PERI is best known as one of the world’s leading providers of advanced formwork and modular scaffolding systems. From high-rise towers to commercial buildings, its engineered solutions allow concrete to be poured with precision, speed and safety.
The company sells and rents various systems that shape the built environment. But its expertise doesn’t stop there.
Over the past decade, PERI has steadily expanded its panel product offering, responding to shifts in the market and the need for quality-assured materials.
‘PERI has always sold some plywood and ancillary products into the formwork industry,’ explains Peter Clifton, Timber and Plywood Sales Support & PERI Pave Manager.
‘But about 10 years ago, our then managing director saw an opportunity to expand. A small specialist team was brought in to focus on panels, and since then the product range has grown to
serve multiple market sectors, including flooring.’
Meeting a specific need
Two years ago, PERI conducted a deep dive into the commercial flooring sector and identified that they had a gap: a flooring-grade plywood that could meet the stringent requirements of
BS8203 (1997). Working with a trusted manufacturing partner in Asia, PERI identified a product to meet the standard.
The result was PERI FLOOR, launched in 2023, and instantly recognisable thanks to its Diamond Mark of quality.
The Diamond Mark is an independent UK certification scheme, created and managed by TFT Certification (Woodexperts) to give confidence to sectors of the construction industry, with regard to various wood products’ performance. Unlike generic compliance claims, it requires regular third-party audits and product testing, checking bond strength, veneer quality, dimensional accuracy and durability to standards such as EN 314-2/3. Originally developed to address flooring failures, it now certifies mills and distributors worldwide, ensuring products are suitable for applications like flooring underlays to BS 8203 (1997).
Diamond-marked plywood is also tied to FSC, PEFC or SVLK sustainable sourcing, making it acceptable on government and commercial projects. In essence, the Diamond Mark gives contractors and specifiers confidence the plywood is traceable, tested and fit-for-purpose.
‘In the past 30 or 40 years, the overall quality of hardwood plywood has declined,’ Peter explains. ‘It may be acceptable in general construction but had been identified as not suitable for flooring
underlays where failure is not an option. That’s why we set out to source a panel that was truly fit for purpose.’
To spearhead the product’s growth, PERI appointed James Chambers as UK Flooring Manager. With 10 years’ experience importing plywood for merchants and a strong background in distribution, James saw the role as a chance to build something new. ‘It was an opportunity to develop a department and a product line from the ground up,’ he says. ‘I enjoy working with a small, knowledgeable team where everyone brings their strengths to the table. We’re focused on
quality, education, and making sure our distributors and contractors are supported every step of the way.’
Education at the heart
For PERI, supplying plywood isn’t just about products, it’s about helping the market make the right choices. James spends time alongside distributors meeting contractors directly. ‘We want to
show contractors why the right underlay matters,’ he explains. ‘If we can educate them on-site, that knowledge filters back into the supply chain. Ultimately, it reduces the risk of flooring failures and builds confidence in the products.’
The Harrogate Flooring Show has become a key part of this educational drive. 2025 marked PERI’s second year exhibiting, and the results have been encouraging. ‘Last year we made real progress, winning new distributors and raising awareness of PERI FLOOR,’ James notes. ‘This year was about deepening those relationships and meeting more of the end-users. By speaking to contractors
directly, we can guide them back through our distributor network with the right knowledge in hand.’
Expanding beyond plywood
PERI’s offering now extends beyond its flagship PERI FLOOR panels. The company also supplies hardboard underlayment boards, flooring-grade particle board (chipboard) and oriented strand board (OSB), supporting various projects from commercial installations to industrial sites
and residential housing developments.
Some clients even integrate PERI’s products into complete flooring systems, recognising the consistency and reliability of supply.
This breadth allows PERI to present itself as more than just a supplier: it’s a partner that can support multiple aspects of a flooring project with dependable, quality-assured materials.
Standing out from the competition
The flooring market is not short of suppliers, but PERI believes its approach sets it apart. ‘We’re not just offering the right grade of products,’ says Peter. ‘We’re also actively working with distributors to educate contractors on how to make the right product choice. That combination of
product integrity and education is what makes us different.’
Competitors have also tried to address the quality shortfall in flooring-grade plywood, but PERI FLOOR has been engineered specifically to meet British Standards while carrying the assurance
of the Diamond Mark. Backed by PERI’s global reputation, it offers contractors and distributors peace of mind in a market that has suffered from inconsistent quality.
Looking ahead
The year ahead will see PERI continuing its mission to educate the market, reduce flooring failures, and expand acceptance of fit-for-purpose plywood. Peter and James are united in their goal: to grow PERI’spresence in the sector while ensuring contractors make informed choices that
save time, cost and resources.
PERI’s UK team may be small, butits depth of experience is significant. Peter’s decades of work in panel product importing and manufacturing are complemented by James’s background in merchant supply and customer relationships. ‘We’re a team that just clicks,’ says Peter. ‘Our combined strengths and knowledge mean we can look after our customers properly, and
that’s what really counts.’
From its Bavarian roots 50 years ago to its presence in more than 60 countries today, PERI has consistently been associated with innovation, safety and quality. Now, with PERI FLOOR, the
company is showing its commitment extends beneath the surface too, ensuring floors are built on foundations every bit as strong and reliable as the structures above them.
‘Built for the planet: sustainable plywood you can rely on’
CERTIFIED supply chains: PERI timber and panel products are sourced through FSC and PEFC-certified processes, with a fully audited Chain of Custody in place. Internal and external audits ensure standards are consistently upheld.
Responsible origins: PERI FLOOR is manufactured in Indonesia by PT Sumber Mas Indah Plywood,
using Meranti/Mersawa veneers from FSC plantations and controlled sources. This helps protect tropical forests while promoting long-term environmental sustainability.
‘Wood-wise’ philosophy: The Indonesian mill operates a policy of maximal wood use, ensuring every part of the log is utilised. Residues and offcuts are repurposed into products like renewable wood pellets, reducing waste and enhancing carbon storage.
Commitment to progress: PERI reviews and updates its environmental practices each year, embedding sustainability into its wider corporate goals across water, energy and waste
management.
‘Our customers want products that do the job right,’ says Peter Clifton, ‘but increasingly they also want assurance the materials are responsibly sourced. With PERI FLOOR, they get both.’