completed processing. Our shuttering plywood sample plan and sample and order guidance help connect that reference to the supply brief.
Carry the accepted sample and drawing into the order specification. Link the product documents, production-lot details and pack marks to the same order line. Confirm the shipment and receiving checks, including the operations that remain with your workshop or site.
For a repeat order, send the existing panel and drawing references with any changes in quantity, finish, machining or delivery timing. This lets the factory continue the selected construction and identify the changes needed for the next project.
Bring the panel information into the project plan
The project team coordinates the supports, ties, shores, placement method and operating loads. We provide the selected construction and relevant panel information for that review. Where the support arrangement, material or placing process changes, keep the material schedule and project design aligned.
For US projects, OSHA 1926.703 addresses formwork support and jobsite plans. Use the applicable project requirements and location's design process when finalizing the complete formwork system.
Formwork plywood specification questions
How do I choose 12mm or 18mm formwork plywood?
Use the thickness and panel properties required by the formwork design. Compare finished thickness, direction, support layout and component fit with the selected construction.
Which sheet size should I order?
Start with the form layout and cut list. A 1220 × 2440mm sheet is one familiar option; compare available formats for usable parts, permitted direction, trimming and transport.
Is black film better than red or brown?
Choose the colour and actual face finish, then compare core, bond and thickness. Our red and black film guide gives a matched-panel comparison route.
Can we specify 10 reuses?
Share it as the project's working target with the construction and concrete-finish requirement. Develop the trial and care process, then track accepted use and condition on the project.
Can you supply a complete set of cut parts?
Yes. Send the dimensioned schedule with holes, edges, part codes and packing groups. We help plan the sheets and factory processing around that set.
Which documents should we request?
Send the required bond, mechanical, emissions or sourcing information with the selected core, face and dimensions. The purchasing pack can then link available product records, the sample and inspection scope to your order.