Asona Ltd has invested in two manufacturing technologies to produce wood look acoustic ceiling and wall panels. The first is traditional CNC slot and drill perforated MDF or plywood sheeting. The second investment has been in acoustic laminates and lightweight composite panel manufacturing.

“It's great to be able to offer architects and builders a choice of materials and finishes,” says Neil Ridgway, owner of Asona Ltd. “Plywood and MDF with veneers look and feel great but sometimes the panel is too heavy for seismic, or the cost is too high for the budget or the acoustic performance is too low, that’s when our second composite option comes in handy,” he says.

Asona brands their perforated MDF and Plywood panels as Sonawood, these panels are available in a broad range of baseboards with standard perforation patterns, acoustic tissue backing and available in paint or veneered and clear coat finishes. Recent projects include Shirley Boys and Avonside Girls school in Christchurch were ASC architects specified over 1200m² of Sonawood fire rated MDF with pine veneer finish, back-laminated with Triton 50 HD to meet the acoustic brief of NRC 0.90 with CAC 35 dB.

The acoustic laminates are branded Sonaris and Sonatex, these laminate finishes are applied to Triton glass fibre acoustic ceiling panels as well as to OWA Sinfonia mineral fibre, Polyfon polyester board and Diffusion plasterboard panels depending on the application, performance and design requirements. The acoustic laminates are roll coated with wood prints and colours to create the desired effect and can be perforated or formed into baffles, fins, floating cloud panels, flat sheet and simple low-cost drop-in ceiling tile. Recent projects include Triton Cloud panels with Maple print at the Little Brews café Christchurch, Triton baffle beams in the Vodafone and Life Pharmacy stores at the Crossing Tauranga and Sonaris R15/60 perforated ceiling panels at agency DDB's Auckland office fit out by GHD Woodhead design.