Oct 13, 2010. /Lesprom Network/. Finnforest has launched a new birch plywood panel for concrete formwork applications featuring an innovative coating that enhances the smoothness of architectural concrete surfaces. Called FormPLUS, a patent-pending coating provides much more resistance to moisture absorption in order to dramatically reduce the ripple and grain marks that conventional plywood panels can leave on visual concrete, company said in a statement received by Lesprom Network. Prior to commercial launch, FormPLUS has been tested extensively by both Finnforest and formwork contractors, and delivers a significant improvement in surface finish quality compared with traditional phenol-coated shuttering panels. "The exceptionally smooth surface finishing that FormPLUS makes possible cannot be matched by other plywood formwork panels in its price range," says Finnforest's R&D Manager, Jussi Ekman. "It makes ultra-smooth concrete finishes affordable in more applications - not just prestige architectural projects." Finnforest FormPLUS is available in a selection of standard sizes from 1200 to 1525 mm x 2400 to 3660 mm.