MICA (P) No: 090/02/2012 • ISSN: 0219-5704 • KDN: PPS 1453/11/2012(022879) • www.panelsfurnitureasia.com • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013 MICA (P) No: 090/02/2012 • ISSN: 0219-5704 • KDN: PPS 1453/11/2012(022879) • www.panelsfurnitureasia.com • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013 • Flying the flag for Indonesian wood • Flying the flag for Indonesian wood • Dieffenbacher: Power combination to excellence • Dieffenbacher: Power combination to excellence • An interview with Mr. Ernie Koh, Chairman, IFFS • An interview with Mr. Ernie Koh, Chairman, IFFS • The EU Timber Regulation – putting it into practice • The EU Timber Regulation – putting it into practice Cover: Photo Michael Buckley Cherry - the warmest of American hardwoods
• Flying the fl ag for Indonesian wood • Flying the fl ag for Indonesian wood • Dieffenbacher: Power combination to excellence• Dieffenbacher: Power combination to excellence• An interview with Mr. Ernie Koh, Chairman, IFFS• An interview with Mr. Ernie Koh, Chairman, IFFS• The EU Timber Regulation – putting it into practice• The EU Timber Regulation – putting it into practice
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Happy New Year everyone! 2012 was a very fulfi lling year for Panels & Furniture Asia. Just to name a few — we participated in many international trade exhibitions and conferences, and we also successfully launched our bi-weekly e-newsletter which quickly generated readers in Asia and beyond. All these wouldn’t have been possible
without your continual support, so thank you! With the new year, we strive to work even harder to bring the latest
updates and most relevant information on the woodworking world to you. Of course, there are many more stories to be told.
We kick off with a riveting interview with Mr. Ernie Koh, Vice President of the Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC), where he discusses the changing supply chains of the global furniture industry (page 18). With the US and Europe economies still down in the dumps, Mr. Koh believes that Asian furniture makers need to redirect their markets and look “regional”. He also believes that Asian manufacturers are ready to meet environmental regulations such as the EU Timber Regulation.
On the topic of EUTR, our regular columnist Mr. Michael Hermens discusses proof of legality and some of the possible loopholes of this hyped regulation (page 10). Moreover, Ms. Jade Saunders, an Associate Fellow at Chatham House and an Associate in the Energy Environment & Development Programme who also worked on FLEGT since the action plan was published in 2003, explains the procedural information required to demonstrate due diligence (page 20). They bring up a lot of good points and, whether you agree or not — a must-read for everyone!
Rounding everything out, we have two plant visit reports in this issue: one is on Dieffenbacher’s wood-based panel production line in Guangzhou HuaFangZhou Wood (Group) Co. Ltd in China (page 39) and the other is on Perum Perhutani’s plantation in Java, Indonesia (page 36). We also have technical features from China FOMA (page 44), Weinig (page 45) and U-C Coatings (page 30).
Oh and if you haven’t subscribed to our e-newsletter, might I suggest you visit www.panelsfurnitureasia.com/newsletter.php. It will take 1 minute to sign-up and is defi nitely worth it.
Kenn Busch is also publisher of www.materialintelligence.com, and contributing editor to Wood Digest and Interiors & Sources magazines.
Kenn Busch Contributing Editor
As the design universe continues to shrink and compress, all eyes focus on the Heimtextil exhibition every January in Frankfurt. Why?
One reason is certainly that show dedicates a hall to its highly infl uential Trend Forum, from which designers in both commercial and residential markets draw in-spiration for colour, textures, scale, lightplay, and combinations of all of the above.
The Forum is the result of a Trend Board created by the Heimtextil organisers, drawn from every corner of the globe. The Board makeup shifts every year, with some designers and fi rms held over, and some are new.
The discussions for the 2013 Trend Forum began in March 2012, between Stijlinsti-tuut Amsterdam, Brazil’s Orbitato – Instituto de Estudos em Moda e Design, the Dan Project of Japan, Global Color Research of the USA, Germany’s Stilbüro bora.herke.
palmisano, and France’s 2G2L Fashion Design & Consulting. The result? Four powerful concepts under the umbrella, “Being.” “To feel at home, we need a space that we feel emotionally con-
nected to,” begins the book that tells the story of the Trend Board’s efforts, going onto describe our environments as an extension of our personalities, refl ecting our dreams and our histories. To explore this concept the Board identifi ed, or rather distilled, four powerful personality types and explored the interior design possibilities that might better allow them to be who they want to be. The Historian is partial to the fi ner things of bygone eras, artisanship, opulence and precious materials. The Eccentric is a hunter-gatherer, attracted to eclectic combina-tions, kitsch, fl amboyance and whimsy. The Inventor wants function to be fun, and thrives in creatively interactive settings that inspire and entertain. The Geologist is a nature fanatic, and digs organic imperfections, rough, unfi nished fi nishes in the context of the unknown and the unexpected.
For many in the furniture production world, the whole Trend Forum concept might seem a little eccentric, but efforts like this are very infl u-ential in the design world, and have a ripple effect
through the interior design and furniture markets. For companies that strive to create furniture that will be bought by
design-conscious consumers and commercial specifi ers, a visit to the Heimtextil website (www. http://heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com, and click on “Heimtextil Trend” at the bottom) is required viewing. Photos by Kenn Busch
The design of
personality The offi ce of an “eccentric” personality, according to the Trend
Board’s imagination.
The entrance to the Heimtextil Trend Forum.
Early tones and organic forms in exciting to the “geologist” personality.
THE MALAYSIAN MDF MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (MMMA)
A race that started in the USA and spread quickly to Europe is now in full swing in Asia.
I am not referring to the race to debase national currencies, but instead the race to lower prices of panel products including MDF. Over the past three months, prices of MDF have fallen on average by 15% in USD terms. If we convert prices to local Asian cur-rencies many of which have appreciated against the USD (such as the Malaysian Ringgit) the percentage fall is much greater.
So what has been driving this fall? A very signifi cant increase in the supply of MDF
with no subsequent increase in the demand. New MDF capacity continues to come on stream
from Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. This round of investment will not stop for at least another two years as new projects come to completion. There are also mills in Europe, Turkey, Latin America and Russia looking for a market as domestic consumption falls.
Our advice to customers would be to stick with the suppliers you know and trust. Discuss with them your problems and issues, I am sure they will work with you to give you a competitive price, good service and
excellent quality. Maintain the dialogue with your supplier, they are your partner. Until the markets settle and the ‘supply versus demand’ equation becomes more balance, don’t hold stock, only order what you need and are able to trade within the delivery lead time.
Looking to the future, wood panel manufacturers need to be aware that later this year the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will probably enact the CARB standards with some amendments into a National US Regulation. In Europe they are debating on how formaldehyde is to be categorised under the new REACH regulations (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals). If it is promoted to a category 1A chemical, we could see standards similar to the Japanese JIS F4* for panel products sold in Europe.
The complexity of doing business is increasing and the multitudes of standards that potentially need to be complied with are costly for the industry and confusing for the customer (JIS, JAS, CARB, EPA, CE, TUV, FSC, PEFC, REACH, etc.). As an industry we would welcome a global harmonisation of these standards.
As mentioned in a previous issue, the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) will be implemented in March 2013. Just a short recap: the EUTR requires any European importer placing timber and timber-related products onto the European market to provide proper documents to prove that the risk of
placing “illegal harvested timber” onto the EU market is minimised. In the last few months, we at APP Timber have been contacted by many
customers across Asia asking questions how to comply with the EUTR. They are pressured by their Europeans buyers to provide proof of legality yet most of these buyers are unable to outline what type of proof they require. Many of them as-sume that, for example, FSC certifi ed products are automatically approved under the EUTR, and we have seen a huge demand for FSC certifi ed timber. However, this is incorrect. The EUTR will not endorse any third party certifi cation system. The FSC has even indicated that they do not intend to change their policies to com-ply with the EUTR since, I think correctly, the FSC requirements goes much further than just “due diligence” and as such will not pose any risk. PEFC is adapting their standards and has confi rmed that the new standards will ensure that any PEFC endorsed products comply with the EUTR.
My biggest question remains how Europe is going to implement the EUTR. Is each member state going to check every container of timber and/or timber products? Or is it suffi ce just to provide documentation to prove due diligence? There was an article in a Belgium newspaper last December claiming that “15 to 30% of all imported timber in the port of Antwerp is illegal”. Presuming this is correct, how will the Belgium government suddenly be able to stop this once the EUTR is operational? The country does not even have a government at present!
Our company, APP Timber, is providing documents with each shipment of tim-ber (e.g. logs, timber and veneer) to Asia, providing as much as possible details on the source (forest location and license) and place of production and if applicable, provide details on any reputable certifi cation. But will this be enough? Surely it is not so diffi cult to provide incorrect information just for the sake of “converting” illegal timber to legal timber? The EU is not going to send people to those coun-tries to check on each forest’s legality. Instead they “force” supplying countries to sign Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPA) to implement the FLEGT licensing scheme which is of course good but would it not have been logical to also allow credible certifi cation schemes like FSC and PEFC?
A good example is that we (APP Timber) are not buying any timber from the Ivory Coast destined for the European market since we are unable to get all information to provide proper due diligence. This does not mean that all timber from the Ivory Coast is automatically “illegally harvested” but, due to long lasting domestic wars, none of the Ivory Coast governments has been able to put in place a proper forest management system. And they will not be able to do so for many years since they are far behind in legality issues of forests, etc.
Indonesia is ahead of most other Asian nations and has implemented their own verifi cations system called SVLK, and all our Indonesian customers have or
AUTHORare in the process to rush to obtain the license since without this SVLK they are unable to export. This is very good indeed, but can one be sure there are no loopholes? I have been travelling 25 years in Indonesia and could not fail to notice that currently the volume of merbau logs and timber at many yards in Surabaya is the largest I have ever seen. I can hardly imagine that all this timber is legally harvested. Some mills are even exporting large sections of merbau timber which is not allowed but they comply with the export regulations by producing a “fake” profi le on the timber so it becomes a “moulding” rather than sawn timber. So much for the SVLK.
At the end, the EUTR will only become fully successful once their own FLEGT timber licensing scheme is implemented by the timber supplying nations (through the VPA). Only this will reduce the trade of illegal timber, however, it is going to take many years till such countries will have the FLEGT scheme implemented.
We need to learn to become more responsible and committed not knowingly to trade in illegally harvested timber. I guess that will never hap-pen as long as there is good money to be made in such illegal business.
In conclusion, one can say that the EUTR has increased the aware-ness and reduced the trade of illegal timber. The demand for certifi ed products is on the rise, but it has yet to be seen how the regulations will be implemented in Europe. One might expect that many new loopholes will appear after a few months of implementation, and therefore the trade of illegally harvested timber will persist.
Dutch-born Michael Hermens is Managing Director of APP Timber, a timber importing company that he founded nearly 18 years ago on the conviction that Southeast Asia
will grow increasingly short of raw material as it develops.
The company is now the leading regional distribu-tor of imported timber,
employing people in Malaysia, Indonesia,
Thailand, Vietnam, India, USA and Eu-rope. He perma-nently lives in Kuala Lumpur with his Singaporean wife and two boys.
Emporium Hardwoods, part of the Rossi Group, is located in Northwestern Pennsylvania on the edge of the Allegheny Plateau which is home to the very best Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) in the Northeast-ern United States. The mill is also supplied locally with an abundant resource of the fi nest Hard Maple, Red Leaf Soft Maple, Red Oak and White Ash from the sustainable hardwood forests of the USA. Penn-sylvania has traditionally been the largest hardwood lumber producing state in the USA.
The Emporium mill is a fully integrated saw mill with a kiln capacity currently now reach-ing 12 million BFM per year. A sustainable and selective forestry policy is at the heart of Emporium’s commitment to provide a legal and environ-mentally responsible, consistent, fully controlled quality in one of the most exclusive American hardwood species - Cherry. In production for well over 40 years, the mill has developed a very loyal customer base in the United States, where it is regarded as a reference or so-called ‘gold standard’ for Cherry lumber. Around the world the mill’s production is distributed on all continents, for it has long been a serious player in export markets and is known and recognised as a producer with an emphasis on high quality and yield-oriented production, in the form of selective grading and colour sorting. Emporium has also participated in FSC certifi cation over the past ten years. The com-pany is owned and operated by Ted Rossi, CEO of Rossi Group and former Chairman of the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC). He was founder and Past President of the Hardwood Federation in Washington DC and was former President and is a
Mill report: Emporium Hardwoodssitting Director of the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA). The mill is guided by all of these association memberships.
Jay Ward, General Manager at Emporium, is currently undertaking extensive renovations and additions, mainly in new kilns made by S.I.I. and storage facilities on the site, making it a reference producer. The mill operates three 6’ McDonough
band-mills with a capacity of 13 million BFM per year. New kilns with 800,000 board feet of load capacity have just been installed that bring the annual kiln capacity to over 12 mil-lion board feet and two new Air-drying storage buildings will enable a further 1.2 million feet to be air-dried on sticks. Cherry accounts for 30-35% of total production, with Ash and Soft Maple as the other two main species. The mill cuts thicknesses mainly in 4/4, 6/4 and 8/4 with a limited production of 5/4.
Randy Flament and Jesse LaSon form a far reaching team on the US domestic market selling to distributors and the
most demanding furniture, cabinet and fl ooring manufacturers across the USA and all the way to the West Coast. The Rossi management and marketing team, based in Cromwell, Connecticut is in charge of the promotion and sales of Emporium’s export production worldwide. Ted Rossi CEO, Matt Gauvrit VP Sales and John Read Export Sales Manager form an eclectic, multi-lingual team which branches out to a vast and experienced network of agents and distributors from Europe to China and Southeast Asia; from the Middle East and North Africa to Aus-tralia; and from Russia to South America. More at rossigroup.net.
The 2013 NHLA Annual Convention & Exhibit Showcase is announced for 2-4 October 2013 at the Omni Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas. Online Registration will open early in 2013 which details of the programme will be announced.
This year’s Convention hopes to match that of last year’s 115th NHLA Convention annual ‘global gathering of the hardwood community’ which was held in Chicago in September and was a success among for hardwood industry. While the phrase ‘tough market times’ was frequent a theme, most attendees agreed that the worst may now be over and, with improving exports, the future for the hardwood industry is brighter.
Recent data from the US indicates that global exports of hardwood in 2012 from USA were up 4%, but total exports of hardwood to Southeast Asia were up 25%.
NHLA Annual Convention set in TexasAt the opening session in Chicago,
outgoing NHLA President Dave Redmond welcomed delegates from all over the USA and Canada where there are 1,200 members of NHLA, as well as hardwood traders from 12 countries refl ecting the growing emphasis that the association is now placing on overseas markets and
membership. Reporting to the Opening Session, Executive Director Mark Barford noted that last year 37 Chinese companies had joined NHLA.
The Exhibit Showcase & Traders Alley was open on all three days for delegates to meet with traders and companies offering a wide range of services to the hardwood industry, and this is to happen again at this year’s convention. Such an event provides an opportunity for Asian buyers to meet a huge number of US delegates under one roof in three days.
A P P T i m b e r h a s e x p a n d e d i t s t e a m i n Indonesia. The supplier of imported
logs, t imber, veneer and other products for the Asian timber industry has employed Mr. Leo Indrawan as General Manager based at the Jakarta offi ce. Mr. Indrawan has over 15
years of experience in the woodworking industry and will take charge of the
daily operations.
APP Timber expansion in IndonesiaThe Company is also in the process of employing
one more sales executive for West Java to be based in Jakarta. APP Timber’s will open its second warehouse (and new office) near Jakarta to facilitate sales in West Java and hope to complete in April.
APP Timber is 100% committed in growing its business not just in Indonesia but the whole of Asia, and will continue to invest in good people to ensure the best service to customers and suppliers.
Mr. Leo Indrawan
Wood-based panels manufacturer Pfl eiderer has awarded the Dieffenbacher Group with the con-tract for supplying a new particle board line. The panel plant is expected to arrive in Neumarkt in the summer of 2013, where it will be installed as part of ongoing modernisation and expansion measures being carried out at the production site. The panel plant is then set to be put into operation during the fi rst quarter of 2014. Nearly at the same time an un-disclosed customer in Asia awarded Dieffenbacher with a contract for an OSB plant.
“We chose to award the contract to Dieffen-bacher because it is the company that best meets our environmental specifi cations with regard to future energy savings and reductions in raw materials,” says Michael Wolff, Chairman of the Pfl eiderer Holzwerk-stoffe Management Board. According to Wolff, the panel plant will be top of its class in Germany and will set new benchmarks in the sector. “By replacing more conventional technologies with new, state-of-the-art processes, we will be able to achieve signifi -cant reductions in CO2 emissions, while also making considerable savings in energy and raw materials during production,” Wolff continues.
Wolff goes on to explain that another reason behind Pfl eiderer’s decision to award the contract to Dieffenbacher was the fact that the particle board line currently in operation at the production site in
Dieffenbacher gathers two further panel plants: particle board panel plant for Pfl eiderer and a
big OSB plant in Asia
By modernising its particle board production site in Neumarkt (Germany) to include a new panel plant, Pfl eiderer Holzwerkstoffe GmbH is setting new standards in
environmental protection and technology.
Neumarkt is also manufactured by Dieffenbacher. “Using the same manufacturer will enable us to make the most of the technical team’s existing expertise to achieve synergies between the two panel plants,” he says. Pfl eiderer and Dieffenbacher have announced that they work together over the coming years on the technological optimisation of the panel plant. This kind of collaboration has, according to Wolff, never been seen before in the wood-based panels industry.
The scope of supply for the Dieffenbacher plant ranges from glue dosing through to raw board han-dling, with a continuous press CPS 240 – 29.4 (2.4 m wide, 29.4 m long). The forming station is a new development and is supplied as a 4-head spreading system with a roller screen in the windformer designed to improve spreading tolerances and expel lumps of glue. The complete fi nishing line including a diago-nal saw, three star coolers, a stacking system and a connection to the existing storage system is supplied by affi liated company Dieffenbacher Zaisenhausen. The new panel plant has an average production capacity of approximately 1,000 cubic metres of raw particle board per day. At the second production site in Neumarkt, Pfl eiderer produces around 300,000 cubic metres of raw particle board per year. The old multi-opening presses C and D, which have been used since the 1970s, are to be taken out of operation once production with the new press commences.
Baillie Lumber Co. works with customers to co-create custom hardwood lumber products that help their business succeed. Designed specifi cally with the customers manufacturing process in mind, these custom lumber solutions offer more usable lumber to maximise effi ciency, guarantee lumber yields per load and offer full clear face lumber, all resulting from their fi ve step Custom Lumber Solution process.
Baillie’s Custom Lumber Solutions Programme centers on the principles of a fi ve step review and evaluation process, with no obligation to their cus-tomer. Designed to work jointly with their customers to co-create unique lumber solutions that meet specifi c production needs, their programme provides careful consideration and analysis to the customer’s environ-ment, capabilities, expectations and requirements.
F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , p l e a s e v i s i t www.baillie.com or email [email protected].
The coming April will see the Dubai WoodShow as the foremost exhibition in the Gulf that of-fers a chance for
the timber industry to meet wood and woodworking professionals and develop ideas for increasing the range and quality of business and learn about new techniques and sources of supply. It is a prestigious platform for creative ideas and new technologies, as well as innovative resources that can initiate new transactions. Dubai, the business hub of the Middle East, is one place where the global wood industry now meets annually.
The 8th edition of the Dubai International Wood and Wood Machinery Show, which will be held on April 9-11, 2013 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, will be organising a seminar centered on the various possibilities of building with wood. The four main topics which will be covered are: wood as a building material for interiors and exteriors in the GCC, wood as a design component of architectural projects, the current state of wood use in the GCC and timber legality.
Dubai WoodShow 2013 organises seminar on building with wood
The seminar aims to explore and promote wood solutions in the design and construction sectors of the GCC. This is to underline the show’s commitment to involve more construction-related sectors, thus involving the professionals who are directly involved in projects where the use of wood, both as a build-ing and decorative material, can be explored and maximised.
Architects, engineers, developers and contrac-tors will be invited to the seminar to discuss the use of wood in the GCC and to look into UAE projects which are already incorporating wood solutions in their building activities.
The Dubai WoodShow 2012 played host to a successful seminar on timber legality. This year, a second edition of this seminar will be held as part of the seminar on building with wood. The timber legality seminar will talk about the need for certifi ca-tion for timber-producing companies exporting to Europe. Benefi ts and challenges of certifi cation will be discussed. The seminar, intended for individuals involved in the wood products trade, building rela-tionships with suppliers, will help to ensure that the wood products traded are from a known source, minimising the risk of buying illegal timber.
CNC router features fi ne polishing results, accuracy
The WF3209L CNC router from Wen Chih Machinery Industrial Co., Ltd is designed to work with various router bits. It features fine polishing results along with accuracy and stiffness.
CNC-WF3209LCNC Router Boring Head
I t i s des igned for easy replacement in multiple axial machining, saving working time and enhancing efficiency. With CNC routers being one of the most important tools for the woodworking process, rigorous quality control and management standards have been applied during the manufacturing stage to ensure the overall sound performance of the product. For more information: [email protected].
American Lumber Company, a world provider of hardwoods, known for their dedication to innovation, now utilises advanced technology for specie sorting and full surface two face colour matching to create premium quality custom grades that will provide the highest maximum yield with minimal waste.
With a reputation for designing unique high-quality lumber solutions, American Lumber’s Custom Grades exceed traditional industry grading parameters. De-signed around specialised colour sorts, yield improve-ment and requirements specifi c to a manufacturer’s business, American Lumber’s Custom Grades are available to suite their customers’ requirements on a regular basis for shipment around the world.
F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , p l e a s e v i s i t www.alumber.com or email [email protected].
American Lumber Company – The answer to increasing product yields
An interview with Mr. Ernie KohChairman of the International Furniture Fair Singapore Pte Ltd (IFFS), Vice President of the Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC), and Executive Director of KODA Ltd
Can you tell us about your new role as Chairman of IFFS? How do you plan to grow the show and strengthen the brand of IFFS? A: The previous chairman of IFFS did such a great job that for me to take over is easy because everything has been put in place. Mov-ing forward, there are many innovative ways that will enhance the show itself. Firstly, we have to meet the expectations of the exhibitors and promote their businesses. Secondly, the number of visitors has been increasing over the years but we need to show what we can do to catch up with the market. The US and Europe markets are not doing well. How can we re-direct our emphasis to different markets? Thirdly, we need the media. We have to keep the people informed. Constant communication with the media is what we have been doing. Of course, we also have plans of implementing innovativeness to the show. Design element is very crucial. We feel that in the next 4-5 years, we at IFFS must keep ourselves abreast with the innovativeness of regional shows. That’s where the SingaPlural come into place. We have the Singapore Furniture Design Week where a multi-disciplinary group of people — landscape, architecture, fashion, etc. — come together to showcase their work in different places in Singapore. We are not only bringing design into the show, we are also bringing design out of the show and into the city. We are trying to position ourselves as the Milan of Asia. A lot of people are say-ing let us try it because it is very international. Today, the platform of IFFS is still very much inclined to Asian manufacturers — specifi cally those developed nations. ‘Developed nations bias’ means not necessarily from West, but Korea, Taiwan and Japan. This is the current strategy. Moving forward, I think the tides are changing a lot faster and we have to think of our positioning. It is a very exciting time to be the Chairman of IFFS to have this and to see if we can re-position it and to become something that is very relevant.
What can we expect from the 30th ASEAN Furniture Show next year? Can you share some of the highlights? A: IFFS has been supported by the ASEAN countries. We really appreciate their continuous support to this show. Being the 30th ASEAN show, the ASEAN Furniture Industries Council (AFIC) discussed about what we should be doing. We are considering to set up an ASEAN Pavilion, which we never before had. Usually we have pavilion for Indonesia, Malaysia, etc., but for the 30th anniversary we are consid-ering to have the ASEAN Pavilion. Throughout the show, we will also have events and activities where we will put the ASEAN elements.
With the European crisis, do you expect a reduced number of visitors and exhibitors from Europe?A: The crisis in Europe has of course affected companies and business all over the world. Savvier companies who are coming to the show have embraced this and redirect their focus to other markets. Our next concern is ‘what’s going to happen in China’, because China is the next two years. The European crisis has been going on for two years and we are managing it. We are fi nding ways or already found ways to redirect markets and reposition ourselves. For China, in the next two years, is a big question mark. Businesses are not doing well at all. Those that are in the domestic market that are selling into the domestic market are feeling the business slowing down. As a result, some of them are trying to export. On the other hand, those who are export-oriented are feeling the pinch of the business in Europe and US, so they are trying to go domestic. At the moment, it’s a bit messy and there’s confusion. As a businessman, you have to be careful in China because what is coming is uncertain.
Now I’m putting my hat as the head of KODA — you have to look macro and act micro. Looking at the whole macro environment, how are you going to react in the micro level as a business moving forward? China is a big market. China, in the next 15 years, will be ‘industrialised’ nicely. It will become an important market for the people around the world, so we cannot ignore the market. In the next two years, the market may have some ups and down, but the bump will go away. And there’s only way where the market will go and that is going up. Going back to Europe, I think the European crisis will have, as I call it, “housekeeping” measures. The economy will drop and it will settle down; and when it settles down, it will take a few years to slowly climb back. Only the crystal ball can tell whether Europe will still be a major market for the world, or will Asia and China be the next frontier. Some are saying that Asia is the next frontier. Furniture businesses are coming to Asia from Europe and US. Retailers are trying to set up shops here. On the one hand, the Asians are trying to sell to US and Europe which I believe this strategy has to be re-considered. I read somewhere that in the future, when the dust settles, the supply chain will be more regional. The cost of shipping big quantities across continents will become too expensive that regional players will become more attractive. The East Europeans will be supplying to the Europeans. Perhaps the South American countries will supply to the North American countries. In Asia, we have Malaysia, Vietnam and Myanmar to produce for the Asian market. The source of supply may become regional, but the players in the market may be international. KODA may end up setting up a factory or buying a brand in Europe and have a presence in Europe, but maybe supplying from East Europe. This is happening in other industries, and the furniture industry is moving towards that.
Because of the European crisis, are you attracting more exhibitors from other countries?A: Yes, we are putting emphasis onto attracting more Asian buyers from China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Our visitor promotion pro-
gramme will be emphasised more because Europe itself is very diffi cult to squeeze more from it because of the current situation. In our visitor promotion programme, we will continue to invite European visitors but place more emphasis on getting more Asian visitors into our show.
With the EUTR coming into force this March, do you think there will there be less interest from European buyers to come here?A: I think not. EUTR is like you wanting lunch and going to a food court. The lunch doesn’t go to you. You have to go to a food court and eat lunch. Twenty years ago, there is only the green peace. But now we have the chemical emission coming in, etc. Once the companies embrace it, life goes on. Now we are looking at the EUTR. As companies, we just have to embrace it. Asian manufacturers are not rigid, they are evolving all the time. We have to meet the EUTR standards especially if you want to continue to do business in Europe. Pretty soon, different regions are going to have environmental regulations and you are going to have to do something about it or you will be out of business. Companies who align their businesses will succeed.
How does your new appointment affect or complement your role as VP of SFIC?A: I don’t see the new appointment as a big appointment because I was already one of the Board Members before. So coming in as Chairman of IFFS is a continuing process. The thing is you have to put your mind on the long term. The council’s objective is very simple: enhance the furniture industry in Singapore and members assistance. I am also the Chairman of the Green Committee for SFIC. It has got three initiatives. Number one is to assist our members in export to markets that require regulatory requirements. Number two is also to assist our members in implementing green initiatives into their companies. The third initiative is to educate the public in Singapore about “green”.
Is it true that green products are more expensive?A: At the moment, I should say “yes”. But if my company is able to embrace “green” in our culture, I believe it won’t be expensive any-more. You would realise that you would be using less materials and packaging, and you would come out with a pretty decent product that is as pretty and maybe even cheaper. My philosophy is in order for you to work something out, sometimes it is very painful, and you have to break everything down. The glass is neither half empty nor half full. The glass is totally empty. You start fi lling things at the R&D.
What should furniture manufacturers focus on to be able to survive in this competitive industry?A: Design, innovation, and always think about their market – that about sums it up.
In March 2013 new legislation comes into effect across all 27 European Union countries which changes the way companies trading in timber and wood products do business, set out in the European Union’s Timber Regulation (EUTR). It prohibits the “fi rst placement” of any illegal wood product on the EU market. This applies to all timber, whether harvested in the EU or imported. It requires companies selling or distributing timber on the market for the fi rst time - defi ned as Operators in the regulation – to be able to demonstrate that they have identifi ed and taken steps to remove any illegal products from their supply chains – known as “exercising due di l igence”. It also requires other traders in the EU supply chain to keep records of their suppliers and customers to allow for traceability of products back to their fi rst placement on the EU market. To make life simple, the legislation allows companies to use due di l igence systems designed and audited by service providers known as monitoring organisations, who are authorised by the European Commission. They can also, of course, develop their own in-house procedures.
For those who have made the move to voluntary responsible purchasing
The EU Timber Regulation – putting it into practice
Associate Fellow at Chatham House and Associate in the Energy Environment & Development Programme. Worked on FLEGT since action plan was published in 2003.
already, the new rules are a welcome effort to level the playing fi eld. “In the last decade companies buying certifi ed products have consistently risked being undercut by cheap wood, no questions asked. None of us like more “red tape” but this new legislation will make it possible to buy responsibly without going out of business in the long run. It means a sustainable future for our industry as well as for forests,” said John May, Director at James Latham PLC in the UK.
In Indonesia, one of the largest plantation teak suppliers in the world also indicated that they are confi dent that the EU Timber Regulation will be good for honest traders. Having worked with their European buyers to prepare for the EU Timber Regulation and having an SVLK export license in place, the company said they are ready for the EU Timber Regulation.
After a long campaign, environmental groups in Europe have also welcomed the new measures while maintaining the pressure for consistent implementation across Europe. “The EU Timber Regulation is an important step by the EU to respond to the problem of the illegal harvesting of timber. For the potential of this law to be translated into real impact, it must be implemented and enforced effectively and consistently by all EU Member States, which includes a need to establish, and then use, appropriate penalty regimes. There is still much to be done, but ClientEarth is cautiously optimistic that the necessary steps will be taken to make this law a credible mechanism to excluding illegally harvested timber from the EU market in practice,” said Emily Unwin, environmental lawyer with ClientEarth, an NGO working on the issue.
The implementing regulationIn July 2012, details of the EU Timber Regulation requirements were explained further in an implementing regulation. It sets out in detail what constitutes a due diligence system, how companies are required to maintain their records and the role and responsibilities of monitoring organisations and the government agencies that are responsible for policing them.
What is “fi rst placement on the EU market”?If a company sells or distributes timber or wood products that are physically present in the EU, either because they were harvested in the EU or because they have been imported into the EU, then the legislation applies.
The European Commission has prepared detailed guidance on first placement and other important terms which is available on their website. 1 You can also check if you are required to comply with these requirements by contacting your national competent authority2 or trade association.
What is a due diligence system?A due diligence system is a series of procedures that helps operators collect the necessary information about the products they purchase to assess the risk of sourcing illegal timber, and to actively minimise the risk of trading in illegal products. Suppliers will be asked to provide credible demonstration of legal sourcing and chain of custody in order for their customers to comply with the new requirements.
About the FLEGT Action PlanThe EU Timber Regulation is the most recent initiative introduced as part of the European Union’s Action Plan for FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade). The FLEGT Action Plan, introduced in 2003, encourages legal and sustainable management of forests . Th i s legislation is part of an increasingly powerful global trend of restricting trading in illegal timber.
The FLEGT Action Plan also inc ludes the negot ia t ion o f Voluntary Partnership Agreements. Countries with such agreements are developing verification and licensing systems to export timber and timber products to Europe. The EU Timber Regulation and these individual agreements are mutually reinforcing, ensuring market access for companies in timber producing countries where the Government has taken steps to make sure that the forest sector operates legally.
What product information is necessary to demonstrate due diligence?The EU Timber Regulation requires all operators to maintain measures and procedures so that they can make information available on each consignment that is placed on the market.
The risk assessment and possibly risk mitigation must be applied for all shipments received during a 12-month period. Where any product-specifi c information changes during that 12-month period, a new risk assessment and possibly mitigation is required. Product-specifi c information can include species, country, sub-region, region and concession of harvest.
Companies need to keep all records relating to their products and suppliers, and the application of their due diligence procedures for fi ve years. Records must be available for review at any time by authorities designated in each EU country.
Information provided or collected about each consignment must include the following details. • Full description of the products and tree species used in its manufacture, including the trade name and common name of the species, as well as its full scientifi c name, where ambiguity in the use of the common name exists• Country of harvest of all wood included, as well as the sub-national region and concession in cases where the risk of illegal harvesting between sub-national regions or concessions varies• Quantity of supply, in volume, weight or number of units• Name and address of supplier• Name and address of trader to whom the products have been supplied• Documentation or other information indicating compliance with applicable national laws
Malaysian sawn lumber endorsed by
PEFC
Tropical logs marked for tracking in Indonesia
Certifi ed Teak lumber in IndonesiaCertifi ed Teak lumber in Indonesia
Some defi nitionsChain of custody is a trai l of documentary evidence that tracks wood products from the forest to the consumer. It includes all stages of harvesting, processing, transformation, manufacturing, trading and distribution.
A competent authority is the Government agency chosen by each EU member country to take responsibility for enforcing the EU Timber Regulation.
Due diligence is what companies do to understand, monitor and mitigate any risk that is involved in doing business with an individual or commercial entity. It is undertaken prior to establishing a relationship and reviewed periodically.
The EU T imber Regulation is European legislation that prohibits the sale of illegal wood products and requires companies to establish systems to identify and remove products that may be illegal from their supply chains.
A monitor ing organisat ion is accredited by the European Commission to establish, maintain and regularly evaluate a due d i l igence system, and grant operators the right to use it. The use of a monitoring organisation is optional and operators can choose to implement their own systems to identify and mitigate the risk of illegal timber entering their supply chains.
An operator under the EU Timber Regulation is any individual or legal entity that places timber on the European market for the fi rst time.
A trader under the EU Timber Regulation is any individual or legal entity that sells or buys timber on the European internal market.
Legal or not? No identifi cation!
What procedural information is required to demonstrate due diligence?D o c u m e n t a t i o n o f t h e application of due diligence procedures should include: • How the information was gathered • How the risk criteria were assessed• H o w t h e o p e r a t o r determined the degree of risk• How a decision on r isk
mitigation was takenThere are certification and third-party verified schemes which aim to
demonstrate the legality and sustainability of the wood and timber they cover. Buyers and sellers can include this certifi cation or verifi cation as assurance to minimise the risk of trading in illegal products, as long as the schemes meet technical requirements. Compliance with the EU Timber Regulation does not, however, require that wood or products be certifi ed or verifi ed in this way.
Any such schemes in general terms must do three things:Publish their requirements which include compliance with all relevant
legislationUndertake appropriate third-party checks on legality compliance once a yearHave a robust chain of custody system that covers the whole supply chain
for each product and excludes wood of unknown originFLEGT-licensed wood, exported from any country that has a Voluntary
Partnership Agreement with an operational FLEGT licensing scheme, is risk-free and companies purchasing it are considered to be in compliance with the EU Timber Regulation as the necessary due diligence has been carried out in the country of origin.
What are monitoring organisations and how are they regulated?A monitoring organisation is a service provider in Europe that has been accredited to offer an appropriate due diligence system to companies complying with the Timber Regulation. Competent authorities oversee the monitoring organisations registered in their country.
The easiest way to fi nd an accredited monitoring organisation is to contact your national competent authority or trade association.
Due diligence and a level playing fi eld… Even before the EU Timber Regulation was enacted, responsible timber traders in Europe had moved toward more accountable timber purchasing policies. Many had participated in national voluntary schemes that required them to obtain information about sourcing from their suppliers and to avoid purchasing high-risk products. During this process, companies invested additional time and effort in building long-term trading partnerships with their most consistent suppliers, which has benefi tted both parties as well as the forests.
As of March 2013, all operators in Europe will be competing on a level playing fi eld, where any company that places timber on the EU market must exercise the same due diligence. Those companies that have already committed to verifying the timber they trade is legal or sustainably harvested are no longer taking on more costs than other operators.
A full list of all designated European authorities, including contact details, is available on the European Commission website.
The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certifi cation (PEFC) has recently announced a further step in its development in Asia, this time in the tropics in Indonesia following earlier expansion in Malaysia and China. “The Indonesian Forestry Certifi cation Cooperation (IFCC) decision to join the world’s largest forest certifi cation system was founded in PEFC’s unique bottom-up approach, which respects the uniqueness of sovereignty, ecosystem diversity, and the culture of every country,” says Dr. Dradjad Wibowo, the Chairman of IFCC. So Michael Buckley, forest industries consultant based in Singapore, took a look at the recent experience of some companies already certifi ed in Southeast Asia.
Victory for certifi cationThe Malaysian Timber Certifi cation Scheme (MTCS) has been endorsed for some time by PEFC so it seemed logical to start in Malaysia to fi nd out what effect certification had on local export businesses. Ricky Yap, Managing
PEFC Certifi ed Plywood PEFC Certifi ed Plywood from Malaysia.from Malaysia.
Director of Victory Enterprise Sdn Bhd, who can claim 40 years in timber trading, is in no doubt as to the importance of certification to his business. “We cannot get the material we need in Malaysia certifi ed to FSC and we need to have a certifi cation that is recognised in the European Union,” he says. “We are very supportive of PEFC and 80% of our stock is now PEFC certifi ed and we expect to be 100% soon,” he concludes.
Victory, headquartered in Klang since 1983, has been manufacturing and exporting wood products for almost thirty years originally concentrating on the Australian market, but now diversifying more into graded sawn timber and shipping about 80% to the EU and 20% to the USA. “Our main markets are environmentally conscious,” says Yap, who explains that all their material comes from Peninsular Malaysia. Not the largest operator, Victory is considered medium sized and is currently growing. The company also provides custom machining services for some imported American hardwoods which it regards as sustainable even if not certifi ed. Victory’s drive towards certifi cation goes back 20 years, when its Board saw developments in the EU and now in the USA. In 2000 the company recognised the environmental demands of buyers such as Walmart which were moving rapidly towards sourcing only certifi ed wood products. In 2002 the company obtained an FSC CoC for 15 years to 2017. But in 2009 Yap decided that it could then comply with MTCS, endorsed by PEFC and was certifi ed accordingly. “Now we are able to tell our customers with confi dence that whatever you buy from us you can be assured of legality as well as quality assurance,” says Yap. “If we had ignored certifi cation and legislation, I believe we would have no place to sell our products,” he adds. He goes further by suggesting that certifi cation is inevitable in today's markets and believes that if companies in Malaysia are serious and want to continue to export, “timber certifi cation will be the norm”.
Certifi cation is a mustAlso certifi ed by FSC and MTCC in Malaysia for 10 years is Dutch-owned Lionex, a company trading in a wide range of rough sawn, value-added and customised timber products for the last forty years. Sales span many markets from Europe to North & South America, Asia, the Middle East and Australia, all requiring some degree of environmental assurance. “We are committed to the responsible purchasing of timber with FSC, MTCC and PEFC certifi cation. We promote Sustainable Forest Management that integrates the growing, nurturing and harvesting of trees for useful products while conserving the soil, air and water quality,” says Managing Director Marco Poot. In 2008, the company traded 29% of its timber with a Verifi ed Legal Compliance (VLC) certifi cate and 2% with a sustainable certifi cate. “We set ourselves the goal of trading 100% VLC timber and 50% sustainable timber by the end of 2011, going 100% by the end of 2013,” says Poot. The company uses many ways to differentiate it products and services from its competitors, of which certifi cation was one and an online order tracking system is another. “But now, certifi cation is a must to do business” is Marco Poot’s bottom line.
Choices for certifi cation It is clear from discussions with many companies committed to certifi cation that choice of certifi cation is another important issue. Too little forest production in Asia is yet certified but increasingly buyers are demanding PEFC as well as FSC certifi cates. Several certifi ed companies use the same auditor to obtain multiple certifi cates to keep down the cost of certification, a key inhibitor to some reluctant producers, especially smaller ones. Ekowood Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a major wood fl ooring producer manufacturing near Ipoh in Peninsular Malaysia, has recently published its new brochure which states “We are dedicated to producing the highest quality products and to the sustainable management of our forests. Ekowood is proud to be involved in the protection of the earth’s environment as it is our belief and obligation to keep the earth natural and
clean as a legacy for the future. Ekowood, through our parent company, TSH Resources Berhad, is actively involved in sustainable
forestry.” The company, which uses local and imported material, now offers products certifi ed by FSC and PEFC.
“EUTR has a positive eff ect...”APP Timber Sdn Bhd, also based in Malaysia and trading timber products in Asia and beyond, has a similar attitude to the choice needed for certifi cation. "The EUTR has a positive effect on the demand for certifi ed timber as Asian buyers prefer the imported timber to be either FSC or PEFC certifi ed. FSC used to be the preferred certifi cation schemes but in the last few years we have seen a positive attitude towards other reputable schemes such as PEFC probably due to the more aggressive promotion from their side," says Managing Director Michael Hermens.
Dato Low Kian Chuan is Managing Director of export-driven Low Fatt Wood Industries Sdn. Bhd. with operations located on the East Coast of Peninsula Malaysia. He is also President of the Malaysian Wood Industries Association which now represents members with diversifi ed business interests covering the whole range of upstream and downstream activities in the timber industry with affi liated State Associations. In 2004, Low Fatt was certifi ed by MTCC, which was endorsed by PEFC in 2009. Low Fatt exports products such as Lamscan, decking, mouldings and rough sawn to the EU with about 80% certifi ed. Its outdoor furniture is 100% PEFC certifi ed and, says Dato Low “certifi cation was initially a marketing tool giving assurance to buyers and clearing up doubts about legality. But now it is very important to show signifi cant care and it is tough to do business without it.” He also says that some other markets do not yet need certifi cation but believes that will change. “Even our bankers HSBC are very serious on the matter and with certifi cation we satisfy their CSR policy.” However he laments that too many sawmills, from which Low Fatt would like to source, are not yet certifi ed which he is working to change.
IFCC embraces PEFC “With the strong business case for certifi cation emerging in Malaysia and throughout the region, we’re excited to welcome IFCC into PEFC Council and look forward to working with Indonesia to achieve international recognition of their certifi cation scheme,” says PEFC’s Secretary General in Geneva, Ben Gunneberg.
“Indonesia is home of some of the most biologically diverse forests in the world. We are excited to see the development of a national forest certifi cation standard by Indonesians for Indonesians,” he added. "The promise of Indonesia’s forests being managed sustainably, in a manner that provides people with jobs that comply with the fundamental ILO conventions, safeguards forest biodiversity, and protects them from conversions, should be viewed by all who care about saving the world’s forests as an important step in the right direction." Certifi cation will hopefully enhance international market perceptions of Indonesia’s forest sustainability, as it is clearly doing in Malaysia, to facilitate responsible trade in sustainable and legal wood products.
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PEFC Certifi ed PEFC Certifi ed RoundlogsRoundlogs
The sustainable development of forests and their long term management and harvesting are the concern of all wood-using industries, wherever they are located. Solid wood and panel industries need a consistent supply of raw material for their domestic and export markets. In many global markets, not least in the Gulf, there is increasing concern about, and legislation to ensure, legality and sustainability of supplies and responsibility in the use of wood. Forest industries consultant Michael Buckley reports:
Early in 2012 at the Dubai WoodShow, delegates from producing countries around the world gathered for a seminar to consider the issue of “Assuring verifi ed legal timber products to meet new requirements in the global market and the impact on the Middle East and GCC market”. A panel of expert speakers presented details of existing and new regulations for the trade in timber and wood products. Tom Ter Horst of EFI explained the principles of the new European Timber Regulations (EUTR) that will affect almost all imported wood aimed at stopping trade in illegal material at EU borders. Caitlin Clarke
of World Research Institute in USA explained the Lacey Act, which focuses on illegal wood products at any part of the supply chain entering the USA market.
Maidiward, from the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry, explained the Timber Legality Assurance System (SVLK) now being implemented in Indonesia requiring all wood
product exporters to be licensed under a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the EU. Professor Scott Bowe from the University of Wisconsin gave a comprehensive
view of the sustainability of the American hardwood resource and discussed the impor- tance of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) work now being undertaken by the American hardwood industry.
Finally, Mr. Robianto Koestomo from the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce KADIN discussed the challenges fac-ing the trade in verifi ed legal timber from an Indonesian business perspective. Earlier this year a ‘High Level Dialogue’ between the governments of Indonesia, USA, Australia and the European Union, and observed by China, was held in Jakarta at which these were central issues. In Singapore last October, a full house “Green Forum” discussed forest issues in relation to climate change, global trade and greener manufacturing. At the recent ‘Big5’ building show in Dubai, a Green Build conference and LEED seminar were held. On the programme was a presentation entitled “What do speci-
Prof Scott Bowe from University of Wisconsin explained LCA at the Dubai seminar
Tom Ter Horst Tom Ter Horst of EFI in Dubaiof EFI in Dubai
701.02 Certifi ed/Accredited TimberUnder the Emirates Green Building Council in all new buildings, at least twenty fi ve percent (25%) by volume of the timber and timber-
based products used during construction and permanently installed in the building must be from certifi ed/accredited sources approved by the Dubai Municipality. http://www.emiratesgbc.org/images/egbc-doc/(2011)DM_Green_Building_Regulation.pdf
fi ers need to do to ensure that they are specifying the most sustainable materials?” by Ana Elisa Seixas, LEED AP, Director of Marketing Middle East, Africa & India, Interface. It covered how to identify Greenwashing and misleading sustainability claims, "Reading" through the different labels and certifi cations in the market, and how to compare products and their sustainable attributes using Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). This is just a tiny snapshot of the huge attention now being paid to green issues relevant to wood.
In the past, issues such as sustainability in forest management, certifi cation, legality of harvesting and trading wood products and achieving green construc-tion have frequently been treated individually, when of course they are completely interrelated. But there are so many organisations, institutions, associations and groupings immersed in sustainable forest issues that it is hard for anyone to keep track! What is also confusing, however, is the attitude to wood by many of the green building councils that are emerging across the globe. Criticism by the wood community of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system in USA is constantly made for its low recognition of our most sustainable and low embodied energy material that stores carbon – wood. “We are demanding a level playing fi eld when awarding green points compared to glass, concrete and steel in buildings,” say so many of the world’s timber producers, apparently to deaf ears. To this needs to be added the call “use it or lose it” say others concerned that any reduction in the use of wood will result in the conversion of forests to other commercial uses.
Then there is the ongoing confusion between the various forest certifi cation schemes and the recognised need to improve forest management in some countries. PEFC is an international non-profi t, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting Sustainable For-est Management through independent third-party certifi cation. As an umbrella organisation, PEFC works by endorsing national forest certifi cation systems devel-oped collaboratively by all interested stakeholders and tailored to local priorities and conditions. Companies in the supply chain after the forest can achieve the PEFC Chain of Custody certifi cate in order to demon-strate that their product(s) originate from Sustainable Managed Forests. The earlier starter Forest Stewardship Council” (FSC) however is deemed by many specifi ers, manufacturers, government procurement agencies, consumers and even green building councils to be the only game in town. In fact FSC is not the largest, which is PEFC, nor is FSC the independent ‘not for profi t’ organisation that is its image; for FSC apparently oper-ates as a limited company. Nor are either of these two the oldest, when it comes to considering the American Tree Farm scheme, established 70 years ago, now with 27 million acres and one of the many national schemes endorsed by PEFC. Another scheme is in Malaysia where the Malaysian Timber certifi cation Council (MTCC) has been PEFC endorsed and is a major supplier of timber to the Gulf region.
The Emirates Green Building Council encourages the use of any recognised green building rating tool as a guide to creating a more sustainable build environment. There are several systems in the global market place as well as several systems commonly used in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) market, including Estidama Pearl Rating the US Green Building Council's LEED and the British Research Establishment - BREEAM British Research Establishment Envi-ronmental Assessment Method. In the opinion of many industrialists and en-vironmentalists none of these schemes give suffi cient credit to the use of timber in buildings, although some attitudes may just be changing a little as the call for Environmental Product Declarations, based on sci-ence, are starting to be heard.
Returning to the forest itself, it is widely quoted that less than 2% of the certifi ed forest in the world is tropical rainforest where the problem of deforestation has been greatest. To this is closely linked the issue of illegal log-ging, harvesting and trading to which governments in USA, Europe, Japan and Australia, have paid attention and legislated recently. The link between legal harvest-ing and verifi cation all comes down, in the end, to responsible trading. Illegal logging undermines market values and puts at a disadvantage those who play by the rules and trade only in legal wood. The process of Due Diligence as a trading procedure is therefore of increasing importance in providing practical solutions to prove and record responsible trade that meets legisla-tion such as the new EUTR and Lacey in USA.
So here is some good news for wood product ex-porters. The PEFC confi rmed at its General Assembly in November 2012 that PEFC Chain of Custody (CoC) certifi cation will satisfy information needs of legislative and regulatory processes such as the EUTR, Lacey and the Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill now in pro-cess. The PEFC Board of Directors requested the work-ing group in December 2011 to revise the PEFC CoC standard to ensure that all certifi ed companies meet the EUTR requirements. Discussions among stakeholder representatives in the working group focussed on op-tions for the implementation of information requirements on a mandatory basis without posing an undue burden on certifi cate holders not affected by such legislation. Appropriate requirements will now be built into PEFC’s Due Diligence System (DDS), which is an integral part of the CoC standards and therefore a mandatory element in CoC certifi cation. At the same point in time, the PEFC DDS is available as a stand-alone mechanism, offering companies that are not prepared or eligible to obtain full PEFC CoC certifi cation with a tool to demonstrate compliance with EUTR. The revised PEFC Chain of cus-tody standard with the modifi ed DDS is scheduled to be approved by PEFC in February, prior to the implementa-tion of the EUTR in March 2013.
Preventing end Preventing end checking in hardwood checking in hardwood logs and lumberlogs and lumberBy Norman E. MurrayBy Norman E. Murray
Controlling quality in hardwood logs and lumber cre-ates value and gives benefi ts to everyone, so it is im-portant to eliminate degrade whenever possible. End checking (drying splits) is one of the most common drying defects and one of the easiest to prevent. Prop-erly end coating green logs and lumber is an effective and economical method of preventing end checking.
End checks are caused by over rapid drying on the ends of wood. This fast drying causes shrinkage and stresses develop that are eventually released by the ends splitting and cracking apart. The extent of the damage is not always apparent. As end checks open and close during drying, the defects are hard to see at times. End checks that appear as hairline cracks on air-dried material can extend 12 inches or more from the end. Their presence and severity could go unnoticed until the after lumber is kiln-dried or cut, reducing the yield and value of the lumber. An effec-tive, water-resistant end coating will seal the ends of green (un-dried) boards or logs so they may dry more evenly from end to end, reducing or eliminating losses from end checking.
The USDA (US Dept. of Agriculture-Forest Service) handbook Drying Hardwood Lumber (FPL-GTR-118) notes: [re: logs] Veneer log buyers and veneer manufacturers have used wax end-coatings on logs to prevent the ends from drying. End coating of high grade saw logs may be an economically sound practice because of the high cost of logs and the need to reduce waste. End coating prevents logs from splitting and retards fungal stain. The wax coating should be ap plied to the log immediately after cutting to be most effective. … The longer the logs stored, the greater the benefi t of coating. [re: lumber] From the standpoint of both economics and qual ity, hardwood lumber of all thicknesses would benefi t
from end coating. When the ends of 5/4 red oak were coated with a wax emulsion coating (product used in studies: ANCHORSEAL® green wood end sealer for logs and lumber), the end checks were 2-1/8 in. (5.4 cm) shorter than those of uncoated ends (Linares–Hernandez and Wengert 1997). … End coating should be applied as soon as possible to freshly cut end surfaces.In addition to end coating the freshly cut ends of logs and lumber, optimal lumber handling will help to further control end checking:
• “box pile” green lumber, even ended, with stickers at or near the ends
• in the kiln, keep piles end to end, as tight as pos-sible and stagger the ends of adjacent rows to minimise high air fl ow past the ends.
Controlling existing splits in logsSometimes there are pre-existing splits in the ends of logs, caused by end drying, stresses, or logging dam-age. LogSavers® and FlitchSavers® are used to stitch existing splits in valuable logs, to prevent the cracks from growing larger. Unlike traditional S-irons, they are made from special recycled plastic – saws or veneer knives cut right through them without damage, so they can remain in the logs. Invented by a professional logger, they are safer to use. Each plastic “saver” is held by a special hammer, so there are no hands in the striking area when it is hammered into the log. Also, LogSavers and FlitchSavers will not create black iron stains in log ends. By stitching the log, then applying end sealer, degrade is reduced so the quality and value of veneer and saw logs are maintained.
Behind the bylineNorman E. Murray is CEO of U-C Coatings Corporation; a global wood protection products company located in Buffalo, NY USA. He has over 35 years of wood industry expertise. For more information: www.uccoatings.com or [email protected].
In the forests of the world it is rare to fi nd a new species, except in very small quantities in obscure tropical forests. Most commercial hardwoods are well known and their sources well documented and in some cases they seem to be permanent favourites such as Oak and Teak. But in the marketplace some species come and go according to fashion cycles and changing styles, while others become less available when resources are limited. So what is the position with American Black Cherry in 2013?
The American Cherry resourceThere is no shortage of American Cherry (Prunus serotina) growing in the eastern United States. The total standing inventory of all US hardwood species was measured by the US Forest Service at over 11,000 million cubic metres in 2007, of which approximately 2% is estimated to be Cherry. So a rough estimate that the available standing Cherry is about 220 million cubic metres is reasonable. But right now the world’s designers and manufacturers are using very little of it and prices are at a historic low. About 40% of all US hardwood ‘grade’ quality lumber production is exported, excluding low quality ungraded lumber. Total American hardwood sawn lumber exports worldwide in 2011 were 2.8 million cubic metres of which less than 50,000 cubic metres were Cherry.
So why isn’t Cherry more popular? The last time there was a ‘Cherry fashion’ it seemed that everyone wanted Cherry fl ooring, furniture and joinery and demand rose dramatically, perhaps beyond the capacity of sawmills
to deliver at the time. The tap is not easily turned on for dry sawn lumber immediately ready to ship in the grades required; and when that happens prices rise, in that case much higher than they are today. So if Cherry is now so competi-tive for a high quality hardwood, then why is more not being specifi ed? In fact it seems that signs are emerging that mar-kets may just be waking up to fact that here is a species that is readily available and competitive, with superb technical performance and good environmental credentials. And most important of all it is one of the most attractive woods in the temperate forests of the USA.
Cherry pricingLike most American hardwoods, the price
of Cherry depends on where it comes from and there are usually regional variations, so price indications must always be regarded as general. Pricing of Cherry is quite complex, depending these days on the percentage of the lighter coloured sapwood that is agreed as acceptable between suppliers and their buyers. Most buyers prefer the darker heartwood, and although sapwood is not a defect under NHLA Grading rules, in times of reduced demand, buyers can and do dictate how much they will accept. As can be seen from the graph, the domestic price of Cherry ex factory has almost halved from 2007 to 2012. But what is also interesting is the closing gap between the top FAS grade price premium and the #1Common furniture grade price, which are ex mill as shown on the graph. That is explained partly by the reduction in demand for the highest quality material for multi-million dollar houses in the USA following the fi nancial crisis in 2008 which hit home-builders for wealthy US clients. It is also explained by the loss of top quality markets in Europe, such as France and Italy,
American Black Cherry colour and grain detail
Sangkar Credenza made in Cherry - overall winner of IFDC 2013 in Indonesia
American Cherry 'Wind Shelf' designed by Jerry Low and made in Malaysia
over the last fi ve years. This may be about to change.
So where is the Cherry market going?A report at the end of last year by Bill Esler from the all-important domestic High Point furniture market show, the largest exhibi-tion of its type in the world, was headed “Cherry Wood Tops in Busy High Point”. It pointed out that buyers saw plenty of American Cherry and that the wood was the top species used in four categories of furniture surveyed. The Indonesian Fur-niture Design Competition held in May 2012 featured several species, but it was Cherry that took the Overall Best Award. At the International Furniture Fair Indonesia in March, a leading furniture manufacturer Kobeks exhibited some contemporary furniture using American Cherry veneer.
ChinaToday there are strong reports that China has taken great
interest in American Cherry and some importers are stocking up mainly in high quality FAS grade. That may also provide op-portunities for furniture and fl ooring manufacturers in Southeast Asia who are now looking to sell their products into China, al-though some leading producers say they do not yet offer Cherry collections. That was confi rmed by the total absence of Cherry furniture at shows such as IFFS in Singapore in March. Neverthe-less many wealthy Chinese are embracing western styles for their residences and Cherry is considered a luxury wood which they like. And whereas some westerners doubt the suitability of Cherry for fl ooring as not hard enough, in Asia where shoes are not worn inside, Cherry is as suitable as any other wood. In any case there are iconic buildings in Europe, such as Renzo Piano’s Rome Auditorium and the Gothenburg Opera House, where it has been used extensively for fl ooring.
The technical characteristics of American Cherry are in fact impressive, mainly in its fi nishing properties which provide manufacturers with the opportunity to achieve a superb quality surface. But most important is the environmental contribution that Cherry can make. The tree is not very long lived by comparison to other hardwood species and, left naturally, it will die and soon return its embodied carbon to the atmosphere as it rots. The tree typically is mature enough to harvest at 60 years and mortality increases rapidly towards 100 years. However furniture produced from Cherry lumber is rarely thrown out and thus its stored carbon is likely to be locked up longer than in many other less beauti-ful hardwoods. The beauty of the species is in the warmth of its colour, which increases with age – another reason why so much Cherry furniture becomes a heritage item.
Flying the Flying the flag for flag for Indonesian Indonesian woodwood
“We have good wood security” is a refreshing quote from an Indonesian flooring producer, committed to sustainable and legal wood supply, and is a message that the world needs to hear if the country is to take its rightful place in the global market. That’s important, given the long term increasing demand for flooring developing within the Asian domestic markets, especially in China and within Indonesia itself. SF Resources runs a plant of 2,500 people in Java and has recently been appointed as agent within Asia for Perum Perhutani, by far the largest plantation operator on the islands of Java and Madura. Michael Buckley recently met the President Director of Perhutani in Jakarta and visited operations in Java.
SF Resources represents the life-long work of its Chairman Goh Ah Tee. “Dis-cover beauty, discover wood, discover us” is their slogan, subtitled with the offer of a ‘legal and reliable source of quality hardwood fl ooring and decking, stairways and rails’. The reference to decking refl ects the company’s past strength in the Australian market, but its future clearly rests with its growing business of fl ooring in other markets. The claim of being legal and reliable refl ects the company’s FSC CoC certifi cation by The Rainforest Alliance, its SVLK (TLAS) export licence by the government, its Legal Verifi cation System by CertiSource, as well as certifi cation by Singapore’s Green Label and the CE Marking for EU standards.
The company is also a member of the National Wood Flooring Association of the USA. SF Resources Group headquartered in Singapore, which began in the 1970s as a timber trading enterprise by three Singaporeans, now operates in Jombang, Indonesia as PT Seng Fong Moulding Perkasa.
In 2012 the group became the appointed agent of the state-owned forest enterprise Perhutani, with whom Mr Goh has maintained a long and close relationship. The signifi cance of this move is rooted in Goh’s determination to rely upon and develop markets solely for Indonesian hardwood species in
all its products. The fl ooring plant does not use imported species and the company is confi dent in its ability to satisfy international demands for legal and sustain-able hardwood products. It ac-tively denounces the destruction of the environment and seeks recognition for its corporate gov-ernance and social responsibility. Most importantly, Perhutani, as a major employer among the local
community with 24,000 employees, also seeks to improve and satisfy the social criteria required to maintain its forest certifi cation.
It is entirely coincidental that during the writing of this report, on a com-pany aiming to grow its business in the domestic Chinese market, the British-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) published its report “An appetite for destruction” – criticising Chinese wood product sourcing. SF Resources offers a solution to that emerging problem.
Headrig at PT Seng Fong Moulding Perkasa
Perhutani logo
Indonesian grown logs at SF ResourcesIndonesian grown logs at SF Resources
Hardwood material is not only sourced from Perhutani’s plantations but also from many local Javanese private and community plantations as well as other parts of Indonesia. Merbau logs for example, verifi ed legal by CertiSource, are shipped from Indonesian Papua to Java for conversion to fl ooring and deck-ing. However for the longer term, SF Resources is trialling new, more sustainable and faster growing species such as Sonokeling, Mahoni and Acacia and is now majoring on plantation Teak.
The Javanese plantation Teak differs slightly in character from that naturally grown in Burma and Thailand although they are identical species. Java has the ideal climate with a distinct dry season that Teak demands and much of the soil is suitable for it. The colour of Javanese grown Teak, being somewhat darker, also differs in grain pattern as it can do with many other species depending on their growing localities. But all Teak (Tectona grandis) with its natural char-acteristics is highly suitable for fl ooring, decking, furniture and a range of other specialised uses.
Perhutani has 24,000 employees and manages 2.4 million ha of forest areas in Java and Madura under government controlled principles of Sustainable For-est Management and Government Regulation #72 implemented in 2010. It has 57 Forest Management Units (FMU) with Teak as the major species, accounting for 50% of revenue but, over the last few years, production of other species has exceeded it.
President Director Perhutani with Michael Buckley
Headrig at PT Seng Fong Moulding PerkasaHeadrig at PT Seng Fong Moulding Perkasa
Maximising yield at SF Resources
Senior personnel at PT Seng FongSenior personnel at PT Seng Fong
The plantations also produce by-products such as gum rosin, turpentine, non timber forest products such as mineral water, honey bee and ecotourism attraction at 122 destinations. It is clear that Perhutani, established in 1897, now understands exactly what it has to do for the future. Its published mission statement explains that Perhutani holds a very important role in guaranteeing the existence of forest areas to support the capacity of communities’ social environment and economy: “In line with the mandate, Perhutani is required to be a company with healthy forest resources, operational performance, and fi nancial performance. Efforts to maintain the continuous balance of forest re-sources’ function are constantly undertaken, be it from the ecological, social, and economic aspects. Perhutani holds an optimistic view for a bright future based on the vastness of the existing natural resources, its strong and visionary management, and its consistency in fulfi lling international standards to achieve bright business prospects in the future. Perhutani is fully capable of reaching its Vision, Missions, and Values to reach the interests of the State, the shareholders, and the company itself in a sustainable manner focusing on performance strat-egy, performance effectively and effi ciency....” (www.perumperhutani.com)
Recently appointed President Director Bambang Sukmananto emphasises the need for transparency, and compliance for legislation such as EUTR in all Perhutani’s dealings. He anticipates a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) being signed soon with the EU on which the government’s SVLK export licence system really depends. The President Director is insistent that the company operates without government interference but does set and monitor resource regulations. However of all issues that concern him personally and Perhutani as a responsible forest operator it is the social issues that exist in overcrowded Java that demand most attention. More than 60% of all Indonesians live in Java, an area the same size as New York State, which accounts for only 6% of the total land area of Indonesia! Population density is over 2,000 per sq mile or fi ve times higher than NY State. Perhutani lost its FSC certifi cation some years ago due to the social confl icts created between needs of forest plantations and other land uses such as farming and vegetable production by local communities. In recent years Perhutani has made strides to resolve such confl icts and Mr Sukmananto seems determined to see these to fruition. So far fi ve FMUs have been re-certifi ed by FSC with two more expected to be confi rmed shortly.
PT Seng Fong’s integrated fl ooring facility in Java, commissioned in 1990, includes a log yard, sawmill, kiln drying, moulding and laminating machines, two Finished Products warehouses, eight sawn timber warehouses and a shipping capacity of about 120 containers per month on an 11 ha site. Average monthly production varies between 1,600m3 to 2,400m3 per month of fl ooring and decking. The plant operates a two-shift six day week and is considering a third shift to be introduced shortly.
Solid fl ooring and decking are major items as well as 2-layer and 3-layer 15mm and 20mm engineered fl ooring - all in 100% Indonesian hardwood throughout. Sizes range from 19mm x 90mm to 19mm x 140mm for solid decking and 90mm to 120mm lengths for solid fl ooring in 15mm and 18mm thickness. Engineered fl ooring is available up to 185mm maximum length and is produced mainly T&G 2 or 4-side, although recently an L2C ‘Clic’ locking system has been added as an additional option. Profi les are numerous with over 2,000 cutters in stock. The company projects an increase in engineered fl ooring although solid still represents 50% of production. Finishing is UV and UV scratch resistant oil, supplied by Klumpp. In addition to quarter and fl at sawn Teak, faces include local species Linngua (Ptero-carpus macrocarpus), Komea (Manilkara Kauki), Mahoni (Swietania spp), Acacia (Acacia Mangium), Merbau (Intsia palembanica), Torem (Manilkara kanosiensis) and Sonokeling (Dalbergia latifolia).
Project references can be seen locally at Bukit Golf in Surabaya, at the Maya Ubud Hotel in Bali and the Hotel Sudirman in Jakarta as well as installations in forty overseas markets. Currently the Australian and Chinese markets are running neck and neck as number one destination and the EU third. But China is seen as a real growth market and expected to take priority. “For the future,” says Goh Ah Tee, “we intend to fl y the fl ag for Indonesian wood in a range of sustainable and legally grown species, secure in the knowledge that we have good wood security”.
More details can be seen at www.sfresourcesgroup.com
Teak treated in open air to enhance colourTeak treated in open air to enhance colour
People who appreciate and buy specifi c brands, whether furniture, apparel, bags, etc., can understand and appreciate the charm of design and the content behind a product. There is always a corresponding principle behind anything that is great. This also applies to a company or a product’s success.
As a leading supplier of complete wood-based panel plants, Dieffenbacher has achieved remarkable performance worldwide, especially in China. It is widely known that Dieffenbacher has provided over 100 wood-based panel production lines in China, continuously boosting the local wood-based panel processing industry. Last November Panels & Furniture Asia visited Guangzhou HuaFangZhou Wood (Group) Co. Ltd, a company which installed Dieffenbacher’s wood-based panel production line in its plant.
Selecting equipment based on market positioningFounded in 1998, with seven wholly-owned enterprises and a large forestry base, Guangzhou HuaFangZhou Wood (Group) Co. Ltd has focused on the integration of forestry and panel production for 15 years. The company is dedicated to manufacturing particle boards, fi bre boards and melamine decorative panels, as well as and providing solutions for the entire board industry chain of furniture enterprises. Its annual output of wood-based panels and decorative panels are estimated to reach 500,000m3 and 25,000,000m3 respectively, with annual sales of nearly 1 billion RMB.
Founded in May 2012, Fenglin Original Ecology - Raw Wood Particle Board is a high-end environmental fl agship brand of GuangZhou HuaFangZhou Wood (Group) Co Ltd. It focuses on the R&D, production and application of boards in the high-end furniture market. The positioning of green life with raw wood and original ecology determined the production equipment selection, which is why GuangZhou HuaFangZhou Wood only installed the most proven and advanced technology and equipment in this fi eld.
“Our main lines are imported from Dieffenbacher,
Power combination
to excellence By Vivi Chen
A report on Dieffenbacher’s wood-based panel production line in
Guangzhou HuaFangZhou Wood (Group) Co. Ltd
including single-pass drum dryers, forming station, continuous presses, star coolers and intermediate storage systems. Our cooperation with them, from installation to production, was very good,” said Zhang Fenglan, Chairman of Guangzhou HuaFangZhou Wood (Group) Co. Ltd. "Dieffenbacher wood-based panel production lines are world-renowned. Its complete equipment line can be rated as world-class both in performance (reliability in operation and controllability in process) and in installation/commissioning."
The production base for the Fenglin Original Ecology brand is located in Shixing County, Shaoguan, Guangdong Province. The world’s most advanced production equipment and technologies, such as those from Dieffenbacher, were offi cially put into operation in June 2012.
The plant has an annual output of 300,000m3
high-qual i ty environmental raw wood part icle board, producing F 4-star class, CARB P2, E1 class raw
Mr. Zhang Fenglan, ChairmanGuangzhou HuaFangZhou Wood (Group) Co. Ltd
wood particle board in various specifi cations such as 4*8/5*8/6*8/4*9/7*9 to meet the needs of customers in different markets.
Making decisions by valuing cultureLocalisation serves as a value addition in companies who offer similar or same-level hardware devices. As a world-class complete equipment supplier for wood-based panels, Dieffenbacher has obviously taken to heart the saying "When in Rome, do as the Romans do” – ensuring the outstanding quality of the imported equipment as well as combining the local culture to create tailor-made solutions for companies in China.
“Besides the renowned production facilities, Dieffenbacher also has a very important advantage: localised after-sales service. Compared to its competitors, Dieffenbacher offers better customer technology support and outstanding training to Chinese engineers by Chinese trainers. This equates to the elimination of language barriers for easy communication. Cultural differences are also removed to avoid affecting communication and collaboration due to different modes of thinking. For example, foreign engineers are relatively reluctant to do overtime work while the Chinese are used to it (including weekends). It will be
Automatic raw board handling with star coolerAutomatic raw board handling with star cooler Automatic raw board storageAutomatic raw board storage
easier for Chinese engineers to adapt to the situation and help solve the problem in the shortest time,” added Chairman Zhang.
HuaFangZhou Wood wi l l build forestry bases in Guangdong and Jiangxi (an est imated size of 300,000 – 500,000 Mu of forests) in the next three to fi ve years, which will provide the raw materials and economic benefi ts to the company. Moreover, two production lines will be added to Jiangxi and Guangdong to achieve an annual output of 0.8- 1.0 million m3.
“The quality and quantity of products are really contradictory
sometimes. A positive market trend results to some enterprises
becoming vulnerable to making wrong decision. We at HuaFangZhou
Wood strategically aimed at high-end quality when we built the Fenglin Original
Ecology·Raw Wood Particle Board brand. Therefore, the fundamental condition
for guaranteeing high product quality is to use the most advanced technology and
equipment in the world and strictly control each process/system in our operations. The
machinery from Dieffenbacher not only meet our requirements on process layout, but also increase
our production,” said Chairman Zhang.
Leading the future with green conceptThe layout and plant design of the Fenglin Original
Ecology • The panel plant looks very impressive. There are broad and neat function divisions. There are newly-
planted trees in the surroundings, making the place feel luxuriant and full of vitality. The images of workers who were busy fi nishing lawns and the staff who were working out plans and strategies in the dustless production line plants complemented each other. The advanced technology adopted by the operating equipment in the Dieffenbacher Central Control Room enables HuaFangZhou’ s environmental protection concept of building garden-like plants.
“With the improvement of people’s living standard and the increasing enhancement of environmental protection concept, environmental standards will be a worldwide common trend in the future,” said Chairman Zhang. “Developed countries such as European countries and Japan have high requirements for the environmental standard rating of furniture. For example, the environmental protection level of CARB P2 is required in the United States and the F 4-star level is required in Japan. People’s requirements on
Thermal energy plant and drying systemThermal energy plant and drying system
environment protection indicate the future trend of the board market in China. That’s why we position ourselves at the forefront of the industry and focus on high-end products, and highlight their environmental features as well as physical and chemical performance. We consider the product quality as our foremost priority and we provide the best materials for downstream furniture companies.”
Fenglin Original Ecology employs engineers from Germany and Australia to take charge of facility management and process production, as well as a large number of Chinese fi rst-class senior technicians in the board industry. The company also cooperates with universities such as Nanjing Forestry University to regularly train technical staff to improve their technical level.
“We have our area of expertise. Fenglin Original Ecology will further research and develop high-standard environmental wood-based panels as well as implement complementary deep processing to fully meet various needs of downstream enterprises,” he said.
When it comes to market fluctuation in the board industry caused by economic situations at home and abroad, Chairman Zhang said that the negative impact was not that great and that there will always be a high demand for furniture.
“In China, there is no direct supply-demand relation between furniture, board and real estate. The demand for furniture is high,” he explained. “In the past, people living in rural towns and less populated urban areas in China buy furniture made by traditional handwork passed down through generations. With the accelerated urbanisation and the changing consumer concept where people value functionality and aesthetics more than classical designs, the annual consumption of furniture in China has increased (over 10%) over the years.
According to Chairman Zhang, there are three challenges that furniture manufacturers in China are facing right now. First, export sales volume is decreasing. Second, competition is becoming more intense due to the increasing number of furniture manufacturers. And lastly, the price of resources is also increasing year after year. "These are some of the reasons why some manufacturers think the market is sluggish. However, if the company is positioned well in the market, it will be successful and gain huge market share,” he concluded.
The 8 feet continuous pressing production line — developed by China FOMA Group Co. three years ago — has been running steadily for several months now. All the boards were inspected by the National Centre for Quality Supervision and Testing of Wood and Bamboo Products, and all specifi cations meet National Standards.
This means that the market which has been dominated by several European companies is about to change. With its lower cost and great performance, the 8 feet continuous pressing production line from China FOMA will have a great impact on the wood-based panel industries.
Several members of the mainstream media, professional design institutes of China’s wood-based panel industries, and some large-product ion wood-based panel manufacturers visited the machine running on site. All of them were impressed and gave high praises.
The continuous press features proprietary intellectual property right in the press infeed section, on-line accurate control, hydro-electrical high frequency response and cluster
control, board thickness and shape automatic coordinate adjustment, on-line-speed-supervision for steel belt and roller rod carpet. The chipper, defi berator and sanding sawing system are China FOMA’s traditional superior and best-selling products. The 8 feet continuous press and the other machinery that go with it, such as the forming machine, pre-press, loading conveyer and high-speed sawing system, are also innovations of China FOMA.
China FOMA’s chipper, defi berator and sanding machine have been the no. 1 selling products in the Chinese market for a long time, making the company the customers’ fi rst choice among the Chinese wood-based panel manufacturers. The success of the 8 feet continuous press means that China FOMA, after many years of playing the role of supplying machines such as chipper for the European large capacity continuous press, has become a full machinery supplier.
From material preparation to sanding and sawing for the complete wood-based panel production line (multi-opening/continuous press), customers now have a high-quality choice when setting up their over 150,000 cbm/yr wood-based panel production line.
China FOMA
8’MDF continuous pressing production lineFor more information: www.chinafoma.com
The PROFIPRESS C out of the DimterLine offers a worldwide unique gluing possibility to produce solid wood panels out of hardwood. This method convinced company Masif Panel, a manufacturer of high-quality furniture panels for a big store, to invest in such a production line. Equipped with a pressing bed of only 2.8m length, the PPC 3200 HF produces solid wood panels mainly out of beech and oak with a capacity of up to 1.350m² per shift.
This is possible because of the high perfor-mance infeed system of the continuous laminat-ing press and the most effi cient radio frequency technology. In the packet assembly station (see picture series on the right), up to 6 glued lamellas are pre-collected in very short time, then being positioned at the infeed and inserted into the press in one package. So already during the infeed process, the next lamellas can be glued and collected. Thanks to this system, perfor-mance can be increased up to 28 lamellas per minute. The glue is completely cured in several minutes inside the short pressing bed by means of most modern radio frequency technology combined with an automatically controlled
generator. The RF-energy is only heating up the joint itself – the timber stays entirely cold. In consequence, there are neither tensions nor warpings in the panel and therefore fi rmly closed joints. Due to the RF technology, the pressing bed is very short, which allows a change-over to different lengths or thicknesses without any trouble or losing time.
Furthermore, it is possible to produce classical solid wood panels with variable widths which are then cut to length with a cross saw. For this, the glue application is equipped with an automatic width measuring system and a controlled separating station for lamellas varying in width. The panels can be glued as well at a pre-defi ned width as in an endless way. In combination with a cross saw, signifi cant savings of raw material can be achieved. After the cross saw, there is an automatic transporta-tion to a corresponding destacking system.
Before they took the decision for WEINIG machinery to produce solid wood panels, the company Masif Panel was using simple ma-chines of a competitor. The PROFIPRESS C fi nally convinced them of the WEINIG quality. For the customer, WEINIG symbolises high-end and reli-able machinery to receive an end product of highest quality. To conclude, the customer is very satisfi ed with his decision for the PROFIPRESS out of the DimterLine and he intends to further en-large his production with machines and systems made by WEINIG.
WoodMac WoodMac China: China: Aggression Aggression in recession in recession for China's for China's woodworking woodworking industryindustry
China’s growth rate of 7.5% GDP is the envy of the world’s industrial nations. However, for the Chinese woodworking sector, this level of recorded growth and the reality in the market place represent tough times. Industry experts report that technology sales have never been so poor. The traditional export markets of Europe and USA are weak and the domestic market has not recovered from the slow down of the housing sector engineered by the Central Government. Despite all these, October 2012 saw signs of recovery in technology sales and aggressive marketing by Chinese technology companies. The increasing competition is forc-ing companies to work harder for sales and this has been refl ected by the record bookings received for the 12th edition of WoodMac China, the international woodworking technology exhibition scheduled for 5-8 March 2013, in Shanghai.
Supported by the China National Forestry Machinery Association and the private sector, woodworking guilds from Harbin, Qingdao, Shanghai and Lun-jiao in South China are booking space in record numbers and size of stands for WoodMac China 2013.
“The exhibition has a reputation for attracting buyers from every sector of the woodworking industry and from all over China and around the world, for primary wood processing, to panel board and wood product manufacturing, to producers of fl ooring, furniture and wood building products,” said Mr. Brendan Jennings, General Manager of China International Exhibitions. At the last edition of WoodMac China in 2011, 17,000 visitors attended including some 2,000 overseas buyers, offering “the prize” of lucrative export contracts. “Increased competition for every sale means that Chinese companies, particularly, don’t want to miss any opportunity for making new contacts and sales to all international and domestic buyers that will attend WoodMac China next March,” added Mr. Jennings.
Top Chinese companies leading the race to win more sales and who have already secured large pavilions of between 200m2 and 475m2 at WoodMac China 2013 include Xicheng, Xinjihongye and Liton, Weili, Motimac, Lineng, QCR, Harvey, Qingcheng, Excitech, Ruijie and Nanxing. International brands have also increased their presence at the show and leading the way are Imal/Pal, Wemhoener, Guoming from Taiwan region, Union Brother, Grenzebach, IMEAS and more. The panel board sector continues to be dominated by international brands, and they will return again to WoodMac China, including Siempelkamp, Dieffenbacher, Raute, Berndorf, Steinemann and Andritz. China’s leading panel board manufacturer, China Foma, will again have the largest presence in the exhibition for this sector.
Apart from machinery, WoodMac also includes a large section for the suppliers of tools, saw blades, abrasives, routers and other components used in woodwork-ing machines. At the show, buyers will fi nd stands offering the latest products and designs from Hi-tech, Bosun, Yongtai and Sanhe. For buyers of lumber, veneers, wood products and all supplies for making furniture, fl ooring, wood engineering, staircases, cabinets and more, they will fi nd stands at the show from Canada Wood, Northwest Hardwoods and Midwest Hardwood.
WoodMac China 2013 offers buyers from every aspect of the woodworking industry a range of technologies and components that cannot be seen in any other event in the country. Whether you work in forestry or a professional in primary processing to wood product manufacturing; or producers of furniture, cabinets, fl ooring, stairs or window; or architect, interior designer or building contractor, you will all fi nd a range of technologies and products at WoodMac China and the associate shows FurniTek and WoodBuild China that will meet your needs for increased productivity, energy effi ciency, labour saving and latest product designs. Visit www.woodmacchina.net, www.furnitekchina.net and www.woodbuildchina.net for more information.
Buyers seeking to identify suppliers of specifi c technology can easily fi nd the right contacts in WoodMac China's B2B online platform. Once you have identifi ed the companies you wish to meet, the show organiser will make appointments for you during the show. Plan your visit to WoodMac China 2013 now by registering at www.woodmaccchina.net.
Fancy sipping some red wine in a relaxed environment with soothing background music while sniffi ng out business opportunities… at a trade fair? This is the kind of service organisers of CIFM / interzum guangzhou – Asia’s largest woodworking machinery and furniture production fair – are providing in preparation for the event’s 10th edition slated to happen from March 27-30, 2013 in Guangzhou, China.
Enhanced with a mini wine bar, the visitor lounge in Hall 14.1, dubbed “Piazza”, offers participants the right amount of relaxation and ice-breaker they need when doing business in China.
While attractive refreshments are only the icing on the cake, the major highlight of the show is without a doubt the dazzling array of exhibits on display.
The 130,000-square metre showcase spanning areas B and C of the Pazhou Complex is expected to host over 1,000 top furniture manufacturers, eight national pavilions and draw more than 56,000 professional buyers from all over the world. Of which, the international halls (Hall 11.1, 14.1 &15.1) will see some new developments next year.
Still located in Area C, the Raw Materials & Components Zone will be represented by four distinct product segments with hardware and components as well as a Turkish and Spanish pavilion respectively occupying Hall 14.1, and Hall 15.1 featuring materials and equipment for upholstery and bedding, wood products and adhesives, materials and equipment for interior design together with group participation from Turkey, Germany, the US/Canada, Italy, Chile and AHEC.
While remaining in Area B, the Machinery Zone will see the bedding and upholstery machinery zone migrate to Hall 13.1. Hall 11.1 is set to continue to showcasing woodworking machinery, tools and other machinery and a German pavilion.
Besides national pavilions, other international participation remains active and organisers expect the show to be another sell-out as with previous years.
Key players have all fi led in including:Homag, IMA • Vollmer • Duerkopp Adler • Pfaff • Wemhoener • Union Brother • Beland • SCM • Festool • Freud • Aaron, HSD Mechatronic • Microvellum Software • Paolino Bacci • Dimar Precision and Fengchaou at HALL 11.1. FGV • harn • Repon • Titus, King Slide • TAKACHIHO KOHEKI • Topslide • Cebi • Hanstar • Litong • Koyo • Cyber
Lock • Reggar • Italiana Ferramenta • Sugatsune • Lianxun and TEAM SAKIMORI at HALL 14.1. Okin Refi ned • Boyteks Tekstil • Zahonero • Ateja Tritunggal • Bekaert • Jacquard Textile • Laytex • American
In addition, senior executives, industry veterans and representatives from trade associations will be sharing new concepts and trends at themed seminars centering on innovative technology and furniture materials to be held at the Piazza on March 28 & 29. A collection of renowned publications and magazines on designs and trends will be showcased in the Resource Area between Hall 14.1 and 15.1 where both exhibitors and visitors could freely browse.
CIFM / interzum guangzhou is an annual gathering held in co-location with the widely-attended China International Furniture Fair.
For more information, visit www.interzum-guangzhou.com.
DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR is 79% booked and selling fast
Floor space for DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR is 79% booked fi ve months ahead of the March 26-28, 2013 show in Shanghai. Enthusiasm for new programmes, the addition of a new segment to the show and recognition that DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR sits at the epicenter of one of the world’s fastest growing fl ooring markets are factors fueling early exhibitor bookings. Show floor space was increased to 130,000 sq m. Based on early fi gures, the organisers believe the turnout could increase as much as 6-9% to 45,000 in 2013.
World’s largest wood fl ooring showcase
DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR 2013 will be the largest showcase for wood and laminate manufacturers the world has ever seen, dedicating around 50% of its total show fl oor to the segment that includes solid and engineered woods, laminate, cork and bamboo.
After a few years of absence, global giants Unilin-Quickstep, Pergo, Kronoflooring and Kronoswiss will come back to the show in 2013. BerryAlloc, Floover, AHEC and NWFA have re-confi rmed their attendance after last year’s participation and join the ranks of hundreds of wood segment exhibitors at DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR.
Assisted marketing for new products launchesPre-show, on-site and post-show value-added
marketing services designed to increase exposure of exhibitors and their new products is the original concept for DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR 2013. The InnovAction fl ooring programme gives exhibitors access to international media outlets, a lead-generating data base, assistance with target marketing, e-newsletters, social media, consultants and even a special press conference venue and
product launch support. InnovAction fl ooring will not only be an outstanding opportunity for exhibitors but also a value added event for visitors and professionals looking for fl ooring innovations.
Ceramic tiles and stones added to the showIn 2013, for the fi rst time, DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR
will add ceramic tiles and stone fl oorings to the show focusing on high-end products. Asia is the largest consumer of ceramic in the world and demand for fashion oriented, innovative products is on the rise. DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR gives Western manufacturers an opportunity to reach that market with the new CER Tiles & Stones venue. Like other segments, the new ceramic/stone sector broadly includes ceramic tiles and stones in both fi nished slabs and unprocessed natural stone, fl oor laying materials and supplies, machinery and tools, cleaning and maintenance and associations.
Expanded exposure to Asia’s construction industry Open alongside DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR in the
Shanghai New International Exhibition Centre will be the Shanghai Architect Fair (SAF), a leading event attracting thousands of architects and interior designers specialised in materials and technologies used in their projects (Buildings and Inner Spaces). Many topics will be covered during SAF, including hospital, sport and hotel applications, whilst a special section will be focused on the resilient hospital segment.
Other forums taking place during the event will address heated fl ooring technology, green building practices and building materials distribution.
In its 15th year, DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR expects to host 1,200 exhibitors covering all segments of fl oor covering. It is the largest fl oor covering show in the Asia Pacifi c region and the second largest in the world, second only to its sister show, DOMOTEX Hannover.
Pre-registration is now open for the International Furniture Fair Singapore 2013/30th ASEAN Furniture Show (IFFS/AFS 2013), The Décor Show 2013 and The Hospitality Show 2013. Industry professionals can register at www.iffs.com.sg for complimentary access to the trilogy of design-led shows, where the latest in quality furniture and furnishings will be presented under one roof. Co-locating with the shows is the Hospitality.Design.Furniture (HDF) Luxurious Projects Asia, Summit & Awards 2013. In this second edition, the HDF confer-ence will focus on luxury projects from the region, and will also see the launch of a new Awards segment to recognise the best architectural and design fi rms in the industry.
Following a successful 2012 edition that welcomed 23,552 trade visitors comprising 118 overseas buying delegations, over 512 exhibiting companies from 26 countries, and more than 150 conference delegates, IFFS 2013 ex-pects to usher signifi cantly more quality industry professionals to the trilogy of shows, slated to be held from 9 to 12 March 2013 at the Singapore Expo.
To date, 85% of available exhibiting space for IFFS 2013 has already been sold. Clement Ng, Chief Operating Offi cer for IFFS, commented, “We’re look-ing forward to another strong showing at IFFS 2013. Our exhibitors say that this platform is consistently one of the most important for their businesses because of its prominent focus on design, and the high quality of exhibits on display yearly. Buyers come from all over the region for these reasons too, to ensure that they get the best in design and quality from the top suppliers in the industry.”
In recent years, IFFS has also witnessed an upswing in visitors from outside the Asia-Pacifi c region. Sarge Chopra, owner of an outdoor and indoor furniture company located in Ontario, Canada, visited IFFS 2012 with some specifi c needs. He shared, “I usually attend the shows in Malaysia and China, but decided to come to IFFS this year to source for outdoor and indoor fur-niture. I’ve heard that the show has improved over the past few years, and personally, I fi nd the selection of products more fancy and attractive than that at the other regional events.”
Luxurious Projects Asia, Summit & Awards 2013 The HDF conference and awards show will be held on 11 March 2013 at
Max Atria, Singapore Expo. More than 200 delegates are expected to attend the one-day Luxurious Projects Asia Summit and key speakers have already been confi rmed. They include Milou Ket from Milou Ket Styling & Design, Frank Santagata from Marina Bay Sands, Gordon Gill from Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, Kratsen Vollmer from Frost & Partners and Jan Zastera from Preciosa Lighting. These professionals will be joined by other trade experts in sharing their knowledge, views, and outlook of the hospitality, design, and furniture industries, with luxury projects across Asia serving as an anchoring theme. The inaugural HDF Awards will be held during a luncheon, where awards for fi ve categories will be presented to the winning companies.
For more information on IFFS/AFS 2013,The Décor Show 2013 and The Hospitality Show 2013, please visit: www.iffs.com.sg | www.TheDecorShow.com.sg | www.TheHospitalityShow.com.sg
Trilogy of design-led shows in SingaporeIFFS/AFS 2013, The Décor Show 2013 & The Hospitality Show 2013
From 18 to 21 February 2013, ZOW at the trade fair centre Bad Salzufl en/Germany is going to be the venue at which new products, materials and process solu-tions of the supplier industry for furniture and interior design will be showcased for the very fi rst time. Also included are extensive exhibitor presentations for the commercial construction industry: from lightweight and lighting technology, to tradeshow construction and shop fi tting, hotel equipment, to caravan and ship construction. The trade fair has become a meeting point for a growing number of planners from the fi elds of architecture, design and interior design. At ZOW, plan-ners are able to fi nd the products and ideas necessary for their creative con-cepts – as well as reliable suppliers.
Taking place every February in the furniture cluster East Westphalia-Lippe, ZOW is a fi xed event for executives in the furniture industry and interior design. No other B2B trade fair provides them with a concise overview over the market and
supplier innovations as early on in the year as ZOW. For the 2013 edition, roughly 490 national and international exhibi-tors and 13,500 leading decision-makers are expected. The wide range of showcases at ZOW covers surfaces, mount-ing parts and systems, semi-fi nished products, interior design products, such as panels and fl oors, as well as upholstery materials and leather. This does not only make ZOW a hot spot for the furniture industry, but also a paradise for interior designers in the commercial construction industry, trade fair constructors, shop fi tters, interior designers and designers.
Sustainable products and processes: Lightweight furniture construction at the igeL forum A quickly modifi able look, innovative materials, distinctive designs, integrated of modern technologies, energy effi ciency and other ecological guidelines are only some of the requirements to be met by today’s construction industry. Sustain-ability in particular has become a primary topic in this industry.
Future-oriented impetus can be provided with modern lightweight and hybrid concepts. The interconnection of in-novative, economical materials with new functions creates additional value for furniture and interior design. Certifi ed lightweight construction elements already meet the high fi re protection requirements for trade show construction and shop fi tting. At ZOW 2013, the members of the lightweight construction association “igeL” (www.igel-ev.net) will showcase their expert know-how and introduce recent developments. The igeL network includes experts in the fi elds of materials research and development, material supply, industry service provision, as well as mechanical and plant engineering. The lightweight pioneers at the igeL forum of ZOW will provide consulting services in hall 22.1.
ZOW 2013: hotspot for commercial construction
Photo 1At ZOW, planners from the fi elds of architecture, design and interior design are able to find the prod-ucts and ideas necessary for their creative concepts – as well as reliable suppliers.
Photo 2 ZOW presents a full range of prod-ucts for the commercial construction industry: From lightweight con-struction and lighting technology, to tradeshow construction and shop fi tting, hotel equipment, caravan and ship construction.
‘Furniture Manufacturing & Supply China 2013 (FMC China 2013)’ will be staged at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Centre (SWEECC) from 11-14 September, 2013. The show will comprise four indoor halls, H1, H2, H3, and H4. The total surface area will be 71,000 sqm and it is expected to attract 850 exhibitors.
FMC China 2013 will be held concurrently with Furniture China 2013, one of the biggest furniture shows in the world. The visitor’s badge is valid for both shows and a shuttle bus will be specially arranged for visitors’ convenience.
FMC has been successfully held for 18 years. FMC China 2012 attracted 761 exhibitors and 30,759 trade buyers from 111 countries and regions. The Taiwan Pavilion, the States of North Carolina and Pennsylvania hardwood Pavilions, as well as associations and groups from Malaysia, Mexico, India and Vietnam all participated. The exhibits included Woodworking Machinery & Tools, Furniture Coating & Chemicals, Furniture Hardware & Fittings, Furniture Inspection, Design & Services, Furniture Panels & Surface Decor, Cabinet & Wardrobe Fittings/Furniture Lightings, Furniture Fabric & Leather, Upholstery Furniture Components & Supplies, and Offi ce Furniture Supplies & Gas Springs.
Semi-fi nished Furniture will be launched in 2013. The organiser has expanded the exhibition area for woodworking and machinery so that visitors will gain a more comprehensive onsite experience.
Hall 1 (First Floor): Woodworking Machinery & ToolsHall 2 (First Floor): FMC Premium 2013; Upholstery Machinery; Coating Equipment; CNC MachineryHall 3 (Second Floor): Furniture Raw Materials & Components Area with Seven Themed Sections; Furniture Hardware & Fittings; Furniture Inspection, Design & Services; Cabinet/Wardrobe Fittings & Furniture Lighting Accessories; Furniture Panels & Surface Décor; Furniture Fabric & Leather; Upholstery Furniture Components & Supplies; Semi-fi nished FurnitureHall 4 (Underground Floor): Offi ce Furniture Supplies & Gas Springs; Furniture Coatings, Adhesives & Chemicals ProductsFMC China 2013 will emphasise the development of the whole
industry in the Chinese furniture market and enhance industry chain linkage, providing sound foundations for the furniture and equipment manufacturing components, thereby enabling China to become the foremost furniture manufacturing nation.
The New Products, New Technologies and New Materials Collection areas will be arranged both in SNIEC and SWEECC. These professional showcases will build a bridge for exhibitors and trade buyers, benefi ting both sides by generating direct communication between the upstream and downstream industry enterprises. For more information, visit www.fmcchina.com.cn.
FMC China provides the best woodworking machinery and furniture raw materials
Cologne will once again be the central meeting place for the world’s furniture industry. It will be the focus of the three trade fairs imm cologne, LivingKitchen and interzum. As the world’s leading trade fair for furniture production and interior fi ttings, the latter will once again offer international visitors a unique, wide-ranging market overview of mate-rial and design trends with halls at full capacity. A varied supporting programme together with three piazzas with various themes ensure that interzum will continue to be the source of inspiration for product developers, designers and architects.
The interzum trade fair will again set the standards in 2013 as the world’s largest trade fair for materials to manu-facture furniture and interior fi ttings. The focus will be on new products and ideas in particular because manufac-turers have to a large extent aligned their development programmes with the two-year cycle of interzum. Unusu-ally 2013 is the next date because for the fi rst time the trade fair will take place after Ligna in Hannover, which is traditionally held over Ascension Day. This is so that visitors and in particular those from abroad can easily combine both events meaning that this time interzum is starting on a Monday and fi nishing on a Thursday.
Interzum 2013:Interzum 2013:Three trade fairs, Three trade fairs, three topics ,three topics ,one destinationone destination 13-16 May 2013,
The supporting programme is especially varied for this forthcoming event: for the seventh time the competition for the “interzum award: intelligent material & design” will show which position the supply industry occupies in the development of contemporary designs. Awards will be given to innovative products, which combine above-average functionality with a high level of quality. In order to support the development of the next generation, the young designer award will be presented by the Association of German Industrial Designers (Verband der Deutschen Industriedesigner). In addition to the coveted awards, the interior designer day organised by the Architects’ Chamber of North Rhine-Westphalia will take place once again. The Veneer and Nature Initiative will be organising the fi rmly established European Veneer Forum together with the As-sociation of the German Timber Trade (Gesamtverband Deutscher Holzhandel) and Koelnmesse. An innovation workshop for wood-based products is planned together with the Association of the German Wood-based Panel Industries (VHI).
The three central piazzas within the halls will ensure that more detailed information is available: the piazza in Hall 6, in product segment Materials & Nature, will focus on
the latest trends and product developments from the sectors of decorative surfaces, wood-based products and veneers or solid wood. In Hall 4.2 interzum will once again underline its creative po-tential and showcase new applications by architects, designers and developers at the special exhibition entitled “innovation of interior”. The forum for innovative ideas from the upholstery, beds and textiles industry will take place in Hall 10 (Textile & Machinery).
There are already signs of a high level of registrations for inter-zum 2013 at such an early stage. By September 2012 registrations had already been received from 690 companies. This corresponds to an increase of about 8% compared with the same period in 2010. Approximately 60% of companies are foreign with the largest number of exhibitors coming from Italy, closely followed by Turkey and Spain. In addition, there will be group participants from Italy, Turkey and the US. This is why Halls 6 (Materials & Na-ture), 7 and 8 (Function & Components) as well as 9 (Textile & Machinery) are already fully booked. Koelnmesse is expecting over 1,450 exhibitors at interzum 2013.
Every odd-numbered year, forestry and timber industry profes-sionals from around the globe fl ock to LIGNA HANNOVER to get an overview of all the latest trends and developments in their respective fi elds of specialisation. This year’s fair will run from May 6 - 10, 2013 in Hannover, Germany, and is again shaping up to be a must-see showcase for anyone interested in staying ahead of their game.
LIGNA 2013 will showcase the next generation of highly fl exible, multi-functional wood processing machines. Rising market demand for customised products is confronting wood processors and the skilled trades with unprecedented chal-lenges. Today’s processing solutions have to cope with all kinds of order scenarios, from mass production through to single-lot
production. They also have to be able to cater for an increas-ingly diverse range of materials and products. Manufacturers have to fi nd new ways of compensating for the productivity losses arising from increasingly customised production.
While the emphasis in large-scale serial production environ-ments is on optimising process fl ows, SMEs are more focused on fl exible processing systems. These types of companies are looking for innovative solutions that offer a broad range of applications. More and more manufacturers are also seeking out integrated solutions that can perform the work processes of multiple machines. For these reasons, LIGNA 2013 will be putting the spotlight on the latest generation of fl exible, multi-function machines and aggregate technology solutions.
German machinery suppliers already have a solid repu-tation as providers of high-quality multi-functional processing systems. Machines that are capable of sizing, profi ling and encasing raw panels in a single pass have been in use in the furniture industry for a number of years. LIGNA 2013 will be showcasing the next generation of these machines as well as integrated solid wood processing solutions that are designed to cater for the ever-increasing diversity of surface fi nishes demanded by the market. The latest multifunction machines are now capable of reproducing freely programmable three-dimensional structures without the need for expensive upgrade kits. Units like these allow SMEs both to deliver lucra-tive special orders and mass produce conventional products, quickly and effi ciently. Today’s grinding machines offer all sanding processes in one workstation, from cross and longi-tudinal sanding through to high-gloss fi nishes. Ageing effects, which used to require multiple work-intensive processing steps, can now be achieved in a single, continuous operation, result-ing in signifi cant productivity gains and space savings over traditional angular systems.
Conventional timber sawing solutions can also expect to face some stiff competition from new technologies at LIGNA 2013. The latest systems combine panel, rip and docking saws in one multi-functional unit. For timber processors, this means major capital investment savings and effi ciency gains. Com-bined sawing-storage solutions are also gaining ground in the industry, not least because of their automatic panel storage and feed systems, which minimise machine idle time. They
also minimise scrap and processing waste, reduce labour costs and are able to handle a diverse range of materials and dimensions.
Five-axis technology has signifi cantly expanded the areas of application of CNC machining centres. LIGNA 2013 will feature a number of machining centres which represent the next evolutionary stage of this technology: six-axis systems. Here, too, the trend is towards greater fl exibility and more compact machines. Adapter aggregates that can do the work of up to fi ve conventional tool assemblies in stair, door and window manufacturing operations are likely to create a major splash at next year’s show. Users of these systems benefi t from signifi cantly reduced retooling times and higher productivity. Modular systems offer an alternative approach to retooling. Timber processors are sure to fi nd a solution for their specifi c needs and just about any application among the wide range of different upgrade kits on show at LIGNA 2013.
A number of new-generation horizontal panel saws on dis-play at the fair will feature an additional pusher, enabling mul-tiple simultaneous cutting cycles. Manufacturers of through-feed drilling machines have also embraced the multi-tasking production principle. Selected throughfeed drilling machines now feature drilling heads that are fi tted with both vertical and horizontal spindles. Multiple-spindle drilling heads signifi cantly boost the productivity of timber window manufacturing opera-tions since they can perform many of the various processing steps required for the application of window fi ttings, thereby replacing a whole raft of individual angle drilling heads. The idea of combining two processing steps in a single machine can also be found in the latest generation of vacuum presses. These enable the pre-heating and molding of thermoplastic materials in a single processing step. Even hand-held power tools are following the multi-tasking trend. For instance, LIGNA 2013 will feature multiplaners that can cut, mill and slot a wide range of different materials.
For users, the trend towards multifunctional and multi-product processing systems opens up new opportunities to leverage multiple benefi ts from a single machine investment. LIGNA 2013 is a must-see event for anyone wanting to get a comprehensive overview of all the latest market-ready wood processing innovations.
O n e i n v e s t m e n t , m u l t i p l e b e n e f i t s
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Trade fair duo IMM COLOGNE and LIVINGKITCHEN 2013 on a successful course
After seven intense days, the imm cologne closed its doors on Sunday with very good results. 1,250 companies from more than 50 countries showcased the latest trends for the coming year and – including estimates for the last day of the fair – attracted 142,000 visitors to Cologne.
This year, there was a 13% rise in the internationality of the visitor structure – a signifi cant increase. The international furnishing fair was able to report particularly positive growth in the emerging markets of Eastern Europe and Asia that are so important for the sector. “This result is a great signal for the imm cologne and confi rmation of a performance befi tting a leading international fair,” said a visibly satisfi ed Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse. "With this trade fair duo, we have written the next chapter in the success story of the imm cologne and LivingKitchen. Cologne is the absolute focal point of the furniture and kitchen industry – especially when it comes to business," continues the trade fair corporation's chief executive offi ceDirk-Uwe Klaas, Chief Executive of the Association of the German Furniture Industry (Verband der Deutschen Möbelindustrie), came to a similarly positive conclusion: "The imm cologne 2013 was an outstanding trade fair – the German furniture industry is more than satisfi ed. Despite the wintery weather visitors fl ocked to the exhibition centre in droves. We are delighted to report numerous new contacts and customers as well as a pleasing amount of ordering activity. The marked increase in the number of foreign trade visitors is another important component for the fair's enduring and sustainable success."
A total of 142,000 visitors came to the metropolis on the banks of the Rhine. With foreign visitors accounting for a share of 42% (based on the trade visitor days), the imm cologne and LivingKitchen were once again very international trade shows. On the one hand there were considerably more buyers from Europe, especially from the Russian Federation and traditionally strong countries like the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Italy and Switzerland, on the other hand there was also a marked rise in the number of visitors from Asia – and especially from China.
The Public Days were also very well attended. Around 43,000 consumers came in search of inspiration from the furnishing worlds on show. "We're delighted that the imm cologne and LivingKitchen met with such great interest from consumers too. This good result is due in no small part to the way the concept behind the trade fair duo has been expanded. We want to build on this success and increase the attractiveness of our fairs from year to year," said Katharina C. Hamma, Chief Operating Offi cer at Koelnmesse.
The next trade fair duo imm cologne // LivingInteriors will be held from 13th to 19th January 2014. Many more details are available at: www.imm-cologne.com
DOMOTEX – the fl ooring industry’s– the fl ooring industry’s
“DOMOTEX has once again delivered proof of its great international appeal and its pivotal role as the fl ooring industry’s fl agship fair,” remarked Dr. Jochen Köckler, Member of the Deutsche Messe AG Managing Board, at the close of the event. “40,000 visitors from over 80 nations came to discover the latest product innovations and trends for the upcoming season.” This constitutes a slight rise in attendance over 2011 as the most recent comparable staging of the event. Köckler continued: “Our exhibitors succeeded in reaching their international clientele and laying the groundwork for the business year ahead. DOMOTEX thoroughly fulfi lled its function as a unique business platform and an idea-giver for the international carpet and fl oor coverings industry.”
1,350 enterprises from 60 nations presented their latest products and collec-tions, including carpets, textile fl oor coverings, resilient fl oor coverings, parquet fl ooring and laminated coverings as well as installation, cleaning and application technologies. This year the industry stressed bold colours and daring designs. “The time when fl oors played a subordinate role to interior furnishings is over. The current diversity of materials, colours and designs is unlimited, making fl oors an interior design object – a trend which was clearly visible throughout the exhibi-tion halls,” stated Köckler.
High satisfaction among exhibitors and visitorsExhibitors praised the highly international diversity of the show’s attendees, with more than 60 per cent coming from abroad. Half were from European countries other than Germany, while 21 per cent came from Asia and 11 per cent from the Americas. A gratifying jump in attendance was registered from North America as well as South, East and Central Asia. Visitors’ professional qualifi cations and decision-making authority were compelling across the board. More than 90 per cent of all attendees reported being directly involved in their companies’ pur-chasing decisions. “If you want to cultivate international contacts and tap into new markets, you can’t afford to miss out on DOMOTEX. This is where companies can meet up with potential business partners from every corner of the globe,” continued Köckler. The show’s attendees once again consisted primarily of wholesale and specialised retail buyers, at 30 per cent and 20 per cent, respec-tively. Skilled tradespeople, buyers from interior design and furniture stores as well as architects also used DOMOTEX 2013 to check out the latest market offerings.
Köckler’s appraisal was echoed by Joe Williams, Vice President of Interna-tional Sales for Beaulieu of America (based in Dalton, Georgia): “DOMOTEX is the biggest global trade fair of its kind, and that is what makes it so important to us. Here we can get in touch with buyers from the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe. Beaulieu of America benefi ts from the special drive emanating from
fl agship fair – gets business off to a solid start in 2013fl agship fair – gets business off to a solid start in 2013
DOMOTEX Hannover, which sets it apart from other tradeshows.”Geert Vanden Bossche, Marketing Director of the Balta Group (based in Sint-
Baafs-Vijve, Belgium), added: “For us, being at DOMOTEX is important because we can see about 90 per cent of our customers here in just four days. The show’s stand-out virtues are its size and the large number of attendees. Beyond that, the ‘DOMOTEX’ brand stands for a 20-year tradition of excellence which inspires trust and draws in the crowds.”
The SKILLED TRADES HUB: Home base for fl oor-laying professionalsA fi rst at this year’s DOMOTEX was the new SKILLED TRADES HUB, where visiting fl oor-laying practitioners could fi nd everything of value to them at one convenient location in Hall 7. Here they were able to try out machines and tools and plug into valuable know-how as presented by big-name solution providers. “Our goal was to give the skilled trades a home base of their own at DOMOTEX, and we succeeded,” concluded Köckler. “The SKILLED TRADES HUB served as a central rendezvous for parquet and fl oor layers, interior decorators, painters and car-penters.” Skilled tradespeople accounted for 20 per cent of all DOMOTEX visitors.
DOMOTEX 2014 to feature Wood Flooring SummitOriginally debuting at DOMOTEX 2012, the Wood Flooring Summit for the parquet and laminate fl ooring segment is scheduled to return at the next DOMOTEX, which will be staged from 11 to 14 January 2014. “We are already in close com-munication with the relevant industry associations and market players to ensure we can build on the success achieved by the inaugural event,” stated Köckler.
DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR, DOMOTEX Middle East and DOMOTEX RussiaDeutsche Messe is also represented in the world’s fast-growing markets with its global array DOMOTEX events, opening the door to even more new opportunities for companies from the carpet and fl oor coverings sector. From 26 to 28 March 2013, DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR will be staged in Shanghai. DOMOTEX Russia will take place from 25 to 27 September 2013 in Moscow. And from 7 to 10 November 2013, Istanbul will be the venue for DOMOTEX Middle East.
Flooring Deluxe, PATTERN INTERVENTION by
Baltic Wood S.A. (Poland), Mark Braun Studio (Berlin, Germany)
Resilient fl oor coveringsResilient fl oor coverings Wood and parquet fl ooringWood and parquet fl ooringLaying skills, cleaning and application Laying skills, cleaning and application technologies, presentation of goodstechnologies, presentation of goods
Orgatec: The heart of European offi ce furnituredesign
58 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013
SHOWREVIEW PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA
Warm quiet cork tables and partitionsVitra, based in Switzerland, had the show buzzing with its cork worktables and dividers, designed Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec. The company prides itself on its design and environmental innovations, making the choice cork double-edged: naturally grown and sustainable, with warmth and sound-buffering properties, along with its warmth, cork works to mellow a busy workspace.
By Kenn Bush
Europe’s foremost offi ce and contract furniture event happens every other October in Koeln, Germany. Very well organised around major trend themes, the event has a growing international fan base that attends to absorb the latest global design and technology concepts.
This year there was a marked emphasis on acoustics, comfort, and generally making the workplace a kinder, gentler environment. There were also many companies working and playing with materials and form in the pursuit of fresh design.
Here you’ll fi nd a few of our many discoveries in Koeln.
Vitra’s cork worktables and dividers
59 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA
Haworth’s (Calm) space
Haworth: ‘think, see, do, connect’...and relax“Haworth created an environment at the Orgatec show to demonstrate a variety of collaborative work settings, themed ‘Think See Do Connect,’” says Kurt Vander Schuur, corporate brand director.
“With the launch of Workware, Haworth displayed integrated technology solutions from training and desking to meeting and hospitality throughout the stand. And, ‘(Calm)space’ was introduced to offer a relaxation retreat within work settings.
“Orgatec is a great place to share knowl-edge from Haworth's global network,” says Vander Schuur.
Haworth worked with the designer Marie-Virginie Berbet to create a kind of revolution in companies. Haworth introduces (Calm) space, a regenerating power nap capsule at Orgatec 2012. The user chooses a duration for the power nap and the pod then uses a preset sound and light cycle to gently send him off to sleep and wake him up.
The classic Shetland rocker or bench: Haworth’s casual, playful and interactive seating option for impromptu collaboration. Created by the Haworth Design Studio, it is light weight, informal, easily reconfi gurable low seating. Shetland encourages multiple, comfortable postures, allowing the body to move and interact. Created in wood plyform with walnut veneer or white painted plyform and accented with wool and leather saddle accessories, Shetland allows designers and architects to create iconic spaces when casual seating is needed for collaboration, interaction and minimal guest seating.
Furniture concepts from Moscow’s top architects Let’s say you ran one of Russia’s premier commercial outfi tters, with a prestigious list of clients that includes Google Russia, Microsoft, Nokia, and you specialise in built-in architectural treatments and reception desks. And you wanted to make a splash with furniture concepts at Europe’s premier offi ce furniture event.
What would you do? Why, you’d give fi ve of Moscow’s top architects carte blanche, with a commitment to engi-neer and show immaculate prototypes, and to produce the pieces to order.
Nayada, the show’s only Russian exhibitor, presented the fi rst part of its innovative project, “12 Architects. Offi ces Project.” At nine months old, the project is only half realised. The fi nal collection will include seven additional architects from around the world. Plans are to show all 12 concepts at the Milan Furniture Fair in April 2013.
“Even though these are only prototypes, several people have asked to purchase them immediately,” says Dmitry Cherepkov, president of the Nayada Group. “In truth, we are still developing them. Some of the materials, like the carbon fi ber and the layered veneers, require very special handling.”
“Profi le,” design by Vladimir Kuz’min. Carbon fi ber is
pricey, diffi cult to work with, but no other material
has its combination of strength and beauty.
“Victoria,” inspired by Victoria Falls, realised in a rich walnut with clear acrylic strips in the desk.
USA Hanley Wood LLC www.surfaces.comTurkey ITE Turkey www.itf-imob.com
India PDA Trade Fairs www.delhi-wood.com
Germany Clarion SURVEY GmbH www.zow.de
China Deutsche Messe www.woodmacchina.netMalaysia United Business Media (M) Sdn Bhd www.miff.com.my
Malaysia EFE Expo Sdn Bhd www.efe.net.myChina China B & D Exhibition Co. Ltd. www.builddecor.com
Singapore International Furniture Fair Singapore Pte Ltd www.iffs.com.sg
Indonesia PT. Kerabat Dyan Utama (Radyatama) www.iffi na-indonesia.comVietnam Handicraft & Wood Industry Association of HCMC www.vifafair.comThailand Royal Thai Government, Offi ce of Export Promotion Activities www.thailandfurniturefair.comOman Omanexpo www.thebigshow-oman.comChina Deutsche Messe AG www.domotexasiachinafl oor.comChina Koelnmesse Pte Ltd www.interzum-guangzhou.com
China Dalian Northern Int’l Exhibitions Limited Company www.sinoexhibition.comIndia Business LIV www.woodtechindia.inThailand Reed Tradex www.furnitechwoodtech.com
Malaysia Trade-Link Management Services Sdn Bhd tradelink.com.my/woodtech
Singapore ORIEL Events www.thefl ooringshow.asia
China Shanghai UBM Sinoexpo International Exhibition Co., Ltd www.fmcchina.com.cn
Malaysia UBM www.seafi e.comVietnam Chan Chao International Co., Ltd www.vietnamwoodexpo.com
India PDA Trade Fairs www.mumbai-wood.com
USA National Hardwood Lumber Association www.nhla.com/convention
Turkey TÜYAP Fair Convention and Congress Centre www.intermobistanbul.com
