The Daily Brief What it takes to move a city
Feb 23, 2026
An exploration of why metros matter for rapidly growing cities and how dedicated corridors, planning, financing and political tradeoffs shape urban transit. A deep dive into the wood panels supply chain, from plywood and MDF to distribution, timber costs, margins and moves toward formalisation. Short market tidbits round out the conversation.
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How IKEA News Sparked The Wood Panel Deep Dive
- The team discovered IKEA's India expansion triggered curiosity about everyday furniture components, prompting a deep dive into wood panels.
- That casual observation led to this primer covering plywood, MDF, chipboard and laminates.
Wood Panels Are Core Plus Skin
- Wood panels combine a structural core (plywood, MDF, chipboard) with decorative laminates to form furniture components.
- Plywood is strong and made from peeled veneers, ideal for load-bearing uses like beds and kitchen units.
MDF Enables Factory Furniture While Plywood Carries Loads
- MDF offers smooth uniformity and machinability, making it ideal for factory-made furniture, while plywood offers superior strength and moisture resistance.
- MDF enables intricate profiles; plywood remains preferred for kitchen load-bearing needs.