Plymax - metal faced plywood boards.

In the 1920's, 'Plymax', the new metal-faced plywood was first imported into Britain by the Venesta Plywood Company.

Jack Pritchard, Marketing Manger of Venesta until 1931, experimented using Plymax to design and make furniture, which is still exhibited at the V&A Museum.

In the 1930's, Venesta began using Plymax for the construction of partitions and doors, WC compartments, shower and dressing cubicles for schools, hospitals, offices, factories and public buildings.

The Plymax metals most generally used are steel and aluminium, but also copper, bronze, stainless steel and others. 

Key qualities of Plymax are its rigidity whilst being relatively light weight. By itself, each metal sheet lacks stiffness, but when paired to the plywood it becomes a composite and far more rigid. It is similar in principle to that of a steel girder in that the vertical web contributes little to the overall strength, without the flanges set at the top and bottom, but plays a critical role in the rigidity.

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