Müller Small Living: They're the ones with the birch edge, right?

Interesting facts: Multiplex

Whenever the name Müller is mentioned, many immediately think of the birch edge so characteristic of our furniture.

“Birch edge”? Or should it rather be called “birch plywood edge”? Or perhaps “multiplex edge”? The good news upfront: none of these terms is really incorrect!

Multiplex refers to veneer plywood boards made from at least five layers of glued veneer, with a minimum thickness of 12 millimetres. Typically, multiplex boards are manufactured from an odd number of veneer layers, with five layers already providing a high level of material stability. The odd number results from the fact that the individual veneer sheets are glued alternately – that is, each layer is rotated by 90 degrees, glued lengthwise and crosswise with a waterproof adhesive. This “cross-gluing” stiffens the material.

Wood is a living material that expands when moist and contracts when dry. The opposite alignment of the grain in the veneers through cross-gluing counteracts this natural process. Simply put, the opposing veneer layers prevent the wood from shrinking or swelling. Multiplex boards are therefore not only extremely stable but also very dimensionally stable. Typically, multiplex boards are made from woods such as birch, beech, or maple. It is important to note that during production, knots or other inclusions may occur, which lend the material a more natural and lively appearance. These inclusions have no impact on the board’s stability.

At Müller, we use multiplex plywood sourced from fast-growing Finnish birch forests, bonded with 9 or 11 layers, and with a material thickness of 15 or 18 millimetres. Combined with our CPL and HPL coatings, this results in a highly durable material featuring a visible edge of birch plywood – the typical Müller look!