Wood And Panel Europe

ECOBUILD ARRANGES TIMBER TOURS

TRADA is offering guided timber tours at Ecobuild which will educate the visitors on latest innovations in timber and timber-related products. The tours will be conducted by TRADA Technology's technical consultants across the whole timber-construction supply chain. The tours will be held in schedule A and B.

Tour A will take place at 11am and 2pm and will visit Arnold Laver, B&K Structures, Dempsey Dyer Ltd, EcoChoice, GreenSteps, James Jones, Norbord, Russell Timber, Stewart Milne, Viking Windows, West Port and Wolf Systems.

Tour B will start at 12.30pm and 3.30pm and will visit Arden Windows, Aptus Fastener Systems, BluWood International Ltd, Coillte Panel Products, EBS Elk, Finnforest, PEFC UK Ltd, Richlite, Senior Architectural Systems, Wiehag and Wood Awards.

BWF COMES WITH ONLINE TRAINING MODULE FOR WOOD WASTE

The British Woodworking Federation (BWF) has launched an online Training Academy with its first e-learning module today, giving the joinery industry access to a flexible and modern training resource.

The first training module is on Wood Waste and Resource Efficiency, aiming to help joinery manufacturing businesses make better use of their timber resources at all stages from procurement through to disposal. The module is also useful for builders merchants and other suppliers to understand the joinery-side issues around procurement and wood waste disposal, and how they can play their role.

The Timber Resource Efficiency Partnership (TREP) has supported the BWF in producing the training materials for this module. This is part of its work towards achieving the aims of the Joinery Industry Resource Efficiency Plan, published in September 2010.

John Fletcher, Project Management for TREP, said:

“This module is the first step in helping joinery businesses, timber companies and builders merchants deal more effectively in the procurement and disposal processes, saving themselves money as well as bolstering the industry’s environmental credentials.”

Wood Waste is the first in a series of modules the BWF is offering via the academy, providing a modern alternative to physical training solutions. Future subjects will include joinery estimating and fire doors.

Dave Campbell, BWF Marketing and Training Manager, has been driving the project with the aim of expanding the reach of training among the BWF’s members.

Access to the online academy is currently free to BWF and TREP members.

FINLAND FORESTRY GREW BY 4 PER CENT IN 2011

Forest industry in Finland grew by 2 per cent in 2011 in comparison to its previous year. Exports grew by 4 per cent during the same year. The wood products industry grew by 4 per cent while exports of pulp and paper industry products remained on the previous year's level.

The early part of the year was positive for the forest industry, but the European financial crisis depressed the industry's production volumes towards the close of the year. The price of timber was higher than the long-term average and timber sales picked up pace in summer and towards the end of the year. The prices of energy and emission allowances decreased in the latter half of the year as a result of the economic crisis.

Timo Jaatinen, Director General of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation said, “The decision to amend the energy tax refund mechanism at the beginning of 2012 was good for the competitiveness of the forest industry. It is important that this lighter energy tax burden is not cancelled out with the introduction of new taxes to balance State finances. The competitiveness of an industrial sector, which creates employment and growth, must be looked after also in difficult times”.

Sawn timber production increased 7 per cent from the previous year to about 10 million cubic metres. Advance data indicates that exports of all wood products industry articles were up about 4 per cent.

Several new forest industry products and innovations have been published over the past year. The production of microfibril cellulose, for example, progressed into the pre-commercial stage and the first biorefinery investments are being launched.

Demand for forest industry products will increase in the future, as consumption of non-renewable materials will be replaced with use of renewable and recyclable products.

EFI TO EDUCATE ON FLEGT-REDD

The FLEGT-REDD unit of EFI is organizing a special event for its member organizations. The event named Synergies in FLEGT-REDD activities’ will be held in Barcelona, Spain, on 12–13 April 2012 at the Institut d'Estudis Catalans in Barcelona, to identify and discuss the potential synergies and cooperation between ongoing work of EFI's FLEGT and REDD Unit.

REDD+ related policy options and governance challenges will be main highlight of the event. EU FLEGT Facility will provide key lessons learned from Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) processes.

EFI’s associate and affiliate members would be educations and discussing the development of the REDD and FLEGT through various topics in the event.

FMC CHINA 2012 ROCKS!

Purchasing groups from Vietnam, India and Mexico will bring 30-40 furniture manufacturers respectively to FMC China 2012 from 11 - 14 September to visit the related enterprises and factories. The Taiwan Woodworking Machinery Association (TWMA) and the Italian Woodworking Machinery Association (ACIMALL) will each have more than 30 exhibitors participating at FMC China 2012 to show visitors the latest product technology. There will be a total of 2,500 furniture manufacturers with 350,000sqm exhibiting at Furniture China 2012. They are the direct visitors for FMC.

In 2012, FMC will use Hall 4 and the total area will be 71,000 square metres, representing an increase of 20% over last year. There are 850 exhibitors expected in 2012, an increase of 14% over last year. And the visitor numbers are up to 35,000, 10% increase over last year. At the beginning of 2012, FMC booth sales have reached 70% with a positive response from exhibitors.

FMC received positive feedback last year. Cheng Jue, the Representative of Zhongwei Holding Group, said, "This is the fourth time that we have attended FMC China. We are glad to see FMC moving to a new venue. We used to get an outdoor booth at SNIEC. The air-conditioner was not powerful enough and many customers complained. This year we will move indoors where the hall environment is clean and comfortable, so all customers are well taken care of.”

FMC Premium 2012 has attracted many famous enterprises such as Frenchtimber, Okin, Taizhou Chenguang, Aoda, Yihuang, Huali, Kingdecor, Dupont, Jowat and the State of North Carolina, .Penncylvania hardwood pavilions

WWF reflects on how they affect the lives in Congo

Some of the people affected directly by illegal logging in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will be coming to the UK next week. They’ll make it clear to the politicians and businesses that the kind of wood products we buy here can have a big impact on lives in central Africa. They’ll also show how using sustainable alternatives is best for people and the environment. And they’ll visit places where FSC timber is in use - like the London Olympics site.

On Monday 20 February, three representatives from DRC forest communities will visit UK sites where certified, sustainable timber from the Congo Basin has been used - including the Olympic Park in Stratford, and Southend pier.

The following day they’ll meet politicians and businesses to tell them why we need to make sure timber imported into the UK is sourced from well-managed, FSC-certified forests.

Stora Enso Publishes Annual Report 2011

Stora Enso - the Finland-based Integrated group of forest products companies has recently published its annual reports for 2011. The Report is comprised of four separate publications: Stora Enso Rethink 2011, Financial Report 2011, Corporate Governance Report 2011 and
Global Responsibility Report 2011.

Stora Enso Rethink 2011 is available in English, Finnish and Swedish. Financial
Report 2011, Corporate Governance Report 2011 and Global Responsibility Report
2011 are available in English.

Printed publications will be published during the week commencing Monday 5
March 2012. Stora Enso Rethink 2011, including Stora Enso Facts & Figures 2011
insert, will be distributed to shareholders registered with Euroclear Finland
and Euroclear Sweden who have requested a copy. Printed copies of Stora Enso
Rethink 2011, Financial Report 2011 and Global Responsibility Report 2011 can
be ordered at www.storaenso.com/order or by sending an e-mail to
group.communications@storaenso.com.

Stora Enso has also published the following separate PDF documents:

-- The official Financial Statements in Finnish
-- English translation of the Parent Company Financial Statements for 2011
-- Finnish translation of the Corporate Governance Report 2011
-- Global Responsibility Stakeholder Magazine in English

All of these publications and documents can be downloaded at the Group's
website at www.storaenso.com/annualreport.

B&K Structures Provides PEFC Certified Timber to Wellington Academy

B&K Structures _medArchitects and contractors working on the extension of the Wiltshire-based Wellington Academy sought the services of building specialists B&K Structures and their PEFC certified timber to create a sustainable, environmentally friendly structure.

The Wellington Academy is an institution for secondary education with 1,150 students aged 11 to 18 years. In addition to a 350-seat theatre, the Academy has business, enterprise, and design and technology facilities. It also has a separate boarding house constructed from highly engineered timber.

Andrew Deeprose, Design Co-ordinator for Kier Moss comments: "The architects and the academy were keen to ensure the building would be environmentally friendly. So sustainability was a key consideration on this project, and it was important when looking at sub-contractors to combine this with competitive pricing."

Giles Blight, Architect for BDP, who were employed by Kier, required a structure with the environmental benefits of sustainably sourced timber and the strength and integrity of steel, to be delivered on time and on budget. Combining all these attributes, the hybrid structure from B&K Structures was the ideal solution.

In the academy building itself, the progressive design incorporates natural ventilation and maximises the use of engineered glulam beams and columns. In addition, an xlam roof forms the central hub space of the atrium.

The separate boarding house, meanwhile, features a timber frame, made from xlam structural walls and ceilings, and cassette floors. Together with this, exposed glulam structural feature columns support a steel cantilever to a glazed roof. In a three-storey boarding house facility such as this, where groups of students are regularly moving from room to room, noise reduction is an important consideration.

Explaining how the floors were installed, Giles Blight comments: "Due to their acoustic and insulation properties, the cassette floors were key to the design." Delivery took place on time, and while the overall job took longer than expected, B&K Structures was adept at ensuring that there was no knock-on effect from one zone to the next and the team was able to construct each area independently of the next. Located adjacent to the existing Wellington Academy, the new buildings will provide a modern replacement for the outdated facilities and meet the needs of future students and staff.

TTF LAUNCHED 2012 MEMBERS' DIRECTORY AND BUYERS' GUIDE

The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) has launched the 2012 edition of the Members' Directory and Buyers' Guide.

The new Members' Directory and Buyers' Guide contains all the information buyers need to make an informed choice, along with details of incoming regulations, a full copy of the Code of Conduct, a description of the range of business services the TTF provides to Members.

The Guide has this year been complemented with the publication of the TTF Action Plan � an outline of the main focus of attention and action for the TTF Executive in the coming years. The Action Plan has been developed following consultation with members, customers and supply chains and highlights seven target work streams which will help the TTF expand its work and ensure that the timber industry provides a competitive, focused and relevant service offer to key clients, particularly in construction.

John White, Chief Executive of the Timber Trade Federation said: "The latest Directory provides buyers with a fully comprehensive list of UK suppliers as well as insight and information on issues affecting the sector and our Members. Our Action Plan also highlights the direction we are taking at TTF and areas of focus as we continue on our mission to grow the use of wood."

SCHELLING INTRODUCES PRODUCTIVE PANEL DIVISION SAWS

Schelling Anlagenbau GmbH extended its cut-to-size saws which has earned industry’s confidence through their high quality performance. Schelling has added the new VS area storage system which increases the flexibility of the machines significantly. With the new HPO optimisation software in the machine, single and pattern cuts can be entered automatically and downloaded quickly. The company’s fh 4 and fh 6 panel dividing saws find its application in furniture industry and the joinery sector for their high cutting accuracy and their long service life.
fh 4 and fh 6 with the Schelling PLUS+ concept gives highest precision and productivity through more performance, optimised procedures, perfect cutting force, practical automation and innovative technology.

The fh 4 is equipped with a 15 kW motor to effortlessly handle book cuts. The 350 mm diameter saw blade allows blade projection of 95 mm. The saw blade can be adjusted automatically via a variable positioning element for optimal saw blade projection to suit particular applications. The feed speeds can be adjusted forward and reverse to 80 m/min (EU to 25 m/min forward).

The maximum saw blade speed of up to 120 m/min ensures extremely short saw cycles. Saw cycles can be further optimised by the simultaneous lifting or lowering of the saw aggregate and through the automatic detection of book heights and panel sizes. Various versions of cutting lengths of 3300, 4300 or 5800 mm and insert depths of 3300, 4300 or 5800 mm allows fh 4 to adapt to different operating requirements.
fh 6 has similar cycle optimisation with a saw blade diameter of 460 mm, allowing a saw blade projection of up to 135 mm, which offers a significant increase of panel throughput in the package. The insert speed is 80 m/min and the saw feed speed at up to 150 m/min results in higher ejection speed for finished parts. The cutting lengths available in this series are 3300, 4300, 5800 or 6300 mm, the insert depths can be 3300, 4300 or 5800 mm.

The steel machine table-bed protects the surface of any material being processed including high-gloss material. The manually adjustable, extra-wide 700 mm air cushion table allows proper handling of material after and during the cutting process. Rotary table reduces the handling time and allows longitudinally divided panels can be rotated for transverse cutting in one simple action.

Strips are not stacked but aligned angularly with the double-strip aligners that press the material onto the angle stop before and after the saw line. Even high book cuts can be accurately aligned with automatically adjustable alignment. Accurate saw aggregate guides and feeder carriage ensures cutting precision and low maintenance. The shear clamps on the feeder carriage automatically adjust to the pressure required for the book height allowing positioning to the desired dimension is guaranteed. With the DUPLUS2 concept, independent positioning of individual clamps to an additional dimension can be achieved.

Schelling optimisation software HPO calculates the cutting plans, as one of the ways to minimise material and production costs. Cutting panels are represented in either graphic or tabular form, summarising the cutting plan by importing data in a variety of formats. fh 6 features a management software, XBoB which lets one book residual panels, not required for the actual order into the warehouse, with a label and box numbers assigned to the remnants. Each remnant are managed in the optimisation and rescheduled for the next optimisation run. When the remnants are cut to size they will be automatically booked out of the system. This results in significantly lower storage costs, optimal utilisation of the panels, and a significantly smaller storage area for remnants.

The fh 4 and fh 6 panel dividing saws can be loaded either via an integrated lift table or via Schelling’s VS area storage device.

BILL ISSUINGDECADES-OLD INCINERATORS AND BOILERS AT PULP MILLS AS RENEWABLE ENERGY CLEARED THE HATFIELD SENATE

A bill that would classify decades-old incinerators and boilers at pulp mills as renewable energy cleared the Hatfield Senate .The bill has the potential to save local pulp producers millions of dollars. The bill would preserve jobs in the forest products industry, which has faced steep cutbacks and shrinking markets during the recession.

The bill, which sailed through the Senate by a 45-1 vote, would allow pulp mills to count biomass power generated onsite as "renewable" for their share of public utilities' I-937 mandates starting in 2016. The legislation also allows industrial customers to sell renewable energy credits earned before 1999 back to their home utilities, but not on the open market - a key provision used to mitigate opposition from environmental groups that killed the bill last year, Hatfield said.

If the bill becomes law, Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging and Weyerhaeuser Co.'s Longview plants stand to save millions of dollars over a long term because they won't have to buy renewable energy credits, industry officials say.

SOURCE: TDN.com

GLOBAL FURNITURE AND FIXTURES INDUSTRY TO REACH US$436.5 BILLION BY 2015

The furniture market operates in close call with the housing industry which was severely affected by the economic downturn. Despite the recovery, growth remains unstable as customer confidence continues to waver in view of the volatile economic environment in Europe, soaring gasoline costs and subdued employment rates.

With no significant increase in personal incomes or in sale of homes, the furniture market is yet to pick up pace. Faced with declining margins and intensely competitive conditions, several manufacturers shifted their production operations to emerging nations as part of efforts to cut costs. Furniture sales are expected to recover with improvement in housing sales.

Factors such as value and product mix, innovative marketing and capacity to maintain and deliver inventories of fabric and furniture frames continue to influence sales of furniture. Though replacement sales offer potential opportunities, reduced discretionary spending and prolonged replacement cycles continue to hamper growth prospects.

While the growing levels of sophistication of modern lifestyles will continue to drive gains in this market, the present financial troubles are casting the spotlight on cost effective, mass-market products.

Long-term growth in the global furniture and fixtures market is expected from Asia, owing to steady economic growth and rising standards of living. Further, increasing migration towards urban areas, rising disposable incomes, and changing lifestyles are expected to offer favorable prospects for market participants.

Flourishing property industry and tourist industry in developing economies is expected to foster the demand for hotel and residential furniture, along with other high-end products. Globalization and changing consumer behavior is contributing to the increased demand for luxury furniture in emerging markets such as China, Russia, India, and Brazil.

Manufacturers are increasingly opting to produce furniture from alternative material and recycled products such as wood from old buildings or reclaimed wood, thereby driving the demand for green furniture.

The research report titled "Furniture and Fixtures: A Global Outlook" announced by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a collection of statistical anecdotes, market briefs, and concise summaries of research findings. The report offers an aerial view of the global industry, identifies major short to medium term market challenges, and growth drivers.

Market discussions in the report are punctuated with fact-rich market data tables. Regional markets elaborated upon include United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, UK, Russia, China, India, Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and UAE, among others.

CE STANDARD FOR WOOD PRODUCTS IN JAPAN

A CE standard for wood products has been recognised in Japan for the first time. This will simplify exports of construction timber to Japan, for European sawmills. "Recognition of the CE marked products for 2"x4" construction timber is a major breakthrough in our efforts to harmonise standards between Europe and Japan," says Jan S�derlind, Chairman of EuropeanWood.

Till date, European producers of 2"x4" products for structural usage needed a JAS certificate (Japan Agriculture Standard). From February 6, the European standard 14081-1 for design strength values for structural lumber is recognised in Japan. CE stamped 2"x4" products can thus be used in the same way as JAS certified products.

NEW ARPER SHOWROOM IN STOCKHOLM

On 7th February 2012 the opening of the new Arper showroom took place in Stockholm, the creative hub of Nordic design.

The Swedish capital was chosen to strengthen the constant contact with the numerous architecture and interior design firms located in the territory, with which Arper has established great relationships and shared visions over time.

The mono-brand showroom, based in the �stermalm district, is developed according to a concept by Lievore Altherr Molina, the Barcelona-based firm with which Arper has a long and fruitful collaboration � from the creation of memorable collections, including Catifa and Leaf, to the recent remake of the corporate identity. The interior design project has focused on the creation of a luminous space, the perfect stage for the displayed products, easily showing and making the whole collection accessible, with its manifold variations and customizations. The predominantly white background hosts not only the chromatic palette of leather and fabrics, but also the vivid pictures shot by Dutch photographer Maurice Scheltens, author and conceptual interpreter of the new visual identity of Arper.

The opening party was crowded with the design community. Guests could preview the new chair �Juno� designed by James Irvine, which will be officially launched in April 2012 at the Saloni del Mobile in Milan.

OM HOME IS THE PROUD WINNER OF THE FIRST "COLOUR ROAD STAR AWARD"

Chinese kitchen manufacturer OM HOME is the proud winner of the first “Colour Road Star Award”, offered by the RENOLIT DESIGN business unit in Deidesheim, Rhineland-Palatinate on 8 December 2011. The company’s innovative and stylish use of 3D films from RENOLIT DESIGN’s extensive range including Colour Road 2011/12 collection trend colours, as well as the overall form and distinctive kitchen concept played a key role in the jury’s decision.

With its exciting use of the Makassar Natural high-gloss film on the carcass of a boat-shaped kitchen island, OM Home presented a kitchen idea which, in spite of its highly innovative surfaces and overall design, did not lose sight of the functional aspect of a kitchen.

The trophy which was specially designed for the occasion and the prize of an Apple iPad will be presented to the winner during Interzum Guangzhou 2012 (27th-30th March 2012, Guangzhou, China).

With OM HOME, the jury chose a worthy winner with an exciting product. This year, Karsten Jänicke, Business Unit Manager at RENOLIT DESIGN, hopes to see more European companies taking part in the competition. After all, a number of the new kitchen models which are featured in the current Colour Road Trend Brochure 12/13 definitely have what it takes to win an award.

WFP READY TO INVEST $ 16 MILLION FOR THE SALTAIR SAWMILL

Western Forest Products announced the first project in capital plan; a $16 million investment in the Saltair Sawmill. Western was joined by Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, for the formal site announcement.

This capital project will make Saltair the largest single line sawmill on the coast of BC and will provide upgrades to the edgers, stacker and sorters. The upgrades will increase production by approximately 15%, lowering the per unit cost of production, and improving competitiveness with global producers. Increased efficiencies with the upgrade will reduce mill bottlenecks, not only a benefit to productivity, but also to the safety of the work environment. Once the project is complete, a more competitive mill, that can absorb market fluctuations, will provide more stable and secure employment for the 140 existing mill jobs.

�With our improved financial results and a secure timber supply; both key to having the confidence to invest, we are taking the first step in our plan. Our capital planning focus now shifts to other high return projects that make up the remainder of our capital investment strategy�, said Dominic Gammiero, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

HOWARD MORRIS AS THE NEW COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR OF TFS

Trade Fabrication Systems (TFS), one of the UK's leading processors of coated and laminated wood based products, has promoted Howard Morris to commercial director.

Speaking about Howard's promotion, Jean Richardson, Managing Director at TFS, said: "Howard played a fundamental role in making our vision for the company a reality over the last couple of years. And it's not just the product portfolio where Howard has made a real difference but also via internal processes, he was instrumental in the company achieving ISO9001 quality assurance and Investors in People.

With over 27 years experience in the panel, timber and construction industry, Howard has a wealth of knowledge from positions at companies, such as Norbord, Weyerhaeuser, Knauf Drywall, SIG Insulations and Mallinson Denny.

AHEC EXPERTS PARTICIPATED IN INDIAWOOD 2012

The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry, is participating in the seventh edition of the International Trade Fair for Woodworking Machinery, Tools, Fittings, Accessories, Raw Materials and Products (INDIAWOOD) through its involvement with the �INDIAWOOD� seminar, providing fresh insights and addressing the latest and most pressing issues in the timber business in India.
The theme of the seminar this year is �Know Your Wood�. Featured AHEC speakers include Bob Sabistina, AHEC�s Technical Consultant and U.S. hardwood lumber grading expert, and Dr. Scott Bowe, Professor & Wood Products Specialist Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology College of Agricultural and Life Sciences University of Wisconsin, USA. Sabistina delivered a presentation on American hardwood species, grades and applications, while Bowe�s seminar covered the U.S. hardwood forest resource, lumber production and kiln-drying, with some emphasis on the environmental credentials of American hardwoods.

�The U.S. hardwood industry has extensive experience of drying hardwood lumber. In fact much of the research over the last 35 years related to drying temperate hardwood has emanated from the United States. Satisfactory kiln drying can only be achieved through having the proper equipment, by employing the correct techniques and by having a full understanding of the material,� said Wiles.

RISI'S CHINA'S TIMBER SUPPLY OUTLOOK

A new study by RISI, named as China's Timber Supply Outlook, 2011-2015, provides a thorough review and update of China's forest resource base, it's rapidly expanding wood products and pulp and paper industries.

The study will focus on the following areas:

• China's Economic Outlook, 2011-2015

• Domestic Timber Supply - updated forest inventory data; reported timber harvest trends by province; estimates of total wood fiber production; trends in new planting for timber production; new timber harvest quotas under 12th Five-Year Plan; forecast of domestic timber supply.

• Plantation Investment in China - profiles of all major foreign companies and all listed Chinese companies with forest assets in China; focus on species planted and growth rates; impact of forest reform and certification in China; cost of plantation development and estimated returns; Chinese companies acquiring overseas forest resources.

• Imported Timber Supply - volume trends for log and woodchip imports by species and source; lumber and other wood products imports by source; imports of wood pulp by grade and source.

• Timber Demand in China - lumber and wood panel demand by sector; forecast of lumber and wood panel production, imports and consumption; forecast of wood pulp production and imports; industrial roundwood requirements to meet expected demand.

• Price trends for imported logs, lumber and woodchips, by species and source.
• China's Timber Supply/Demand Outlook - forecast of China's imports of logs, lumber and woodchips needed to balance demand and supply; forecast of China's timber supply deficit.

• Consultants, government agencies and international institutions involved in the forest products sector

This study will provide an integrated overview and analysis of the prospects for China's rapidly developing forest products industry.

indiawood:day 2

INDIAWOOD being the largest fair in the region again successfully drew a huge crowd and attention to it. Three halls reserved for the event were overflowing with visitors who were not only curious about the machineries brought from all over the world, but this year the number of deals signed seems to be outdoing the history. Companies, such as, Hymmen or Schattdecor, though not overtly ambitious, seemed to be happy to make their presence in the ever-growing Indian industry. Though a few of the exhibitors believe five days are too much for this industry to invest, still none said investing in India is an immature decision. Figures will take some time to appear, but from the ground I can report, it's surely crowded with serious visitors and nonetheless happy and hopeful exhibitors.

PFI AND ALSC ACCREDITED TEN AUDITING AGENCIES AND TWO LABS

The Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI) and the American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) marked the first critical step in the roll out of the new densified biomass fuel standard for North America through the accreditation of ten auditing agencies and two laboratories to the PFI Standards Program.

The Board of Review of the ALSC has accredited the following agencies to provide service under the program requirements:

1. Carolina Inspection Service, Inc.
2. Conway & Robison, LLC
3. Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association
4. PFS Corporation
5. Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau
6. Package Research Laboratory
7. Southern Pine Inspection Bureau
8. Timber Products Inspection
9. West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau
10. Western Wood Products Association

The Board of Review of the ALSC also has accredited two laboratories: Timber Products Inspection and the University of Maine. Accredited testing laboratories perform analyses on densified fuel to the PFI standard.

Under the supervision of ALSC, the program�s accreditation body, accredited auditing agencies provide services for qualifying densified fuel production facilities to label compliant densified fuel as outlined by program requirements.
Agencies will audit the fuel that is produced in accordance with the program�s parameters, which establish three grades of fuel �Premium, Standard, and Utility � that can be easily matched to the appropriate pellet-burning appliance.

According to PFI Executive Director, Jennifer Hedrick, �With the support the industry has shown thus far, we�re expecting many fuel manufacturers to enroll in this early stage of the program.�

PFI ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Abstracts are being accepted for PFI�s Annual Conference for the following topic areas:

1. Regional, State and Local Initiatives in the Pellet Industry: What the pellet Industry can learn from Northeastern states. Presentations may address public policy, project development and/or community initiatives.

2. Marketing Strategies for the Promotion of Pellet Fuels: Best practices and new concepts to accelerate adoption and capture a larger consumer base.

3. Pellet Fuel Markets Beyond Residential: Using wood pellets for other thermal applications (e.g. greenhouses, Confined Animal Feeding Operations, institutional conversions from LP gas, coal, or oil, sustainable solutions for universities and public facilities).

4. Raw Material Resources: Accessing feedstock now and in the future (e.g. how federal regulations have impacted private landowners, long and short-term impacts of the downturn of the building industry on sawmill/plant residue, etc.).

5. The Future of Alternative Biomass Crops: How will the advent and increased usage of non-woody biomass impact the industry?

6. Open Category.

The PFI Conference Committee will review all abstracts. Notice of abstract acceptance will be made by PFI on May 4, 2012.

CHINA TO IMPORT WOOD-CHIPS FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA

With the lack of sufficient quality and quantity of domestic wood fiber supply, new pulp mills in China are looking to expand importation of wood chips from plantation-rich countries in Southeast Asia to meet their growing fiber needs.

Malaysia, Cambodia, Chile and Brazil are few of the recent and still small suppliers of
hardwood chips to China. These countries, which all supply wood chips from fast growing Eucalyptus and Acacia plantations, are likely to expand their shipments in the coming years when Chinese pulp mills continue to diversify their supply sources.

Pulpmills in China consume practically only hardwood fiber, so imports of softwood
chips were negligible up until last year when a few shipments started to enter Chinese
ports from Australia, Russia, the US and New Zealand. This year, total softwood imports
may reach just above 300,000 tons, or four percent of total chip imports.

Vietnam is the lowest-cost supplier, while the cost for Eucalyptus chips from Australia were at the high-end in the 3Q. The costs chips imported from the major supplying country Vietnam, have gone up almost 40 percent over the past two years. Vietnam is also shipping large chip volumes to Japanese pulp mills.

RAUTE WITH OVER EUR 50 MILLION ORDER FROM CHILE

Raute Corporation has received orders valued at over EUR 50 million from Paneles Arauco S.A. in Chile for plywood mill machinery and equipment. The machinery and equipment will be delivered mainly during the last part of the year 2012 for rebuilding the Nueva Aldea plywood mill which was destroyed in a fire in the beginning of January.

These orders have a significant impact on Raute's outlook for 2012. Raute will publish its estimate of 2012 outlook in the financial statements bulletin to be published on February 14, 2012.

The orders comprise, among others, two state-of-the-art veneer peeling lines, three drying lines equipped with latest machine vision and moisture meter technology, four automatic plywood gluing and lay-up lines, three plywood presses, an automatic veneer patching line together with three automatic veneer puttying lines and the mill's production management system.

These orders, being the biggest in Raute's history, are a proof of Raute's versatile expertise. Starting a project of this extent in a couple of weeks after the fire is a unique achievement, which is based on the long cooperation, established relationship and mutual confidence between Arauco and Raute.
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WOOD BUILDING AT SHANGHAI DISNEYLAND

A 700 sqm wood frame building is under construction at the Shanghai Disney Resort, the first Disney resort in Mainland China. The wood frame structure will serve as offices for Disney employees and is centrally located within the resort area. The building will also serve as a VIP reception venue for government officials who visit during the construction phase.

Mr. Shi Mingfang, Vice President of the Shanghai Shendi Group, Disney’s Chinese partner, selected the final design of the building. As a result, a wood design by the Shanghai Landscape Design Institute was selected over other proposed designs.

The building building is expected to be completed in late March 2012 when Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng will lead a delegation of officials in a tree-planting ceremony to be held at the site.

MoU SIGNED BETWEEN CWK AND KWCA

Canada Wood Korea (CWK) Country Director Tai Jeong and Korea Wood Construction Association (KWCA) Chairman Chan Kyu Park have signed the 2nd extension of MOU on January 28, 2012. The MoU is for the cooperation in the implementation of 5 Star Construction Quality Certification program, training and inspection program for ensuring quality construction in Korea. Joseph Choi, a former consultant for CWK, has been named as the director for QA.

The two organizations, have worked together over the last two years conducting joint inspections of 43 projects for 5 Star Certification and holding numerous QA meetings for developing Inspection Check List and QA workshops for training. They realised a strong need for more training and creation of dedicated position for QA within KWCA to improve the effectiveness of QA program.

In order to implement the perceived changes, CWK has begun to provide more training and technical support for KWCA members particularly in their project planning stages for proper preparation of construction documents, and KWCA, on their part, has created a position dedicated for 5 Star Quality Assurance program with extra contributions from its members, demonstrating their commitment to QA.

INTERZUM GUANGZHOU 2012

Focusing on the furniture upstream industry, China International Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Raw Materials Fair (Guangzhou) [referred as CIFM/ interzum guangzhou] is recognized as the largest and most comprehensive woodworking machinery and accessories fair in Asia, with the aim of offering a �one-package manufacturing solution� for furniture production industry. It is expected to reach a scale of 130,000 SQM in 2012, a marked increase of 20,000 SQM compared with that of 2011. Over 1000 exhibitors, including many renowned exhibitors such as the German, Italy, U.S.A, Spain and Turkey pavilions, will present their most advanced furniture production technology, techniques and materials all under one roof.

RAUTE TO RELEASE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Raute Corporation is going to publish its financial statements bulletin for January 1 � December 31, 2011 (12 months) on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at about 9 a.m. A briefing for analysts, investors and the media will be organized on the same day at 2:00 � 3:00 p.m., at Scandic Simonkentta Hotel, Roba cabinet, Simonkatu 9, Helsinki. Financial statements for 2011 as well as about our prospects for the year 2012 will be heard on that day only. Everything will be presented by Raute Corporation�s President and CEO Tapani Kiiski and CFO Arja Hakala.

PEFC'S GUIDE

PEFC's recent publication, A Guide for Retailers, recognizes that the retail sector is in a unique position to make a difference in the forest by ensuring that the products it offers, and indeed the materials it uses in its own facilities and infrastructure (buildings, shelving, etc.), are sourced and manufactured from sustainably managed forests. The sector also has a tremendous opportunity to capture a share of the growing market for sustainably produced goods.

A Guide for Retailers is a brief and uncomplicated guide. It describes for the sector how PEFC certification and the simple act of being able to label their goods with the PEFC logo can benefit them. Notably, the simple act of providing goods certified to PEFC standards can help secure customer loyalty, enhance brand image and increase market share.

The Guide also describes in simple terms how the retail sector can support responsible forest management by, among others, promoting the importance of certification and goods sourced from sustainably-managed sources throughout its own supply chain, through its own suppliers and customers.

ALPI WITH MATTEO RAGNI'S PROJECT

For more than eighty years Alpi has been working with wood in all its aspects, focusing on this central feature of its business with passion and respect.

Through continuous, focused research, the company has demonstrated that even an ancient and noble material such as wood can be reinvented and reinterpreted to create something new and improved. This idea has led to the development of multilaminar wood. The technology allows a single trunk to be cut into a large number of sheets of wood that are coloured and recombined to create panels, boards and coverings. These products are identical to woods that, until now, could only be obtained from premium tree species, which are becoming rarer and must be protected.

The limitless creative capabilities of multilaminar technology can also be used to produce woods with colours and patterns that do not exist in nature.

This continuous interest in innovation has made Alpi the international leader in the wood veneer sector and an ideal partner for designers, interior architects and furniture businesses, including contract furniture.

Today Alpi is facing market challenges head-on, further enhancing its collection and developing a new corporate identity.

With this objective in mind, Alpi has selected Matteo Ragni, an Italian architect who shares the company�s values and vision, to head its art direction project.

FORECAST OF THE CONSTRUCTION WOOD INDUSTRY

The report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into the construction wood market in the BRIC countries including:- In-depth analysis of the construction wood market in the four BRIC countries: Brazil, Russia, India and China- A detailed country-specific analysis of market attractiveness, covering the key trends, drivers and challenges across the four countries- Detailed market sizes for each BRIC country for a period of 10 years (2007-2016), including category level and end-user level analysis- Detailed insights into the regulatory framework, market entry strategy, product innovation and marketing strategy relevant to the construction wood market- Description and analysis of the competitive landscape and the key distribution channels for the construction wood market.

Due to the growing demand for housing from Brazil's large population, construction activity in Brazil grew rapidly during the review period. Brazil is currently facing a shortage of seven million housing units, which is expected to reach more than 12 million by 2022 due to the country's rising population and rapid urbanization. This will drive demand for construction wood in the country during the forecast period. The Russian construction wood industry will be driven by several impending major construction projects in the country, including those in preparation for global sporting events such as the 2014 Winter Olympics and 2018 FIFA World Cup over the forecast period. In India, the commercial construction end-user market is one of the largest contributors to the Indian construction wood industry, due to its dramatic growth following the expansion of India's information technology industry. China is the world's largest furniture manufacturer. Its production capacity now accounts for more than 20% of global production capacity. Furthermore, wooden furniture accounts for around one-third of all the furniture manufactured in China in 2010.

This report provides an extensive analysis of the construction wood market in the BRIC countries: - It analyses historical values for the construction wood market for 2007-2011, along with forecast figures for 2012-2016- It provides supporting country-specific analysis on the overall market as well as individual values for the market's key categories- The report provides top-level analysis of the construction wood market's production and market dynamics- The report also details the competitive landscape for manufacturers including future market entry strategies- The report outlines the current regulatory framework in the market

WEYERHAEUSER WITH ITS EARNINGS

Weyerhaeuser Company today reported net earnings of $65 million for the fourth quarter, or 12 cents per diluted share, on net sales from continuing operations of $1.6 billion. This compares with net earnings of $171 million, or 32 cents per diluted share, on net sales from continuing operations of $1.5 billion for the same period last year.

Earnings for the fourth quarter of 2011 include net after-tax charges of $12 million for restructuring and asset impairments. Excluding these items, the company reported net earnings of $77 million, or 14 cents per diluted share. This compares with net earnings before special items of $52 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.

For the full year 2011, Weyerhaeuser reported net earnings of $331 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, on net sales from continuing operations of $6.2 billion. This compares with net earnings of $1.281 billion on net sales from continuing operations of $6.0 billion for the full year 2010. Earnings for the full year 2010 include $1.064 billion from income tax adjustments related to Weyerhaeuser's conversion to a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT).

The segment's earnings improved $8 million in the fourth quarter compared with the third. Earnings from disposition of non-strategic timberlands increased $17 million to $21 million, compared with $4 million in the third quarter. Average selling prices for Western logs declined due to weaker Chinese export demand. These declines were partially offset by increased log sales volumes and slightly higher selling prices in the South. Fee harvest volumes rose, primarily in the South. Silviculture and road costs were lower, and fuel costs increased.

Excluding earnings from disposition of non-strategic timberlands, Weyerhaeuser expects slightly higher earnings from the Timberlands segment in the first quarter. The company anticipates increased fee harvest volumes in the West and slightly improved average selling prices due to a higher percentage of export logs sold to Japan. Weyerhaeuser also anticipates higher fuel costs and seasonally higher silviculture expenses.

Fourth quarter includes special charges of $19 million for restructuring and asset impairments. Third quarter included special charges of $46 million related to restructuring, asset impairments, and sale of the hardwoods operations. Weyerhaeuser completed the sale of the hardwoods operations in the third quarter.

SFI SPONSORED CONTINUING EDUCATION UNIT

SFI Inc. has sponsored a Continuing Education Unit (CEU) in GreenSource Magazine, published by McGraw Hill, which highlights the benefits of using certified wood in green building, demonstrates how government agencies support an inclusive approach to certification, and shows how LEED Pilot Credit 43 offers an opportunity for SFI-certified wood. The CEU will reach architects and builders, who can earn continuing education credits through the American Institute of Architects by reading the article and taking the test. It will run in the January/February print issue and online through the year.

WEYERHAEUSER WITH ITS FIRE PROTESTION SYSTEM

Weyerhaeuser has launched a fire protection system for its TJI-joists.The company’s new “Flak Jacket” protection consists of a specialty coating applied to TJI-joists to improve their fire protection.The coating, which has a grey colour to the OSB web and part of the LVL flange, is designed to provide builders with a way to achieve one-hour floor/ceiling assemblies and comply with new International Residential Code fire protection requirements.The one-hour protection is achieved with only a single layer of gypsum and no mineral wool.Weyerhaeuser says builders can still cut and drill the joists as usual and use standard hangers.

CHRISTELLA GOLBY AS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF MIDLANDS REGION TIMBER TRADES BENEVOLENT SOCIETY

The Midlands Timber Trades Benevolent Society has elected Christella Golby, a director of Wyckham Blackwell, Manufacturers of Trussed Rafters and engineered Timber Frame kits, to be their 2012 President.

This is only the second time the MIdlands Region has had a female President since formation in 1904. Christella was unanimously approved in recognition of her TTBS fundraising and contribution as member of the Midlands Committee.

Source: TTF

WOOD FOR GOOD WITH A NEW CAMPAIGN

Wood for Good, the timber industry promotional vehicle, will be launching its 2012 campaign, Wood First in March.

Campaign Manager, David Hopkins, has asked all timber companies to contact him with case studies, information and examples to support the campaign. He wants to hear from all TTF members and Wood for Good supporters about projects they have supplied to or worked on which show the benefits of using wood as a first choice construction material. The campaign is all about promoting the supply chain.

Source: TTF

EMMA NEWTON AS THE NEW MD OF CR TAYLOR TIMBER

Emma Newton has been promoted from financial director to the managing director by CR Taylor Timber. Her promotion will free up more time for executive chairman Charles Taylor to focus on sales, service and direct customer contact.

Charles Taylor said: "We performed well in 2011, notably in our fast-expanding engineered timber products division. We are achieving growth in core and emerging market sectors, developing our nationwide footprint and continuing to invest in the business and its people."

Source: TTF

CHINA IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST IMPORTER OF SOFTWOOD LUMBER

Reduced activities in the housing construction sector decreased import of softwood logs and lumber in late 2011in China. The total imports during 2011 reached a record high, making China the largest importer of logs and lumber in the world.

Import of softwood logs and lumber to China has increased over the past 15 years, and in 2011 the country was the largest importer of softwood lumber and logs in the world. Total import value equaled almost eight billion US dollars last year, which was an increase of 57 percent from 2010, and up from only 70 million dollars 15 years ago. Annual growth over the past five years has been almost 30 percent, and over the past 15 years, the CAGR has been as high as 36 percent.
Imports of softwood lumber have increased faster than imports of softwood logs over the past few years, but log imports still constitute a higher share of the total import value of softwood products. After having increased for seven consecutive quarters, the importation of softwood logs and lumber fell for the first time in the 4Q/11 because of reduced domestic demand and high inventories at many of the country's ports. The decline was 14 percent from the 3Q/11, but the total import value was still higher than the fourth quarter in 2010.

By volume, importation of softwood log and softwood lumber to China fell 10 percent in the 4Q/11 as compared to the previous quarter. Importation of logs and lumber from Russia decreased the most, while lumber from New Zealand and logs from Canada actually increased slightly during the fourth quarter.

It can be expected that the housing market will continue to face headwinds during the first half of 2012 unless the Chinese government steps in to ease the country's monetary policy. As a consequence, the prospects for log and lumber imports will be faced with uncertainty short-term, but will likely continue to trend upward long-term.
Global timber market reporting is included in the 52-page quarterly publication Wood Resource Quarterly.

Source: Wood Resources International LLC

FLOURISHING SWISSBAU 2012

The leading fair for the construction and real-estate industry in Switzerland came to an end after five exceedingly successful days. With 115,111 visitors (+6.5%) and top marks from the just under 1300 exhibitors (+7%) Swissbau has once again underlined its leading position. In addition to the exhibition proper, sophisticated discussion forums were held on the subject of “Sustainable building and renovation”.

With a total of more than 500,000 employees and sales in excess of 50 billion francs each year, the construction sector constitutes a key pillar of the Swiss economy as a whole.

The focus of Swissbau this year was on sustainability and on energy efficiency. Stefan Cadosch (SIA), Ursula Renold (BBT), Daniel Büchel (BFE), Franz Beyeler (Minergie), Maria Lezzi (Federal Office of Spatial Development), Ansgar Gmür (HEV) discussed and debated the burning issues over a period of five days in high-calibre themed events, workshops and the Swissbau Focus Arena. The centrepiece of the Swissbau Focus competence platform were the four arenas which covered the subjects of energy, building labels, building in context/current spatial planning issues and education.

A total of 1300 exhibitors not only presented a comprehensive range of products and services but also came up with sophisticated stand concepts from both the technical and the design angle.

Futurologist Matthias Horx and landscape architect Christophe Girot, or the architecture lectures of the internationally renowned star architects and urbanists Jacques Herzog, Richard Burdett and Winy Maas, were the speakers at the event.

The Swiss Environmental Prize was awarded by the Aqua-pro Vita Foundation in the context of Swissbau. At CHF 50,000, this is one of the awards with the highest prize money in this field. The winner in the "Innovation" category was Neurobat AG from Gossau.

The specialist jury headed by Köbi Gantenbein, editor-in-chief of Hochparterre, assessed the stands on the basis of the three criteria of design and concept, design and craftsmanship and design and sustainability. The Erdgas (natural gas) stand was the winner in the category of stands of 80 m² and above. The decisive factor for this first place was the good, all-round staging of the promise that natural gas is something quite natural. Amongst the stands smaller than 80 m², the winner was schaerholzbau ag. This company highlighted its capabilities through its stand, fulfilling stringent requirements on design and engineering in an impressive manner.

NEW MASTER FOR TASWOOD SOFTWOOD PLANTATION

New Forests Pty Limited (“New Forests”) completed the task of its acquisition of the Taswood softwood plantation estate on behalf of the Australia New Zealand Forest Fund (“ANZFF”).

The 46,000 hectare forestry estate will go on to be managed on Tasmanian Government owned land under a long-term Forestry Right, which provides New Forests to establish, supervise and harvest the timber plantations through 2069.

ANZFF is a forestry investment fund, comprising Australian and international institutional investors, and is managed by Sydney-based New Forests, an investment management firm specialising in sustainable forestry and environmental markets. New Forests currently manages approximately 325,000 hectares of timberland properties across Australia.

"APPROVED PRODUCT" ACCOLADE FOR FIREPRO

Osmose FirePRO has been ascribed with the status of “an approved product” by the Wood Protection Association for its humidity resistant and flame retardant capability with the ability to deliver Euroclass C or Euroclass B on plywood and solid timber covered in the scope of the WPA approval certificate.

“It is vital that specifiers can select products with absolute confidence and the WPA flame retardant manual, approved product scheme and supplier listings are designed to give this confidence,” said WPA director Steve Young.

He said that while the WPA’s scheme was an independent verification of performance data, specifiers still needed to ensure that flame retardant treatment had appropriate fire classification test reports for specific applications.
Source: TTJ

UK GOVERNMENT PUBLISHES CLIMATE CHANGE RISK ASSESSMENT

UK Government published the national Climate Change Risk Assessment which explores the threats and opportunities posed by climate change to the United Kingdom’s forests and woodlands.

The risk assessment was compiled by a consortium that included the Forestry Commission's Forest Research agency. Among the risks identified to forests and forest industries were an increasing threat to trees and woodland from tree pests and diseases, many of which are likely to thrive in warmer conditions.

There are also likely to be a number of opportunities for the forestry sector, including rising timber yields in Scotland and other areas of the UK where water supply is not limiting.

Tim Rollinson, Forestry Commission Director-General, welcomed the move and said, “These measures will go a long way to ensuring that the UK’s woods and forests are as well adapted and resilient as possible to the kind of climate we expect in the future, and also that they will play a full role in helping wider society to manage and adapt to the changing conditions.”

BERG & BERG ACQUIRED BY SODRA

Södra Interiör takes possession of parquet flooring manufacturer Berg & Berg in Kallinge. Södra Interiör will take possession of the company on 1 February 2012.

Berg & Berg employs some 90 staff and produces more than 500,000 square metres of high-quality parquet flooring every year. The company's annual turnover stands at around SEK 130 million.

Acoording to Urban Eriksson, CEO of Södra Interiö, this acquisition would further extend the range of products which Södra Interiör offered to its customers to include high-quality parquet flooring.

Södra Interiör has been producing solid wood flooring for quite a long priod of time, and is also a supplier of hardwood products for Berg & Berg parquet flooring. Berg & Berg flooring production takes place in Kallinge adjacent to the Södra Interiör facility.

"We have good opportunities for synergies between our businesses in both the short and the long term in fields such as marketing, logistics and product development," Eriksson commented.

ITTO TREATY WITH JAPAN FOR SFM IN AFRICA

The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and the Government of Japan have come together to implement a large capacity-building project to support five Congo Basin countries to provide training on sustainable forest management (SFM) and biodiversity.

The project, to be implemented by the Network of Central African Forestry and Environmental Training Institutions (Réseau des Institutions de Formation Forestière et Environnementale d’Afrique Centrale, or RIFFEAC) lays stress upon improved training in SFM and biodiversity conservation in central Africa. It will be implemented through seven RIFFEAC training institutions in Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Gabon and the Republic of Congo. In addition to the development of training materials and training of trainers, the project will provide a much awaited support for the construction of required training infrastructure. The project will strengthen capacity for the implementation of the ITTO/IUCN guidelines for the conservation and productive use of biodiversity in tropical timber production forests which were elaborated in 2009.

In 2016, at the end of the five-year project, it is expected that more than 250 SFM trainers in the region will be trained in teaching and demonstrating biodiversity-friendly SFM planning and techniques.

The project forms part of a collaborative initiative on sustainable management and conservation of tropical forest biodiversity between ITTO and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). This initiative, which is also backing up a project on trans-boundary conservation in the Emerald Triangle area between Thailand and Cambodia, grew out of a treaty signed between these organizations in 2010 to energise the concept of group work and fund-raising towards their common objectives.

CBD Executive Secretary Ahmed Djoghlaf concurred, noting that, “This is the first time that the
Convention on Biological Diversity actively supports capacity-building for Sustainable Forest 2 Management, and we are confident that the project will support two of our main objectives: the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. This will benefit present and future generations across Central Africa. “

The contribution from the Government of Japan makes up 82 per cent of the total project budget of US$4.4 million at current exchange rates. Implementation is going to start within the next few months.

DOMOTEX MIDDLE EAST NEWLY LOCATES TO ISTANBUL

DOMOTEX Middle East, the leading trade fair for carpets and floor coverings in the MENA Region (Middle East/North Africa) will now be staged at the CNR EXPO Center in Istanbul from 2012 on. DOMOTEX Middle East 2012 will be running from 8 to 11 November.

Turkey, with its population of around 73 million, now ranks as the world’s 17th largest economy and also boasts economic growth that is well above the global average. Forecasts predict that around 210 million square meters (2.26 billion sq. ft) of carpets and floor coverings will be laid in Turkey in 2012 alone. Exhibitors stand to benefit directly from the booming market in Turkey. The fair will attract large numbers of Turkish and foreign floor covering manufacturers on the exhibitor side, and purchasing executives, wholesalers, retailers, architects, planners, investors and real estate developers from Turkey, the MENA Region and Central Asia on the visitor side.

This year’s DOMOTEX Middle East in Istanbul is a gateway to major opportunities, not only in Turkey, but in the entire Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.
DOMOTEX Middle East will be organized by Deutsche Messe – the creator of the original DOMOTEX fair in Hannover, the world’s leading tradeshow for carpets and floor coverings. The event, which will provide suppliers in the industry with unprecedented access to the Russian-speaking markets, will celebrate its debut from 26 to 28 September 2012 in Moscow.

Deutsche Messe’s DOMOTEX fairs in four quality locations around the globe are dedicated industry platforms that provide visitors and exhibitors with unparalleled insights into the latest trends and market developments as well as myriad networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities.

GLOBAL PARQUET CONSUMPTION IN 2011 ON THE EUROPEAN MARKET REMAINED STABLE IN COMPARISON TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR

With important variations in different markets FEP, the European Federation of the Parquet Industry with seat in Brussels, presently estimates that based on preliminary information obtained from member companies and discussed at the recent DOMOTEX fair in Hannover, global parquet consumption in 2011 on the European market remained stable in comparison with the previous year. The general picture, however, is not uniform and the market performance varies considerably from country to country. First indications point towards a similar situation as regards parquet production, though complete data are not yet available at this stage. FEP wishes to underscore that this is a first prognosis and that variations still cannot be excluded at the present time.

In accordance with the past practice, full and definitive data will only be diffused at the federations General Assembly in early June. The preliminary result is in line with expectations & and developments witnessed in the course of the past year and reflects the impact of the prolonged economic and financial crisis dragging on for an excessive period of time, and certainly longer than the industry and all other echelons of society had hoped for. “Under the circumstances, the overall performance of our industry is certainly commendable. Parquet is very much alive and one can only hope that the promising results attained by certain countries will gradually spread to other regions as well thereby contributing to the much desired uniformity in the FEP territory”, commented FEP President Lars Gunnar Andersen. The data received by FEP suggest that the total parquet consumption in the EU/EFTA area has stabilized at around 95 million m², with growth especially on the German, Austrian, Swiss and Swedish markets. Some other important countries are still facing difficulties, though there are first indications of a slow but gradual unbending of the protracted strain in Spain.

Raw material availability and related cost evolution, as well as the persisting fierce competition with products from Asian countries remain the main concerns for our European parquet producers and are both an obstacle and a challenge for developing sound and lasting future business strategies. Nonetheless and in spite of the shaky recent economic indicators of the European Commission, the resilience, creativity & innovative edge of the FEP member companies, as well as the top quality of European parquet fuel the conviction that our industry is very much up to the challenges it has been facing for the past few years and will emerge a winner when it comes to the crunch.

The FEP General Assembly 2012 & attribution of the first FEP Award As a result of the invitation of its Turkish member, the meanwhile 56th General Assembly & 37th European Parquet Congress of the European Federation of the Parquet Industry will be held on 7 & 8 June in the fabulous city of Istanbul on the Bosphorus. This special occasion will be graced by the attribution of the first FEP Award to a person, company, organization or authority having made a significant contribution to the parquet sector. In continuation of past tradition, the entire FEP Team genuinely looks forward to welcoming the members, colleagues and international guests to the one and only annual forum of the European Parquet Industry.

LAMINATE FLOORING RIDES HIGH IN 2011

European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF) in cooperation with German Trade Fair Ltd., organizer of the Summit at Domotex Woodflooring published a market study stating that Laminate flooring is popular among consumers and specially in Germany, France and Poland. Laminate flooring is not as popular among architects as it is with the consumers, but it has gained acceptance with significantly increased levels of information.

The market study surveyed consumers generally who have bought new floor in the previous year or are planning to buy new floor in the next months. The architects who participated in the study all have diverse experience in hotel and restaurant business contract, the shop-fitting industry, as well as private flat and office construction. The decision-making process of buying floor coverings requires a relatively long time period of four to five days - time for manufacturers and the trade to actively influence the process.

For laminate flooring in particular, women are at the helm in Germany and France, while more men decide to purchase laminate flooring in Poland. In all three countries, customers mainly buy laminates in DIY stores, especially in Germany, however, specialized stores to follow closely. In Poland, there are also so-called markets for flat and home design that are strongly frequented for the purchase of floor coverings. Before the purchase, two sources of information are particularly important to consumers in all three countries: Looking at the floor at homes of friends and acquaintances and speaking to friends and acquaintances. Conversations with salespeople, craftsmen, or the product exhibition in hardware or specialized stores are ranked lower. Internet-based sources of information are significantly less important, therefore, for consumers younger than the mid-forty range.

Architects in Germany and France primar gain information using original samples and sample folders, while reference objects to play important role in Poland, as well as conversations with colleagues, planners and interior designers. Interestingly, in all three countries, architects feel more strongly that they are fully informed about the offers on the flooring market than consumers.

Laminates of Strengths: Design, installation, durability An appealing design, simple maintenance, and durability at appropriate price-performance- ratio are the primary customer requirements for floors. For architects, individual design possibilities, hygiene, manufacturer warranty, possibility of large-scale installation and suitability for under-floor heating play important roles in addition to a good price-performance-ratio. Consumers and architects agree that the strengths of laminate flooring in Particular include its appealing design, simple installation, durability and price-performance-ratio. The ranking of floor requirements is rather similar in Germany, France and Poland among both target groups. However, the consumers have the highest level of requirements in Poland, while this applies to architects in Germany. In comparison to other floor coverings, laminate floors were rated highly by consumers. Compared to resilient floor coverings, laminate Particularly scored with the characteristics "elegant / sophisticated, insulating properties and ecological soundness," compared to carpets with the characteristics "hygienic, damaged parts can be replaced and suited for under-floor heating", compared to parquet with "do-it-yourself installation," compared to tiles with "heat and noise insulating" and "slip-resistant." Architects, however, have a more critical attitude toward laminate flooring, especially in Germany. In France, laminate scores higher among architects in comparison to resilient floor coverings in "ecological soundness," compared to parquet in "price-performance ratio, hygiene and machine cleaning" and compared to tiles with "sound insulating and slip-resistant". Polish architects prefer to laminate tiles due to the above-mentioned characteristics, however, they do not prefer it to parquet.

Price tolerances in Germany, France and Poland The price tolerance for high-quality laminate floors ranges between 12 and 20 EUR per square meter For Deutsch and French consumers and from 10 to 15 EUR for Polish consumers. The surveyed persons' income and level of information about laminate flooring must be taken into account. Interestingly, price estimates increase with lower levels of information. This could be interpreted as in expression of lacking knowledge about the actual prices. In higher income classes, persons surveyed are willing to spend up to 25 EUR per square meter for a high-quality product, while prices below five euros are seen as too cheap across all income ranges and associated with low-quality products. EPLF appreciates the fact that quality awareness among consumers seems to exist and is reflected in their willingness to spend more money on laminate. This promotes the image of laminate flooring on the market and not only shows its popularity but, that increases its value on the market

ELEGANT VENEER: VISUAL TREAT FROM THE TOP OF THE TREE

“Veneer is made from wood. It is an environmentally friendly natural product from the top of the tree,” said Dirk-Uwe Klaas, Managing Director of the Initiative Furnier + Natur (IFN) eV, the association for promoting veneer.

Veneer is produced mainly from the wood of the maple, beech, oak and ash i.e. tress with beautiful wood grain. Processed veneer are used as finishes for furniture, doors for interior and exterior as well as for the entire interior of apartments and houses.

Heat and water for preparation:
Water and heat are the ingredients of the first manufacturing step: The wood is first soaked in water to prevent discoloration and cracking. Then the bark is removed from the wood. The cuts come in large metal tanks in which they are made pliable by boiling or steaming. "This process also ensures the intended colour of the wood," says Klaas.

Peeling:
After heat treatment, the veneer sheets sliced or peeled. The process usually brings the veneer sheets to a thickness of 0.6 to 1 millimetre. They are then dried, stacked on the quality and variety and cut to the desired level.

Finishing:
Veneers can be used for the refinement of various surfaces in almost all areas of residential or commercial buildings. Final finishing is achieved with oils and waxes and producing the intended colour which ranges from bright red maple and the beech, the medium brown of the oak and the dark brown of the walnut tree.

Dedicate a Tree this Valentine

If you want to impress your beloved this Valentine, you can do it in your own unique sustainable way. Woodland Trust is happy to let you create a great excuse for a romantic woodland walk by dedicating a tree in a wood nearby, or a weekend away if you choose a wood further afield.

For just £15 you can dedicate a tree of your choice of one of 50 specially selected woods across the UK. Some woods are newly planted so that you can watch your tree grow, others are mature and already offer cool, green canopies for romantic woodland picnics.

Each tree is dedicated just once and comes with a personalised certificate, information about your chosen wood, and a map showing the dedicated area. You can dedicate a tree online right up until Valentine's Day.

Rhiannon Bates from the Woodland Trust, said: "Trees, like relationships, rely on sturdy roots to ensure they grow and remain strong and healthy. The roots of a relationship are formed by sharing experiences and making memories. What better way to show your love and commitment than by dedicating a native tree to your partner that you can visit for free at any time and make new memories together?"

NHLA ADVANCES LUMBER GRADING RULES INTO CHINA AND GAINS MEMBERSHIP AND ESTABLISHES INSPECTIOPN SERVICES

In continued support for the NHLA Board of Managers' expressed desire to ensure that the NHLA hardwood lumber grading rules are active in markets around the world, the staff has recently ramped up their efforts in China.

In the fall of 2011, members of the NHLA staff traveled to China and were pleasantly surprised to see the high level of interest in NHLA already established as a result of our twenty year active partnership with the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) and the efforts of past Chief Inspector and Inspector Training School Instructor Bob Sabistina. In a supportive move to NHLA's visit, 18 Chinese consumer companies have remitted dues and joined NHLA, with several dozen more showing a strong interest.

The model for work in China is the same as the work we do everywhere. NHLA, as it has for more than 110 years, will provide unbiased and fair inspection of hardwood lumber to assist buyers and sellers with the fair and ethical trade of North American hardwood lumber. Right now, there will continue to be significant increases in demand from China, but the work there will translate easily to whichever country(ies) begin to import large quantities of North American hardwood lumber.
Who knows, maybe the work will shift to Indonesia or India or the Middle East. Wherever it goes, NHLA is committed to meeting our mission and staying active in the changing global hardwood marketplace.
NHLA announced the establishment of a permanent inspection services presence in China beginning February 1, 2012. NHLA National Inspector, Randy Wilson will arrive in China late January to set-up the mission, which will initially be based in the Dongguan area..

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20th EU BC&E: MORE THAN A CONGREGATION

In 2012 the 20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition (20th EU BC&E) to take place in downtown Milan, at the Milano Convention Centre � MiCo gives its participants enough reasons to join the fair with opportunities to present their company, create and enhance successful business opportunities and get updated with the latest research and industry developments. The conference is scheduled to held from June 18-22 and the exhibition will be staged during June 18-21.

The international science and technology Conference of the 20th EU BC&E is the leading Conference in the field of Biomass, comprises more than 800 presentations in plenary, oral and visual sessions. Policy and industry decision makers address current topics and issues in the industry through several parallel events.

The 20th EU BC&E features four thematic highlights with strong industry relevance. These are �conference-in-conference� events that fully address current �hot topics� in the biomass sector:

� A parallel event on �Biogas upgrading and grid injection�
� A special industry show on �Biogas goes Europe�
� A further side event on �Biowaste to Energy�
� A forum on 'Bioenergy in Smart Grids'

The 20th EU BC&E offers a unique platform, which also invites members of the global biomass community to present innovative results and ideas to biomass specialists and decision-makers from all continents. Papers on conference subject are open to submission till January 30,2012.

Papers will be presented in plenary, oral and poster sessions and all presented papers will be published in the Conference Proceedings on DVD and online.

Peer Review:
A selected number of submitted papers will be invited for a Peer Review Process for publication in a renowned scientific journal. Please indicate if you would be interested to submit a final scientific paper for Peer Review.

EU BC&E Student Awards:
To encourage high-quality work amongst young researchers, the EU BC&E Student Awards will be given on the occasion of the 20th EU BC&E in recognition of outstanding students� research in the field of biomass.

WMF 2012 & FAM 2012 LAUNCH A PRESS CONFERENCE IN BEIJING

Forestry Industry is one of the promising industries in China, it motivates the related industries which are undergoing prosperous development, especially woodworking manufacturing industry. The 14th International Exhibition on Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Manufacturing Equipment (WMF 2012) and The 14th International Exhibition on Furniture Accessories, Materials and Wood Products (FAM 2012), being the leader and focus of woodworking manufacturing industry, have provided the best sourcing and trading platform for woodworking industry. Renowned as Asia's No.1 Woodworking Machinery, Furniture Accessories & Materials Fair, WMF & FAM have been successfully holding for 13 editions & serving woodworking industry for 25 years. The shows will be held at New China International Exhibition Center (NCIEC), Beijing, China from March 12-15, 2012.
In order to keep industry players, associations and media updated about the development direction of China�s woodworking industry, market trend of decorative materials as well as the recent news and highlights of WMF 2012 & FAM 2012, the organizes held a press conference in Beijing on Jan 10, 2012. Numerous industry associations, industry players and media attended.

During the press conference, Mr. Ma Qi Sheng, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of China National Forestry Machinery Association gave an in-depth analysis of the status quo of China�s woodworking machinery industry, he ensured the professional standard of WMF 2012 & FAM 2012. Ms. Zhang Zhong Ling, Secretary General of the Materials Committee of China Building Decoration Association affirmed the role of WMF 2012 & FAM 2012, she mentioned, �The demand for furniture market undergone significant changes in 2011, including rising in raw material costs, distribution costs and labor costs. In regard with these changes, we need to find new aspect, new channel and new business format. With the expanding consumer-driven economic policies in China, the domestic furniture market will have rooms for development. WMF 2012 & FAM 2012 will be a grand event for exchanging industry information. Those concurrent activities like forums, conferences, seminars themed on high technology have become a motivator to give impetus to the industrialization process.� Mr. Parry Chung, General Manager of Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd., stated, � WMF 2012 & FAM 2012 values the communications between buyers and exhibitors, so we arranged a Business Matching in December 2011 for the members of Beijing Furniture Brand Alliances to meet and mingle with the machinery enterprises. We aim to serve every user industry of woodworking industry comprehensively. More importantly, renowned exhibitors will display �Assembly Line� machinery, revealing the automation of woodworking industry, addressing buyer�s demand on finding the solutions to tackle the problems on shortage of labor, environmental pollution, etc.�
WMF 2012 & FAM 2012 keep abreast of market trend and will provide professional visitors with the most comprehensive sourcing platform of latest information of woodworking industry. The exhibition area of WMF 2012 & FAM 2012 will reach 60,000 sqm. 6 user-friendly theme zones will be set up, they are: Furniture Machinery Zone (Hardwoods & Boards); Panel Board Machinery Zone; Carving Machinery & CNC Machining Center; Coating, Drier & Materials-making Machinery Zone; Furniture Materials, Hardware and Wood Products Zone; Knives, Blades and Machinery Accessories Zone. Exhibits include logs, panel board, hardware, semi-finished wood products, chemicals, decoration materials, other furniture accessories, other materials; wood processing machinery, furniture manufacturing machinery, panel board manufacturing machinery, knife and blade, machinery accessories, hand tools, grinder, measuring equipment, materials handling equipment; building construction, interior decoration, software, etc., which will certainly offer a convenient platform for sourcing.
WMF 2012 & FAM 2012 will gather 600 local and overseas enterprises from 14 countries and regions, including Jianming, Unisunx Group, Weideli, Qingdao New Motivity, Shenyang Dongtai, Jiangsu Baolong, Bino (Shanghai), OAV, Beijing KeMingWeiYe, Jinan Ruijie, Jinan Jinshengxing, Jinan Quick, Xinyang, Shandong Laizhou Jingmi, Hangzhou Hirono, Peak Tech / Pinnacle, Chongqing Pacific Tool, Beijing Vont, American Hardwood Export Council, etc., they will collaborate with 7 pavilions to showcase over 2,000 machines.
It is worth mentioning that 80% of the exhibitors are manufacturers rather than agents or distributors, which differentiates WMF 2012 & FAM 2012 from other exhibitions. Person in charge and technicians of these manufacturers will show up onsite and share the characteristics of their technology interactively. Visitors will not only understand the performance and safety of the products, but also lower their sourcing costs.

A series of concurrent activities will be held at WMF 2012 & FAM 2012, including seminars presented by industry professionals with topics �The Quality and the Standardization of Door Industry in China, the Application of the Wood-based Panel�, �New Wood Composite Door Manufacturing Technology and Equipment�, �China�s Cabinet Industry (Beijing) Forum�, �The Selling Point of Floor � Sales & Marketing�, etc. . Moreover, lucky draw for iPad 2 and other gifts will be held onsite, which will glitter the exhibition.

A NEW BEGINNING WITH COMPOSITES

In this age of great environmental concerns, realisation of ecological implications of fossil based resources, greater importance has been placed on developing sustainable alternatives which are no less in physical and mechanical properties in relation with conventional materials. In construction sector renewable and biodegradable composite materials have been gaining popularity for structural applications. Wood fibres among other materials are preferred for reinforcement in composite materials due to its superior mechanical properties.

Composite panels with wood as an integral ingredient, typically use leftover wood residuals which are engineered to manufacture the panels. These panels can be modified and upgraded to suit a specific application requirement. These panels with properties such as durability, light weight and insulation besides excellent flexibility and quality are suitable for almost all kinds of installations. Composite wood panels overcome the defects and imperfections found in naturally grown timber. Plus, each composite panel is uniform and consistent ensuring high quality.

An array of composite panels can be achieved with improved interface properties by modifying both fibres and reinforced polymers after adequate adhesion between the fibres and matrix materials. Dieffenbacher group�s EVOjet dry resin blending system is among the most economical and effective resin system available these days. It is considered a perfect resin system for processing a combination of a large surface area of fibres in the conveying air and an effective resin distribution. This system provides all the benefits of traditional blow line blending. The EVOjet requires a minimum of maintenance, thus reducing the operating costs further. The machine also ensures reduced emissions.

Read the full article in our latest Jan-Feb issue

DOMOTEX - PROUD WINNERS OF CARPET DESIGN AWARDS 2012

On Sunday, 15 January, 30 carpet designers from various countries received the prestigious design award at DOMOTEX. The exciting designs displayed at the leading trade fair for carpets and floor coverings impressed visitors from the trade and other professionals. The entire event offers an abundance of ideas and information, highlighting the patterns, colours and materials that will dominate in the season ahead.

A total of 211 carpets from 26 countries were submitted to the design competition, creating an “aroma” of the best in the contemporary carpet design. “All winners have contributed to the world of carpet design with spectacular ideas and true pieces of art. We as the jury however wish to point out one entry that is truly a ‘rug revolution’. The carpet “Tagged” by Jan Kath Design is phenomenal. Tradition and street style combined in a highly innovative and aesthetic manner. This rug will cause an uproar in the carpet scene”, says jury member Jean-Louis Mainguy, interior designer based in Beirut and known for the phenomenal depth of his imagination.

The Carpet Design Award – one of the most prestigious international prizes for hand-made carpets – is recognized as a mark of quality worldwide. The winning products are featured in the exclusive publication The Carpet Design Review 2012, which will be produced specifically for the competition.

For 2012 an international panel of top professionals evaluated the designer products submitted in ten product categories. The products were judged on the basis of criteria such as design, material quality, unique product features and innovation. A new category “Best Studio Artist Design” was introduced to the competition this year to represent the work of smaller producers with limited editions.

The Best Studio Artist Design of 2012 is given to Prisons by Chevalier édition. The best Modern Design Superior award(new category in 2012) went to Jaipur Rugs for Ruby Room. Reflection Sky by Wool and Silk Rugs receives the prestigious Best Modern Design Deluxe. The Best Traditional Nomadic Design Superior went for Ali Mohammadi for his Haleemi. Best Traditional Nomadic Design Deluxe, Best Traditional Workshop/Formal Design, Best Old/Antique Carpet awards were given to Noor by Werner Weber Zürich, Cypress by Zollanvari AG, Tekke Main Carpet by Foumani Persian Gallery respectively. Nexus rugs snatched the Best Collection Modern award for Jazz Collection. The Spanish Design Collection by Ariana Rugs Inc. won the Spanish Design Collection Traditional award, whereas the prestigious award of Best Innovation was received by Jan Kath Design GmbH for Tagged.

EFI LAUNCHES VIDEO ON EUROPEAN FORESTS

EFI has released a new multimedia video on European forests. Called “European Forests: Central to the World We Live in”, it gives an overall picture of Europe’s most versatile ecological infrastructure, tracing a path from south to north and from west to east. As we tour around Europe, we ask why forests continue to be so important to each region, even in the 21st century.

But forests face risks. They face threats caused by climate change, such as drought and storms, and we also have to tread a delicate balancing line between the need for more biomass for energy and maintaining biodiversity.

With our video, we hope to encourage people to work together to overcome the urgent challenges and threats from climate change, and connect research and policy makers to ensure that our forests remain the jewel in the crown of Europe’s environment.

The video can be viewed from the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MaKKKdoLc2g

DUBAI WOODSHOW 2012 COMES CALLING

2012 edition of the Dubai WoodShow organised by Strategic Marketing, will be held from 3-5 April. Dubai WoodShow is the foremost Gulf exhibition that offering opportunity to meet wood and woodworking professionals and develop ideas for increasing the range and quality of your Middle East business and learn up new techniques and sources of supply.

Dubai WoodShow is also the showplace for the latest innovations & technologies and has become the platform of progress across the wood & woodworking sector for the region. Specialized trade visitors who are knowledgeable professionals and serious business buyers from all over the world will use the region's leading trade fair as an opportunity to strengthen ties with new customers, make valuable new contacts and catch up on the latest trends and technological developments.

2011 edition of the fair had participants from over 30 countries, with six country pavilions from Canada, China, France, Germany, Malaysia & United States of America, which was the highest number of wood products exhibitors to date. Specialized trade visitors interacted with exhibitors buying wood, products and machinery. It was reported that sales contracts worth millions of dollars were concluded during the show with the opportunity to close more deals thereafter. The show was supported by Eumabois (European Federation of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers), ACIMALL (Italian Woodworking Association), LUNJIAO (Chinese Woodworking Association), CNFMA (China National Forest Machinery Association), AHEC (American Hardwood Export Council), American Softwoods, QWEB (Quebec Wood Export Bureau), French Timber, Qingdao Woodworking Machinery Association, APID (Association of Professional Interior Designers), ATIBT (Association Technique Des Bois Tropicaux), VDMA, AHK (German Emarati Bureau for trade and industry), TWMA (Taiwan Woodworking Machinery Association), MTC (Malaysian Timber Council) & EWPA (Engineered Wood Products Association).

REALIZING FOREST RIGHTS IN VIETNAM: ADDRESSING ISSUES IN COMMUNITY FOREST MANAGEMENT

In Vietnam, forests have been under state stewardship for a long time. Degradation of forest resources under state management together with the high costs of forest protection has led to increased involvement of local people in forest management. Since the early 1990s, the Government of Vietnam (GOV) has been promoting the allocation of forest rights to local people as the foundation for development of community forest management (CFM). The initiative, known as Forest Land Allocation (FLA), has been undertaken in various parts of the country, with mixed results. This raises an important question: how can forestland allocation be improved so that community forestry can both support local livelihoods and provide environmental protection?

With funding from the British Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the School of International Development at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and RECOFTC – The Center for People and Forests, a small initiative on “Property Reforms and Forest Rights in Vietnam” was undertaken. The initiative aims to identify key issues influencing the success or failure of community forestry in various parts of the country and to discuss implications for policies on forest management and rural development.
The document at hand is a product of a group of carefully selected researchers, policy experts, and practitioners seeking to share their experiences and viewpoints based on previous or on-going work. It is by no means a comprehensive discussion of all the issues related to community forest management in Vietnam. Nevertheless, it is hoped that the issues brought up by the authors in the document will shed light on some of the important aspects of community forest management in Vietnam and can serve as the starting point for further development of community forest management in the new context in Vietnam.
Source:RECOFTC

UK OAK DOORS' DECIDES TO SOURCE PEFC CERTIFIED WOOD

"UK Oak Doors", a British company specialised in the design and manufacture of solid oak doors for internal and external use have decided to source only PEFC certified oak. The company prioritised ethical concerns over business considerations.

The decision was largely driven by Managing Director Nick Lines who commented, "I did not wish to be part of anything that was contributing to depleting global levels of standing forest. At the time we were under considerable pressure from our suppliers to accept oak from very dubious sources in China and Russia."

As well as helping to secure customer loyalty, the decision to only source PEFC-certified oak has much wider ramifications for Europe's oak forests. Coveted for its properties and beauty, European oak is today under growing pressure. A slow-growing timber, oak trees can take 80-120 years to reach maturity. As demand increases, this is compromising the forests and the trees. Shorter growing periods mean that the trees are being harvested younger resulting in smaller trees, lower density wood and gradual depletion of the oak forests. It is also contributing to driving up the price of oak wood.

By choosing to source PEFC-certified European oak wood, UK Oak Doors is contributing to the longevity of the forests and the sustainability of the oak wood supply. Long-term, this will protect UK Oak Doors' core business and contribute towards protecting Europe's oak forest heritage.

CHECK OUT OUR CHRISTMAS LUCKY DRAW WINNERS!

Its time to announce the winners of our Christmas Lucky Draw winners! We are indeed overwhelmed by the huge response we have received!

We are pleased to declare Mr. Gero Bauer of Weinig Asia and Mr. Fabian Heiliger of Jowat, Germany as the winners. A gift is awaiting to reach each of them.

Our heartiest congratulations to both of them.We would like to thank the others as well for being so enthusiastic and participating in this lucky draw.

The participation period of this lucky draw was during the last days of December and the winners are selected randomly from the all entries. The winners are also notified personally by emails.Winners will be given away the prizes once they reply back to their notifications.

EUROPEAN MARKET FOR TROPICAL HARDWOOD PLYWOOD CHALLENGING

The European market for tropical hardwood plywood faces numerous challenges. Prices for existing landed stocks are under downward pressure as consumption is slow in the winter season and, with the European economic situation so fragile, few importers are expecting a significant rise in sales next year.

However, rising production costs in SE Asia mean that shippers either have to raise prices – currently very difficult in an unreceptive market - or to cut costs. Many are choosing the latter course and this risks compromising on quality.

Chinese manufacturers have been the major beneficiaries of these trends. Their ability to offer low prices, combined with the willingness of many importers to buy on price not quality, has meant that China has continued to gain market share in Europe this year.

Source: ITTO

PARQUET THROUGH THE AGE

The Association of German Parquet Industry gave an overview on history of wood flooring. Chairman of the Association of German Parquet Industry (vdp), Michael Schmid explains, the term "floor" is used colloquially often associated with places or events with a historical or cultural background."This is partly due to the estimated quality everywhere and the other on the elegant appearance of real wood floor - and has been for many centuries".

Wood floors have been popular in Europe since the middle ages. Around the 13th Century rough planks laid side by side, and later planed planks from softwoods such as fir, spruce or pine were used for flooring. Parquet, as we know it today, decorative flooring began its journey in the 16th century. At that time, rough wooden floors were nailed on differently coloured boxes made of wood. Widespread appreciation led to escalated demand which made way for imports of stronger and more tropical woods with new shades from distant countries. This kind of parquet was extremely costly thus associated with nobility and could be found adorning the palaces of monarchs. With the emergence of elaborate parquetry in 17th Century, the floor became an integral part of interior design, but it continued to be restricted to the wealthy upper class.

Industrialization of Parquet
Witht he industrial revolution in the 19th century parquet flooring made way into homes of commoners. "With the advent of sawmills and the development of more modern processing techniques, the flooring industry made a shift away from wide planks toward smaller staffs," said Schmid. Parquet was now being installed with thin steel nails and improved adhesives.

Over the years a lot have changed except certain things including use of oils for surface treatment. In addition, many hardwood flooring manufacturers carve for visually antique, to bring the spirit of historical time with a new look to our own four walls.

igeL EXHIBITING AT ZOW

Lightweight construction is defining the trends in furniture manufacture. Highlighting this trend again is Interessengemeinschaft Leichtbau e.V. (igeL) at ZOW Bad Salzuflen in 2012 between 6 and 9 February 2011 in hall 22.1. The joint igeL stand will be located near the ZOW Premium Club. BASF, Egger, Elka, Hettich, Leitz, Leuco, Makers, Moralt, Swap, Thermopal and Vomo as well as the OWL lightweight construction campaign, a specific igeL project, will be among the exhibitors in the individually designed area.

IgeL is an East Westphalia-based network of more than 100 members from universities, trade associations and business. The network includes numerous pioneers working in various projects to continually advance lightweight construction. Their aim is to move into the future markets; and this means working on new materials, design approaches and technical processes. The igeL lightweight construction community of interest brings together and promotes scientific and development technology skills. The initiative is based locally at the heart of the East Westphalia furniture cluster. ZOW as an event has been an active supporter and promoter of the idea of lightweight construction for many years.

Lightweight construction solutions in the furniture and interiors industry aren't just attractive because of their reduced transport, energy and packaging costs. This form of construction greatly increases value along the entire value-added chain with its intelligent engineering. Manufacturers are developing new wood composites, which offer a high level of stability in spite of their light weight. In turn these new, wood-based board materials prompt the development of new bonding techniques such as screw connections, gluing or plug connections. Other interesting aspects include progressive miniaturisation of components such as fittings and the integration of technology. Hollow lightweight construction boards provide practical space for constructions which can be hidden from sight in the furniture. This distinctively changes the design and functionality of furniture and gives customers new reasons to purchase them.

The pioneers of lightweight construction will be showcasing the design solutions of tomorrow at ZOW in Bad Salzuflen, enabling ZOW to once again underline its importance as an effective innovation platform for the furniture and interiors industry.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC REPORTS: SWEDEN'S FORESTRY INDUSTRY UNSUSTAINABLE

A recent report by Erik Hoffner for National Geographic states that behind the green forest products industry in Sweden lies an unsustainable forest management. Earlier this year the Swedish Forest Agency revealed a study showing that over a third of all the recent cutting activities (37 percent) violated the tenets of the official forestry model by prioritizing production over conservation.

Restrictive federal regulations on logging were replaced in 1993 by an act requiring that every logging operation balance production with conservation, allowing companies to police themselves and operate under the act’s “freedom with responsibility” framework.

NGOs like Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and biologists like Ulf Swensson, affirmed the highest pace of cutting. Up to 95 percent of the trees were harvested for lumber, paper, and fuel incurring heavy equipment damage to formerly wild forests, which are often replanted with long rows of single species of trees.

The replacement of natural forests with tree farms is a disaster for biodiversity adding up to country’s list of threatened and endangered species.

Hopeful part is that the citizens are awake to need on conservation and are training each other to become biodiversity sleuths, nosing out forest tracts that are key to biodiversity by identifying rare species and alerting authorities and forestry companies alike before the harvesters crank up.

Some activities implored to be wary of forests products in the country even those certified for sustainability which are mere greenwash.

Source: National Geographic

EUROPEAN ALLIANCE FOR SMC/BMC HOSTING SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE

The first Sustainability Conference -Light Composite Materials, SMC/BMC for a Sustainable Future is being organised by from January 26-27, 2012 by European Alliance for SMC/BMC will be organizing in collaboration with EuCIA, the Brussels based leading Association of the Composites Industry. The two days conference will take place in Brussels at Van der Valk Airport Hotel.

This conference will be a platform for industry members such as SMC/BMC value chain, composites industry, composites related industries and public sector to come together and share expert knowledge on topics including environmental aspects of SMC/BMC during the life cycle of a product, European legislation, recycling, sustainability & profitability for business, LCA, market challenges & tools driving sustainability of composites industry and many other more.

The first Light Composite Materials for a Sustainable Future Conference will emphasise on sustainability of SMC/BMC based products. The European composites industry understands the importance of a sustainable business and has embarked on the sustainability quest. The Conference will be a combination of a highly quality programme and a unique business environment to reach high level players in the composite value chain.

QR CODE: NEXTGEN MARKETING TOOL!

A QR code or Quick Response code is a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) first designed for the automotive industry. Recently, the system has become more popular than ever. It has almost become obvious in all the brochures and advertisement materials (print/digital) even in our industry. The technology has become widely popular in Asia and gaining momentum in USA and European countries as well. QR codes are now used over a much wider range of applications, including commercial tracking, entertainment and transport ticketing, product marketing and in-store product labeling.
Created by Toyota subsidiary Denso Wave in 1994 to track vehicles during the manufacturing process, the QR code is one of the most popular types of two-dimensional barcodes. It was designed to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed.
The information encoded can be made up of four standardized kinds of data (numeric, alphanumeric, byte/binary, Kanji), or by supported extensions virtually any kind of data.
Many of these applications target mobile-phone users. Users may receive text, add a vCard contact to their device, open a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), or compose an e-mail or text message after scanning QR codes. They can generate and print their own QR codes for others to scan and use by visiting one of several pay or free QR code-generating sites or apps. Google has a popular API to generate QR codes, and apps for scanning QR codes can be found on nearly all smartphone devices.
QR codes storing addresses and Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) may appear in magazines, on signs, on buses, on business cards, or on almost any object about which users might need information. Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct reader application can scan the image of the QR code to display text, contact information, connect to a wireless network, or open a web page in the telephone's browser. QR Codes may also be linked to a location to track where a code has been scanned. Either the application that scans the QR Code retrieves the geo information by using GPS and cell tower triangulation (aGPS) or the URL encoded in the QR Code itself is associated with a location.
According to one study, 14 million mobile users scanned a QR code or a barcode from USA in the month of June, 2011.
Skyline, a renowned company working in exhibition display, tested QR codes at EXHIBITOR2011 in March 2011. They arranged six QR codes in two booths. Each QR code was a link to a YouTube video about the specific Skyline display system the QR code was on. Below each QR code was the headline, “View the Movie” to give them a reason to scan them. We linked to YouTube movies, expecting YouTube to have the fewest issues streaming the videos. Though the report was not too exciting for the company, still it seemed to be a breaking experience nonetheless.
• Use QR code on your trade show graphics where they can be seen and easily scanned
• There should be a reason to scan the QR code, such as “Get more info” or “Sign up for our newsletter” or “See the movie” or “Scan to enter contest,” and then link to a show-specific landing page or a webpage that has the great content you promised and is optimized for mobile devices
As every other technology, there’s a shady side in the use of QR code as well. Malicious QR codes combined with a permissive reader can put a computer's contents and user's privacy at risk. They are easily created and may be affixed over legitimate QR codes.
Risks include linking to dangerous websites with browser exploits, enabling the microphone/camera/GPS and then streaming those feeds to a remote server, analysis of sensitive data (passwords, files, contacts, transactions), and sending email/SMS/IM messages or DDOS packets as part of a botnet, corrupting privacy settings, stealing identity, and even containing malicious logic themselves such as JavaScript or a virus. These actions may occur in the background while the user only sees the reader opening a seemingly harmless webpage.

NEW DIRECTION FOR WOOD PRODUCTS MANUFACTURERS IN CHINA

In the Yangtze River Delta, China’s largest wood processing hub, companies are starting to ask questions about the source and the legality of the millions of cubic meters – and hundreds of millions of dollars worth – of wood they import annually from all corners of the globe.

Among those imports, Lu Weiguan, CEO of Anxin Flooring, is very pleased to be finding more Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood to make his floorboards. Mr. Lu is equally happy to see his government working with trading partners to promote trade in responsibly sourced wood products, creating new opportunities for responsible businesses like his.

If you are standing on a wooden floor, or sitting at a wooden table, chances are they have passed through China. Often called ‘the world’s workshop’, China sits at a critical link in the global timber products supply chain. In 2009, timber imports reached a historic high of 113 million cubic meters, up 22 percent from the previous year. Approximately half of that volume left the country as manufactured products the same year, valued at over 27.3 billion US dollars.1 In spite of recent financial troubles in major markets, China’s trade in this sector has remained robust and will likely continue to be, due in part to growing demand for wood products at home. This makes China a critically important partner in efforts to expand responsible forest management across Asia and the Pacific, and globally.

In 2008, the Responsible Asia Forestry and Trade (RAFT) program began its work to help mobilize China’s enormous influence in support of globally responsible forestry and transparent trade. This includes: promoting policies that drive responsible forestry at home and abroad; strengthening the business response to increasing demands for legal and sustainable products and increasing collaboration with neighbors and trading partners to improve forest management practices across the region

Source: Responsible Asia Forestry and Trade (RAFT)

EuCIA launches Recycling & Sustainability Platform of the European Composites Industry

The European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA) launched the Recycling & Sustainability Platform of the European Composites Industry. The launch followed the General Assembly meeting of the European Composite Recycling Services Company (ECRC).

The Platform is a Sector Group organized under the EuCIA umbrella whose members are actively involved in the manufacturing of composites and meeting the demands of various industrial sectors contributing to the competitiveness of the EU and providing jobs and skills. The Platform members will work towards assessing and showing that composites are recyclable and contribute to a sustainable environment.

In June this year, the three leading Brussels based organisations, EuPC, EuCIA and ECRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to lead collaboration on recycling and sustainability of COMPOSITES industry at the European level. Alisa De Backer, EuCIA General Manager, noted that: “Composites are recyclable and sustainable. Various projects and studies have been carried out by the industry across Europe over the years and now we are in the position to show our progress. The combination of high properties of composites and their green credentials must be a winning formula for the future of our sector. Nevertheless, as an industry we need to get together and enforce our message to our suppliers and EU legislators. Being a sustainable industry is a challenging process, but we aim to address it under the new Platform. For this initiative to be a success, the full support of the industry is mandatory”.

Volker Fritz, EuCIA President noted that: “The new Platform is open to all players in the composites and composites related value chain. Industry collaboration on sustainability is key .For the next period, we will be identifying main priorities and opportunities for the business. Another objective of the Platform is to support and educate industry across Europe on how to manage sustainability, what are the recycling options, how to set waste management in place and facilitate access to information and to the right contacts across Europe”.

The next meeting of the Platform will take place during the first quarter of 2012.

Source: EuCIA

ITALIAN TRADE COMMISSION AND CONFINDUSTRIA CERAMICA ANNOUNCED CERAMICS OF ITALY TILE COMPETITION

The Italian Trade Commission and Confindustria Ceramica, the Association of Italian Ceramics, has announced an official call for entries for the 2012 Ceramics of Italy tile competition. The competition recognizes the outstanding work of North American architects and designers who have featured Italian ceramic tiles in their institutional, residential or commercial/hospitality projects.

For the 2012 tile competition, entrants are invited to submit domestic and international new or renovated projects completed between January 2007 and January 2012. A judging panel of design experts will critique the projects based on their creativity, functionality and aesthetic appeal. The official criterion for the jury includes: overall design of the project; innovative use of tile; tile design; quality of installation; degree that tile enhances the setting; and the project’s sustainable attributes. Winners will be announced at the Ceramics of Italy press conference during Coverings, held in Orlando, FL, from April 17 to 20.

Wood & Panel Live on YouTube

Wood & Panel has come alive on YouTube. The highest circulation woodworking magazine is now accessible through the most frequented video sharing website, YouTube. Enjoy the freehand reading of the magazine from www.youtube.com/woodandpanel .

Wood & Panel, frontrunner in the list of most appreciated woodworking e-magazines, has launched maximum number of state-of-the-art programs to further its popularity and to ensure more audience for its advertisers, This is another yardstick after the launch of the mobile website by Wood & Panel. We are optimistic, there will be more news, more links, more information, more details, more innovations for Wood & Panel in the New Year and expect that it will be equally applauded as it had always been.

Enjoy reading.

Australian Forestry Standard Protects Forest Values, Reports PEFC

Recent statements by local NGOs claim that the Australian Forestry Standard (AFS), which is endorsed by PEFC, does not sufficiently protect ‘high conservation value forests’ and ‘primeval forests’. “PEFC has strict requirements concerning the protection of ecologically important forest areas,” said Mr. Gunneberg. “The Australian Forestry Standard has achieved endorsement by PEFC and meets our requirements.”

Safeguarding the biodiversity values that forests provide is at the heart of PEFC’s approach to sustainable forest management, Ben Gunneberg, Secretary General of PEFC International, said in a statement . “Responsible forestry must ensure that the benefits that forests provide are maintained and enhanced, that our children can enjoy the same or more forest values that we enjoy today.”

PEFC International’s Sustainability Benchmark includes a number of requirements safeguarding critical forest areas, including

Areas that are in or contain rare, threatened or endangered ecosystems

Areas containing globally, regionally and nationally significant concentration of biodiversity values, endangered species

Areas that provide basic ecosystem services in critical situations (e.g. watershed protection, erosion control)

Globally, regionally or nationally significant large landscape-level areas where viable populations of most if not all naturally occurring species exist in natural patterns of distribution and abundance

Areas fundamental to meeting basic needs of local communities (e.g. subsistence, health),

Areas critical to local communities’ traditional cultural identity

PEFC’s requires all standards to be developed at national level in consensus-driven, multi-stakeholder processes and subject to a national public consultation.

To achieve endorsement (or re-endorsement) by PEFC, national standards must submit to a comprehensive and thorough assessment process, including independent evaluation and public consultation. A full final report of this process is then made publicly available. The endorsement is normally limited to five years only and requires national standards to be revised in order to be eligible for re-endorsement.

“We are committed to investigate any potential non-compliance, yet any such investigation can only take place based on evidence. The claims made by the NGOs have unfortunately so far not been backed up by any such evidence,” said Ben Gunneberg. “We are therefore confident that forests managed in compliance with the AFS standard are sustainable, safeguarding biodiversity values and balancing environmental, social and economic interests.”

Source: PEFC

Wonders of Wood in Christmas

Almost the entire world has suspended to the jovial season of Christmas and in preparing to welcome the New Year. Fun, music, food, laughter; together they make a festive season. Oh! the most important one, GIFTS!

When we have a lovely skill with us, why don't we curve out Christmas and New Year gifts for our friends and family out of the beauty of wood?

I lack imagination when it comes to designs using tools but I'm sure there are number of people who are blessed enough to make a gift all by themselves using the beauty, lustre and the energy of wood. If you have any such ideas where you can work wonders with wood, share with us. Indeed it's an innovative and impressive idea when the reindeers are nearer!

JAPAN - DOMESTIC FORESTRY TO GET A BOOST FROM SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET

A third supplementary budget was approved in late November reports the JLR. Japan’s Forestry Agency secured a budget of Yen 317.5 bil. far larger than the initial budget request of Yen 270 billion. The increase is due to a three year extension of the fund for revitalization of the forests.
Funds are provided to subsidise the supply of domestic forest thinning for processing and use in the rehabilitation of quake damaged areas. Funds are also provided for the building of logging roads for more efficient harvesting. The JLR says additional works to be financed from the budget include, clarification of forest boundaries, provision of harvesting machines, subsidies for log extraction, assistance for construction of additional wood processing facilities and work to dispose of biomass from the quake hit areas.

The focus of the budget is restoration of quake damaged areas and as such the previous emphasis on promoting domestic wood use in public buildings and support for the wider use of domestic timber is not emphasised in this budget.

The JLR reports that an amount of Yen 11.2 bil. is provided in the budget for restoration of damaged wood processing plants.
Funds have also been allocated to investigate the extent of radiation contamination from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant and as well as for decontamination of the forest but, as yet, there appears to be no available technology for this.

Source: ITTO

CIFOR STATISTICS ILLUSTRATE STRENGTH OF DEMAND FOR LOGS IN INDIA (12.19.2011)

Myanmar’s Central Statistical Organisation data reports the export of logs from January to December in 2010 as 237,100 cubic tons of teak and 681,500 cubic tons of hardwoods. The figures for the period January to
September 2011 are 185,400 tons of teak and 572,400 tons of hardwoods.

Figures compiled by CIFOR for the year 2010 showed China bought 0.4 million cu.m of logs valued at US$ 0.14 billion CIF and 0.1 million cu.m of sawnwood valued at US$0.05 billion CIF from Myanmar. India’s imports were stated at 0.8 million cu.m of logs valued at US$0.31 billion CIF.

Source: ITTO

GERA Leuchten gives furniture a special radiance in Zow

This year, the trade fair motto of GERA Leuchten – the high-end lamps and lighting systems development partner and manufacturer – draws on the topic of emotional room lighting and focuses on the theme of “radiance”. On the basis of its exhibited products, the company is once again presenting the impressive impact of unusual lighting concepts integrated into furniture. The GERA Leuchten lamps and lighting systems give furniture a special radiance, hence further complementing and upgrading the furniture designs. Light in furniture places the spotlight on high-impact and emotional aspects of interior design and increasingly caters to the needs and demands of design-oriented consumers.

At this year’s ZOW trade fair, GERA Leuchten will once again be presenting a broad range of lighting systems and lamps, also including two product further developments. Visitors can further expect variation of the 2010 re-edition of the GERA Lighting System 4 in the form of a brightly-illuminated panel shelf. This installation-friendly glass shelf is lighter and more stable than comparable products available on the market. Equipped with individually-controllable LED technology, the GERA Lighting System 4 also provides non-glare, bright and white illumination of cabinets and work surfaces or bathes them in alternating mood colours lighting.

And the GERA Light Wall – already unveiled as a prototype – for use in kitchen niches has been subjected to a redesign. The light source is installed in the upper section of the Light Wall and gently and evenly radiates downwards, ensuring that the work area is ideally illuminated without blinding the user in any way.

MULTI-STAKEHOLDER MARKET STUDY ON "BIO-BASED PLASTICS IN THE WORLD - CAPACITIES, PRODUCTION AND APPLICATIONS: STATUS QUO AND TRENDS TOWARDS 2020" LAUNCHED

The first comprehensive consolidated international market study on the fast-growing bio-based plastics sector has been launched. To date there has been no coherent and fundamental survey of the worldwide bio-based plastics market. As long as this fundamental data is missing, uncertainty and confusion will hamper the growth of the global bio-based plastic market. There is thus a need for a comprehensive and robust worldwide market study. Many stakeholders also require reliable and detailed information.

During the initial phase from August to the end of November 2011, all interested companies, institutes, associations and other stakeholders were invited to sign up early, become a partner of the study and be part of its advisory board. More than 20 stakeholders provided the initial funding. They include:

Bayer MaterialScience, Borealis Polyolefine, Braskem, DSM, European Bioplastics, Fischer, Ford, Omya, Plastics Europe, PURAC, Roquette, SABIC, Sofiproteol, Sulzer, Tereos Syral and Veolia among others.

A kick-off meeting involving nova-Institute’s experienced market researchers and co-operating international bioplastic experts on 22nd November in Berlin got the market study under way. It is due to be completed by the end of 2012. The first meeting of the advisory board will take place in mid January 2012.

One of the study’s main aims is to compile a list of all worldwide producers of bio-based plastics and to set up a corresponding database for later online access. The study will cover all kind of bio-based polymers and plastics (biodegradable and durable, thermoplastics, thermosets and elastomers) such as starch blends, PLA, PHA/PHB, PBS, CA, Bio-PE, Bio-PDO and many more, including the main bio-based building blocks.

FMC CHINA 2012: BIGGER AND BETTER

“Furniture Manufacturing & Supply China 2012” (FMC China 2012), “FMC Premium 2012” and the first ever “FFC 2012” will staged at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center (SWEECC) from 11 to 14 September, concurrently with “Furniture China 2012” at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC).

The 2011 edition of the fair staged at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center (SWEECC) for the first time was declared a success. FMC attracted nearly 745 domestic and overseas exhibitors from 40 countries and regions, and 30,327 trade buyers from 30 provinces and 111 countries and regions. 4,521 overseas visitors came to China for the FMC exhibition, which was an increase of 12% compared to previous year. The quantity and quality of visitors has improved significantly.

FMC China 2012 will use 4 Halls of SWEECC. Cabinet & Wardrobe Fittings/Furniture Lightings will be added as a new exhibit category. The total exhibition area will be 71,000 sqm and FMC China 2012 is expected to attract 850 exhibitors and 35,000 trade buyers.

The category of FMC China 2012 is more professional. Four halls are located on three floors of SWEECC. Hall 1 is dedicated to Woodworking Machinery & Tools. Hall 2 for FMC Premium will be slotted for Office Furniture Supplies & Gas Spring / Furniture Coatings & Chemicals. Hall 3 will exhibit Furniture Hardware & Fittings. Hall 4 will display Furniture Fabric Exhibition

DUTCH FORESTRY SERVICE TO INCREASE LOGGING

The Dutch forestry service will increase logging by 50 percent to compensate for radical cabinet budget cuts.

The measure comes in response to cabinet plans to scrap most government subsidies for nature conservation. The exact percentage will be announced later this month but the forestry service’s budget is expected to be cut by about 40 percent.

The quantity of wood taken from Dutch forests will increase from four to six cubic metres per hectare and is expected to generate additional income of about three million euros a year

The forestry service says additional logging will not lead to deforestation. The service says trees grow fast enough to make up for the additional logging, which is also said to be conducive to forest rejuvenation. The Netherlands currently has 90,000 hectares of forest, 54,000 of which is used as production forest in addition to recreational and nature conservation purposes.

Additional logging is just one of a series of measures under consideration by the forestry service. Other plans include offering ‘green meeting arrangements’ to businessmen, exclusive field trips and supplying bio mass to power plants.

Forest Ecology Professor Jan den Ouden says the forestry service’s plans are both responsible and logical. He argues that additional logging will not harm the forests or biodiversity. Forests have always served as a wood supply and not just as a back drop to recreation. Additional logging could also increase the supply of domestically produced timber.

The Foundation Critical Forest Management is opposed to the increase in logging and says the forestry service should let nature run its course. A forest which is left alone will automatically rejuvenate itself as trees are blown over in storms or killed by diseases.

Source: Radio Netherlands Worldwide

WMF 2012 & FAM 2012 BOOSTS THE UPGRADE OF DOOR INDUSTRY

The 14th International Exhibition on Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Manufacturing Equipment (WMF 2012) and The 14th International Exhibition on Furniture Accessories, Materials and Wood Products (FAM 2012) is all slated to be held at New China International Exhibition Center (NCIEC), Beijing, China from March 12-15, 2012 at a sprawling area of 60,000 sqm.

The fair this year promises flourishing prospect for the door industry. China's 12th Five Year Plan mentioned that in next 5 years (2011-2015), there will be 36 million indemnificatory houses built in China, and the coverage reaches around 20 per cent opening up avenues for the door industry which has exhibited an average annual growth rate of 25 per cent.

More than 600 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions collaborating with 7 pavilions will be showcasing at the material, machinery and equipment to the professional buyers of door industry. Exhibits include logs, panel board, hardware, semi-finished wood products, chemicals, decoration materials, other furniture accessories, other materials; wood processing machinery, furniture manufacturing machinery, panel board manufacturing machinery, knife and blade, machinery accessories, hand tools, grinder, measuring equipment, materials handling equipment; building construction, interior decoration, software, etc.

PAR-KY TO SHINE AT DOMOTEX 2012

Par-ky is proud to launch its new corporate identity during the Domotex 2012 exhibition. The new logo with baseline, �friendly floors�, is in line with the corporate values of Decospan, the group behind Par-ky. The main characteristics of these floors are that they are environmentally Friendly which means that it provides maximum wood yield by using a 0.6 mm top layer. It is FSC certified wood or certified by their own �Pure Wood� charter.

Par-ky doesn�t add urea formaldehyde during its production process. Only the natural content is present so these are health friendly too.

As Par-ky uses the uniclic jointing system, the floors are extremely easy to install and repair. The floors are also extremely easy to maintain thanks to the high quality lacquer we use.

Next to the standard collection, Par-ky can offer around 160 wood species in its different collections. The company can make custom made colors as from 500m�. Par-ky will be introducing its new �trendy oak� collection at Domotex. Next to some new colors, Par-ky made special designs out of heat treated oak. Heat treating gives the oak a brown warm tone similar to the smoking technique but based on heat instead of ammoniac.

Par-ky has increased the amount of SKU�s in its oak collection to 30. Every color will be available in our 4 collections: PRO, LOUNGE, SOUND and DELUXE CONCEPT ROOM

Eumabois reports hard metal prices back to growth in the second half of the year

Despite shrinking demand, the situation of tungsten prices and availability is still tense. Tungsten is the main constituent of hard metals, which are one of the key materials for the production of cutting edges for tools used in several operations and machining processes in the wood and furniture industry, reports eumabois.

In October, the price of the most popular tungsten-based commercial product (ammonium paratungstate, APT) was around 450 dollars per metric ton (mtu). At half 2010, such price was in the range of 250 dollars. The current cooling of global economy has granted a short rest to tools manufacturers, with stable prices for a few months now. “However, this positive signal should not reduce our level of attention to the difficult situation of raw material markets,” said Paul Oertli, President of Eumabois Toolgroup. “As a result of reduced export by Chinese suppliers, prices are still at critical levels despite a slight reduction of demand from many tools manufacturers,” Oertli added.

In October, the “British Geological Survey” placed tungsten at number one in the list of elements ranked by unreliability of supplies in 2011.

“In 2012, we expect a still difficult market scenario. Chinese suppliers dominating the sector will focus on tungsten as strategic metal also in the future. Other raw material sources will not help relieve tension in the short and medium term," said Dr. Andreas Bock, President of Wolfram Bergbau und Hütten AG, Austria, one of the few European suppliers of tungsten and related carbides.

IMPORTS OF PLYWOOD FROM CHINA TOPPED THE AGENDA OF MEETING BETWEEN PLYWOOD SUPPLIERS AND JAPANESE IMPORTERS

The annual meeting between the Japan Lumber Importers Association (JLIA), the Japan Federation of Plywood Manufacturers Association, the Indonesia Plywood Association and the Malaysian Plywood Manufacturers Association was recently concluded in Jakarta. The focus of the meeting, reports the Japan Lumber Reports (JLR), was the rapidly growing supply of plywood from China and concerns for the quality and supply capacity of Chinese plywood manufacturers.

Representatives from Malaysia requested Japanese importers of Chinese made plywood to apply the same quality, environmental and sustainability concerns which Japanese importers have been asking of Malaysian and Indonesian plywood suppliers

On this issue representatives from Japan mentioned that Chinese made plywood has had quality problems and that sometimes even JAS stamped products were below the required standard for JAS.

The meeting heard, says the JLR that log supplies in producer countries had been an issue for this year. Firstly because of floods and then drought which made river transport difficult. It was a combination of these factors which has pushed up log prices said participants at the meeting.

The meeting was informed that the number of plywood mills in Indonesia had dropped to less than 30 from the peak of 130. The newly established mills were mainly in Java and use plantation logs reports the JLR.

Source: ITTO

FMC CHINA 2012 BIGGER FAIR AND BETTER OPPORTUNITIES

Furniture Manufacturing & Supply China 2012 (FMC China 2012) and FMC Premium 2012 alongwith the first ever “FFC 2012” will be staged at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center (SWEECC) from 11 to 14 September, 2012 concurrently with “Furniture China 2012” at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC).

The 2011edition of FMC exhibition was staged at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center (SWEECC) for the first time was declared a great success. It attracted around 745 domestic and overseas exhibitors from 40 countries and regions, and 30,327 trade buyers from 30 provinces and 111 countries and regions. Nearly, 4,521 overseas visitors attended the FMC exhibition, which was an increase of 12 percent compared to last year.

FMC China 2012 will use 4 Halls of SWEECC. Cabinet & Wardrobe Fittings/Furniture Lightings will be added as a new exhibit category. The total exhibition area will be 71,000 sqm and FMC China 2012 is expected to attract 850 exhibitors and 35,000 trade buyers.

Hall 1 on first floor will be kept registered for Woodworking Machinery and Tools, hall 2 for FMC Premium will have Office Furniture Supplies & Gas Spring / Furniture Coatings & Chemicals on display. Hall 3 on the second floor will be booked for Furniture Raw Materials & Components Area with Six Theme Sections. Hall 4 on the Underground Floor will exhibit Furniture fabric.

Main attraction of the 2012 edition will be upholstered furniture which has gained limelight in the furniture industry. Because of its stylish, comfortable, energy-saving features, upholstered furniture attracts the attention of people. Therefore, the related “Furniture Fabric Exhibition 2012 (FFC 2012)” under FMC fair has been presented to all of the visitors in 2012.

iBIB & Agrobiobase signs Partnership agreement to provide clients the best bio-based solutions!

The private research and consultant nova-Institute, based in Huerth (Germany), and the French Competitiveness Cluster Industries and Agro-Resources (IAR) in Laon (France) have signed up partnership agreement involving services, to develop a bio-based economy, to provide their subscribers additional benefits and to provide potential customers with the best available bio-based solutions on the fast-growing market in bio-based materials.

The International Business Directory for Innovative Bio-based Plastics and Composites (iBIB) published by nova-Institute and bioplastics MAGAZINE is an established feature of the market. The 2011 issue presents 70 leading producers of bio-based materials, as well as associations and research institutes with their products and services. It is distributed in book, PDF and database form to more than 30,000 potential clients worldwide. Over 100 subscribers are expected for the new issue. Make sure right now that you are in the forthcoming iBIB2012!

The Agrobiobase developed by the IAR cluster is the showcase of bio-based products. This website currently lists more than 200 biochemicals and biomaterials available internationally. Access to the biomaterial database is free and, with 100 hits daily, customers can find detailed information about every bio-based material including bio-based plastics, natural fibres and bio-composites. IAR will start charging suppliers for listing their products in 2012.

The partnership agreement offers subscribers greater visibility:
Subscribers to both iBIB and Agrobiobase will be automatically cross-linked between the two and will receive furthermore a discount on their subscription (immediately for iBIB and from 2012 for Agrobiobase).
Potential customers can easily switch from the iBIB business directory (full description of raw material suppliers, producers of bio-based materials and relevant associations and research institutes) to Agrobiobase (detailed information about their bio-based materials), and vice versa.

Nova-Institute and bioplastics MAGAZINE, publisher of the iBIB, are looking forward to a fruitful partnership with IAR�s Agrobiobase that should support solid and sustainable growth in the bio-based economy through easier access to the best international bio-based solutions.

INDONESIA TO IMPLEMENT A �GREEN PROSPERITY PROJECT

The United States has reportedly pledged US$450 million for an environmental and climate change cooperation programme with Indonesia.
The money will be utilised to fund projects for the promotion of environmentally sustainable economic growth, strengthening climate change policies, conservation of tropical forests, protecting coastal communities and fisheries as well as the Low Emission Development Strategies (SOLUSI) project to improve air quality.

The US will, reportedly, assist Indonesia to implement a “Green Prosperity Project” at a cost of US$332.5 million, which will support environmentally sustainable economic growth through the enhancement and management of Indonesian forests, peat lands and other natural resources as well as the development of renewable energy.

In addition, the US will provide US$6.9 million to match funding from Norway for the new Indonesian Climate
Change Centre (ICCC), which will deploy and provide the mapping and monitoring of carbon-rich peat lands and tropical forests, with expertise to be provided by the US Forest Service.

The aim is to provide Indonesia with the best available scientists and policy analysts on key strategies and decision making from the US to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Concerning the conservation of Indonesia’s tropical forests, the US and Indonesia had earlier signed a second Tropical Forest Conservation Act Agreement (TFCA) in September. This provides for a debt-for-nature swap of US$28.5 million in order to support tropical forest conservation in Indonesia.

Source:ITTO

SAVILLS AND UPM TILHILL REPORTS RISE IN FOREST VALUES

The Forest Market Report 2011 by Savills and UPM Tilhill, launched in London on 29 November and Edinburgh on 30 November, says forestry, which is often seen as a safe investment in uncertain times, is proving an excellent option during the on-going financial crisis. The sector’s performance in the past 12 months has been exceptional looking at the stagnant economic situation throughout. Woodlands have become an important diversifier for any investment portfolio. As a medium to long-term investment, forest prices are low risk and generally not susceptible to short-term fluctuations.

George McRobbie, Forestry Operations Director for UPM Tilhill, said: “We recorded a surge in forest values with an average of £4,650 per stocked hectare being attained, the highest level since our survey started and 34 per cent (£1,174) up on 2010. This is equivalent to an annualised increase of 13.7 per cent since 2003.”

Jonathan Henson, Director for Rural Savills, added: “Demand for forestry remains high. IHT considerations, Capital Gains Tax exemption and tax advantages on income derived from timber have always attracted buyers, as do the opportunities for enjoyment, sport and leisure. However, the sector’s green credentials are becoming an increasingly important driver for buyer demand, particularly in the light of both UK and Scottish government’s renewable energy targets.”

The IPD UK Forestry Index shows a return of 20 per cent for the year to December 2010 and the Forestry Commission indices show the coniferous standing timber sales price up by over 70 per cent in the five years to September 2011. The current levels of growth have taken place in spite of an ailing construction sector. Looking to the longer term, as economies start to recover and development activity increases, demand for timber both as a fuel and construction material can only increase.

BRAZILIAN TROPICAL TIMBER TRADE FIGURES SHRUNK IN OCTOBER

In October 2011, exports of wood products (except pulp and paper) fell 8 percent compared to levels in October 2010, from US$ 213.7 million to US$ 196.8 million.

October pine sawnwood exports increased 20percent in value compared to the same month last year, from US$ 12.9 million to US$ 15.5 million. In terms of volume, exports increased 19percent, from 57,000 cu.m to 68,000 cu.m over the period.

Exports of tropical sawnwood declined slightly in October, from 45,100 cu.m in October 2010 to 45,000 cu.m in October 2011. There was a sharper drop in terms of value however, from US$ 21.6 million this October compared to US$ 23.8 million in October 2010.

Pine plywood exports fell 15percent in value in October 2011 compared to the same month of 2010, from US$ 28.6 million to US$ 24.2 million. The volume exported slid 21percent during the same period, from 80,800 cu.m to 63,800 cu.m.

Exports of tropical plywood recorded a sharp drop from 6,900 cu.m in October 2010 to 5,700 cu.m in October 2011, (a 17percent decrease). In value, a 10.3 percent decrease was registered, declining from US$ 3.9 million to US$ 3.5 million.

As for wooden furniture, the exported value dropped from US$ 48.6 million in October 2010 to US$ 44.3 million in October 2011, representing a 9 percent decline year on year.

Source: ITTO

EU IMPORTS OF WOOD FURNITURE REBOUNDED STRONGLY IN 2010

The following table provides more detailed information on recent trends in EU imports of wood furniture from outside the region.

It highlights that after the significant decline in the value of imports in 2009, imports of wood furniture rebounded strongly by 17 percent in 2010 to reach nearly €5.8 billion.

EU wood furniture imports rose strongly last year from China (+28 percent), Vietnam (+15 percent), Indonesia (+15 percent), Malaysia (+10 percent), Thailand (+10 percent) and India (+15 percent). This strong rebound in imports was evident in all the major EU consuming countries including the UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Spain. EU 25 Furniture Imports.

However, as austerity has begun to bite and other signs of economic strain have emerged in Europe during 2011, EU imports of wood furniture have weakened again in 2011. In the first 6 months of the year, the value of imports fell by 11 percent.

Imports were down from all the major supply countries including China (-11 percent), Vietnam (-8 percent), Indonesia (- 20 percent), Malaysia (-21 percent) and Brazil (-24 percent). As with the upturn, the downturn has been almost universal across all EU Member States.

Unfortunately the trade data does not allow for any reliable separation of furniture into exterior and interior products. In the past, tropical countries have dominated markets for weather-resistant exterior furniture products, while temperate countries have dominated markets for interior furniture products where diversity of look and grain is more important.

This simple division has been breaking down rapidly. Tropical countries like Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia have increasingly diversified into interior furniture products. This trend has been driven by a combination of tightening supply and rising prices for tropical hardwoods and the competitiveness of South East Asian countries able to draw on relatively low labour costs and traditional wood-working skills.

Originally, most interior products supplied to Europe by South East Asian countries were based on local plantation timbers, notably rubberwood. However, these countries are now importing increasing volumes of temperate hardwoods, from both Europe and the United States, for manufacture and re-export of interior furniture

Source: ITTO

WOOD & PANEL EUROPE GOES MOBILE (12.02.2011)

Wood & Panel Europe has launched its mobile-compatible site for its readers to stay in touch 24/7. Our magzine has been formatted to fit the fast data access requirement of the smart phones and tablets making it accessible to the users on the go. Wood & Panel Europe can now be accessed through any smart phone, including iPhone, iPad, and Android and tablet PCs as well by navigating to our website www.woodandpanel.com

Our readers can now stay updated on latest news and information from the industry, no matter where they are from our website. The new updated website also enable smart phones and tablet users to download latest and archive issues of our magazines.

MAHOGANY IS POPULAR AT HIGH POINT MARKET

More than 90 per cent of the bedroom and dining room furniture exhibited at the High Point Market used solid wood or veneer according to the trade association Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers. The High Point Market is North America’s largest furnishing industry trade show, where the annual Furniture Styles and Material Use Survey was carried out American cherry is the leading species used in bedrooms, dining rooms, home offices and in entertainment cabinets, followed by American walnut and red oak. Mahogany was in fourth place with high levels of use in all types of furniture surveyed.

The survey results do not show what species were included in the “mahogany” category, but the relatively
high use percentages indicate that it includes species such as khaya.

Other tropical and subtropical species did not see much use at the show, with the exception of plantation species such as rubberwood and acacia, as well as wenge. The use of materials other than wood, including painted and overlayed wood, decreased from 12-14 per cent in 2010 to less than 10 per cent this year.

Source: ITTO

WALID FARGHAL, DIRECTOR GENERAL, STRATEGIC MARKETING & EXHIBITIONS ON ABUDHABI WOODSHOW

On the venue of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Woodshow, we had a chance to speak to Walid Farghal, Director General, Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions regarding the event the inaugurated under the banner of Woodshow and the other related industry issues.

WPE: What will be your comment on the show?
Walid Farghal: As an organiser, this is the first1st edition to happen in Abu Dhabi and it’s a very close and special market, if you want to enter this market, you have to be here and understand the market. People here are very stable financially; Abu Dhabi was not neither affected by the criseis of 2008, nor is it now. They are focused on the construction to make Abu Dhabi a complete city. To comment on the show, the exhibitors should be happy rather than the visitors. We did conducted sufficient an effective marketing campaign. Regional visitors came and that should served the purpose of the exhibitors.

WPE: So you were not expecting too many international visitors much?
WF: Most of the international visitors would be interested in the number of visitors, 20 exhibitors would be disappointing for them. But for the exhibitors, they should be content as they can come into contact with the regional, potential exclusive buyers. It depends on the exhibitor how he is going to market his product. People don’t hesitate to pay here, it’s a price-possessed market, unlike Dubai or Sharjah or even other Mid-east markets. Here people look for medium and high- quality products in reasonable price. I know that there will be complains will be that the exhibition is very small, compared to what we had planned, but this is the 1st edition and for almost any exhibition the inaugural edition works like this, if not less. We will work on their feedback and depending on the outcome we will decide the further course. I am quite optimistic of about the future of the show and the potential of this market. It’s not like Dubai, it’s different, as it’s the hub of Dubai. Even in a crisies Dubai is progressing in business. But Abu Dhabi is a consumering market. The volume of business generated from Abu Dhabi Woodshow will reflect on the market of Abu Dhabi.

INDIA - INCREDIBLE IT IS!

The largest democracy, second most populous and the ninth biggest economy in the world, India is in the fast track to reach the top. The recently held India International Furniture Fair was another beacon in the bait. India’s first furniture fair that, was truly organizsed in an international scale, met with brought together the industry veterans who could fathom the b2b agenda of the event and could find out the ways through which the industry can really gain the momentum and thus, earn the maximum revenues.

Followed by the sudden boom in automation, Indian SMEs are now preparing to install high-end applications to their craftwork skills.

What The Architects Are Planning

If you speak to the young Indian architects, it is evident that they still prefer working with regional craftsmen over the costly automated mass production systems. But at the same time adhering to the mass production requirements and client’s preferences they are ready to adapt to the changing scenario. “Craftsmanship will become get restricted to niche projects and automation will devour the industry even in India in few years’ time,”, says Kalhan Mattoo, Director, Planet 3 Studios.

More industry production, ready-to-use products are in demand. For most corporate time-bound projects furniture components are outsourced. Kalhan says, “everywhere around the country we have projects, ranging from high-end luxurious villas to comparably budget designs. We are using latest LEDs to enhance the commercial lighting.”

He further elaborates: “India is a huge and vibrant market. The design fraternity is developing rapidly than anywhere else in the world. The consciousness awareness is growing. Ten years before ago furniture manufacturing was fFevicol manufacturing, whereas, now there are at least 10-15 magazines competing in the industry and people are becoming more conscious. Indian economy is holding in a secured position even at in the worst world economy scenario, so we always can always keep our fingers crossed.”

To read further download the latest issue of Wood & Panel Europe from our website woodandpanel.com

EUMABOIS ARE NOW 14

The member associations of Eumabois are now 14.Holz-Handwerk and Internationale Holzmesse has joined the World Exhibitions Network.

Last 28 October, Valencia hosted the Annual general meeting of Eumabois, the European federation that gathers thirteen national associations representing the leading woodworking machinery and tools manufacturers.

The assembly � summoned during Fimma-Maderalia � had a very committing agenda. After thanking the management of the Spanish association Afemma for hospitality and greeting all participants, Eumabois president Franz-Josef Buetfering welcomed the new delegates Ivano Coral and Erich Zeller, representing the Italian and Swiss association respectively. The latter has also become a member of the Eumabois board, as a substitute for Niels Erik Lundvig.
The Eumabois president then announced the further expansion of the federation to the Ukraine association Uwma, represented in Valencia by its president Vasyl Masyuk. With this new entry, there are now 14 associations sitting at the table of the European federation.

There are new entries also in the exhibitions calendar of Eumabois. As you know, the federation has always been committed to avoiding the useless proliferation of events in the industry, sponsoring only the exhibitions that comply with specific requirements. As from today, the World Exhibitions Network of Eumabois includes two more events, namely Holz-Handwerk in Nuremberg (Germany) and Internationale Holzmesse in Klagenfurt (Austria).

Buetfering read his report, which traditionally opens the works of the annual assembly. �Let me say that, today more than ever, we have to believe in what we do�, he said. �The industry needs vision, planning capacity, forward-looking attitude. We are well aware that we have to be very practical right now, close to daily facts, but I personally think that the duty of an association like Eumabois is also to look ahead, to expand the scope of its action to avoid missing the big picture. So, my invitation to all of us is to pay great attention to what is all around here and now, hic et nunc, as well as not to give up the capacity to believe in feelings and sensations, to create emotions that represent the true meaning of being entrepreneurs.�

Buetfering could not avoid mentioning the economic situation of the industry which, despite moderate recovery in 2010 and early 2011, has certainly not brought woodworking technology companies back to pre-crisis levels; however, some satisfaction must be expressed for a specific figure, namely that �� out of 7 billion Euro turnover achieved by the global technology trade in 2010, as much as 56.2 percent was generated by Eumabois member companies�.
A few remarks on exhibitions: from the liveliness of the recent Wood Processing Machinery and Intermob in Istanbul to great expectations for the upcoming Holz-Handwerk/Fensterbau in Nuremberg, (�� a biennial event acquiring ever increasing importance year after year�, Buetfering commented), without forgetting Xylexpo. �Italian colleagues are working hard to confirm the role of the next event as the most important exhibition in even-numbered years�, a commitment shared by Eumabois, which once again confirmed its full support to the Milan exhibition.

Buetfering closed his speech with a few significant hints and topics for discussion and in-depth analysis. �Technology is changing and woodworking machinery will be different: �greener� from any point of view, capable of consuming 30 percent less energy with the same efficiency standards. They will be more and more flexible, with increasingly higher automation levels: the automated or �one man factory� is a popular concept, not just a dream for the future. Technology will require smaller investments, solutions will take up less space, they will be built with standard constructions using equally standard and highly industrialized aggregates, but still capable of delivering the desired result to users. High-end technology will move down to improve low-end systems: plants can already be operated by anyone through a simple touchscreen. Maybe we should focus attention specifically on this aspect, on these machines that will no longer require joiners or experts of wood and wood-based materials, but rather simple technicians who can press a button. Maybe we still don�t realize the impact of this change...�.

Many issues were dealt with in the Eumabois president�s speech, and even more in the subsequent debate: from Tool Group activities to working programs for specific technical issues (Tool Group, Iso Standardization, Machinery Directive � Tc 142, Ontario Pre start and Safety review, Quebec standards), particularly relevant for European manufacturers.

WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY IN CHINA GREW BY 25 PER CENT

China’s total forest products trade amounted to USUS$61.92 billion in first three quarters of this year, up 25 per cent over the same period last year. Of the total, imports were valued at USUS$30.36 billion (plus 36%); exports were USUS$31.56 billion, (plus 17%). The balance of trade was USUS$1,195 million, down 74% from the same period last year.

Imports
China imported 32 million cu. m of logs during the period January to September 2011 at a value of US$6, 268 million, up 25 percent in volume and 39 percent in value over the same period last year.

Some 16 million cu. m of sawnwood were imported in the first three quarters of 2011, valued at US$4,229 million, a rise of 53 percent in volume and 54 percent in value from the same period last year.

Around 139,000 cu. m of plywood were imported in first three quarters of 2011 valued at US$86.42 million down 8 percent in volume and up 6 percent in value from the same period last year. China imported 158,200 tonnes of fibreboard in first three quarters of 2011 valued at US$81.88 million, down 25 percent in volume and 14 percent in value from last year. A total of 273,500 tonnes of particleboard were imported during the same period valued at US$ 94.25 million, up 7 percent in volume and up 14 percent in value from same period last year.

China imported some 95,900 tones of veneer valued at US$85.70 million during the first three quarters a 55 percent rise in volume and a 30 percent rise in value from the same period last year.

Exports
China exported 7.25 million cu.m of plywood in first three quarters of 2011 valued at US$3,243 million and this represented a rise of 28 percent in volume and 28 percent in value over the same period last year. Around 1.8 million tonnes of fibreboard were exported in the first three quarters of the year and these were valued at US$1,030.29 million, up 21 percent in volume and 21 percent in value from the same period last year. China exported some 94, 800 tonnes of particleboard from January to September 2011, valued at US$ 40.26 million, up 25 percent in volume and 38 percent in value from the same period last year.

China exported some 297,300 tonnes of solid wood flooring in first three quarters of 2011 valued at US$465.24 million, down 9 percent in volume and 7 percent in value from the same period last year.

A total of 42, 900 cu.m of sawnwood was exported from in the first three quarters of 2011 and this was valued at US$ 280.35 million, up 3 percent in volume and 9 percent in value from the same period last year.

China exported some 136,000 tonnes of veneer in this period valued at US$ 207.8 million, up 65 percent in volume and 33 percent in value from the same period in 2010.

INDONESIA EXPECTED TO PHASE OUT RAW RATTAN EXPORTS

The Indonesian Industry Ministry is widely expected to phase out the export of raw rattan over a three years period commencing early 2012 in a bid to revive the local rattan industry. A decision on this is expected in December 2011.The Ministry had earlier submitted recommendations tithe Trade Ministry for a new rattan export regulation, including a three-year export ban and a transition period.

The debate on a rattan export moratorium gained momentum over the past few months as the 2009 Trade Ministry regulations on rattan export quota expired in August this year.

The previous regulations allowed for the export of a total of 35,000 tons of washed and sulphurised rattan of 4 to16mm in diameter. It also stipulated that exports of semi finished rattan such as sega and irit were permissible as long as rattan producers produced a written commitment that they have supplied rattan to the local industry. Nevertheless, the rattan furniture industries and associations regarded the regulations as ineffective in assuring an adequate supply of raw rattan to meet the demands of the local industry.

Rattan exporters counter-claimed that the local industry could not absorb the large volume of raw rattan produced by Indonesian rattan producers. The Industry Ministry estimated that local industry could absorb up to 63,000 tons of semi-finished rattan. Indonesia is the world’s largest rattan producer accounting for some 80% of worldwide production. Indonesia also exported 33,033 tons of semi-finished rattan, valued atUS$32.32 million, while exporting 4,275 tons of rattan furniture worth US$16.09 million in 2010, according to data provided by the Industry Ministry.

Source: ITTO

ENCOURAGING FURNITURE EXPORT EARNINGS AS MARKETS ARE DIVERSIFIED

Exports of Malaysian made furniture products are likely to be between RM7 billion to RM7.5 billion this year compared with RM7.95 billion last year says the Malaysian Furniture Entrepreneurs Association (MFEA). The association had projected a 15 per cent drop in exports to RM6.8 billion earlier this year.

From January to August this year, the value of furniture exports from Malaysia stood at RM4.9 billion, a decline of 7.9 per cent compared with RM5.3 billion for the same period last year. However, demand in the second quarter improved with exports to Japan, India, Russia and Saudi Arabia picking up.

Exports to Japan increased to RM554 million during the January-August period compared with RM433 million in the same period last year. This performance elevated Japan to the second largest market for MFEA members; contributing about 8.9 perc ent or RM709 million out of a total of RM7.9 5 billion export revenue in 2010. Furniture exports to India also improved to RM171 million during the same eight months compared withRM137 million previously. Exports to the US also improved considerably.

Exports to Saudi Arabia grew to RM101 million in the first eight months compared with RM88 million a year earlier, while exports to Russia improved to RM51 million up from RM43 million previously.

The weakening of the Malaysian currency against the US dollar by 3 - 5 percent in the third quarter of this year contributed to the increase in exports.

Source: ITTO

BIOMASS CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION IN ITALY

Italy will be hosting the 20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition at the Milano Convention Centre, Milano from June 18-22, 2012. This premier event will be the congregating point for the entire biomass industry, organise meetings and forge contacts. It will provide a platform to reach all the major aspects of the biomass from research, industry to markets. The event will also bring biomass scientists and engineers from the industry in the industrial exhibition.

Head of Bioenergy System Technology, Dr.-Ing. B. Krautkremer explained, “the tasks of the biomass community include finding solutions to overcome the competition between the different methods of utilization, identifying conversion paths with the highest degree of sustainability and bringing together bioenergy concepts with other renewable energies. These tasks, in their full spectrum, also will be reflected in the 20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition and its motto: “Setting the course for a biobased economy”.

The variety of topics during the event is described as manifold, “leading to the horizontal approach of the Conference, which is typical for the biomass sector and essential for finding concepts with a holistic background". The Bioenergy industry needs dedicated events with a high degree of thematical profundity. The horizontal concept of the Conference will be complemented with topics such as “Biogas Upgrading and Grid Injection”, “Biogas goes Europe”, “Biowaste to Energy” and “Bioenergy in Smart Grids”.

TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON LAMINATES IN INDIA

The 3rd International Technical Conference on Laminates under the aegis of ILMA (Indian Laminates Manufacturers Association) will be held from February 17-18, 2012 in Goa, India. The last edition held this year in Ahmedabad from February 25-27 was declared a huge success. It was attended by more than 180 participants from Austria, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, The Netherlands and USA.

Many of the attendees were representatives of 96 companies from laminate manufacturing and raw materials supply sector. The conference is a platform to promote the Indian industry and attract international participation besides, introduce new and modern technology, equipment, materials and tools for the development of the Indian laminates industry, forge new contacts and create awareness towards advance developments.

This Technical Conference will provide a unique opportunity to the domestic as well as to the worldwide decorative and various laminates industries to understand the process of making high quality, environment friendly and cost efficient laminate sheets.

SOCIETY NEEDS LOW-CARBON PRODUCTS OF THE FOREST FIBRE INDUSTRY

The forest fibre industry of Europe published a roadmap at the European Paper Week event. The document presents how the bioeconomy is shaping the future, influenced by products, innovations, technological and political developments.

Federation of Finnish Forest Industry informed that Europe's fibre-based industry to stay at the heart of the bio-based economy – and remain there also in 2050. The wood-fibre-derived products of the forest industry provide a solution to many global environmental and climate challenges, in addition to which they contribute to the realisation of the envisioned low-carbon economy of 2050.

The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) drafted the Roadmap 2050 to a low-carbon bio-economy in response to a corresponding EU Commission roadmap that focuses on a low-carbon economy. In the background is the EU's target to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

The forest fibre industry's existing expertise in forestry, recycling and knowledge of the characteristics of wood provide it with a competitive advantage, which enables it to act as a frontrunner of the low-carbon, bioeconomy-based society of 2050.

European Paper Week takes place in Brussels this week. It is Europe's biggest event for the pulp and paper industry.

Source: FFFI

PEFC STAKEHOLDER DIALOGUE DISCUSSED VALUE OF FOREST PRODUCTS

PEFC’s stakeholder Dialogue held in Montreux, Switzerland on 10 November 2011 attracted almost 100 stakeholders from every corner of the world. The international speakers addressed a range of topics including life cycle assessment, carbon footprint, forestry standards, and innovative forest products and services. The consortium was attended by representatives from private sector including the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), The Sustainability Consortium, and consulting firms including Quantis and BioIntelligence Services

“Shifting our economy to a green economy will require a radical transformation throughout all aspects of our society,” Sten Nilsson during his keynote address at last week’s annual PEFC Stakeholder Dialogue emphasized the need of green economy and the prospect to achieve it. Green economy could be achieved through radical transformation throughout all aspects of the society, he elaborated, “With the forest sector’s reliance on renewable resources, it is uniquely placed above competing sectors to lead this transformation. But we need to do better at demonstrating forest solutions in greening the economy and advancing the innovation in our sector.”

The attendees discussed the positive attributes of the forest sector, and strived to deliver a stronger understanding of the broader sustainability agenda that responsible corporations are striving towards. The event aimed to space out the disconnect between the spheres of the society a part of which is concerned and investing towards a sustainable forest management and those who are pre-occupied with a broader range of sustainability issues spanning water, carbon, health, social justice and natural resources.

Maintaining healthy forests creates positive impacts to all facets of the society contributing to different aspects of sustainability. The dialogue re-enforced that all stakeholders need to work together to distribute this message and improve the recognition of forests and forest products within our society’s pursuit of sustainability.

Tools such as Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) which helps in carbon and water footprinting were discussed. These tools keep companies aware of their carbon footprints during product design and production phases. These tools also present opportunities to communicate the sustainability credentials of a product to consumers.

Ben Gunneberg, PEFC International said the sourcing of sustainable forest products is an essential part of exercising corporate responsibility, but it should be ensured that such actions are rewarded within the tools companies are utilising to measure and mitigate their sustainability impact. Moreover, we need to position forest issues as overarching to many sustainability issues, through forests’ provision of multiple values and benefits to society. We need to find new means for communicating this, and the momentum behind establishing a green economy may offer such opportunity.

TRADA HOLDING CPD EVENTS IN SCOTLAND

Three Continuing Professional Development (CPD) event are being organised by TRADA in Scotland at the Grangemouth Manor Hotel, Grangemouth from 29th – 30th November 2011 to meet the specific needs of architects, engineers and the timber sector.

The first of the three events for engineers and will take place from 6.30 – 9.00pm on the 29th November 2011. The event will include talks on, ‘Eurocode 5 and harmonised standards: supply chain perspective’ – focusing on test standards and the methodology clients need to test against, as well as the opportunities presented by CE marking. A case study on the Murray Grove town house will examine the design detailing of the building. The event includes buffet dinner.

The event on the 30th November 9.30 – 12 noon is for timber buyers and suppliers. David Payne of BM TRADA Certification will address CE marking, the pending Construction Products Regulation and its implications for the industry. Dr Andrew Pitman will follow with a talk on ‘Product Innovations’ touching on modified wood products, carbon measurement, and end uses for wood waste.

On the evening of the 30th November, 5.30 – 8.00pm, Mark Williams of HRI Architects will talk about The Forestry Commission’s office in Inverness. Key design factors include multiple species of locally sourced timber building elements, grey water recycling, natural ventilation, innovation timber treatment and preservation systems and wood fuel heating. This will be followed by a technical presentation on ‘Wood for design’ by Dr Pitman. The event includes buffet dinner.

FOREST CAN FULFIL FUTURE DEMANDS FOR BIO-ENERGY

Wood energy in the future can be most important source of bio-energy and address the growing demands for a potentially carbon neutral supply of the energy. A report from Collaborative Partnership on Forests released in the International Year of Forests claim that if managed benevolently forests can play a vital role to respond to future bio-energy demands.

“Sustainable, well managed forests can contribute to a switch-over to a greener economy and renewable energy systems with a low impact on climate and environment’, says Niel Elers Koch, President of the International Union of Forest Research Organisation (IUFRO) on the Future role of Bioenergy from Tree Biomass in Europe, held from 6-11 November 2011 in Vienna, Austria.

CPF has suggested some pertinent measures that could help in achieving bio-energy from sustainable managed forests.

Increasing demand for wood as source of energy: Wood should be promoted as a source to tackle global energy demand. New opportunities for the efficient use of wood for multiple purposes may also arise from innovations in biotechnologies for the production of renewable and cost-efficient bio-products and such as bioplastics, biofuels, biochemicals and other biomaterials. Rolf Björheden of the Swedish Forestry Research Institute states that the increased demand for wood as a source of ebergy must be balanced witht he other needs such as conserving biodiversity, storing carbon and the needs of conventional forest industries.

Development of regionally adapted technologies and methods for increased, economic, yet sustainable production and harest of forest biomass for different needs is essential", the IUFRO Task Force Coordinator concludes. In many parts of the world, policy makers have committed to a stronger use of bioenergy. For example, the European countries have agreed to achieve a 20 per cent share of renewable energy by 2020.

Need for accurate information: Wood energy is often being traded on informal markets. Therefore, it is difficult to assess its real contribution to national energy supply and consumption and its current and potential future removals from forests. In some countries, only 20 per cent of the current wood energy consumption is being reported by official statistics.

The Joint UNECE/FAO Wood Energy Enquiry (JWEE) assists countries in accounting for these volumes and it helps keeping track of the fast progress of wood 2energy production and consumption. It also facilitates cross‐sectoral communication and understanding between energy and forestry.

Ensure energy security in developing countries: Agroforestry, growing trees on farms, is one way of meeting local needs for fuel and, at the same time, taking pressure off forests and woodlands. In developing countries, much of the wood for cooking and heating is grown on farms. According to the World Agroforestry Centre that is promoting the integration of trees into farming systems, half the firewood burned in Thailand, more than three‐quarters of the firewood in Indonesia, Java, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, and four‐fifths of the firewood burned in Kerala, India, is cut from farmland and other non‐forest areas. In humid Eastern and Central African countries – Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda, in particular trees grown in home gardens meet most household needs for fuel and timber. In many cash‐crop systems, trees grown for shade also eventually provide wood, for example, the silky oak grown in tea plantations in Kenya.

Need to understand impacts: Increasing demand for forest biomass may capitalize on the immense global potential for forest restoration. New nalyses show that more than two billion hectares of the world’s deforested and degraded landscapes equivalent to half the size of Asia offer opportunities for restoration. This hold potential for the expansion of forest biomass for bioenergy but also for carbon capture as a means to combat climate change.

Currently, the use of fuel wood and charcoal is a driver of deforestation and landscape degradation in many developing countries. To make fuel wood a source of sustainable and potentially carbon neutral energy in those countries requires major efforts and investments. This could and should become a major element in developing countries' climate change mitigation policies, such as those evolving under the Forest Investment Program (FIP) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Source: ITTO

AUSTRALIA'S TIMBER INDUSTRY FACING TOUGH CONDITIONS

According to latest figures from industry peak body timber industry in Australia, which supplies the bulk of wood used in commercial and domestic buildings is going through tough conditions.

Australian Forest and Wood Products Australia chief executive David Pollard said that the figures confirmed the difficult trading conditions for Australian wood products manufacturers. These would soon be further adversely affected by the introduction of the carbon tax.

According to the March and June quarters 2011 Australian Forest and Wood Products Statistics report forest product imports rose by 5 per cent to $4.4 billion in 2010-11, particularly wood-based panels and sawn wood imports, up 16 per cent and 10 per cent respectively. Over the same period, exports rose by 9.4 per cent to $2.47 billion, still maintaining Australia's $2 billion trade deficit in wood products. Hardwood woodchip exports were up, mainly plantation fibre from Western Australia and Victoria, while roundwood exports rebounded in value by 43 per cent. New plantation rates decreased, falling by 72 per cent since 2006-07 to 21,000 hectares. New housing construction activity dropped 14 per cent in 2010-11.

Dr Pollard said ''When combined with increased imports of processed products, decreased plantation establishment and the looming carbon tax implications, we have a very difficult trading environment for Australian wood product manufacturing”.

Dr Pollard said the government's Clean Energy Future would do little for commercial forest growers. ''Despite the industry being in the business of creating low emissions intensive materials and sustainably managing forests, the government has ignored the industry's feedback in developing its climate policies,'' he said.

The AFPA urged the government to link this assistance to the actions of competitor countries as they set carbon policies, but this was largely ignored.

Dr Pollard said manufacturers of solid and reconstituted wood products would receive no assistance and would suffer a serious erosion of competitiveness.

''Secondly, it will be very difficult for any commercial plantation forestry operation to be recognised in the Carbon Farming Initiative because the constraints placed on for-harvest plantation projects are far stricter than on any other activity,'' he said. ''This is despite Australia's tree plantations already contributing 20 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent towards Australia's Kyoto target.''

Instead of recognising these home-grown carbon stores, Australia would import about 100 million tonnes of carbon credits from overseas by 2020 to meet our emissions reduction target, he said.

Source: theage.com.au

TRADA REVISED CONSTRUCTION BRIEFING FOR MEMBERS

TRADA is encouraging the growth of wood fuel by revising its construction briefing. In a release it said that the new briefing is a review of government policies, regulations and financial incentives, to provide an overview of the main policy drivers and financial incentives that currently exist and are set to be introduced.

The briefing highlights the main environmental concern of the UK including carbon emissions. As per the Carbon Change Act 2008, a carbon emission is targeted to be reduced by 80 per cent as compared with 1990 levels by 2050 and 34 per cent by 2020. This would require an enormous reduction in heat and energy consumption from fossil fuels, as well as tremendous growth in renewable energy and a contribution from nuclear power. Encouraging renewable energy such as wood fuel will aid in achieving this target.

Wood fuel is relatively favourably priced than major fuel types like gas and oil; however, upfront capital costs are typically much higher. Promoting wood fuel requires positive intervention in terms of policies and incentives.

The Construction Briefing covers;
•    Government policies on renewable heat and energy generation
•    Incentives through planning requirements and guidance
•    Incentives through building codes and regulations
•    Altering the economics of renewable energy

EXPO FOR FLOURISHING FORESTRY SECTOR IN CHINA

The government in China has launched a series of policies that promises to fuel the economic development and accelerate the momentum in the forestry industry. 2012 Beijing International Modern Forestry Equipment Expo (BIMF 2012) & 2012 Beijing International Landscaping Expo (BILE 2012) comes right at the time the industry will be at its peak enabling the host and the visitors to make out of the economy. The two fairs will be held at the New China International Expo Center (NCIEC), Beijing, P. R. China from March 12-15, 2012. The fairs will be staged concurrently with The 14th International Exhibition on Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Manufacturing Equipment (WMF 2012) & The 14th International Exhibition on Furniture Accessories, Materials and Wood Products (FAM 2012).

In 2010, the output value of forestry industry was over RMB 2 trillion, reaching RMB 2.28 trillion. The leading enterprises are stronger than ever and the sector is working on improving the products and industrialisation management.

Quality exhibition has been a magnet for leading enterprises. The industry has shown immense support for the fair. The two fairs are touted to be spread over 6,500 sqm with 300 renowned exhibitors. Many exhibitors have already booked their space to display environmental friendly and innovative technological equipments.

Beijing Forestry University (hosted by the Ministry of Education in China and State Forestry Administration, P.R. China) and Harbin Forestry Machinery Research Institute of the State Forestry Administration, PR China (the social responsible unit under national research institute) have joined as exhibitors in BIMF 2012 & BILE 2012 as well, to showcase the advanced technological products.

2012 Beijing International Modern Forestry Equipment Expo (BIMF 2012) & 2012 Beijing International Landscaping Expo (BILE 2012) are organized by China National Forestry Machinery Association, Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd; co-organized by China National Forestry Machinery Association - Committee of Garden Machinery, China National Forestry Machinery Association - Committee of Small Outdoor Machinery and Tools, China National Forestry Machinery Association - Committee of Forestry Machinery, China National Forestry Machinery Association - Committee of Timber Harvesting and Transportation Machinery, China National Forestry Society - Committee of Forestry Machinery and Beijing Yazhan Exhibition Services Ltd.

CUSTOMISE YOUR LIVING AT DOMOTEX

Keynote theme for the DOMOTEX 2012 is declared. The fair will present the latest and upcoming in flooring trends and fashions under the subject �Customised Living� from 14 to 17 January 2012. Organised by Deutsche Messe, DOMOTEX will be a platform for business and flooring lifestyle, a combination the overall industry seeks. Around 1,400 exhibitors from over 60 nations are expected to be present at the fair exhibiting their latest collections and design developments. Flooring possibilities are endless and the fair will be a showcase of varied range of products for retail and commercial sector from hand-knotted and machine-made carpets, parquet and laminated flooring through to textile and resilient floor coverings. With a host of exhibitors from number of countries the visitors can actually see and compare their products, all in one platform.

Besides exhibitors, the fair will be attended by a number of professional visitors, 63 percent of whom are from foreign countries. Visitors list comprise of architects, interior designers, skilled tradesmen and wholesalers and retailers of furniture and interior furnishings. Deutsche Messe Management Board member Dr. Andreas Gruchow said, �All indications are that it's going to be a great success. The global market leaders will be out in force, plus there's the hotly anticipated premiere of the Wood Flooring Summit, a new, improved site layout and a range of new online services. With features like these, our exhibitors know they will be in pole position for new business."

DOMOTEX 2012 will also feature special displays, speaking events and panel discussion on interior d�cor and design that will yield new ideas and insights for visitors. The fair is continuing its Souk Deluxe partnership with renowned carpet designer Jan Kath, and will feature the new Wood Flooring Summit with its strong focus on product design.

Wood Flooring Summit: The Wood Flooring Summit puts hard flooring at center stage at DOMOTEX . Dr. Gruchow applauds the summit as a promising first class showcase. The summit will be attended by manufacturers like Amorim, Barlinek, Bauwerk, Berry Floor, Classen, Egger, Faus, Hamberger, Kaindl, K�hrs, Kronotex, Margaritelli, MeisterWerke, Parador, Spanolux/Balterio, Tarkett and Unilin/QuickStep. They will display a diverse range of parquet and laminate flooring products.

Customized Living: The theme of the fair in the upcoming edition is �Customised Living�. Personalisation being one of the latest trends in the coming season and flooring is not deprived of the possibilities of endeavour in this regard. Many companies are providing their customers with options to choose from a rich palette of off-the-rack materials, colors and formats and let them customized their products. Dr. Gruchow explains the choice of theme. "Increasingly, our human desire for greater individuality and self-realization is finding direct expression in the design of our own four walls." The theme symbolizes the leading design trends among the carpets, textile and resilient floor coverings and parquet and laminated flooring products that will be on display at the fair.

UK AND THE 'WOOD FIRST' RULE

Timberinvestments.co in its website informs about the first ever UK Timber Industry Manifesto which was issued by Wood for Good, an organisation promoting and creating awareness about benefits of wood as a building material. The manifesto purposes the UK government to adopt a ‘Wood First’ rule which would ensure consideration of wood as a potential primary building material in all government funded projects.

The document suggests that the ‘wood first rule will help the government cut on its expenditure while ensure sustainability as wood has some of the most effective insulation properties and it reduces labour costs as well. Wood for Good has backed its proposal with support of examples such as production of steel, bricks and concrete, traditional building materials that enlighten on the ecological benefits of timber use over such materials for construction purposes. Consumption of energy in concrete production is 24 times that of timber and concrete production releases 14 kg carbon dioxide is released per cubic metre. If these materials are replaced with timber the environment will save on 0.9 tons of carbon dioxide per cubic meter. Insulation properties of sustainable timber are better than steel, bricks and concrete which prevent leakage of fire through walls. Insulation properties of wood are five times better than concrete, 10 times better than brick and 350 times better than steel.

Wood for good has cited instances where local government of various countries have already adopted such policies which give priorities to wood over other materials for construction. British Columbia introduced the ‘Wood first Act’ in 2009 for government projects such as schools, sports centre or libraries. A government initiative in New Zealand specifies use of wood as the preferred building material in all government funded projects of up to four floors in height. In USA too, this year in June, the administration officially termed wood as a green building material. USDA secretary, Tom Vilscak issued a quota which entails amount of timber to be present in each building and instructs US Forest service to use wood in new building construction. European Country, France too has a law "Grenelle de l'environnement", implemented in 2009 which encourages the use of wood in construction. Construction sector in France which had to use a minimum of 2dcm³ of wood per m² built, this quota is now being raised to 20dcm³/m².

These reasons are enough to make the UK government contemplate on introducing the ‘Wood First’ rule. However, endorsement a construction material by a government during tough economic times requires contemplation as other industry faces competitive risks.

This rule besides, ensuring sustainability in building construction encourage timber investments as well. timberinvestments.co explains in an ecological benefits of timber investments with the help of an independent study by AHEC which establishes that each tree planted lends to carbon dioxide absorption in the environment which offsets the emissions from harvesting, processing and transporting timber.

The website suggests that the rule can be effective if local governments in UK instead of the federal government implement the rule at regional level where timber investments can make for a major market providing employment to those who lost jobs in the industries which would be affected by the rule. Pressure from lobbyists, unions and capitalists forces in the region will also not be as significant as at the national level.

Wood for Good, suggests that ‘Wood First’ rule should be adopted by local governments to avoid backlash at the national level. This would lessen the harmful risk of economies favouring the consumers and the environment. Besides this the industry experts should also be willing to provide a framework of implementing such a "wood first" rule in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

XYLEXPO 2012: TO KEEP ITS PROMISE

Paolo Zanibon, general manager of Xylexpo, the biennial international exhibition of woodworking technology and furniture industry supplies declared that Xylexpo 2012 will keep its promise. The 2012 edition of Xylexpo will be held from 8-12 May 2012, in the Milan Exhibition Center Fieramilano-Rho. The global economic situation might be improving but the industry is still facing difficulties. However, the “exhibitor registrations for the next Xylexpo are encouraging and, so far”. The fair might achieve an area of 45 thousand square meters, which is 15-20 percent more space than in the previous edition. He added that the next edition will be very concrete and will not fail to show their strong determination to “guide” the market and to be its truthful interpreter.

The economic situations in the industry were improving but somehow later in the year slowdown of orders led to a discourse. The situation is full of ups and downs, with excellent results in the first six months of the year, followed by a new phase of slowdown. Zanibon said, “We know very well the next few months might be vital for our show. The trust of big German groups and many small, medium and large Italian and international businesses is proving that Xylexpo’s leadership is intact. That’s what our contacts say and the evidence from our strong daily marketing and promotion activity”.

Dario Corbetta manager of Xylexpo who launched the next edition of the fair at a press conference in Valencia, during Fimma-Maderalia along with Zanibon, the Acimall President Ambrogio Delachi and the marketing said, the latest figures for the first half of the year is positive. Aggregated European export has grown by 34.1 percent compared to the same period of previous year. In detail, Italy and Germany, the leading European suppliers, have increased their foreign sales by 28 and 27 percent respectively. The overall result was also supported by Spain and the Czech Republic, with growth rates above 50 percent. He added. “If the financial crisis that exploded last summer had not stopped the trend out of recession, at the end of the year we could have recorded consistent growth across the European and global industry of woodworking equipment and tools. We will have to wait for January-October figures to have a clearer view of the situation, but in any case, we can suppose that a positive result in 2011 is more than achievable, though maybe not so impressive”.

Stand allocation at the fairs already started a few weeks ago. Halls 1 and 3 will be dedicated to secondary panel processing. Solid wood machining will be featured in hall 2, where the trend of registrations is in line with 2010, and most areas have already been allocated. Hall 4 will include everything that fits into the definition of “first operation”. It’s 40 thousand square meters in total, one-third taken by international exhibitors, with organizers ready to open all the halls that will be necessary, as they have already been booked from FieraMilano.

Many brands will be part of the fair in the next edition including, Artiglio, Barberan, Homag Group, Biele, Bongioanni, Primultini, Storti, Angelo Cremona, Corali, Centauro, Weinig Group, Ima, Stromab, Comec, Coral, Costa Levigatrici, Cursal, Essetre, Freud, Imal/Pal, Siempelkamp, Imas, Imeas, Incomac, Heeseman Leuco, Leitz, Metalworld, Solidea, Maurimacchine, Makor, Paoletti, Pneumax, Italpresse, Ormamacchine, Termolegno, Wintersteiger, Griggio, Vitap, Schelling, Process, Otto Martin, Albricci, Bacci, Holz-Her, Spanevello, Omgatech, Pade, Greda and many more.

Dario Corbetta, marketing manager of Xylexpo said. “Our exhibition will be the ideal place to meet the widest offer, to compare solutions and to understand what the global technology industry can provide.

Xylexpo 2012 will be held during Tew-Technology Exhibition Week, featuring the most important technology shows including Plast (the international exhibition for plastics and rubber industries), Fluidtrans Compomac (the biennial international exhibition for fluid power technology and mechatronics) and Mechanical Power Transmission & Motion Control (the international biennial exhibition for mechanical power transmissions, motion control and mechatronics that will end on May 11).

ITTO CELEBRATED 25 ACCOMPLISHED YEARS DURING INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FORESTS

On 28th of October Yokohama-based International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) celebrated its 25 years of its establishment in Yokohama, Japan. A commemorative symposium was held on the event which became a reason for high level officials from Japan and other countries to gather at a place and share their views and experience.

The symposium named “Celebrating a Quarter Century of ITTO and Japan Sustaining Tropical Forests” was carried out in collaboration with the City of Yokohama, the Japan Forestry Agency, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japanese Committee for the International Year of the Forest. Around 200 members attended the symposium, being audience to the speakers from member countries of the organisation who spoke about the success of the organisation in promoting sustainable forest management in the tropics, its history and evolution, examples of its current work program and prospects for its future development.

Yokohama Mayor Fumiko Hayashi went all praises about ITTO in her opening speech where she expressed her pride in hosting “the only UN treaty-based organization headquartered in Japan.” The event highlighted the important role that tropical forests play in the global environment and on-going changes in markets for tropical forest products and services.

Over the years, ITTO has supported the sustainable management of tropical forests and the sustainable trade of tropical forest products and in aid with the government of Japan, the City of Yokohama and other donors, funded over 1000 projects worth over $350 million. In addition to the symposium, the Organization actively participated in the Yokohama International Festa on October 22-23. ITTO has also worked with several tropical countries on commemorative events to mark its anniversary during the year, including Brazil.

HETTICH TO LAUNCH KITCHEN CONCEPT 2015

Hettich is launching Kitchen Concept 2015, a platform to forecast kitchen and home trends in 2015.Started in 1999 Kitchen Concept has stood testimony for the industry of Hettich’s involvement, innovation and contribution towards strengthening it and delivering better products. 2015 edition will be a one stop spot for the industry offering the best from various spectra. It aims to provide kitchen furniture and white-goods manufacturers with inspiration for taking the kitchen forward as the hub of the home. As explained the company itself the latest edition of the Kitchen Concept stands for:

In terms of design, Kitchen Concept 2015 interprets the kitchen as the hub of the home. It is integrated in the home environment rather than claiming to be the centre of attention. It is the essentials that count, with the technology – appliances, sinks and taps – disappearing behind fascias when they’re not needed. Hardware ideas for flush-fitting fronts generate new architectural options: On demand, they are electrically retracted and, in doing so, free up the work surface. An extremely shallow sink discreetly blends into the forward-pointing kitchen landscape and reduces the consumption of water. Retracting faucets underpin the trend of reducing kitchen design to what's needed without compromising on function.

As a focus of home living, Kitchen Concept 2015 is also synonymous with a positive feeling for life. This is where convenience plays a central part. Drawers and pot-and-pan drawers that can be opened from both sides provide access to contents no matter which side of the work centre the user is standing. Electrical appliances are also set to provide greater convenience: Meanwhile, separately controllable drawers in the dishwasher can be opened from both sides, thereby making cooking with friends even more of a pleasure.

From the aspect of ergonomics, Kitchen Concept 2015 shows height adjustable wall units. Control panels on the base unit provide the capability of raising and lowering cabinet elements independently of each other, ergonomically moving cabinet contents to a level that best suits the user. As such, the kitchen is increasingly fitting in with those using it. Older people, in particular, are becoming the yardstick for product design.

In the future, multimedia networking will do much to boost convenience because in the Kitchen Concept 2015, different electrical appliances communicate with each other. The touch screen in the hob or large screen in the kitchen front can be used, for example, to display oven temperature and remaining cooking time. On top of this, Internet, television as well as other building services are operated and controlled from a central point.

Abu Dhabi Woodshow: Gateway to the Capital of Emirates

On the second day of the first edition of the Abu Dhabi Woodshow, we got the opportunity to talk to Director General Mr. Walid Farghal. Keeping in mind its fist edition and the conservative market of Abu Dhabi, Mr. Farghal considers the event as a success, though a few exhibitors might not agree with him.
He says, as the companies participating here want to penetrate the market and explore the possibilities in Abu Dhabi, they should be happy as they are getting the opportunity to talk to the locals in the business. However, the third and last day will be the deciding factor for the fair. Based on the feedback from the exhibitors, the course of the next edition will be decided, he comments. He seemed to be overwhelmed by the responses from the recently held Cairo Woodshow. Besides the fairs he has shared his views on other issues as well. To know more about the conversation, wait for our Nov-Dec isssue.

FSC Hosts Poll for Favourite Summer Photo

Caste your vote for your favourite, Join FSC's 'Vote now for your favourite summer photo' poll. Link: http://www.fsc-uk.org/?page_id=2783

THE BEAUTY OF 'TIMBER WAVE' AT LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL 2011

London design festival witnessed a wonderful display of a three dimensional latticework spiral, specially commissioned by AHEC for the ninth edition of the festival, made completely from American red oak by Cowley Timberwork and engineered by Arup. It will remain on display at the Victoria & Albert museum until October 15, 2011.
The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry, threw the spotlight on the endearing beauty and strong qualities of American red oak through the Amanda Levete Architects (AL_A) design master piece - ‘Timber Wave’ - during the London Design Festival (LDF) September 17- 25, 2011 across London.
Arup is widely known as the creative force at the heart of many of the world's most promising projects in the built environment and has provided structural engineering from concept stage to construction for 'Timber Wave,’ It was made from 20 m3 of 1” thick American red oak boards donated by several members of AHEC. The collaboration has ended in a stunning, self-supporting 12m three-dimensional latticework spiral, built from oil-treated American red oak. Arup suggested the idea of a series of simple, tied-together, trussed arches and turning the straight chords and braces of the truss into miniature waves themselves at the same time.
Following a series of comparative tests, it was revealed that American red oak has twice the structural strength of comparative softwoods, and the data gathered was utilized by Arup to design the members., ‘Timber Wave’ displays a complex structural design, originating from varying geometry and presented with the curved nature of the members and the strong properties of timber. In the words of David Venables, AHEC Director for the European region, “The overwhelming response that we have received for ‘Timber Wave’ signifies that this is the best time for American red oak, an abundant yet underused hardwood species, to stand out and showcase its strengths, literally and metaphorically,”
‘Timber Wave’ ably shows the warm tones of red oak and provides the necessary contrast to the light colored stone of V & A’s arched entrance. Visitors and pedestrians passing by the area will be mesmerized to notice ‘Timber Wave’s’ grand presence.
According to AHEC, the structural performance of American red oak for ‘Timber Wave’ exceeded all expectations. The excellent strength proved worthy for its weight and enabled the design to be as delicate and efficient as possible. Observers have remarked that the complex three-dimensional geometry and use of material with strength characteristics that vary naturally with orientation have made ‘Timber Wave’ highly challenging to analyze structurally and design-wise.

FSC Global Market Survey 2010 Report Published

FSC's annual market survey for 2010 has been released on the world wide web. One of the key market research tools, the survey is one of the principal ways that FSC gains information about market trends and requirements. The findings help inform further market research and supports FSC's strategies on priority initiatives to grow and strenthen the FSC system.

The 2010 survey was executed in 13 languages, and includes respondents from 3500 companies in more than 29 countries. FSC Director General Andre de Freitas said "The results of the survey help shape our market strategies and identify the most immediate priorities. The findings also inform further market research and market support initiatives..."

SCHATTDECOR'S SPLENDID SHOW AT ZOW ISTANBUL 2011

Schattdecor's sttendance at the ZOW Istanbul lived up to their expectations, their Export Manager for South Europe Andreas Bruckbauer and Sales manager for Turkey Erhan Kara expressed satisfaction with the show. As per the release, their stand was visited by almost all the Turkish customers to the fair. The unexpected foreign visitors to the fair added to the experience. Many of the 18,000 trade visitors came from Iran, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Greece, Ukraine and Syria.

Visiting the Schattdecor stall were the former Director General of Forests in Turkey, Osman Kahveci and General Manager of the forestry products company Kastamonu Entegre A.Ş, Osman Aksoy.

The company's demonstration of digital inkjet printing with decors from its Digital VISIONS collection and its new trend concept received much appreciation from the visitors. While new Smartfoil and Post foil surfaces with a three-dimensional look or feel in the Real and 3D product lines were the subject of many enquiries. The decors Rijeka Oak (in Smartfoil 3D) and Nancy Elm as an accomplished example of a Smartfoil Real decor kept the visitors impressed visitors with their synchronous interplay of tactile and visual effects.

Two new furniture decors in the form of Santana Oak and Larix were found to be particularly convincing.

Santana Oak, a very natural-looking and subtly rustic decor, offers fine pores and attractive detailing in the form of tiny knots and elegant long cathedrals. Oak is a top trend theme this year, and the attractive grain of Santana Oak makes the decor ideal for a wide range of applications.

Larix, a mainly straightgrain pine decor, offers only a hint of movement yet makes an arresting 3D effect thanks to accomplished reproduction of wire-brushed surface treatment. Finely balanced in colouration, the decor reflects the trend towards striking decors that lend themselves to production with matching textured press plates.