Opening Paragraph for the GLOBAL Plywood Forum

Pizhou, China - the heart of China’s plywood industry

June 27, 2025

2,000+ Live Global Viewers I 50,000+ Likes I 240 Shares and Counting

A Defining Moment for the Plywood Industry

On June 27, 2025, the global plywood industry reached a historic milestone as leaders,

innovators, and decision-makers from across the international supply chain gathered in Pizhou, China—the manufacturing capital of plywood—for the First Global Plywood Forum.

Organized by Tribeca Innovations of New York and moderated by its founder George Chew, the event spotlighted two of the industry’s most influential voices: Jeff Wang, CEO of RILICO, and Christopher Williams, Founder of Panda Panels.

“This is a landmark moment for the Chinese plywood industry—notjust to compete, but to innovate.” — George Chew

Brought together under one roof—and broadcast live across the globe—the forum tackled the industry’s most urgent challenges: compliance with emerging regulations, counterfeit

certifications, traceability gaps, and the need for sustainable innovation and brand integrity.

Why This Forum Mattered

Amid sweeping shifts such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), intensifying scrutiny of global supply chains, and increased pressure to demonstrate verified sourcing, the plywood industry stands at a critical inflection point.

The First Global Plywood Forum wasn’t just another event on the calendar—it was a global declaration. The forum set a new benchmark for leadership, transparency, and

future-focused transformation in a sector long driven by price and volume.

“Volume and price alone no longer secure contracts. Trust, value, and accountability are the new currency.” — George Chew

With over 2,000 live viewers and more than 50,000 global engagements, the message was clear:

The era of accountability and innovation has arrived—and plywood is at the center of it.

Key Themes & Strategic Insights

The historic forum delivered more than just ideas—it offered a strategic blueprint for the

future of plywood. From regulatory readiness and brand protection to product innovation and global partnerships, each conversation revealed a critical insight.

Below are the four defining themes that emerged—each shaping the path forward for the global plywood sector.

1. Compliance Is the New Competitive Advantage

“We built our entire supply chain with EUDR, FSC®, PEFC®, CE, UKCA and traceability in mind.” — Jeff Wang

With regulations like EUDR reshaping procurement, RILICO presented its fully integrated traceability system:

● Barcoded batch tracking

● Real-time origin validation

● End-to-end compliance infrastructure

“Every RILICO PP panel we produce can be tracked back to its source—by species, by lot, by origin.” — Jeff Wang

Meanwhile, Christopher Williams addressed the growing risk of “paper compliance”—exposing real cases of forged CE/FSC certificates and subcontracting loopholes that threaten buyer

confidence.

“Historically, many UK buyers placed too much trust in paper certificates … Now, unless we’ve personally visited the mill and confirmed chain of custody on-site, we won’t

proceed.” — Christopher Williams

The takeaway? True traceability is now the market baseline.

2. Brand Integrity in the Age of Counterfeits

“The buyers don’t want stories—they want certainty. If you can’t

provide it, you’re off the list.” — Christopher Williams

In a marketplace flooded with imitation products, RILICO and Panda Panels are anchoring their strategies around authenticity, education, and enforcement:

● Global trademark protection at customs

● Buyer education to distinguish authentic products

● Product quality and performance that can’t be replicated

Despite over 10 known instances of counterfeit GT® products, RILICO’s brand remains resilient—because what it delivers is verifiable and engineered to last.

“We’ve documented over 10 imitations of our GT® brand. That’s when we shifted focus to technology-driven differentiation—you can’t fake an automated

traceability system and product quality.” — Jeff Wang

3. From Volume to Value: The Innovation Mindset

“Innovation isn’tjust about technology—it’s a mindset.” — Jeff Wang

With rising costs in China and increased global competition, RILICO is pivoting from mass

volume to engineered value.

“We don’t compete on price—we compete through innovation.” — Jeff Wang 

Forum highlights included:

● The global debut of FORRASIA®: reusable plastic-faced modular formwork

● European machinery upgrades for enhanced precision and sustainability

● Customized specifications tailored to demanding UK retailers

“That kind of flexibility is not standard in the Chinese industry—and it’s where RILICO stands out.” — Christopher Williams

4. Redefining Trust Through Partnerships

The forum concluded with a major milestone: Panda Panels is now the exclusive UK and EU representative for RILICO.

“This is more than symbolic—it is a working agreement to uphold

traceability, brand accountability, and buyer transparency.” — George Chew

This partnership redefines what global sourcing can look like: a transparent, auditable, and mutually accountable model—setting a new precedent in importer-supplier relationships.

FORRASIA®: Smart Formwork for a Smarter Era

The forum also marked the global launch of FORRASIA® , RILICO’s next-generation modular formwork system. Engineered to meet both regulatory and operational demands, FORRASIA® is:

✅ Built for large-scale reuse

✅ Designed to reduce labor and environmental impact

✅ Fully traceable to support EUDR and global compliance frameworks

“With FORRASIA®, we’re notjust offering a product. We’re offering an integrated solution for the next era of smart construction.” — Jeff Wang

Closing Reflections

This forum wasn’t just a milestone for plywood—it was a symbol of what the industry must become.

Plywood is no longer just a commodity. It’s now:

● A test case for transparent trade

● A battleground for brand legitimacy

● A canvas for sustainable, intelligent construction

The success of the First Global Plywood Forum sends a resounding signal:

The industry is ready for transformation.

And RILICO is leading that charge.

“What we’ve seen today is notjust evolution—it’s alignment. Alignment between buyers and producers. Between regulation and innovation.” — George Chew

Let’s continue the conversation.

Visit www.rilico.com to learn more or connect with our global sales team.

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#SustainableTrade #EUDR #ComplianceLeadership #EngineeringTrust #GlobalPlywood