✉ bestplywood@yushuowood.com  ·  ☎ +86 178 5395 2880

Albasia Bare Core — Falcata Core Board for Blockboard

Finger-jointed albasia strips, kiln-dried and calibrated — the lightweight core stock behind blockboard and melamine-faced panels.

Albasia bare core board showing finger-jointed falcata strips before face veneer is applied
Thickness9 – 30 mm
Density0.23 – 0.35 g/cm³
Moisture8 – 12 %
JointFinger-joint

What is Albasia Bare Core?

Albasia bare core — also traded as falcata core, sengon core or albizia core — is a panel made from finger-jointed strips of Albizia falcataria, a fast-growing plantation species from Indonesia and the Philippines. It is sold without face veneer, because the buyer applies their own veneer, melamine paper or HPL to turn it into blockboard, melamine board or a finished decorative panel.

The species is one of the lightest commercial timbers in use, at 0.23–0.35 g/cm³ — lighter than poplar and far lighter than eucalyptus or birch. That low density is the commercial argument: more cubic metres per container, easier handling on the line, and a finished panel that stays light on the wall or in the cabinet.

Specifications

Standard production range. Sizes, glue types and grades outside this table can be produced to order — tell us the specification your customer requires.

Albasia Bare Core technical specifications
Panel size1220 × 2440 mm · 1250 × 2500 mm
Thickness9 / 12 / 15 / 18 / 21 / 25 / 30 mm (9–21 most common)
Core speciesAlbizia falcataria (sengon / falcata), kiln-dried
Joint typeFinger-joint or butt-joint strips
Density0.23 – 0.35 g/cm³
Moisture content8 – 12 %
Thickness tolerance±0.3 mm after calibration
SurfaceCalibrated both faces, ready for gluing

Why buyers choose our Albasia Bare Core

Light enough to change the freight maths

At 0.23–0.35 g/cm³ albasia is roughly 40 % lighter than poplar and 55 % lighter than eucalyptus. On a container priced per cubic metre, that weight advantage translates directly into more panels per shipment and lower cost per finished unit.

Kiln-dried and calibrated to ±0.3 mm

Warped or over-thick core is the main cause of blistering when a melamine face is pressed on. Our core is dried to 8–12 % and calibrated so the press cycle behaves predictably.

Finger-joint quality you can specify

We can supply finger-joint only, no butt joints, with a specified joint pitch. Buyers producing face-visible melamine panels usually want this — butt joints telegraph through thin paper.

We will tell you where not to use it

Albasia is not a structural or exterior species. It has low natural durability and modest screw-holding. Used as an interior core it is excellent value; used outdoors it will fail. We would rather lose the order than the relationship.

Applications

Blockboard core

Finger-jointed strips forming the core of 16–18 mm blockboard.

Melamine-faced board core

Substrate for melamine paper and HPL-faced decorative panels.

Door cores

Lightweight hollow-core and solid-core door blanks.

Furniture carcasses

Interior panels where weight reduction matters.

Partition and ceiling panels

Lightweight interior building panels.

Packing & container loading

ContainerVolumeDetails
20GP≈ 22 m³Lighter density allows a fuller load than hardwood core
40HQ≈ 30 m³20–24 pallets, steel strapped
ProtectionWaterproof wrap; core is hygroscopic and must stay dry in transit

All shipments are palletised, steel strapped and wrapped in waterproof film. Loading photographs and a full document set are sent for every container.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between albasia, falcata and sengon?
They are three trade names for the same species, Albizia falcataria. Indonesia uses sengon, the Philippines uses falcata or Moluccan sau, Malaysia uses batai, and Papua New Guinea uses white albizia. If a supplier quotes 'falcata core' and another quotes 'albasia core', the material is the same.
Can albasia bare core be used outdoors?
No. Albasia has low natural durability and is not suitable for exterior use, prolonged damp conditions or structural load-bearing applications. It is an interior core material, and it should be protected from moisture at every stage of storage and transport.
What moisture content should albasia core be?
8–12 %. Above 12 % the core will shrink after pressing and the finished panel can bow; below 8 % the board becomes brittle and the finger joints can open. Ask for the moisture reading on the batch, not just the specification.
Why is finger-joint better than butt-joint for melamine panels?
Butt joints create a straight line of weakness that can telegraph through thin melamine paper as a visible ridge. Finger joints interlock and distribute stress, so the face stays flat. For face-visible melamine board, specify finger-joint only.

Need a price for Albasia Bare Core?

Tell us the specification and destination port. Formal offer within 24 hours, samples available on request.