Craftsmanship, automation, innovation and quality come together in the most stable wooden carcasses

WOOD IN THE LEAD ROLE
Quality is in the details. At Mill Panel, wooden carcase doors are produced from A to Z in-house. Not only with a passion for wood, but also with an eye for quality, innovation, digitization and short delivery times. The result: technically and aesthetically high-quality unprocessed door leafs, developed with attention to every detail.

Mill Panel's roots go back to 1908, when its parent company Van Hout was founded. Since 2001, Mill Panel has operated independently as a manufacturer of high-quality door frames. What sets the company apart? "We are a dynamic company with great interest in developments in the market," says Frank Renne, sales and innovation manager. "As a manufacturer of high-quality unprocessed door leaflets, we are aware that short delivery times are of great importance to our customers. By combining high quality, good delivery reliability and excellent service with associated clear guarantees, our customers experience that we are a solid and reliable partner."

From veneer to finished product

"Moreover, we are the only manufacturer that truly assembles unprocessed door leafs from the veneer," adds Managing Director Joost Coolen. "Many parties assemble semi-finished products. We control the entire process, from raw material to finished product." That control starts as early as Africa, where an in-house specialist selects the veneer. "Only the best wood comes through our selection. FSC-certified, of course."

Industry 4.0 meets craft

Although Mill Panel is fully committed to digitalization and modern production methods, craft remains essential. "Our employees are passionate craftsmen with a love of wood and craft. At the same time, they work with the most modern processes and machines according to the standards of Industrie 4.0," Coolen said. 

The plant combines the best of both worlds: human craftsmanship and advanced technology. For example, a composite door line was recently put into operation, which uses a fully automatic process to produce more efficiently and consistently. Geometric data is exported from the ERP package directly to the door line. Nevertheless, visual inspection of the veneer and finished product remains human work.

That this combination works is evidenced by the fact that Mill Panel has a production capacity of up to 750 carcase doors per shift, both in series and custom made. A flat organizational structure, short lines of communication and a loyal team with many long-term employees contribute to the flexibility. "We are an informal club, but with performance drive," Coolen says. Renne adds that Mill Panel is one of the few providers able to deliver a custom hull within a few days.

Technique that makes the torso stronger

Wood door frames from Mill Panel® are thought through both technically and aesthetically. They are constructed from high quality materials and secured with a chip, so that origin and quality are always traceable. An important innovation within Mill Panel is AluPlex®: an Okoume plywood into which an aluminum vapor barrier is glued. This technique prevents moisture transport, and provides exceptional dimensional stability.

Thanks in part to the aluminum vapor barriers, Mill Panel unprocessed door leafs meet the European standard for burglar resistance. In addition, all unprocessed door leafs are BGS/KOMO certified - an important guarantee in the building industry.

Building blocks for quality

In addition to AluPlex®, Mill Panel also incorporates high-quality insulation materials such as XPS foam, cork and an ecological filling. "We have all the building blocks in-house," explains Renne. "From our own R&D department and laboratory to testing facilities and fully automated production lines. That unique combination makes us agile and innovative. And because we keep semi-finished products in stock, we can switch quickly and guarantee short delivery times." In the second quarter of 2025, Mill Panel will launch a number of new products. While details have not yet been announced, they promise another step forward.

Sustainable steps

In terms of sustainability, Mill Panel is at the beginning of a conscious development and has already taken concrete steps. Residual wood and waste streams are processed in a circular way and used to heat the presses and work areas using a biomass boiler. "In addition, we are working on an ecological door frame, largely made of recycled material," says Renne.

Strong chain, strong hull

Mill Panel works closely with a reliable network of d-dealers, sub-dealers and door manufacturers. In this way the company serves the Dutch market and beyond. These long-term collaborations contribute to the quality of the end product as well as the security of supply. "Our strength lies in the entire chain: from raw material to finished product, supported by innovation and professionals," says Renne. "The fact that we deliver the best quality wooden unprocessed door leafs is not only in materials and machines, but especially in the people who work on it every day with dedication. That's what makes the difference," Coolen concludes.