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The veneer industry has a bright outlook mainly due to the decreasing availability of native raw material from forests. This industry can produce one hundred veneer layons from a log, in comparison to one table being produced from conventional conversion methods. This means that prime logs can be utilised to thier full extent, with up to 95 percent of that log being utilised. New technology has enabled the industry to utilise regrowth and plantation timber which was previously thought to be to small in diameter. Melamine paper overlays do not seem to be effecting the veneer industry as the paper overlay industry has not yet achieved a totally natural look that veneer contains. Also each veneer layon has its own identity, whereas paper overlays are produced in a mass production situation using replica patterns.