International Boat Industry: US supplier introduces sustainable plywood replacement at IBEX

Arizona, US-based plastics manufacturer Supersede made a splash at the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) on Tuesday with a new synthetic sheet panel that the company says represents a 1:1 replacement for marine plywood.

The firm’s Supersede Marine Board is an extruded sheet crafted from recycled plastic waste. According to CEO and co-founder Sean Petterson, the product is 100% recyclable, waterproof, rot-proof, and split-proof, allowing it to directly replace plywood in the production of decks and interior fittings while eliminating downstream warranty claims.

“Boat manufacturers have more experience than almost anyone with the headaches of plywood, from the persistent challenges associated with inconsistent performance, warping and splinters, to extensive maintenance, high costs, and little peace of mind,” says Petterson. “We have created the first modern breakthrough addressing these issues with the Supersede Marine Board, a true 1:1 replacement to marine-grade plywood that that is non-hazardous, environmentally sustainable, and always consistent.”

Petterson says plywood prices in the US remain more than 30% higher than they were prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, positioning the company’s pre-formed Marine Board product to represent a significant cost savings in materials alone, and before factoring in additional labour expense related to sanding, sealing, and drying.

He adds that the company includes an offcut buyback program, enabling customers to further reduce material costs and achieve zero waste goals. “The product is 100% recyclable, so we can reuse those pieces to make new product,” he says. “For every 72 sheets of half-inch plywood displaced, one tree is saved. Supersede’s manufacturing and engineering process eliminates VOCs, adhesives, and waste from the equation. The solution also provides an effective, cost-incentivized solution for plastic recycling, which can help counter the spread of microplastics entering the ocean and negatively impacting human health.”

The company is launching its product in the leisure marine sector, with plans to expand into the modular home, RV and trailer markets in the future.

IBEX runs through October 4 at the Tampa Convention Center. If you have news we should know about, stop by our stand at booth 3-1047 or reach out to editor Ed Slack at ed@ibiplus.co.uk.

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