For more than 25 years, we have been a reliable producer of high-quality sheathing-grade plywood, with ½” CDX as our flagship product. We built our reputation on consistent, dependable performance using traditional layup systems that served our customers well.
Then, in 2017, the introduction of our patented Mass Ply Panels (MPP) and Mass Ply Lams (MPL) changed everything. These innovative products demanded far more flexible veneer layups and panel constructions than conventional spreaders and layup lines could deliver.
That’s when we invested in transformative upgrades to our production processes. These have dramatically expanded the range of engineered wood products we can deliver, opening doors to new applications across construction, agriculture, and industrial markets.
Curtain Coating Line
The single biggest leap came with the installation of our Koch Curtain Coating line. This advanced system eliminated the limitations of traditional layup methods, allowing us to create the varied, sometimes alternating core-line constructions required for MPP as well as specialized LVL. Combined with ongoing facility investments, it gives us unmatched flexibility in veneer selection and panel design.
Custom Layups and Non-Standard Constructions
Thanks to these process upgrades, we can now accommodate unique veneer layups. Customers can specify:
- Non-standard thicknesses
- Mixtures of density- or visually-graded veneers
- Up to four different veneer grades per panel
- Long-length veneers (sourced directly from our own peeling lines)
We produce superior structural panels using premium Douglas-fir logs, delivering higher strength and quality for demanding applications.
8’, 9’, and 10’ Panels with Composed Core Lines
Our curtain coating and layup process removes traditional length restrictions. We now offer 8-, 9-, and 10-foot panels with composed cores, which are ideal for larger spans that reduce joints and speed up installation on job sites.
Elevated Panel Quality: Raute R5 Patch Line and Two-Head Sander
We’re also partnering with Raute on their advanced R5 Patch Line, an automated system that detects defects, routes them out, and applies precise patches. Paired with our new two-head sander (which delivers tighter thickness tolerance and sands both faces), this line dramatically improves putty quality and boosts the volume of enhanced panels we can produce.
The upgraded line will be fully operational by the end of March and is perfect for:
- Plug-Touch-Sanded (PTS) panels
- Tongue-and-groove underlayment
- Agricultural applications such as bins
Expanded LVL Capabilities
The same production innovations that power our plywood upgrades also enable a much wider range of Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) products. Using our flexible layup process and MPP facility, we can manufacture:
- Moulding and millwork stock for door and window components
- Custom beams and columns (glulam-equivalent performance)
- Virtually any specialized LVL configuration you need
- Architectural veneer grades are available for our LVL products
Mass Timber and Multi-Family/Commercial Construction
MPP and custom LVL are ideal for floors, roofs, shear walls, stairwells, elevator shafts, and point-supported slab systems in apartments, hotels, dormitories, offices, schools, and mixed-use buildings—up to 18 stories.
Architects and engineers love the dimensional stability, seismic performance, fire resistance, and sustainability of our Douglas-fir-based mass timber solutions. Our LVL beams, headers, and joists deliver superior strength-to-weight performance for single- and multi-family homes, offering longer clear spans and faster, more efficient builds. Coupled with the ability to provide appearance-grade veneers, the opportunities are endless.
All of these products are made right here in the U.S. with sustainably sourced Douglas fir; no tariffs, no questionable certifications, and no reliance on overseas supply chains with weaker environmental records. The challenges of the wood products industry have always bred innovation, and Freres has embraced that spirit wholeheartedly.
Whether you need standard sheathing, custom layups, premium underlayment, or high-performance mass timber and LVL solutions, we’re ready to deliver.
Contact our Mass Timber Sales Team at buympp@frereswood.com or our Panel Sales team at plywoodsales@frereswood.com to discuss how our expanded capabilities can support your next project.
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