3M (St. Paul, Minnesota / USA; www.mmm.com) has introduced a reinforced, lightweight and rot-resistant PU foam as an alternative to plywood for use in structural and semi-structural applications. The glass fibre reinforced boards offer high strength in applications including marine, transportation and general construction, with weight savings ranging from 30% to 60% compared with plywood, the company said.

The board is available in five densities ranging from 240 kg/m³ to 416 kg/m³ and complements the company’s existing range of lighter density foam boards. 3M said the material is available in 122cm x 244cm sheets and provides users with a straight, level board that has no risk of warping and is easy to work with. It can be shaped easily with tools and secured to substrates with screws.