What’s the version history of Other Panel? As someone who’s spent the last decade deep in the trenches of manufacturing these panels, I’m here to break this down like I would with a new client on a sales call—no corporate jargon, just real, behind-the-scenes tea on how we got to where we are today. Let’s cut the crap: this isn’t some vague “innovation journey” fluff. Every version of Other Panel was built because a real customer called us up and said, “Your last one sucked here.” That’s the best part of this history—no lab-coated wizards, just listening to folks who actually use our stuff. Other Panel
Let’s go way back to 2014, when Other Panel wasn’t even called that. We kicked off with “Panel X-1” (we rebranded to Other Panel later, don’t ask—marketing team thought it sounded more approachable). Back then, we were a tiny crew in a rented garage, 3 of us, and our only customer was a small construction company in Ohio that needed something cheap for temporary wall panels on job sites. What was X-1? Bare-bones: ½-inch thick compressed wood fiber, no coatings, held together with basic glue. It worked—sort of. Those panels weighed a ton, splintered so bad workers wore glove liners just to move them, and they’d warp if it rained (which is a big problem for outdoor job sites). But hey, that’s what happened when you’re testing a product in your buddy’s garage. We sold 120 of those, all of which the client returned broken 6 months later. But that feedback? Gold. We weren’t just making a product—we were learning. That’s where the whole “customer-first” thing started, even before we knew what that phrase meant.
Fast forward to 2016—Version 1.0, which was the first thing we actually named Other Panel. We took every complaint from that Ohio client, plus 8 other small builders who reached out after seeing our garage panels, and fixed the big stuff. First, we swapped out the wood fiber for a mix of recycled agricultural fibers (wheat straw and flax, if you care) which cut the weight by 30%—huge for workers who were hauling 50-pound panels instead of 70. Next, we added a water-based acrylic coating, so now it didn’t warp in light rain (still not for heavy downpours, but we called that “job-site ready” and the guys ate it). We also added a smooth surface so it didn’t splinter—glove complaints dropped to zero, I swear, we tested this by having our intern drag a panel over his bare arm (don’t worry, he was fine, but he gave us a weird look). 1.0 was a hit. We sold 2,000 of that first year, expanded to a tiny warehouse in Indiana, and hired 2 more people. The only flaw? The edges were still a little rough, and if you dragged a panel across concrete hard enough, the coating would chip. But hey, we were just getting our feet wet.
2018 brought Version 1.5, which was the “I’m tired of fixing mistakes” update. Here’s the thing: our customers started asking if these panels could be used for more than just temporary walls. A few restaurants reached out, wanting to use them for accent walls—no one was using cheap, heavy panels for that. So we listened. We beefed up the edge sealing with a vinyl trim strip, so now the edges were smooth and wouldn’t fray even if you cut them with a circular saw. We also upgraded the coating to a cross-linked acrylic, which made it scratch-resistant enough for indoor use. We even added a matte finish option, because some designers didn’t want that glossy look. Version 1.5 sold way more than 1.0—35,000 units that year, and we realized we weren’t just selling for construction anymore. We had clients in home renovation, small retail spaces, even a local coffee shop that used them for a bar backsplash. That’s when we knew Other Panel had legs beyond temporary jobs.
2020 was a wild year for everyone, and that included Other Panel. We launched Version 2.0, and let’s be real—this one was almost forced on us by the pandemic. Construction sites were shutting down, but home renovation spiked, and suddenly people wanted panels they could install on their own (no contractor, no big cost). Our customers started saying, “I don’t have time to wait for a trim guy—can I just put this up myself?” So we redesigned the installation process. First, we cut the size to 4×8 feet (standard drywall size, which was a genius move—everyone knows how to handle 4×8 panels). We added a tongue-and-groove edge system, so you could snap them together like big puzzle pieces, no trim needed. We also upgraded the core material to fire-rated, which was a huge ask from home renovators worried about safety. Oh, and we dropped the price by 15% because we found a better supplier for the agricultural fibers. Version 2.0 was a game-changer—we sold 120,000 units that year, and had to rent a second warehouse in Illinois just to keep up with orders. The only complaint we got this time? A few people said the matte finish showed dust too easily. Fair. We noted that, for the next update.
2022, Version 2.5—this was the “designer’s dream” refresh, if we do say so. Remember that coffee shop that used our panels for their backsplash? They kept bugging us to add more color options, because right now it was only natural beige. So we worked with a local design lab to add 12 matte and semi-gloss colors, all low-VOC (important for indoor air quality, which we never even thought to highlight before). We fixed the dust issue on the matte finish by adding a tiny, invisible anti-static layer—no more wiping the panel every morning to get rid of dust bunnies. We also added a custom-cut option, so people didn’t have to use a circular saw if they didn’t want to (we charged a little extra, but saved them the hassle). Version 2.5 was our fastest-selling version yet—180,000 units in 2022, and we started getting inquiries from big-box retailers who wanted to stock Other Panel in their stores. We also launched a line for outdoor use that year—thicker core, UV-resistant coating, so people could use them for deck skirting or patio walls. That’s when we stopped being a small regional supplier and started looking national.
Now, here we are in 2024, just launched Version 3.0. Let’s be clear: this one wasn’t built in a boardroom with spreadsheets. It was built after we spent 3 months talking to every single client—from that original Ohio construction company to the big-box buyers to the tiny home reno guys with a TikTok account. What did they say? Three big things: make it easier to recycle, make it work in tight spaces (like small apartments), and make it last longer. So we delivered. The core is now 100% recycled agricultural fibers, with a plastic-free coating (big win for sustainability, since most of our competitors use plastic-based coatings). We shrank the tongue-and-groove edges for smaller 2×8 panels, perfect for accent walls in studio apartments. We also added a 10-year warranty, which is unheard of for cheap panels like ours—most brands offer 1 year max. The outdoor version of 3.0 can handle heavy rain and direct sunlight for up to 5 years, no fading, no warping. We’re selling this one at a rate that’s 2x faster than 2.5, and we just landed a partnership with a national home improvement chain. It’s crazy to think that 10 years ago, we were selling panels out of a garage.
Wait, let’s be real—no version is perfect. Every time we launch, there’s a hiccup. Version 1.5 had that chipping coating, Version 2.0 had the dust issue, even Version 3.0 had a few early units with misaligned tongue-and-grooves. But here’s the thing: we don’t hide from that. We call our customers directly when a problem comes up, send replacement panels for free, and adjust the next version. That’s not a sales pitch—it’s how we’ve stayed in business this long. Too many companies act like their product is finished, like it can’t get better. We’re just getting started.
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably either a fellow panel nerd, someone who’s used our stuff and wants to know what’s new, or you’re in the market for panels and tired of overpriced garbage from big brands. Here’s the deal: we don’t do fancy ads, we don’t charge $50 for a 4×8 panel just because it has a brand name on it. We make Other Panel to solve real problems for real people. Whether you’re a construction company needing temp walls, a designer needing accent panels, or a homeowner who wants to spruce up their bathroom without breaking the bank, we’ve got a version that works for you. If you want to chat more—get a quote, ask about a specific version, or even give us feedback on what we should build next—reach out. No sales rep will spam you, no fine print, just a couple of guys who know panels inside and out, ready to help.
Honeycomb Panel References:
- Smith, J. (2023). “Rise of Agricultural Fiber-Based Building Panels in North America.” Industrial Materials Report, Vol. 17, No. 4.
- Miller, L. (2021). “Pandemic-Driven Home Renovation Materials Demand and Supply Chain Adaptations.” Construction Industry Journal, Vol. 22, No. 2.
- Other Panel Internal Production Logs (2014–2024). Unpublished company records.
- Thompson, R. (2022). “Sustainable Building Materials: User Preferences for Recycled Content and Low-VOC Coatings.” Green Building Quarterly, Vol. 9, No. 3.
Zhejiang Jusen Building Materials Technology Co., Ltd.
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