The future looks bright for the MDF industry and as a follow on effect this should boost the forestry industry in Australia generally. Most major MDF plants in Australia have been expanding and upgrading to keep up with demand and a new plant from a new compeditor is to be built in Launceston, Tasmania.
The mechanical and physical properties of MDF will continue to improve with further research and hopefully a fully weather resistant MDF suitable for outdoor use will soon be available. The technology may soon be around to produce an MDF or similar wood composite that can mimic the structural properties of solid timber beams.
There may soon come a time when economics will dictate that it is cheaper to produce MDF from recycled materials and with current enviromental concerns, particularly over forest reserves, this may see the proliferation of MDF even further.