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Highway & Billboard Sign Manufacturing

Highway departments and commercial sign shops across North America specify overlaid plywood panels for signs because they carry the message clearly, deliver the structural properties required of large sign installations and are highly resistant to vandalism and theft. The unique demands of sign construction also require a superior surface that resists peeling, makes for easy application of reflective materials and provides high resistance to edge splitting, slivering and delamination.

APA trademarked High and Medium Density Overlay (HDO and MDO) plywood effectively combine the toughness of wood structural panels and the superior wear of an overlaid surface. These features place HDO and MDO among the most durable construction materials for signs on the market today. They are ideal in size, strength, weight, dimensional stability and rack resistance. In addition, panels are easy to use, requiring no special machinery or roll systems.

With plywood as the base material, these panels fabricate and install easily, and are resistant to changing temperatures and the effects of moisture. They boast high impact resistance, are readily available and incur low repair and maintenance costs. Overlaid panels also rate high in aesthetic appearance and their use is environmentally friendly.

Photos courtesy Olympic Panel.

Related Publications

• Overlaid Plywood for Signs, Form X240
• HDO/MDO Plywood, Form B360