Columbia Updates Its Grading Guide For 2025 Onwards

History

Since 2012 Columbia has released various editions of its grading guide for the reference and education of its distributors, customers, and those interested in the hardwood plywood industry. As the leading manufacturer of hardwood plywood, Columbia is committed to significantly serving its customers by providing educational reference materials like this to assist with specification and purchasing.

For years, the grading guide has been introduced by plywood guru Ang Schramm. Columbia wants to commend Ang for his exceptional work on past editions and thanks him for his many years of service to both Columbia and the industry as a whole. This is the first edition since his retirement.

Fred Mitchell

For Columbia’s 2025 Grading Guide, the introduction and review of the grading guide is done by Fred Mitchell, Materials Value Stream Manager, and host of Wood Species 101. See the grading guide introduction below:

“Since joining Columbia Forest Products in May of 1997, I’ve had the privilege of dedicating nearly three decades to the world of decorative hardwood veneer—from forecasting and material procurement to the daily discipline of grading face veneers, a craft that requires experience, careful observation, and knowledge of an everchanging market.
 
It is my pleasure to introduce to you an updated edition of our Columbia Forest Products Grading Guide. Since its inception in 2012, it has been more than a manual in the world of hardwood plywood, but rather a trusted compass for navigating the nuanced world of decorative hardwood veneer.
 
In preparing this edition, our aim was simple: to build a resource that blends technical specs with intuitive guidance. Whether you’re specifying species, understanding face characteristics, or aligning expectations between mills and designers, this guide is meant to support every step of the process.
 
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our grading standards. I hope you find this updated edition both practical and inspiring—and that it helps elevate the finished goods you create using Columbia Forest Products veneer and PureBond® Hardwood Plywood. -Fred Mitchell”

Where to Access the Grading Guide

Please see the online version of our grading guide here: https://cdn.columbiaforestproducts.com/grading guide 11425.pdf

Physical grading guides may be printed for distributors. To request copies once they are available, please contact your field sales representative. French and Spanish versions are being produced with expected completion in early 2026.