Archidply, the pioneers in plywood, veneers and prelaminated particle boards have opened up their stateof-the-art factory in Pantnagar, Uttaranchal. With this launch, Archidply will be manufacturing plywood & particle boards with a total licensed capacity of 78,000 cubic meters per annum. The factory situated in the Sidcul Industrial estate is equipped with the best facilities and is the 3rd such plant for Archidply manufacturing plywood, block board, flush door, particle board and pre-laminated particle board from fast grown plantation wood material such as poplar and eucalyptus. On the launch, the Chairman proudly said that Archidply have always promised engineered wood panel solutions to their customers and would be investing over Rs. 50 crores to set up the plant. They would be manufacturing plywood, block board, flush door, densified film faced plywood and teak plywood in the first phase which took off from March. The prelaminated particle board and plain particle board plant will come into production in June 2006 and March 2007 respectively. The Pantnagar plant is expected to provide employment to 1500 people. Archidply uses renewable plantation timber like Silver Oak, Eucalyptus and Poplar grown on scientific short rotation basis by coffee growers in Coorg & farmers in Uttaranchal. All products are eco-friendly. With this project fully commissioned, the Archidply group’s total manufacturing capacity in various facilities including Mysore and Assam, amounts to over Rs. 200 crores, in estimated turnover. The group employs over 300 people. The Archidply Group has been in plywood manu-facturing for more than 25 years. The Group has grown from a small sawmill to a modern up-to date wood panel manufacturer with a network of braches and dealers all over India with a turnover in excess of Rs. 150 crores. Apart from using modern manufacturing equipment at their factories, the group has invested heavily in research, development and laboratory facilities. Quality processes are well defined and are implemented rigidly. Committed to preserving the environment, the group undertakes planting of saplings, distributes subsidized seeds to all its private plantations and optimizes the utilization of its wood. The group also has plans of putting up a Mica plant at the same facility in the near future.