OPEN HOUSE EXHIBITION ... · recently been completed in Seville. The Metropol Parasol took a total...

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THE world’s largest wooden structure hasrecently been completed in Seville. The MetropolParasol took a total of six years to build and nowoccupies what was an area which was formerlyused as a car park,

The whole structure measures 150m x 70m,with a roof height of some 26m.

The building is intended to be an iconic culturalattraction in the Spanish city of Seville, bridging

the gap between art and architecture.This gigantic structure consists of six separate

parasols in the form of giant mushrooms, whosedesign was inspired by the vaults of Seville’scathedral and the giant ficus trees in the nearbyPlaza de Cristo de Burgos.For the full story, please turn to Pages 12 & 13

of this issue.

JAUME Llamasfrom HouseHabitat based inBarcelona isaware that thegreatest difficultyin persuadingarchitects andtheir clients to usewood as aprinciple materialfor houseconstruction is topersuade them ofthe benefits ofdoing so.

According toJaume Llamas, asthey areunaccustomed towood being usedfor this type ofconstruction, theytend to benaturally wary.For the full

story, please turnto Pages 8 and 9of this issue.

CEHISA is a speciaiist Spanish manufacturer ofedge-banders. Billing itself as the “edge’s bestfriend”, Cehisa has a presence in over 65countries worldwide.

The company was formed in 1956 and hasbeen producing quality woodworking machineryever since. During its 60 year history, the Spanishwoodworking machinery manufacturer hasgained an excellent reputation for the productionof panel processing machinery and, especially,edge-banding equipment.

In Barcelona, the company operates from afactory extending to some 8,000m2 where all thedifferent phases of manufacture can be observedby vistitors.

The company now enjoys an effective presenceon all five continents and is represented in the UKand Ireland by Nottingham-based DaltonsWadkin.For the full story please go to Pages 14 & 15

of this issue.

METROPOL PARASOL

Special edition for the English speaking woodworker in Spain

Cehisa prides itself in offering service which, the company claims, is both better and quicker thanthat offered by its competitors.

OPEN HOUSE EXHIBITION

LIGNAHannover

May22 - 26

LIGNAHannover

May22 - 26

2 INDUSTRIAL WOODWORKING AND PANEL PROCESSING – SPANISH EDITION


THE carpentry workshop in Antoni Gaudi’s world famous basilica haspurchased a Biesse machining centre – the Klever 1224 G FT.

Salvador Guardiola is an experienced boat builder and creator of thereproductions of two of the caravels that accompanied Columbus onhis voyage to America and for the past 19 years, he has been incharge of the carpentry workshop in the famous Sagrada Familia inBarcelona.

‘We chose Biesse for the quality of the machine and the technicalservice on offer,’ Salvador Guardiola told Industrial Woodworking &Panel Processing.

‘The machine is running non-stop; there are days when it isoperating 24 hours a day,’ he adds, pointing out that the technicalassistance provided to the Sagrada Familia workshop by Biesse hasbeen punctual, precise and efficient. The machine was supplied byMaquinaria Vidal – an agent for Biesse Iberica, based in La Garriga

BIESSE QUALITY AT

INDUSTRIAL WOODWORKING AND PANEL PROCESSING – SPANISH EDITION 3


• For further information on Biesse products in the UK tel Biesseon 01327 300366. Email: [email protected]. Visit www.biesse.com.

which is also in charge of the maintenance of the other equipmenton the Sagrada Familia site.

The Klever G FT is the ideal machine for nesting applications onwood and wood derivatives, as well as for processing non-ferrousmetals and plastic materials.

With an average monthly capacity of 500 panels, the Klever 1224G FT features widia and diamond cutting heads and can produce2,500 components/month. It does all this whilst maximizing theproduction of panels, working on materials, such as okume andplywood. The new machining centre measures 2500mm x 1,250mmand provides the solution to a growing space problem in theworkshop headed by Salvador Guardiola.

It has to be said that it is a very unusual workshop – measuring80m2 and operating at a height of 30m above ground level.

At present the workshop employs a total of 20 people out of the200 or so personnel working on the construction of the SagradaFamilia.

Two machine operators specializing in numerical control, one ITtechnician and Guardiola himself will be in charge of the newmachining centre, which will continue to work to maximum output.

‘Patterns arrive in the carpentry shop from the design office at afrenetic pace. Nearly all the work pieces are curved and irregular inshape,’ says Salvador Guardiola.

‘These are the famous paraboloids which from the elements of ahuge and intricate structure that is gradually taking shape,’ addsSalvador.

It will be another 10 years before the Sagrada Familia will becomplete.

SAGRADA FAMILIA



OVER the past 25 yearsCOSENTINO, S.A. has enjoyedfantastic economic growthboth in Spain itself andthroughout Europe.

Nationwide, it has regionaloffices in Madrid, Barcelona,Bilbao, Tarragona, Levante,Seville, Guipuzcoa, Vizcaya,Zaragoza, Almería, La Coruña,Castellón, Badajoz, Gerona,Murcia, Valencia, Valladolid,Pontevedra, and Toledo, as wellas having distributors in allprovinces.

John Emslie recently travelled around Spain,visiting a number of the Spanish company’sregional offices to gain a genuine feel as to whatis on offer from this leading manufacturer andwhat produces a winning business formula forthis enterprising Spanish company.

This is not to say that Cosentino restricts its

business activity to Spain itself. Indeed, thecompany has spread worldwide through itsdistribution network and currently operates inthe USA, Latin America, Australia and Asia.

This large network ensures full quality servicesupported by the existence of permanent stocks.It also guarantees smooth service and themaintenance of the close, individualizedattention of its team of professional kitchenworktop specialists.

These concepts of innovation, quality, varietyand service have made Cosentino a leadingmanufacturer worldwide - providing a group ofbusinesses oriented towards modern-dayarchitecture and to the modern-day world ingeneral.

John Emslie visited a number of the Spanishcompany’s regional offices to get a feel of whatis on offer from this leading manufacturer.

Cosentino is a company with a vision – andthat vision is to lead the global market forkitchen work surfaces by offering innovative

solutions that provide value-led designs,which are aimed to inspire. This iscompany which claims to imagine andanticipates its customers; requirements.

At Cosentino the very obvious aim is tomaintain a commitment to society,which is reflected in continued supportthrough training and sponsorships ofcultural, educational and sportsactivities.

Throughout its history, the CosentinoGroup has been actively involved withbusiness organizations, chambers ofcommerce and other public corporations.

Cosentino Group president, FranciscoMartinez-Cosentino Justo explained thecompany’s pledge to support ongoingsustainable practices thus:

‘Our commitment to sustainabilitybegins in the strictest sense of themeaning – that of ensuring that today’sbusiness will continue in terms ofemployment and profitability for thefuture.

‘In order to achieve this goal, anincreased contribution to research andinnovative development is required. Inaddition to this fundamental approach tosustainability, our manager, directorsand collaborators share a generous andhope-filled awareness of sustainability,which extends to the worlds of

INNOVATION AND FROM COSENT



architecture, gastronomy, design and fashion.‘The fruits of this sensibility is Shape – a

global thinking forum on sustainability whichwas set up in 2011 and which has subsequentlyenjoyed the participation of renowned Spanishand international architects from around theworld, who have brought their ideas together tocreate a more sustainable world,’ concludesSenor Martinez-Cosentino Justo.

The management at Cosentino believes inactively encouraging its workforce, believingthat employee opinion is an essential facet to anongoing programme of innovation anddevelopment.

With this in mind, an Ideas Programme wasset up some years ago and its success is evidentin that all the workers in the manyestablishments visited by IndustrialWoodworking & Panel Processing seemed trulycommitted to the individual role that each ofthem had to play in manufacturing the product,constantly striving to suggest improvements inthe various processes and coming up with newideas for business.

The success of this initiative was evident inevery factory visited throughout Spain where,once every six months, a committee meets toevaluate new ideas put forward by theworkforce.

It is also pleasing to be able to report that theCosentino Group has made a solid ongoingcommitment to environmental care and controlwith regard to all of its industrial processes fromthe quarrying of the raw materials to the finaldistribution of the finished product, constantlyre-investing a large percentage of its annualincome in the search for pioneering solutions interms of pushing forward growth whilst, at thesame time, protecting the long-termEnvironment.

In this respect, the company’s prime objectiveis to minimise dust emissions into theatmosphere during the operations of collection,storage, transportation, dosing and mixing ofthe ground and micronized materials whichform the basis of a vast range of quartz andnatural stone work surfaces for which theSpanish-based company is a world leader.

Silestone – the name with which the companyis synonymous is composed of 94 per cent solidnatural quartz, making these worktopsextraordinarily hard and resilient. They are thefirst and only quartz worktops featuringbacteriostatic protection.

This unique formulawas developed byCosentino and is basedon the use of the latestgeneration silver ions toprevent the propagationof bacterias.

Silestone worktops areacid, stain impact andscratch resistant andcome in a wide range oftextures and coloursand come with a 25-year guarantee.

In the UK there a totalof five authorizeddistributors cover the country with outlets in Darlington(01325 361010) Thurrock (01708 869102), Gloucester(01452 651180-), Hook in Hampshire (01256 761229)and Manchester (0161 888 6230).

D DEVELOPMENT TINO IN SPAIN

• For further information tel 00 34 902 444 175. Visitwww.cosentino.com.



SPAIN ranks as the third largest Europeanproducer of woodworking machinery andtools for woodworking and furnituremanufacturing.

Industrial Woodworking & PanelProcessing’s John Emslie recently took atour around this vast country to discover alittle bit more about what makes theSpanish woodworking trade sector tick.

This sector is comprised of Spanishmanufacturers of machinery and tools forcompanies which use wood as a rawmaterial resource in their finishedproducts.

In turn, this sector is divided into twosub-sections – primary wood processingand secondary processing.

The first relates to the processingstarting from forestry treatment and treefelling through to the manufacture ofboards and panels.

It also encompasses processing for themanufacture of pallets, packaging, curing,timber treatment and drying, waste re-use,energy transformation and the productionof doors, windows and flooring.

The second relates to carpentryprocesses, such as the manufacture offurniture.

In 2010, the Spanish woodworkingmachinery and equipment manufacturingsector was made up of 465 companies –with the numbers having declined sharplysince 2007 when they numbered 628 intotal.

The industry is characterised byproduction being adapted to medium-sizedcompanies, coupled with flexible designs,processes and commercialization thatallows the sector to supply products basedon the specific demands and requirementsof the individual client, producing bothsmall batches and bespoke products.

Highly competitive delivery times areanother feature which characterises heSpanish woodworking machinery supplytrade. It is pleasing to be able to reportthat, since 2002, sales have continued toincrease, recording an accumulatedgrowth rate of 4 per cent over the past twoyears.

In terms of the size of individualcompanies, more than 95 per cent aresmall to medium-sized companies. Theirmost significant products includemachining equipment, such as routers,CNC machining centres, pallet productionlines, UV furniture finishing lines andlathes.

The machinery manufacturing sector is

widely dispersed throughout Spain, withthe largest number of companies beinglocated around Valencia region (36 percent), Catalonia (24 per cent), BasqueCountry 20 per cent, with other regionscomprising a further 20 per cent.

In 2010, sales from the sector fell withrespect to the year to stand at 360 millioneuro, due to the decline in orders formforeign markets, combined with a sluggishdomestic market. In the same period thesector lost a total of 365 direct jobs.

Industrial Woodworking’s John Emsliehas travelled extensively throughout Spainto visit a representative number of thesecompanies and his in-depth reports will bepublished in this magazine over thecoming months.

The existence of a significant number ofsmall and medium-sized companies, eachoffering proprietary technology,comparable to the sector’s internationalcompetitors (the majority of which arebased in Germany and Italy) affordsoperational flexibility, as well as diversifiedand high quality products. Thesecharacteristics help to minimise the effectsof a commercial environment that isincreasingly competitive.

AFEMMA is a national private nonprofit-making organisation whoseobjective is the promotion, in Spain andthroughout the world, of a field which hasexperienced enormous growth over thepast few year. Visit www.afemma.com.

Founded in 1976 and based in Valencia,AFEMMA encompasses companies whichrepresent 90 per cent of nationalproduction and 96 per cent of the sector’stotal exports.

These companies meet both domesticand international market requirements,offering a whole range of products forwoodworking that have achieved highinternational standing, due to theirtechnology and versatility.

In terms of technology, in addition to theuse of CNC which benefits leadingproducts, as well as assembly lines, drillingand sanding equipment, there is amarkedly growing use of lasers for greateraccuracy and tool positioning.

An additional important factor is theconstant adaptation to global standards inthe woodworking trade sector, such asplant protection control.

Technologically, the most importantcompanies in the sector include Barberán(Castadefells), Mecanica Cape (Barcelona),Biele, (Azpeitia), Induax (Gipuzkoa)

These Barberán roller coatersare designed for the application

of various finishes. VIVA ES



Intorex (Barcelona). We will be looking atthese be in turn in forthcoming issues.

Spain hosts a number of internationaltrade fairs, providing meeting placesbetween buyers and sellers.

They highlight the degree ofinterdependency between the various sub-sectors devoted to the manufacture ofmachinery tools and various productsspecially designed for working withfurniture and wooden and panel-basedproducts, as well as identifying the mostdynamic and traditional segments.

Perhaps the most important of theseevents is the Fidda Maderalia, which isstaged in Valencia. It attracts around46,000 visitors (around five times thenumber of people visiting the W16 seriesof exhibitions) and typically has well over1,000 exhibitors occupying between75,000m2. For further information visitwww.feriavalencia.com/fimma.

Other important events of the Spanishwoodworking machinery manufacturer’scalendar include Woodmac (Shanghai,China): Eurobois (France): Furnitech inBangkok, Fimma in Brazil to name but afew!

In addition to promotional activitiescarried out by AFEMMA, its technical andcommercial departments reply andchannel inquires and requests as receivedboth from domestic and external markets.

The Spanish offering of machinery,equipment, tools and products forwoodworking, backed and co-ordinated bythe association, is continuously present atthe main international trade shows,taking place in Germany, Italy, Russia,Poland, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina,Colombia, Peru, China and India, amongothers.

AFEMMA is member of EUMABOIS (theEuropean Federation of WoodworkingMachinery) and collaborates with thefederation to promote the quality andefficiency of European technology.

The top five export destinations forSpanish manufactured machinery andequipment are France, Germany, Italy,Portugal and the UK, which togetheraccount for around 50 per cent of Spanishexports. Until recently France has been themain market for Spanish-manufacturedmachinery accounting for around 14 percent of all Spanish sales.

Despite the importance of these EUmarkets, countries such as Mexico,Morocco, Russia and Turkey also accountfor significant sale of Spanish

manufacturedmachinery andequipment. Sales toGermany, Italy,Portugal and the UKhave remainedrelatively stabledespite the recessionwhilst sales to othercountries have sloweddown, due toeconomic factors.

In total, Spanishwoodworkingmachinery and equipment has beenexported to 140countries. Needless tosay, the Top 10buying nationsaccounted for over 50per cent of Spanishsales.

As a country, Spainis responsible for theexport of a widevariety of air andvacuum pumps,compressors, aircompressors andother gascompressors, fans andventilating, orrecycling hoods.

Spain exports thisequipment to 133countries worldwide, with the Top 10buyers accounting for 66 per cent of sales.

As far as woodworking machinery ingeneral is concerned, the principal Spanishcompanies and brands with internationalrecognition include Barberán(www.barbaran.com), IndustriasAuxillares (http://www.indaux.com),Virutex (http://www.vitutex) and Cehisa(http://www.cehisa.es).

When it comes to considering theleading woodworking machinerymanufacturers in Europe, Spain is perhapsnot the most obvious country whichimmediately springs to mind as one of theleading players in the field, but as JohnEmslie soon discovered, there is muchmore to Spanish manufacturing sectorthat at first meets the eye. His reports inissues to come will throw a much moredetailed light on this.

Cehisa occupies extensive premises situated close to Barcelona where, amongst other machine,this specialist edge-bander – the System 5PS is manufactured.

A new collection of natural stains from Valresa was launched in March 2014.

SPAÑA

• For further information tel 00 34 936350 810. Visit www.barberan.com.



IN SPAIN building with wood is relatively trendy. According to theSpanish Association of Wooden House Manufacturers and Builders(AFCCM in Spanish), some 20,000 buildings have wood as theirprinciple raw material.

Whilst this is a far cry from countries such as Finland, where 98 percent of family homes are of wooden construction, or the USA andCanada, where wood accounts for around 80 per cent of the totalproperty stock, new wooden constructions are currently under waythroughout Spain – especially in Catalunya where John Emslie recentlyvisited to see for himself what is attracting architects and specifiers tochoose wood as their main building material.

In Madrid the largest wooden house yet to be constructed is 650m2. Itis claimed that it will consume only 140 euro a month in electricity.

Meanwhile, in Barcelona’s Gracia district a five-storey building (thetallest wooden building in the city) is currently nearing completion. This

family home will provide 364m2 ofbuilt surface area.

Constructed by a local firm, HouseHabitat, it comprises a ground floor,mezzanine, second and third floorsand a large roof terrace. Once again,this house can claim truly incrediblecredentials in ecological terms, with aprojected monthly bill for heating,refrigeration and hot water adding upto just 63 euro!How are this figures possible?

The secret is in the principlematerial used in the construction ofthese homes. Quite simply the secret iswithin the trees from which thetimber is sourced.

Wood makes for a better insulator

PRINCIPLY WOOD

Jaume Llamas.



than virtually any other buildingmaterial, being reckoned to reducethe amount of energy required toheat a house by as much as eighttimes when compared with eithersteel, or concrete.

Whatismore, it takes far less energyto produce, thus having a radicaleffect in terms of reducing theecological foot-print.

House Habitat’s Jaume Llamasexplained to Industrial Woodworking& Panel Processing that the mostdifficult thing about this type ofbuilding is to change the mindset ofboth architects and their clients.

As they are unaccustomed to woodbeing used for this type ofconstruction, they tend to be naturally wary.

‘However, once they are convinced of its benefits,they appreciate that completion times tend to bemuch shorter, the “dry” construction means thatthere are no wet materials, or materials that requirethe addition of water, which can often lead todelays,’ says Jaume.

‘It is a very clean material and the total waste isconsiderably lower than with traditional buildingmaterials. In addition, the neighbours don’t sufferso much from the prolonged machinery noise anddirt associated with more traditional buildingmethods,’ he adds.

‘The client’s opinion is the force that pushes us tocontinue improving on every new project,’ saysJaume Llamas.

This particular house in Barcelona has been “A”rated for energy efficiency. Aside from the use ofwood in its construction, this is partly attributed to

• For further information visitwww.househabitat.es

the building technologies being deployed here.Insulation is provided by recycled cellulose andwood fibre.

The framework, which is also made of wood, is re-inforced with an extra layer to improve the acousticinsulation and to help retain heat. Along similarlines, the house boasts a highly efficient air recyclingsystem, which is used to heat the water in thebathrooms.

Interestingly, is this ecologically responsiblebuilding (and apart from using timber sourced fromsustainably managed forests and employing naturalmaterials for insulation purposes), even the interiorpaint is made with non-contaminating pigments.The electrical installation is likewise bio-compatible.

D FOR SPANISH HOMES



Porcelanosa – PORCELANOSA provides a major reference point onSpanish and international markets. With over 40 years’experience in the production of kitchen worksurfaces andassociated products the company exports to over 100countries worldwide – an achievement that is attributable toits unique business model, which forms the foundation forthe company’s strong, dynamic corporate structure.

Industrial Woodworking & Panel Processing’s JohnEmslie decided to visit the company after reading a studypublished by the Sunday Times in which the company waspositioned amongst the most prestigious firms operating onthe global scene.

The company, headed by its president, Manuel Colonqueswas founded in 1978 when it was originally staffed by lessthan 100 individuals, establishing showrooms in New Yorkin 2003 and setting up a £3.3m UK headquarters in SouthLondon, with offices and showrooms following in theautumn of 2006 in Braehead in Scotland.

Manuel Colonques and his wife, Delfina, were among theguests at Prince William’s marriage to Kate Middleton in2011 as were Porcelanosa’s UK chief executive, PedroPesudo and his wife, Elia.

At the time it was reported in at least one Britishnewspaper, that Porcelanosa was responsible for fitting outthe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s London home.

‘As a wedding gift we gave Prince William all the ceramics

for his London home atNottingham Cottage. Ourproducts are also to be foundat Prince’s Charles’Highgrove residence, as wellas in Clarence House,’ SenorColonques explained toIndustrial Woodworking &Panel Processing, addingthat part of the Spanishcompany’s portfolio alsofeatures in BuckinghamPalace.

The Scottish stately home,Dumfries House, which ThePrince’s CharitiesFoundation helped to save forthe nation in 2007 has alsobenefitted from donationsfrom the Spanishmanufacturing giant.

Porcelanosa operates instrict accordance with firmlyconsolidated values, such asinnovation, combined withquality, placing its trust in its

workforce, which ismade up of nearly5,000 skilledprofessionals.

Productiondiversification hasplayed a key role in thegrowth of the businessgroup, which began life with the production of asingle product- ceramic tiles.

Nowadays, between them the group’s eightindividual companies offer a wide product range,which includes kitchen and bathroom equipment, aswell as state-of the-art solutions for contemporaryarchitects.1. PORCELANOSA claims to be the ceramic wall andfloor tile sector’s leading manufacturer. It has aworkforce of over 800 employees and has forged aworldwide reputation as a business group – largely on

account of the company’s ongoingefforts in the field of research anddevelopment.2.The company’s experience gained inthe ceramic tile manufacturing sectorprompted the creation of VENIS, whichresulted in a company which was verysoon forging a leading internationalreputation as a manufacturer ofstoneware and porcelain tiles.

With a flair for innovation, VENIS is amanufacturer whose tiles have evolvedin every possible sense of the word, fromtheir design and quality standardsthrough to the company’senvironmental commitment in terms ofits manufacturing processes and itssearch for new applications incontemporary architecture.3. GAMADECORwas founded as partof Porcelanosa’s process ofdiversification, with a view to offeringkitchen and bathroom furniture with ahi-tech design.

With facilities covering an area of125,000m2 equipped with all the latesttechnology, as the company hasdeveloped, it has added the design andmanufacture of an extensive range ofwardrobes, walk-in closets andcontemporary furniture.

This £100,000 ornate Islamic the Chelsea Flower Show befor residence. Its centrepiece was d

Manuel Colonques and his wife, Delfina, photographed at PrinceWilliam’s wedding in 2011.

The Duchess of Cornwall photographed with Prince Charles at her 60thbirthday party celebrations at Highgrove, where Porcelanosa were given aprivate function.



fit for a prince

4. Since its creation, SYSTEMPOOL’S clear aim to expandhas led the company to focus on three main areas:

a) BATHROOM PRODUCTS, including shower trays,shower screens and enclosures, shower columns, bathtubs,shower units and cubicles and countertops.

b) SPA – a product range conceived to help in the creationof an easy-to-install, low maintenance home spa.

c) KRION is Porcelanosa’s solid surface, which is presentin kitchen and bathroom equipment produced by othercompanies within the group. It is also a feature of uniquedesign, interior design and architectural projects, where itsoutstanding properties can transform ideasinto reality.5. Since its creation L’ANTIC COLONIAL hasstriven to meet the demand for exclusive, top-quality materials, such as slate, marble,natural wood, or mosaics. When they are usedin conjunction with complementary productsby the company, such as countertops orbathroom furniture, global design projects canbe created with all the warmth evocative ofNature’s own materials. This is demonstratedtime and time again by the visual beauty andtechnical properties of its products, both inprivate and public design projects.6. BUTECHwas created as part of thePorcelanosa Group of companies in order tofacilitate the work of tile-laying professionals.Ongoing research into new building solutionsled the company to expand its range ofproducts, thanks to efforts invested in thetraining of its technical staff, combined with aconcerted bid to maintain the qualityguarantees associated with Porcelanosa.

Today BUTECH offers a wide range ofmaterial and building systems speciallydesigned to meet the requirements of endusers, installation experts, builders andarchitects.7. NOKENwas launched as a manufacturerof bathroom equipment conspicuous for itsinnovative designs.

c-style garden won a silver medal when it was displayed at re occupying pride of place at Prince Charles’ Highgrove

donated by Porcelanosa.

Prince William and Kate Middleton photographed shortly afterannouncing their engagement

A specialist in sanitaryware and tap fittings, it stands outin terms of the unique attention to detail afforded to everysingle product within the range. NOKEN’s emphasis on design and its commitment to

quality form the hallmarks of all its products, thus ensuringthe company’s rightful place at the forefront of designwithin the bathroom manufacturing sector.8. URBATEK specialises in the production of wall and floortiles and continues to strengthen its market position in thissector with products that offer a superb ratio of price toquality.URBATEK has recently added the large-format slimline

XLIGHT porcelain tile collection to its range of products. Acollection which remains in a constant state of evolution, itincorporates a wide variety of different formats and finishes.

The care and conservation of the Environment has alwaysbeen of major concern to Porcelanosa. For more than 30years the company has been implementing improvements toits production systems with a view to minimizing theirimpact on the Environment.

The Group’s environmental strategy goes far beyond theoptimisation of production systems. Indeed, the company’sefforts are centred on the design of products whichcontribute to the reduction of water and energyconsumption in the home.

The Porcelanosa Group is fully aware of the crucial roleplayed by architectural and interior design professionals inguaranteeing the successful completion of each individualproject.

As a company it works closely with all those whoseinstitutions share close ties with architects and interiordesigners, including their promotion, development andregulation throughout the world, continuing to improve theinternational image of a sector that still has a vast capacityin terms of both growth and evolution.

The company, which has its headquarters in Valencia, hasliterally dozens of showrooms dotted throughout Spain,including the Canary Islands and the Balerics. Other outletsare situated in Portugal, France, Italy and in North Africa, aswell as operating from extensive showrooms in both the USand the UK.

• For further information tel Porcelanosa on 00 34 964507 100. Visit porcelanosa.com.



I DOUBT if anyone could fail to be impressed bythe world’s largest wooden structure (writesJohn Emslie, after returning from a recent visitto Seville to gain a better idea of just howimpressive this building really is).

The Metropol Parasol in Seville took a total ofsix years to build. It was designed to breathe lifeinto the Plaza La Encarnación – a formerlyundeveloped area that had for many years beenused as a car park.

This grand expanse of timber was designed byGerman architect, Jürgen Mayer and the wholestructure measures 150m x 70m (490ft x 23ft).It features a roof height of approximately 26m(85ft). It is claimed to be the largest wooden self-supporting building in the world.

It is intended to be an iconic culturalattraction in Seville, bridging the gap betweenart and architecture. This enormous structureconsists of six separate parasols in the form ofgiant mushrooms, whose design was inspired bythe vaults of Seville’s Cathedral and the giantficus trees in the nearby Plaza de Cristo deBurgos.

Although not everyone agrees on its merits,the controversy surrounding the location and

construction of this structure has divided localopinion, earning it the nickname Las Setas de laEncarnación (or Incarnación’s mushrooms).

While not everyone is a fan of the building –nor the €100 million it cost to build – this iconicstructure has proved to be a popular touristattraction, as well as being a popular meetingplace for locals.

From the ground, it certainly is reminiscent offuturistic fungi, sprouting towards the sky, withits spores of wooden slats casting geometricshadows on to the streets below.

It springs upwards from the ground, the thicktrunks branching outwards, as they rise,crossing over roads and forming imposing wafflelike canopies overhead.

The Metropol Parasol is organized in fourlevels. The underground level houses theAntiquarium, where Roman and Moorishremains discovered on site are displayed in amuseum, the crumbling remains beingpreserved beneath glass panels.

Level 1 (street level) is the Central Market. Theroof of Level 1 is the surface of the open-airpublic plaza, shaded by the wooden parasolsabove and designed for public events.

Levels 2 and 3 are the two stagesof the panoramic terraces(including a restaurant), offeringone of the best views of the citycentre.

For visitors it offers a shadyrespite from the summer heat inSeville, where temperaturesfrequently soar way above over 40deg C during the summer months.

This looming presence adds anundeniable drama to the landscape,dominating the neat rows of unifiedbuildings in the old quarter whichsurround it.

No one can deny that theMetropol Parasol creates quite ajuxtaposition with thiscontemporary architecturualcreation standing high above a seaof traditional tiled roofs. Whenviewed from one angle it almostappears to engulf the nearby 15thcentury church – the Iglesia de laAnunciación within its snake-likecoils.

It is more than just a sculpture,the building itself contains severalrecreational areas, performance,retail, bar and dining options. Theaffordable €3 entry price evenincludes a drink at an upstairs bar,

ICONIC CULTURAL



discovered and construction was halted after anexpenditure of 14 million euros. In 2004, thecity decided to attempt to develop the area againand thus began an international competition tosolicit bids.

Construction began on June 26, 2005, withan estimated cost of 50 million euros and aprojected completion date in June 2007.However, unknown to the public, the projectwas soon facing difficulties.

By May 2007 the engineering firm Arupinformed the municipal authorities that thedesign of the structure was not technicallyviable, given that a number of structuralassumptions had not been tested and the designappeared to violate the limitations of knownmaterials.

The wood used in the construction is birch,imported from Finland, because of its straightqualities. A great deal of time was spentdeveloping feasible alternative plans to buttressthe structure, which themselves provedimpractical because of the added weight.

A feasible design using glue as re-inforcementwas finally settled on only at the beginning of2009 resulting in the building finally being opento the public in April 2011.

where the upper deck walkways provide visitorswith some of the very best panoramic views ofthe city.

It certainly is a grand feat of engineering,with its myriad of flat panels interlocking tocreate breezy organic shapes and sumptuouscurves. If the intention was to bring Seville intothe 21st century with this design then, with thisiconic building, this aim has certainly beenachieved.

Although its futuristic design renders anyrelationship with the Environment surroundingit an impossible feat, rather than being a harshtransition, the round lines of the building add acertain softness to the landscape.

Since the 19th century, a market was locatedin the plaza, housed in a market building. Theoriginal building was partially torn down in1948 in accordance with plans for urbanrenewal. However, the market itself remaineduntil 1973, when the rest of the dilapidatedbuilding was finally torn down.

The land remained dormant until 1990, whenthe city decided to construct undergroundparking with space for a market on top.However, in the midst of construction, ruinsdating to Roman and Andalusian eras were

L WOODEN DESIGN



The recently installed Compact edge-bander atSimply Wood in the UK pictured here withproprietor, Wayne Geater in the foreground.

The Flexy is a compact, highperformance edge-bander.The Flexy-P is another compact, high-performance model.

Cehisa occupies modern purpose-built premises occupying almost 8,000m2 on the outskirts ofBarcelona.

Standard equipment on the Flexy edge-bander includesinverter controlled HF motors, pre-milling, end trim, top &bottom trim, corner rounding, grooving, PLC and touchscreen colour LCD.

WE ALL have our favourite destinations for Euro-pean city breaks and, for as long as I can recall, oneof my own most favoured destinations has alwaysbeen the Spanish city of Barcelona – albeit that, inmy opinion, the only way to reach the city itself isby air, arriving at the airport at El Prat and thentaking advantage of the city’s excellent rail linksdirect into the city.

Driving through the numerous tunnels on thering road which surrounds the city (somethingwhich I have done on many occasions) is always anabsolute nightmare – no matter what time of theday or night that one attempts to do so.

On the other hand, anyone wishing to pay a visitto Cehisa – the Spanish specialist manufacturer ofedge-banders will discover that the company’spremises are situated at Caldes de Montbui – some50 kilometres due north from the city of Barcelonawhere this well-established woodworking machin-ery company has been based since 1968.

Billing itself as the “edge’s best friend” Cehisanow has a presence in over 65 countries worldwide.The company was formed as long ago as 1956 andhas been producing woodworking machinery eversince. During this time, the Spanish woodworkingmachinery manufacturer has gained an excellentreputation for the production of panel processingmachinery and especially edge-banding equipment.

Having celebrated 60 years in the business, thecompany now enjoys an effective presence on allfive continents, being represented in the UK andIreland by Nottingham-based Daltons Wadkin.

The facilities at Barcelona consist of a factoryextending to almost 8,000m2, where all the differ-ent phases of manufacture can be observed by thevisitor – ranging from the initial transformation ofthe raw materials (the machining of sheet metaletc) right through to the final assembly and testingof the finished product.

Cehisa employs a team of highly qualified techni-cians to provide an immediate solution to any prob-lems which the end user may experience and thisservice extends internationally.

At Cehisa innovation begins with a comprehen-sive understanding of customers’ individualrequirements and, to this end, the company boastsof being able to provide an ongoing commitment topurchasers – one which is claimed to be both bet-ter and quicker than that offered by its competitors.

In order to fulfil this aim, this means developing a

proper understanding of the expectations of its cus-tomers and having the ability to anticipate the everchanging needs of a constantly evolving marketplace for the company’s machines and equipment.

Sustainability lies at the heart of the commit-ment which the Spanish manufacturer aims to pro-vide to its customers worldwide. Nowhere is thismore evident than in the field of innovation. It isfor this reason that most of Cehisa’s innovativedevelopment work is driven by sustainability andthe ultimate goal is always to deliver increasedvalue for money.

All this means recruiting the very best people –pioneering technicians and engineers, strategistswith an acute insight into the market place, itschanging needs and global trends. All these thingstogether serve constantly to shape the range ofmachinery being produced.

Cehisa offers a wide range of edge-bandingequipment aimed at different entry levels rangingfrom the small joinery workshop to large, industrialscale operations.

The Start series of models are all ultra-compactand capable of being used for MDF, MCF and foamboards ranging from 8mm to 50mm thick. Theycan be used to apply PVC, ABS, PP and acrylic foilsranging from 0.4mm to 2mm thick.

Standard equipment includes inverter controlledHF motors a strip electric cutter, PLC and touchscreen colour LCD.

The Compact models represent a mid-range ofedge-banders – all of which meet the latest develop-ments in terms of panel edge and adhesive finishingprocesses. Once again, they can be used to applyMDF, MCF and foam boards ranging from 8mm to50mm thick.

Edge-banding materials can include impregnatedpaper, PVC, ABS, PP, acrylic, natural veneer, alu-minium, with high gloss and 3D in rolls ranging insize from 0.4mm to 3mm and up to 5mm whenused with solid wood.

Standard equipment includes inverter controlledHF motors, pre-milling, gluepot, end trim, top &bottom trim, corner rounding, PLC and touchscreen colour LCD.

One of these Compact models has just beeninstalled at Simply Wood by Cehisa’s sole distribu-tion agents in the UK and Ireland, Daltons Wadkin(as reported in full detail on Page 6 of this issue).

Along with the Compact model, the Flexy and

CEHISA - AN EDGE’S



BEST WORK MATE

Research an development are important at Cehisa andthe Spanish company operates an extensive facility.

The Cehisa PR0- 9 is aimed at professional users.

Cehisa prides itself in offering service which, the company claims, is both better and quicker thanthat offered by its competitors.

The Mykro series forms arange of compact edge-banders, which can beused to apply MCF, MDF,XPS and foam boardranging from 8mm to50mm thick.

The PRO 10 is a “high-end” industrial edge-bander.

PRO models are on permanent demonstration atDaltons Wadkin’s extensive showrooms in Notting-ham and as sales director, Andy Walsh confirms:

‘Cehisa represents a key brand in our panel pro-cessing machinery portfolio… allowing us to offer acomplete solution for customers looking to cut, drilland edge’.

The Mykro series forms a range of compact edge-banders, all of which meet the latest developmentsin terms of panels-edges-adhesives-finishingprocesses.

Here again, they can be used to apply MCF, MDF,XPS and foam board ranging from 8mm to 50mmthick. Edgings include impregnated paper, PVC,ABS, PP and acrylic in rolls 0.4mm to 2mm thick.

Standard equipment includes inverter controlledHF motors, end trim, top & bottom trim, PLC andtouch screen colour LCD.

The Flexy series is a compact and high perform-ance edge-bander, meeting the latest developmentsin panels-edges-adhesives-finishing processes.

These machines can be used on MCF, MDF, XPSand foam board, ranging from 8mm to 50mm inthickness. Edgings once again include impregnatedpaper, PVC, ABS, PP and acrylic in rolls rangingfrom 0.4mm to 2mm.

Standard equipment includes inverter controlledHF motors, pre-milling, end trim, top & bottomtrim, corner rounding, grooving, PLC and touchscreen colour LCD.

The PRO is the “high end” of the industrial rangeof edge-bander offered by Cehisa, being capable ofuse with boards from 8mm to 60mm thick.

Edgings include impregnated paper, PVC, ABS,PP, acrylic, natural veneer, aluminium, with highgloss and 3D and in sizes from 0.4mm to 3mm andup to 8mm in solid wood strips. They can be used toapply both hot-melt EVA and PUR resin-basedglues.The Rapid series offers the twin hallmarks ofsolidity and speed of operation. Once again, thesemachines are capable of applying boards rangingfrom 8mm to 60mm thick.

As is the case with the PRO series, the Rapidmachines can apply impregnated paper, PVC, ABS,PP, acrylic, natural veneer, aluminium, with highgloss and 3D ranging from 0.4mm to 3mm.

• For further information tel Daltons Wadkin on0115 986 5201. Visit www.daltonswadin.com

or tel Cehisa on 00 34 93 862 75 20. Visitwww.cehisa.es.



Lady Sting

Yris

THE Camus Collection is a recentlyformed company which is dynamicand different. Its origins go back toValencia where it was formed by itsfour founding partners: IsmaelGimeno, Javier Pastor, IsmaelPastor and Paco Camús. They areall endowed with great experiencein different facets of the habitat.

Paco Camús, the designer of theCamus Collection, designsfurniture that challengesconvention and productionprocesses.

It is is why the company,formed in Valencia, Spain in2010, can today be found atthe most exclusive sales’ outletsworldwide DDC New York,Nina’s Place in London andCasa Palacio in Mexico. John Emslie visited Spain in

order to talk to Paco and findout more about his work.

‘Our designs can be found inthe most interesting magazinesand blogs of the internationalscene and our furniture can be

found at the most exclusive sales’outlets worldwide, from New Yorkto Shanghai and passing throughMexico City, Paris, Moscow, Dubai,Delhi, Taipei etc.

‘Our passion is design and ourobsession is quality. Here at theCamus Collection we work everyday to bring our dreams to life,’says Paco Camús.

The Camus Collection designs aremade by hand in the company’sjoinery workshops in Requena inValencia. Experience and the loveof their profession that somecraftsmen boast is a priceless assetand, at the same time, it is the basisfor the production of the CamusCollection, which also uses high-precision tools for certain parts ofthe furniture that requiremillimetric accuracy.Voltaire

The Camus Collection designprocess endeavours to findsomething beyond sheer geometry.It seeks out the origin of certainfeelings connected with sensory

exp des the tou fun gre scu

T of m ma som the Sar

‘A the exp ma

‘T har con inh sob eleg

Fo Har has pro suc

Different facets of the habitat

Hercules



Voltaire

experiences and resulting indesigns, which are the product ofthe heart and are there to be seen,touched and felt. A practical,functional object endowed withgreat artistic personality akin tosculpture.

These are designs that steer clearof mainstream trends, thusmaking them timeless assomething. In a hundred yearsthey will be just as attractive.Sara Bond

‘American walnut hardwood isthe distinguishing feature,’explains Camús talking about thematerials he prefers to use.

‘This seemed to be the besthardwood for these designs. Itconveys all the values that areinherent in our brand – namelysobriety, timelessness andelegance,’ adds Camús.

For over 20 years the AmericanHardwood Export Council (AHEC)has been at the forefront ofpromoting wood in Europe,successfully creating a creative,

distinctive brand for UShardwoods. Hercules

‘American walnut is a strong,sturdy wood which is highly stableand long-lasting. Its appearance isrich in dark wood grainedstructures with a hint of sapwood,which lends it those very attractivecontrasts. What’s more, thewood we use derives fromsustainably managedforests,’ says Paco Camús.Yris/Giorgio

To finish its furnitureCamus Collection usesshellac, which is a naturalorganic substance obtainedfrom the resinous secretionof a small red insect called“kerria lacca”.

It penetrates the woodinstead of covering it. It isthe base for a final finishwith beeswax, a naturalproduct that affordsprotection and a veryelegant, silky shine.

Different facets of the habitatFor further information on the

Camus Collection email:[email protected] credits: Camus Collection

Sara Bond

Giorgio

• For further information onAmerican hardwood searchinfo@camuscollection.



OVER the years I have visited the premises of Barberánon several occasions, but as it is some while since thismagazine has covered the company in any depth, afurther visit was deemed to be long overdue (writes JohnEmslie).

Barberán is situated not very far inland from aparticularly dramatic stretch of coastline, which I havedriven along many times over the years. With the wavescrashing against the rocks hundreds of feet below you asyou negotiate what seems like a neverending series ofdouble bends along this the coastal road, you feel youcould filming a car chase for the latest Hollywoodblockbuster, rather than simply being on your way tovisit one of the world’s leading woodworking machineryspecialist manufacturers.

Barberán was established in 1929. Since then, thecompany has continued to deliver the best possiblesolutions in terms of coating, printing, drying, profilewrapping, laminating, post-forming and profile sanding,as well as a wide range of complementary machines.

Barberán machines are designed to improve

productivity and reduce manufacturing costs, always taking intoaccount a respect for the Environment.

Barberán’s office and facilities measuring more than 27,000m2,are located in Castelldefels in the Catalonian district of Spain; anoutstanding location for exporting the company;s productsworldwide, considering its proximity to the port and airport ofBarcelona.

Barberán is considered by many of its customers to be the idealpartner for planning, developing and manufacturing the machinerywhich is involved in their most important projects.

Between them Barberán’s staff members have many years ofexperience and this has been enriched project by project.

It is all down to the engineers, mechanics, technicians and otherprofessionals employed at Castelldefels that allow the company tomaintain its position as on of the world leaders in its field.

The company can customize is machinery in accordance withindividual requirements, always utilizing its own processes andtechnological know-how.

To date over 2,600 companies worldwide have benefitted fromusing Barberán’s specialist coating, printing, drying, profilewrapping, laminating, post-forming and sanding equipment. They doso in the certain knowledge that Barberán can offer them hugeadvantages in terms of innovation, creativity and totally flexiblemanufacturing processes.

Technical service is entirely oriented towards

satisfying the customer’s every need. Thecompany stocks a large supply of spareparts in its warehouse for every item ofmachinery in the range and its logisticsdepartment is able to respond quickly,shipping out individual spare parts toanyway in the world on demand.

Nearly 80 per cent of the company’sproduction is exported to more than 60countries across five continents. Annually,Barberan participates in over 20international trade fairs around the world,such as Ligna (Germany), Xylexpo (Italy),Fimma (Spain), IWF (USA), WMF (China),Drema (Poland), Lesdrevmash (Russia),SIB (Morocco), Emballage (France) andother key branch international exhibitionsin Europe, America, Asia, Africa, MiddleEast and Australia.

Barberán machines belong to thesecondary transformation of wood; thismeans machinery to embellish boards and

The Barberán BFB rollercoater is ideal for theapplication of stains, baseand top coats.

The BKS-1 compact lacqueringcentre deploys a single roller

coater and on UV drying module.

The BHG-L roller coater is designed for use in the application of high gloss UV base coats.

Barberán’s BRB roller coater machine with belt conveyor is ideal for the application of a uniform paint, or varnish coating on flat surfaces.

Barberán’s BRF reverse roller coating machine uses aconventional applicator head and a second headwith a smoothing roller.

The BRN roller coater with roller conveyor applies uniformpaint or varnish coats to flat surfaces by means of a headequipped with an applicator roller and a doctor roller, whichadjusts the thickness of the coating with absolute accuracy.

Barberán – delivering the best since 1929



profiles that are used mainly in the furniture, floor, door, buildingand packing industries.

Barberán machines are designed to offer customers the highesttechnological level and greatest productivity levels when coating flat,or profiled panels, wrapping profiles and laminating boards.

The company’s wide range of product offering delivers entiremachine solutions to customers that need a single machine, or aproduction line for panels, or profiles, taking benefit of dealing with aunique supplier, responsible for the whole project, starting from thedesign right up to the setting in production of the deliveredmachines.

Barberán’s team of specialized engineers analyze accurately theneeds of each customer to achieve the maximum profitability in thedifferent production processes. For this purpose, all applicationproducts and substrates are tested at Barberán’s test facilities beforeplanning the installations, so that the success of each project isassured.Roller coaters

The BFB series of roller coaters are ideal for the application ofstains, base and top coats. They offer mechanical speed regulation ofthe applicator roller, dosing roller and conveyor. There is also theexclusive Barberán four column support system of the applicationhead for total stability and a fast changing system for the applicatorroller.

The BHG-L coater is designed for the application of a high gloss UVbase coat lacquer on flat surfaces being produced in a productionfinishing line. The entire design of this machine is focused onassuring the highest quality possible, covering even the smallesttechnical details, using the latest technology.

The BKS-1 compact lacquering centred installation allows forlacquering using one roller coater and one UV drying module forbase and top coats. It offers easy positioning, connection andinstallation, as it based of a unique bedframe that includes all thenecessary items to perform the process independently, or as anadditional component within an existing line.

The BRB roller coater machine with belt conveyor is an idealmachine for the application of a uniform paint, or varnish coat onflat surfaces by means of a head equipped with an applicator rollerand a doctor roller, which adjusts the coat thickness with absoluteaccuracy.

The exclusive Barberán four column support system of the heads isonce again a feature of this machine in order to provide maximumstability.

The transportation of the work pieces is by means of a solvent-proof belt conveyor, with a self-centring system. The machineincludes an emergency raising system that avoids damaging theapplicator roller in case a thicker work piece is fed in by accident.

The BRF reverse roller coating machine with belt conveyor is

designed for a high grammage application oflacquer on flat surfaces.

It uses a conventional applicator head and asecond head fitted with a smoothing rollerthat turns in the opposite direction to thetransport belt.

Once again the transportation of the workpieces is by means of a solvent-proof anti-static belt conveyor, with self-centring system.Again this machine includes an emergencyraising system that avoids the possibility ofdamaging the applicator roller in case athicker work piece is fed in by accident.

The BRN roller coater with roller conveyormachine is especially designed for theapplication of a uniform paint, or varnish coaton flat surfaces, by means of a head equippedwith an applicator roller and a doctor roller,which adjusts the coat thickness with absoluteaccuracy.

The transportation of the work pieces is bymeans of rubber covered rollers. As is the casewith the two previously listed models, thismachine likewise includes an emergencyraising system that avoids damaging theapplicator roller in case a thicker work piece isfed in by accident.

The BRB-RR roller coater with belt conveyorand rill roller offers high quality base andtop coat applications.

This machine is ideal for theapplication of a uniform paint, or for theapplication of a varnish coat on flatsurfaces.

This is carried out by means of a headequipped with an applicator roller and adoctor roller, which adjusts the coatthickness with absolute accuracy.

The transportation of the work piecesis once again by means of rubber coveredrollers and again an emergency raisingsystem avoids the possibility of damagingthe applicator roller in case a thickerwork piece is fed in by accident.

Part of the Barberán stand at Ligna in Hannover in May 2013.

Barberán’s BRB-RR roller coater with belt conveyor and rill roller is ideal for applying high quality base and top coats.

Barberán’s modern premises situated at Castelldefels halfway between Barcelona and the holiday resort of Sitges.

Barberán takes part at a large number of international woodworking trade fairs; here is the company’s stand at LIGNA.

Barberán – delivering the best since 1929

• For further information tel Barberánon 00 34 93 635 0810. Visitwww.barberan.com.



IN ORDER to mark the opening of theirnew factory, including a dedicatedshowroom and training area, Catalan-based Intorex recently held a two-day openhouse exhibition, which attracted 60customers from countries all over Europe inaddition to visitors from as far afield as theUS, Canada and Australia.

Intorex took this opportunity to showcasefive different models of four and five-axisCNC machining centres, together with CNClathes, dowel making machinery and other

items ofassociatedwoodturningequipment. Therewhere also livedemonstrations ofSolidCAMsoftware and an

all new 3D laser scanning system.Other than a tour of the new premises,

the main attraction for the visitingcustomers were the CNC machining centresand lathes. Intorex now produces threedifferent models of “between centres” CNCmachining centres, which have thecapability to shape, mill, drill, turn and sandwhile the component is held between ahead stock and tailstock.

This makes this range of machines idealfor the production of a wide variety of solidwooden furniture and stair parts with theability to easily create some new andunique designs which, normally, would bevery difficult to produce on conventionalfixed bed CNC machines.

Dedicated to the production of turnedparts, Intorex has semi-automatic and fullyautomatic CNC lathes, which can optionally

INTOREX HOLDS OPEN HOUSE EXHIBITION



• For further information tel JJ Smith0151 548 9000 or Intorex on 00 34 93858 44 53. Visit www.jjsmith.co.uk [email protected].

be equipped with a fourth CNC controlledaxis, with the result that a router/millinghead for twisting/fluting can be mountedor, alternatively, a sanding head, whichallows for the turned component to comeoff the lathe totally finished.

‘The open house was excellent in everyway. It was held in a very relaxingatmosphere, with customers able to inspectthe machines and see them run at theirleisure, with all of the Intorex sales staffand technicians on hand to assist with anyquestions from customers,’ said GuyStanely of JJ Smith, who is the UK productmanager for the Intorex range.

‘Visitors who attended from the UK wereextremely impressed with the Intorex setup, the way the event was organised, thefirst class hospitality and, not least theactual machines they had come to see,’

added Guy Stanley.‘We were absolutely delighted so many

customers, old and new, took the time andeffort to attend our open house exhibitionand view for the first time our newshowroom and manufacturing facility,which we are extremely proud of,’ saysIntorex export manager, Lluis Teixido.

‘The significant investment in this newfacility, along with our continuedcommitment to product developmentmakes us feel we are very well placed tomeet the future demands of our everincreasing customer base,’ he added.

INTOREX HOLDS OPEN HOUSE EXHIBITION



WHEN they think of a good bottle of wine and when they reach forthe corkscrew, most people will be opening a bottle of French wine.

Personally, I have always had a preference for a good bottle ofSpanish Rioja. I enjoy scenting the oaky smell which immediatelyemanates from a cork, even before I pour myself a glass (writesJohn Emslie).

Cork has been produced commercially for centuries and Spainhas always played an important role in the harvesting of thisnature material.

At one time Portugal used to produce around 50 per cent of theworld’s cork, with Spain accounting for a further 30 per cent.However, a large fire in Portugal in 2003, destroyed many of thecork forests – to the extent that nowadays Spain is the largestproducer.

When we consider the applications for which cork is used, wenaturally tend to think of wine stoppers. Whilst, nowadays, screw-top wine bottles and plastic stoppers occupy the necks of many ofthe bottles of wine to be found in our off licences and supermarkets,cork wine stoppers still account for some 60 per cent of the world’sproduction of cork.

Flooring manufacturers are also major users of cork as a rawmaterial. Other uses include woodwind instruments, cork insolesfor the shoes we wear and insulating items such as table matts andwine coasters.

Cork is the natural bark of the cork oak tree. The cork oak(Quercus suber) is a native of both the northern and southernshores of the Mediterranean. It is stripped from the tree in large

sections, before being sent for processing.Wine cork stoppers can be made from a single piece of cork, or

from granules of cork which have been bound together – a processwhich is particularly used by producers of Champagne.

Cork is the perfect material for use a a bottle stopper. On accountof its cellular structure, it is easily compressed upon insertion into abottle and it will then expand to form a tight seal.

However, unavoidable natural flaws, including cracks andchannels in the bark make the cork itself highly inconsistent. It isfor this reason that since the 1990s some wine producers haveswitched to the use of synthetic wine stoppers (usually plastic),although many purists are of the opinion that, despite its naturalflaws, nothing beats cork.

I would have to say that I do agree with this opinion. Somehow, itsimply does not seem right, opening a bottle of wine and notneeding a corkscrew in order to do so.

The production for cork begins after the seasoned cork sheetshave been stacked flat for some time and then boiled for at least anhour. This process allows the cellular structure within the cork tofully expand into a tight honeycomb structure, increasing thedensity of the cork by approximately 20 per cent. A three-weekperiod is then allowed to elapse, during which the cork slowly driesout again.

The main growing area for cork trees in Spain is in Andalucia,where it is only allowed to be removed from the trees between June15 and August 15 each year in order to provide some measure ofprotection for the trees and to prevent over-harvesting of this ageold natural crop.

The men who are employed to remove the cork from the treeshave to undergo a two-year training course, before they are allowedto work on the trees themselves. They will typically spend two yearsat college, studying the subject before they are allowed near a treewith one of the vast array of special cork knives which are used tostrip off the bark.

The reason why the cork oak collectors are forbidden from takingcork off of the trees outside of this brief period is in order to protectthe trees from any long term damage.

Outside of the two-month harvesting period, the men all havedifferent jobs – mostly in the processing factories.

Anyone driving in this region (as I have done on many anoccasion) will often find themselves passing huge piles of corkwhich have been temporarily fenced in. What most people fail torealise is that they may be driving past literally thousands of euroworth of unprocessed cork.

The Spanish cork industry is worth millions of euro every year, as

Cork Conservation



the material is used in a diverse range of applications, including theaerospace industry, where it is used for insulation purposes.

Originally the natural woodlands of Andalucia consisted mainlyof mulberry trees, which were used to nurture silk worms for theproduction of famous silk produced within the region. This processis know as sericulture and involved the silk worms being boiled alivein order to yield up their previous cargo.

The gradual transition from mulberry trees to cork oak remainssomewhat of a mystery – some people believe that it was as a resultof deliberate afforestation, whilst others believe that the lessresilient mulberry trees simply could not compete with the morerobust cork oaks.

During the harvesting period (from June to August) many ruralregions in Andalucia are transformed into an otherworldlylandscape, with the trees being sheared of their bark, transformingthe tree trunks into red-brick sentinels, mounted by leafy canopies.

Such is the fascination of this process, that there are now even anumber of eco-tours, which allow tourists to witness the corkharvest – often from the back of a donkey.

One particular tour takes place over an eleven day period andallows participants to discover for themselves a good deal about thelife of the harvesters – at the same time having the opportunity tolearn about the natural bio-diversity of the areas of Andalucia,Catalonia and Extremadura, as well as the cultural andgastronomic heritage of the area – in essence, the cork’s path fromthe tree to the wine bottle.

Entitled “From Bark to Bottle” the tour explores different parts ofthe country every year, because each season the cork harvestersvisit a different part of their land in order to take the current year’scrop from a different set of trees – only returning to the same areaevery nine or ten years.

This tour was the brainchild of the Cork Forest ConservationAlliance and has grown in popularity year by year.

‘We want tourists to come home from this trip having fallen inlove with the people of the cork forests,’ says the executive directorof the Alliance, Peter Spencer.

It has to be said that cork bark is closely intertwined with thepeople of this region.

‘Virtually all of the money that comes into a village is, in one wayor another, derived from the sale of cork. It is for this reason thatthe people of this region and their cork forests have for centuriesenjoyed such a close intimacy.

The first leg of the trip explores Extremadura’s harvest in thesouth-western part of Spain. There in the very heart of thecenturies old cork forests, farmers periodically remove bark fromthe same trees that have previously been harvested by the fathersand great grand-fathers before them.

It is an intricate and fascinating process, carried out by a highlyskilled work force. It only takes a few cuts through the protectivebark, before the harvesters are able to peal back the valuablecovering as easily as they might peal an orange for their lunch, oras simply as they might have sharpened a pencil as a child. It mayall look very easy to the outsider, but years of training and practice

may have pre-emptied what appears to be a straightforward task.Those taking part in the tour will spend several days in the

company of the cork harvesters, sharing a lunch with them –usually one which comprises a salty slab of jamon ham – the curedpork for which Spain is famed and often trying their hand atproducing the typically thin slices that are cut direct from the bone.

Pig breeding goes hand in hand with the harvesting of the corkforests and acorns form a large part of the diet of these pigs – a factwhich helps to account for the natural oaky flavour of the ham.

In the Los Alcornocales National Park – the largest natural parkin Spain occupied by cork forests – as the sun goes down the burroscan be observed carrying loads of cork bark into the nearby white-washed towns to deliver this precious commodity to the processingcentres.

The tour winds up in Catalonia with a visit to a privately ownedcork forest in the more mossy north-eastern part close to theregion’s rocky coastland. Here also there is a visit to the CorkInstitute and a cork factory excursion.

Along the way, stops include a visit to ninth-century Ronda – ahistoric trading centre with cobble stone roads and ancientchurches.

The town is divided by a deep canyon, transversed by a archedbridge reminiscent of a Roman aqueduct from which it is rumouredthat the locals would use as a means of disposing of their enemies –simply by throwing them over the top to land in the canyon below. Ipersonally sensed a strange feeling of unease in this town. Maybeevil never dies.

• For further information tel the Cork Forest ConservationAlliance on 001 503 931 9690. Visit www.corkforest.org.



GRUPO Alvic is Spain’s largest producer of panel components andfinished doors. The company has several factories based in the southof Spain and another factory in the Barcelona area. IndustrialWoodworking & Panel Processing’s John Emslie recently made a tourof the company’s main distribution centres in order to gain first-handknowledge of what the company has to offer.

Alvic’s flagship product is the Luxe range, which can be suppliedeither in full size boards 2750mm x 1220mm x 18mm MDF, or cut-to-size and edged either with a PU glue or laser technology.

Luxe is the result of applying the very latest UV lacqueringtechnology combined with the latest generation of materials, whichallows the creation of modern and elegant combinations for kitchens,bathrooms, bedrooms, shop-fitting and architectural specifications.

One of the secrets of Luxe is the total control of the manufacturingprocess – from the impregnation of the raw papers to the pressing ofthe boards. This allows the added result of being able to offer a

matching reverse, which is so oftenrequested by the market when sellingtop quality products.

The physical characteristics of Luxeare impressive, especially the scratchresistance and surface quality. There is acollection of finishes ranging from solidcolours in gloss and matt, gloss andmatt metallics and gloss woodgrainsand abstract designs.

Recent new investment at GrupoAlvic has seen the introduction ofseveral new products, as well asadditions to existing ranges.

GRUPO ALVIC’SIMPRESSIVEPANEL RANGE



Syncron has now been extended to include in-register synchronisedembossing on woodgrain designs, offering a deep texture and realisticalternative to real wood veneer, together with some striking newsurface designs called Ice and Evora, which need to be seen to bebelieved.

Zenit in Supermatt and Metaldeco are the new and improved mattsurfaces, which now have a reduced gloss level and higher abrasionand scratch resistance. This has now elevated the product to a newlevel in terms of quality and appearance.

Also new is the Finger-Pull range in 22mm thickness, which can besupplied either in cut-and-edged door sizes, or long elements with asingle- or double-edge profile to allow manufacturers in-houseproduction, which offers added flexibility.

Panelco, part of the Meyer Timber Group, is the exclusive distributorof the Luxe boards in the UK and is now stocking over 30 differentfinishes and offers a nationwide service, which is hard to beat.Ordering by 5pm guarantees next day delivery on orders of anyquantity.

‘Now at Grupo Alvic we have a great variety of products that cansatisfy all areas of the home andcommercial projects in finishes anddesigns demanded by today’s specifiersand furniture manufacturers,’ saysAlvic’s UK representative, BarryBerman.

• For further in formation tel BarryBerman on 07785 373118.Email [email protected]



The Senticnel system is a tool based on the use of wireless sensornetworks, which enables the continuous control of the territoryfrom the point of view of a defence against forest fires.

‘With the threat of global warming and the depletion of naturalresources, we think it is important to try to preserve a much aspossible of the ecosystem that surrounds us,’ says ElizabethGutierrez (pictured above).

Senticnel is a network of tree-mounted wireless pods that measuretemperature, humidity, radiation, wind speed and direction over afive kilometre radius.

Few visitors to the Spanish costas appreciate the natural beauty ofmuch of the Spanish countryside, which includes extensive areasof woodlands, but it is a fragile beauty, which only requires acarelessly discarded cigarette to destroy a landscape which mayhave taken a century of more to create.

THE RAPID DETECTION OFFOREST FIRES IS CRITICAL

Seen here photographed in the early morning sunlight, the LaVallesa Forest on the outskirts of the city of Valencia is one of twowoodlands where the system is currently being used.

Residential areas closely surrounded by the forest are particularlyat threat.

HAVING been directly involved in a forest fire myself some yearsago when I owned a holiday home in Northern Cyprus, I have first-hand experience of just how devastating one of these fires can be.It is not only the damage to the trees themselves which is

immediately apparent, but it is the after effects which linger in themind and which I remember very clearly to this day, even thoughthe event took place over 20 years ago (writes John Emslie).In the fire the house next door to mine was completely destroyed.

I was lucky - the conflagration only touched one side of mybungalow, although the Suzuki Jeep which I kept on the islandquite literally melted into the concrete which formed its hardstanding. Its four tyres burst, leaving what little remained of thevehicle squatting on the ground in a miniaturised form.What was even more upsetting was the consequent devastation

of the local wild-life - with the exception of the flies - swarms ofwhich continued to buzz through the charred remains in absoluteabundance for weeks afterwards for the simple reason that the vastmajority of lizards which normally preyed upon them had lost theirlives in the fire.

Following the fire, the surviving cicadas kicked up an unholyracket, having been denied the use of their homes in the trees thatwere no longer there. Long after it seemed as though the last of theflames had been extinguished, every so often there would be analmighty explosion, as the embers set light to the hollow interiorsof the oil-rich carob trees, with the result that, with no warningwhatsoever, they exploded into a furious firework display.Pitifully, I found a stray bitch who had given birth to a litter of

pups just before the fire. She was dead - having been quite literallyburnt alive, simply because she refused to abandon her new bornpups, which were incapable of being led to safety.In amongst the charred remains of the litter I detected a slight

movement from one of her minute offspring. Virtually buriedbeneath its dead mother, miraculously it had survived, despite itssinged fur and the fact that its ears had been completely burnt off.Rescuing it from the burnt up remains of its siblings, I took in homeand managed to rear it, rehoming it with a British family who werepermanent residents on the island.We all appreciate that having a fire alarm at home is a bit of a no-

brainer these days. After all, they save lives and property. So whynot a fire alarm for a forest?That’s the idea behind Senticnel, a new concept by Spanish

company, NFT Forest in collaboration with design studio, Eli-Gutierrez.S V0.1 for Senticnel® is a tool of defence against forest fires that

applies both in the work of prevention and the work of activedefence against them. The system has been developed in Spain withnational and European public funds integrally by the company NTFOREST and designed by the Spanish/French based eli-gutierrezstudio.The three main qualities of this system are:

• Modularity and the flexible implementation allows its adaptationto any territory and any particular circumstances.

• Efficiency.• Economy.Rapid detection is critical in order to address the fire in the first

few minutes, preventing its progress. and in order to acquire thefire. In this case, the system also includes a protocol notices that areactivated when a focus point is detected and it can immediatelynotify the alert status to the relevant authorities. Once you havedeclared a fire source, the system is able to provide in a prediction asto the evolution of the fire, thus enabling fire fighters to organiseand optimise the work of fire fighting and the evacuation ofresidential areas.‘We thought it was such an amazing and innovative idea,’ says

lead designer on the project, Elizabeth Gutierrez.‘It is something that’s really useful and can help to preserve the

forest,’ she adds.Senticnel is a network of tree-mounted wireless pods that

measure temperature, humidity, radiation, wind speed and



Light aircraft play a vital role in combatting the spread of a forest fire.

This area proved to be relatively accessible to Spanish firefighters,but much of Spain’s wooded are situated in more difficult terrain.

A close-up of the Senticnel system which enables the continuouscontrol of the territory from the point of view of a defence againstforest fires.

Silhouetted against the burning forest - this is as close as theseSpanish firefighters dare to go in their quest to quench the all-consuming flames.

A dramatic scene as this helicopter flies in the face of a wall offlames.

• For further information tel 00 34 961 040 935. Visitwww.senticnel.com, or www.eli-gutierrez.com.

direction over a five kilometre radius. They can detect fires andwork out where and how they might spread.A central hub then receives this data and relays it to, for example,

a mobile phone, or to a laptop, so monitors can be alerted whereverthey are and notify the relevant authorities in just a matter ofminutes.Currently, the system is being used in two woodlands on the edge

of the city of Valencia in Spain – the La Vallesa forest has a total of20 sensors, which have been installed and there are 11 protectingtrees in the El Vedat hills.Most forest fires currently are due to anthropogenic, intentional,

or negligent causes (the burning of agricultural remains, accidents,abandoned glasses, etc.). Prevention together with the rapid andeffective detection of fire are two key factors in the fight againstforest fires.The Senticnel system is a tool based on the use of wireless sensor

networks (WSN), which enables the continuous control of theterritory from the point of view of a defence against forest fires.The goal for the near future is to extend the areas where the pods

are installed and then roll out the concept to other countries.It is a great example of how the Internet of Things can be used to

protect the natural world.‘At a time like this, with the threat of global warming and the

depletion of natural resources, we think it is important to try topreserve a much as possible of the ecosystem that surrounds us,’says Elizabeth Gutierrez.‘We need to understand that there is only one earth and that we

have to preserve it,’ she concludes.

Forest fires not only threaten to destroy the forests themselves, butoften pose a threat to Spanish homes.

GRUPO Cosentino is perhaps the biggest name to come outof the Almazora Valley in Spain and now the company isexpanding its American empire in Miami.In 1940, Eduarda and Eduardo Cosentino, parents of

the current owners of the Cosentino Group, startedquarrying and carrying out basic marble processing inMacael in the province of Almería. The experience theCosentino family had in the marble sector led to thesecond generation – working in the same field – to createMármoles Cosentino, S.A. in 1979. Throughout the1980s, Mármoles Cosentino S.A. expanded its business toother parts of Spain and further afield into EuropeInitially, the company, an initiative of Francisco

Martínez-Cosentino Justo and his brother,Eduardo Martínez-Cosentino, was set upwith just 17 workers. Some years later athird brother, José Martinez-Cosentino,joined the company. In the early years, thecompany operated out of a single smallwarehouse in Barcelona, which was mainlyused for stocking marble.However, the Martinez-Cosentino brothers

realised that their activity could not limititself to just extracting and processing“White Macael” marble and so they decidedto adopt a strategy of diversification andinternational expansion by investing inresearch and innovation.Following this line of research and

development, Cosentino embarked on anambitious project, which culminated in theconstruction of a revolutionary factory,where Silestone® was first manufactured in1990. Five years later, this product was ahuge success in the kitchen worktop sector.

Thanks to the company’s commitment to researchand development, other leading materials were latercreated in their respective sectors, such as ECO byCosentino®, Cosentino’s recycled surface; SENSA®, thecompany’s line of granite with unique anti-stainprotection and, more recently Dekton® – an innovative,ultra-compact surface, which aims to revolutionise theworld of architecture and design worldwide.The company’s strong commitment to create

innovative materials and offer high-value solutions tothe world of architecture and design has always beenaccompanied by a determination to increase thecompany’s international presence. Now in the summerof 2017, the company will open its new NorthAmerican headquarters in Florida City.Cosentino currently has the widest sales and

distribution network achieved by a Spanish company inthe industrial sector in North America, with a total of42 Cosentino centres – 36 in the USA and four inCanada, including three Cosentino centres orshowrooms and two distribution hubs.The Spanish company has recently opened six new

centres in the USA, providing facilities which combinethe functions of warehousing, a training centre, officesand showrooms. These launches mean that Cosentinonow has its own facilities in half of the 50 AmericanStates.Another differentiating asset in the Cosentino

distribution model, the “City” showroom concept, is alsothe star of this expansion, as Cosentino alreadynumbers three of these showrooms in New York,Toronto and the latest two – one in San Francisco andanother in Montreal, which had their official openingrecently. Now another Cosentino City’s is scheduled toopen in Miami in July.

Cosentino is opening new showrooms in Miami in July.

AMERICAN EXPANSIONFOR SPANISH COMPANY

GRUPO CONSENTINO

Acclaimed designer, Daniel Germani was responsible for the project in which “Madera Meets Dekton®. A typical interior of one of the many Cosentino showrooms which are already open for business in the US.

“Madera Meets Dekton®”, in asingular and spectacular timeless

credenza measuring some 2.5m in length.

28 INDUSTRIAL WOODWORKING AND PANEL PROCESSING


This presence with its own assets iscompleted with two distribution hubs anda total of 12 surface elaboration andtransformation plants. In addition, it isprojected that there will be a growth inthe number of employees to over 1,200 inthe USA and Canada by the end of thisyear.As a result of this high implementation

and in order to augment the company’splans for future growth, the headquartersof its subsidiary “Cosentino NorthAmerica” will be located in Miami fromthe summer of 2017, following a moveaway from Houston in Texas. Thisstrategic decision will bring greaterefficiency to the management of theNorth American market, as well asimproving the co-ordination both withthe Group’s headquarters in Almeria inSpain and throughout the rest of Europe.In other news, Cosentino presents

Dektonclay, a new project designed byApparatu, which explores the versatilityof the ultra-compact surface Dekton®.This project is the result of a collaborationbegun three years ago between Cosentinoand the ceramic atelier and Spanishdesign studio lead by Xavier Mañosa.Dektonclay was on display recently at the15th edition of Milan Design Week.For this new Dekton® project, Xavier

Mañosa has explored the concept of thekitchen, creating a collection of pieceswhich gather together cooking and eating through one material.Attracted by the idea of using the same material in every part ofthe kitchen, he has presented a collection of table and kitchenware,items of furniture and even a whole kitchen. The ovens, the kitchenworktops, the structure and the handles are created with Dekton®,modelling, pressing, extruding and firing, pushing the malleabilityof the material in different artisanal processes, all together with theeasy, but decisive strength of the fire coming from the stove.The aim of the ceramist was to discover new ways of working

with Dekton®, to find out how the material behaved under differenttemperatures, or conditions of density and to discover how versatileDekton® could be, as well as exploring different uses to which itcould be subjected.Dektonclay combines Apparatu’s crafted pieces with the

industrially produced ultra-compact surface in its black colour

Spectra XGloss.‘I chose this Dekton® XGloss finish

specifically because its spectacular glossysurface contrasts with the matt finish ofthe moulded pieces that serve as asupport, thus creating a very powerfulglossy/matt visual effect,’ says XavierMañosa.In other news from Milan Design Week

in collaboration with Riva1920 – acompany specialising in the productionof solid wood furniture – Cosentinopresented the project “Madera MeetsDekton®”, created by the acclaimeddesigner, Daniel Germani. “Madera Meets Dekton®”, is a singular

and spectacular timeless credenza. (2.5mlong x 70cm high x 46cm wide). Thebody of Madera is a very elegant framebuilt with the ultra-compact surfaceDekton® in its highly polished black hueSpectra XGloss, in which the frame isembraced by two organic pieces of solidAmerican walnut carved to perfection bythe master woodworkers at Riva1920. “Madera Meets Dekton®” re-interprets

the essence of wood through itscombination with Dekton® – a materialwhich, thanks to its nature andtechnology offers a unique look andfunctionality for design and architecturalapplications.‘I love wood’s organic texture, shape

shifting abilities and perfectimperfections. “Madera Meets Dekton®” happened during a visit toRiva 1920’s compound… walking around the shop floor withMaurizio Riva and learning about all the processes and techniqueswas an incredible experience and one that sparked a fire in myhead,’ says Daniel Germani.‘In that moment, the combination of the softness and

malleability of the wood and the hard,resilient, almost stubborn nature ofDekton® made perfect sense together. Therest is history. I am proud to say thatCosentino and Riva 1920 allowed me todesign, play and push the limits of thematerials.’ concludes Mr Gemani.

An unusual view of the Credenza created byDaniel Germani in which “the combination of thesoftness and malleability of the wood and thehard, resilient, almost stubborn nature ofDekton® made perfect sense together”.

Iconic White – one of the latest designs for the modern kitchen to emerge from CosentinoLusso combines the classic and modern features.

For this new Dekton® project, Xavier Mañosa explored the conceptof the kitchen, creating a collection of pieces that gather togethercooking and eating through one material.

The aim of the ceramist was to discover new ways of workingwith Dekton® and especially to find out how the material behavedunder different temperatures.

• For further information visitwww.cosentino.com

INDUSTRIAL WOODWORKING AND PANEL PROCESSING 29


A CUT ABOVETHE REST!

Welcome to theIndustrial Woodworking &Panel Processing Website!

Our website provides an introduction to the magazine and is updated every singlemonth. It is designed to be quick and extremely easy to use with every one of the

previous year’s magazines appearing on-line, providing the woodworkingprofessional with easily accessible information at their fingertips.

Quite simply, our website provides you with relevant and informative informationin a straightforward, no nonsense style.

Whether you want to view our current issue BEFORE the magazine itself ispublished, or whether you wish to research articles which have appeared during the

previous 12 months, it is all readily available to you.John Emslie – Publisher

www.industrialwoodworking.co.uk

For all thelatest onSpanish

woodworkinggo to thespecialSpanish

sector on ourwebsite

To find all the latest news online go to www.industrialwoodworking.co.uk • Email us at: [email protected] • Tel: 01797 208059INDUSTRIAL WOODWORKING AND PANEL PROCESSING – SPANISH EDITION

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