fdm asia july 2010

FDM

AS

IA M

ICA

(P) N

O. 209/11/2009 • P

PS

1204/07/2010 (028224) • ISS

N 0219-2284

July 2010 VO

L. 22 NO

. 5 C

over Price: U

S$10.00

JULY 2010

Furniture Design And Manufacturing Asia Established Since 1986

Engineered Wood Flooring: Beware The Silver Bullet

Furniture Films: More Than Meets The Eye

Wood Drying & Preservation: Dried To Perfection

Opportunity &Optimism

Asian Imports of European Machinery On Upswing

america’s hardwood forests just keep on growing, find out about our exciting range of sustainable species by visiting ahec-seasia.org

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KUNO chair, design by Devi Khoirudin, The Best Overall Winner of Indonesian Furniture Design Competition

an age old materialfor a new ageof thinking

american hardwood.

alderashaspenbasswoodbeechbirchcherrycottonwoodelmgumhackberryhickory & pecanhard maplesoft maplered oakwhite oaksassafrastulipwoodwalnutwillow

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JULY 2010 • VOL. 22 NO. 5

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Established in 1986, FDM Asia, formerly Asia Pacific Forest/Timber Industries, is a business magazine on sawmilling, woodworking, wood-based panels and furniture manufacturing. The Publisher reserves the right to accept or reject all editorial or advertising material and assumes no responsibility for the return of unsolicited artwork or manuscripts. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the magazine, in whole or in part, is prohibited without the prior written consent, not unreasonably withheld, of the publisher. Reprints of articles appearing in previous issues of the magazine are available on request, subject to a minimum quantity.

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MICA (P) NO. 209/11/2009 • PPS 1204/07/2010 (028224) • ISSN 0219-2284

pAge

FOCUS18 European Machinery

Market: Recovery UnderwayThe financial crisis had resulted in a difficult year for the European woodworking machine industry. Nevertheless, signs show that recovery is finally underway. By Franz-Josef Buetfering, president, European Federation of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers

22 Made In Germany: It Comes With The LabelAfter decades in the industry, German machine manufacturers are keeping their edge. By Kim Esser, head of marketing, Holzma

TECHNOLOGY24 Laminating Technology:

Digitally Printed, Folded DownAdvances in digital printing technology and modern fold-down systems are taking laminates further. By Karin Dullweber, Association of European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF)

PANELS28 MDF: The Composite

Panel PotentialMedium density fibreboard can be used in more quantities as a response to environmentalists’ concern over global warming. By Shiv Kumar Shet, business development manager, Biesse Manufacturing, India

18

Contents

22 28

ecopilot, our new retrofit software from the ContiRoll® ecoline family,controls board thickness to tenth-of-a-millimeter accuracy. Variationsare corrected automatically by the distance control system. What’s init for you? Improved thickness tolerances, less waste and less sandingdown.

ecopilot –new heights inproduct quality

www.siempelkamp.com

SPP.0156.ENG.FriseurundCockpit.211x281:SPP.0156.Anzeige.Ecocalibrator.211x281 28.01.2010 13:31 Uhr Seite 2

ENQUIRY NO. 144


32 MDF Production: The Board BinderSelecting the right resin for MDF production ensures consistency and helps producers maximise plant productivity with increased profit margins. By Iain Stanton, composite wood panel marketing manager for Europe and Asia, Huntsman

SURFACES & FLOORING34 Engineered Wood Flooring: Beware The Silver Bullet

Modified wood floors offer several benefits, but one should realise that modified wood is not a ‘silver bullet’ to all installation problems. By Peter Kaczmar, flooring expert, Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA)

DESIGN & DÉCOR37 Furniture Films: More Than Meets The Eye

FDM Asia speaks to Sandra Ruhlig, business manager for decorative surfaces films at Klöckner Pentaplast, who gives her take on today’s trends and markets affecting furniture films. By Jerome Lim

WOODS & SUSTAINABILITY40 Wood Drying & Preservation: Dried To Perfection

Environmental issues and increasing demand drive the need for greener and more cost-effective wood drying and preservation techniques. By Dr Jegatheswaran Ratnasingam, FIWSc

45 Wood Preservation: Chemistry At WorkBelieved to be as old as the history of wood usage itself, wood preservation has an extensive usage in industrial, agricultural, and utility applications. By Augustine Quek

FEATURES48 What Makes A Fingerjoint?

As fingerjointed lumber gains economic importance, one must take note of several factors that affect fingerjointing strength. By Dr Mohammad Mohammad, group leader, structure building systems, FPInnovations - Forintek Division

52 The Dust BusterW K Tan, MD, Lignar Engineering (Singapore), reveals the benefits of having an effective and efficient dust extraction system. By Derek Rodriguez

MARKET REPORT54 Particleboard Production

Increasing Worldwide New plants in South Asia, Eastern Europe and South America are coming on stream. By BIS Shrapnel

Contents

06 Editorial08 Industry News55 Product Highlights62 Calendar Of Events65a Enquiry Form65b Subscription Form

64advertisers’ enquiry numbers.

Cover Credit: HoLZMA

Regulars

Page

EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS57 Exhibition Review: Xylexpo Milan

58 Exhibition Preview: IWF Atlanta

20

48

57

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JULY 2010 • VOL. 22 NO. 5

54

ENQUIRY NO. 160

❝This is it, the Great Depression all over again.” Pronouncements of this kind

have been rampant – within boardrooms, coffee rooms, lecture halls, blog

sites and townhalls. While the 1930s may be too far back that it is no longer

an active part of our collective memory, that period in history serves as a

lasting cautionary tale and a motherlode of fiscal, economic, corporate and

governance lessons.

Fast-forward to our 2010 version, we see governments, think tanks and corporate

bodies creating new dogma and schisms: austerity, reigning in deficits, keeping costs

down, being lean. All these, so that one can ride out this wave. Now, approximately

18 plus months after the first domino tile tumbled

(ie: the Lehman Brothers collapse), companies are

taking stock and assessing the “lay of the land”

moving forward. In varying degrees, there are

signs of recovery and causes for optimism.

Within the woodworking sphere, a sector

not immune to the dire business climate, we see

positive signs: costs of raw materials are declining

which can mean a return of profit margins; healthy

spend in new solid wood and panel processing

technology/equipment, as evidenced by orders

in the two recent woodworking trade fairs; US

furniture orders increased 9 percent year on year.

While optimism is well and good for the human psyche, it is important that we

refrain from painting the industry in broad brush strokes. It is better to err on the side

of caution by not taking one or two positive news as an economic recovery.

Focus is key – focus on the tough work that lies ahead. Foresight is critical – the

insights we pick up must be unbiased yet fact-based. Through our feature articles

(such as the European machinery market situation, innovations around furniture

film, analyses on engineered wood and its processes), we hope to provide tools

and information that shall ultimately aid practitioners in the trade in making informed

decisions. And if we, through this periodical, get a conversation going, we would

be pleased to participate.

Enjoy our July issue, and we hope to hear from you.

Karen Zafaralla

Editor

Editorial

Focus is key – Focus on the tough work that lies ahead. Foresight is critical – the insights we pick up must be unbiased yet Fact-based.

Published by:

EastErn tradE MEdia PtE Ltd(a fully owned subsidiary of Eastern Holdings Ltd)Registration No: 199908196C

managing director Kenneth Tan [email protected]

editor Karen Zafaralla [email protected]

staff writer Jerome Lim [email protected]

editorial assistant Nina Xu [email protected]

senior art director/studio manager Lawrence Lee [email protected]

art director Phyllis Ng [email protected]

advertising sales manager Sim Eric [email protected]

business manager (China) Ding Yongmei [email protected]

assistant business manager (China) Yumi Gui [email protected]

senior circulation executive Brenda Tan [email protected]

contributors Augustine Quek Dr Jegatheswaran Ratnasingam Dr Mohammad Mohammad Franz-Josef Buetfering Iain Stanton Karin Dullweber Kim Esser Peter Kaczmar Shiv Kumar Shet

ExEcutivE Boardchairman Stephen Taygroup executive director Kenneth Tanfinancial controller

Robbin Lim

etm EasternTrade Media Pte Ltd

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Informed Decisions

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We work to provide customised programs tailored to suit your business needs and marketing budget.

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Industry News

Beijing, China: China’s appetite for wood

products continues to grow, showing a

surge in demand for materials such as

log, sawnwood, veneer, plywood, panels,

and even wooden furniture in the first

quarter of this year.

In the International Tropical Timber

Organisation report, the strongest surge

came from sawnwood imports, which

rose 83 percent in volume and 85 percent

in value in the first quarter, amounting to

three million cubic metre of sawnwood

worth US$691 million.

Much of China’s sawnwood comes

from Russia, which shipped 40 percent

more sawnwood to the East Asian country

I N D U S T R YNews

July 2010

compared to the same period last year.

Other countries that saw an increase in

the product’s exports to China include

Canada, the US, and Thailand.

Total log products imports to China

were 7.7 million cu m or US$1.3 billion

worth of log, up 37 percent in volume

and 60 percent in value over the same

period last year.

Of the total, log imports from Russia

rose five percent to 3.5 million cu m,

imports from New Zealand soared 144

percent to 1.3 million cu m, and imports

from Malaysia increased 144 percent to

264,200 cu m.

Tropical log imports amounted to two

Imports Of Chinese Wood Products Surgemillion cubic metres, increasing 48 percent

over the last year. Tropical logs accounted for

a 27 percent share of the total exports.

Veneer imports amounted to 9,200

tonnes (US$15 million), rising 13 percent

in volume and 19 percent in value during

the first quarter of 2010. Particleboard

imports followed the trend, increasing

83 percent in volume and 85 percent in

value, totalling 73,500 tonnes valued at

US$23 million.

On the other hand, fibreboard imports

showed more moderate increase, up five

percent in volume and 10 percent in value.

The total imports were 54,500 tonnes

valued at US$26 million. Similarly, plywood

Sumitomo To Build Particleboard Factory In Vietnam

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Hanoi, Vietnam: Tokyo-based

Sumitomo Forestry, through its

subsidiary Vina Eco Board, has

plans to construct a particleboard

factory in Vietnam.

The US$100 million facility

will be built at the Phu An Thanh

Industrial Park in the Ben Luc

district of Long An province. It is

expected to finish by June 2011

and start operations by November

the same year.

Already the third of its type in

the country, the plant’s particleboard

line features an eight feet-wide

(approximately 2.44 metres), 24.5

metre-long CPS press, and is

anticipated to produce 250,000

sq m of material annually.


Industry News

imports were 40,100 cubic metre in volume

and US$22 million in value, increasing 20

percent and 12 percent, respectively, over

the same period.

Imports of secondary processed wood

products including wooden doors, windows,

knockdown kitchen furniture, handicraft and

packaging amounted to US$23 million, up 45

percent over the same period last year.

The report said that first quarter furniture

imports by China were valued at US$72

million. These imports included wooden

frame seats, office furniture, kitchen furniture

and bedroom furniture. China’s furniture

imports were up four percent in value from

the same period last year.

Singapore Companies Welcomed At ICFFNew York City, USA: Singapore made

its show debut at the 22nd International

Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF),

which opened at New York City’s Jacob

K. Javits Convention Center.

Five Singapore companies showcased

their latest product lines at the ICFF, namely

Air Division, Office Planner, as well as design

firms Mad Scientists, oon, and 1degOFF

by Bomania Designworx.

With a heavy emphasis on construction,

structure and design, these companies

exhibited their bestselling collections,

such as Office Planner’s dynamic office

desking furniture with individual work

desks and oon’s innovative clip seat and

pocket storage system.

Air Division presented its inspirational

and eco-friendly range of furniture pieces

from the 2010 Plank Living Collection,

previously seen at earlier international

exhibitions such as IMM cologne, International

Furniture Fair Singapore (IFFS), and the

Milan Furniture Fair.

Making up the Light Play collection by

1degOFF were creations that attempt to defy

conventional associations with lamps. Mad

Scientists revealed its collection of Modular

Structural System products.

Singapore Furniture Industries Council

president Andrew Ng said, “Our maiden

participation in this event is a significant

step for Singapore, allowing them to pit

their creativity against more global players,

Tan Soon Kim, Group Director for Lifestyle

Business at IE Singapore, cited the US as the

main growth driver for furniture trade, and

sees a spike in interest for new products from

US buyers due to the economic upturn.

“Singapore furniture companies achieved

healthy export sales of S$4.7 billion (around

US$3.4 billion) despite the downturn last

year, only a slight decrease of four percent

from 2008,” he said.

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Industry News

Oslo, Norway: Norway and Indonesia signed a

partnership that will support Indonesia’s efforts

to reduce emissions from deforestation and

degradation of forests and peat lands.

Norway will pour US$1 billion over the next

few years to support Indonesia’s efforts.

Norwegian PM Jens Stoltenberg and Indonesian president Susilo Bambang

Yudhoyono together witnessed the signing of the agreement in Oslo.

The Southeast Asian archipelago will take immediate and decisive action

to reduce its forest and peat-related greenhouse gas emissions.

“Indonesia stands by its commitment to reduce our emissions by 26 percent

relative to business as usual levels by 2020,” said Mr Yudhoyono. “This we

will do out of our own funds through a set of measures I will be announcing

in the near future.”

“With the help of international partners, we could reduce our emissions by

as much as 41 percent,” the Indonesian leader added.

The two countries’ agreement coincided with the recently concluded Oslo

Climate and Forest Conference, where a global climate and forest partnership

was established.

Funds will initially be devoted to finalising Indonesia’s climate and forest strategy,

building and institutionalising capacity to monitor, report and verify reduced

emissions, and putting in place enabling policies and institutional reforms.

A two-year suspension on new concessions for conversion of natural forests

and peat lands into plantations will be implemented.

By 2014, the plan is to move to an Indonesian-wide instrument of funding

contributions in return for verified emission reductions.

Funds will be managed by an internationally reputable financial institution

in compliance with international fiduciary, governance, environmental and

social standards.

Norway, Indonesia Partner To Reduce Emissions Price, Supply, Power

Problems Confront Indian Wood Panel ProducersNew Delhi, India: A rise of 25 percent in

plantation log prices, low log supply and

irregular power supply are causing problems

for particleboard and plywood manufacturers

in India.

In a report disclosed by the International

Tropical Timber Organisation, plywood mills

have seen it necessary to increase plywood

prices due to a sharp increase in the cost of

poplar and eucalyptus logs, as well as a 15

percent increases in resins prices.

Board manufacturers in Punjab, Haryana

and Uttaranchal have increased prices by

five to 10 percent, whereas South Indian

manufacturers have set 15 percent higher

prices.

Low log supplies coupled with simultaneous

increase in demand for processed products

has led to panic in raw material sourcing.

Increasing imports of high quality, large

girth peeling grade logs seem to be the only

immediate solution.

The industry needs additional large-scale

plantations of various high yielding species.

China has been successful in establishing

large-scale plantations and India could use

this as an example of how to increase the

plantation production.

Manufacturers also complain of labour

shortage. One of the reasons given for this

is the National Rural Employment Guarantee

Scheme which has been successful in employing

workers in their own states and reducing

workforce migration.

India still suffers from a lack of power

plants. Many of existing units are experiencing

production disruptions due to irregular fuel

supplies. Plants which are planned to run in

three shifts have been forced to run only one

shift. As a result, the power plants have low

productivity and energy supply is inadequate

to satisfy demand.

APP Timber To Take Interns From Dutch UniversityShah Alam, Malaysia: APP Timber has signed an agreement with Van Hall-

Larenstein University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands to provide at

least two internships per annum.

The internships will take place at APP Timber’s headquarters in Malaysia

for the third- and fourth-year students of ‘International Timber Trade’ as part

of the Bachelor of Forestry and Nature Management course.

Van Hall-Larenstein offers this course combining nature and environment

with responsible entrepreneurship.

Each selected student will be provided with a minimum internship period of

three months to allow them to learn more about the international timber trade.

The training is expected to benefit students for their future careers.

YudhoyonoStoltenberg


Industry News

Italian Machinery Orders Surge In Q1Milan, Italy: Orders of Italian woodworking machinery surged 41 percent

in the first quarter of 2010, according to a trend survey conducted by the

Italian Woodworking Machinery and Tool Manufacturers Association

or Acimall.

The news comes amidst heightened optimism for foreign and local

markets hoping to see a recovery from the financial crisis this year.

The Confindustria member association saw a 43.8 percent increase

in foreign markets and a 26 percent increase in the Italian market.

From January to March 2010, prices recorded a slight increase (plus

0.2 percent), while the period of ensured production is at 1.8 months

on March 31.

Forty-four percent of interviewed entrepreneurs expect a stable

production trend while 30 percent anticipate growth, as opposed to 26

percent who indicate a negative production trend.

Employment was considered stationary by 63 percent of the

respondents, in contrast to the remaining 37 percent who said it was

falling. Fifteen percent of the respondents say stocks grew, with 48

percent indicating that available stocks were stationary. The remaining

37 percent reported a decline.

The forecast survey suggests possible short-term dynamics in the

industry. Since the Italian woodworking industry is highly export-oriented,

with 70 percent of production shipped around the world, cautious

expectations are currently focused on foreign markets.

Overall, 45 percent of those surveyed expect growth in overseas

orders in the second quarter of this year, while 48 percent anticipate

the volume to remain stable.

On the domestic market, majority of survey participants (59 percent)

predict substantial stability, while 26 percent are confident the situation

will improve.

US Furniture Orders Grow 9 PercentHigh Point, USA: Furniture orders within

the USA grew nine percent compared

to the same period the previous year,

according to a recent survey by High

Point-based accounting and consulting

firm Smith Leonard.

The figure, which was experienced

in March, was two percent higher than

February 2010.

Approximately 61 percent of the

participants had increased orders over

last year, with several up in double

digits. The 61 percent is up from

58 percent last month.

Year-to-date, new orders remained

nine percent ahead of the first

quarter of 2009. Some 61 percent of

the participants reported increases

year-to-date, down slightly from

last month.

“Admittedly, we are still

comparing to weak results in the

first quarter of 2009, but it does appear

that we are coming out of the slump,”

concluded Smith Leonard managing

partner Ken Smith.

“It will be interesting to see what the

April and May results are as we should

feel the impact of what was believed to

be the best High Point Market in the last

several years,” he added. “We continue

to hear that business does seem to be

picking up.”


Industry News

An oak tree damaged by the acute oak decline disease

Unknown Bacterium Causing Oak DiseaseEdinburgh, UK: A previously unknown bacterium may be causing the

acute oak decline disease that has been ravaging oak trees, according to

scientists from Forest Research, the scientific research arm of UK’s Forestry

Commission.

Not to be confused with ‘sudden oak death’ caused by a fungus-like

pathogen, the condition can kill a tree in as little as four or five years, and has

been found affecting hundreds of trees across central and south-east England

and parts of Wales.

Symptoms of acute oak decline include dark fluid bleeding from splits in

the bark on tree trunks, and as affected trees approach death there is a notable

deterioration of the canopy, or treetops, and ‘dieback’ of the branches.

While investigation of the disease is ongoing, the Forestry Commission

has published new advice for woodland owners worried that their oak trees

might be suffering from the disease.

Titled ‘Managing Acute Oak Decline,’ the guide gives advice, based on the

knowledge they have gained so far, on how to recognise the disease, what to

do about it, and how to minimise the risk of spreading it

The guide stresses the importance of monitoring the progress of the

disease, of limiting access to infected trees, and of disinfecting boots, vehicle

wheels, machinery and equipment to help prevent its spread.

If an infected tree is to be used for timber, the guide recommends the bark

and sapwood be removed and burnt on site, and the logs cut into planks on

site before being removed. Planks can be kiln-dried at high temperatures to

kill any remaining bacteria.

It is unknown whether the disease affects timber quality, so caution is

advised when deciding how the timber will be used.

The guide also advises against using acorns from infected sites when

planting new oak trees,

and explains how to

report suspected cases

to Forest Research’s

Disease Diagnostic and

Advisory Service.

The Fores tr y

Commission is urging

everyone who looks after

oak trees to be vigilant

and follow the advice

in the guide, which was

written by Dr Sandra

Denman, Susan Kirk,

and Dr Joan Webber of

Forest Research.

Stora Enso, EIB Sign US$210 Million Loan Agreement Helsinki, Finland: Stora Enso has signed

an agreement with the European

Investment Bank (EIB) for a €165-million

(US$209.5 million) loan to be used for

research and development.

The loan agreement is part of the

commitment by EIB to lend altogether

€230 million to the forestry products

giant, including the €65-million loan

announced on 10 February 2010.

“We have a long and good

relationship with EIB. This is its third

loan for Stora Enso’s research and

development projects. We are pleased

with the competitive terms of the

loan,” says Stora Enso CFO Markus

Rauramo.

Stora Enso invested €71.1 million in

research and development in 2009.

Research and development

concentrates on steering of networked

strategic research as well as

operations and product development

in three research centres: Imatra in

Finland, Karlstad in Sweden and

Mönchengladbach in Germany.

APP Timber Asia Welcomes Asia Rep Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: APP Timber Brazil

recently announced the appointment of Jorge

Villanueva to its Asia operations. He will be in

charge of the sourcing of Brazilian hardwoods

for APP Timber’s operations in Asia.

Villanueva started in Interholco as an international

trader in Switzerland and spent 15 years of his

career buying and selling sliced veneers, lumber,

flooring and hardwood decking.

UK

For

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Industry NewsIndustry News

Fred

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Certification Has Positive Impact On Sustainable Forest Management–StudyWagenigen, Netherlands: Forest certification such as that

of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has a positive

economic, social, and ecological impact on tropical forest

management.

This is the conclusion drawn from a study carried out by the

Netherlands’ Wageningen University in which 123 evaluation reports

on the management of natural tropical forests were analysed.

The market-based initiative of the FSC, which started in 1993,

and of other forest certification agencies allow timber companies

to obtain a higher market price for their products if their forest

management satisfies specific socio-economic and ecological

principles and criteria.

An interdisciplinary team led by Marielos Peña-Claros from

Wageningen University examined 123 evaluation reports of certified

tropical natural forests managed by 119 private or governmental

bodies, such as municipal authorities.

The reports were screened according to three sustainability criteria:

ecologically, economically and socially responsible management.

On the whole, the most difficult criteria to satisfy are not the social

criteria (such as poor working conditions).

The eight most common obstacles include the safety of foreign

workers, the management plan and the protection of rare species. In

all, these account for 42 percent of the problems cited in the reports.

The three pillars of sustainable development are stressed equally,

although there are some differences among the various countries.

Although the area of certified forests has risen steeply since 2003

by approximately 250 percent, the researchers emphasised the need

for strong incentives to continue boosting the area of sustainably

managed forests.

Industry News

ENQU

IRY

NO.

162


Industry News

Westford, USA: In the first of an ongoing series of

quarterly forecasts, Forest Economic Advisors (FEA)

finds that production of wood-based energy will

resume its upward trajectory in 2010 and continue

to grow through 2024.

With rising demand for new sources of bioenergy

from wood pellets, biomass electricity and biofuels,

consumers are left wondering where the fuel supply

will come from, and at what price.

FEA predicts continued growth not only from

these emerging sectors, but also from traditional

forest products companies.

The added demand for biomass supplies will

force increased extraction of logging residues and

intensified use of roundwood in the years to come.

While prices will ease in the short term, all biomass

grades will experience price increases after 2012

as a result.

“A developed and diversified wood-based energy

sector will have a profound impact on the economics

of the entire forest products industry,” said Erik

Kankainen, FEA’s Senior Economist for Bioenergy

and Timber.

“Our forecasting service will answer the many

questions surrounding the scale of the sector’s

development, as well as quantify the economic

effects growth in bioenergy will have on the rest

of the industry.”

FEA’s first Wood Biomass Forecast also finds

that rising housing starts and an improving economy

will boost residue production over the next several

years, returning almost 90 percent of the supply that

was lost from 2005 to 2009 by the end of 2012.

After accounting for increases in biomass demand

related to production from the traditional forest

products industry (namely pulp and nonstructural

panels), FEA estimates that mill residue supplies

available for bioenergy will grow by 5.4 million

oven-dry tonnes from 2009 to 2012.

Wood pellet production will continue to rise at a

rapid pace, driven by domestic and export demand,

and biomass electricity generation will also grow.

Biofuel production will be a key consumer of

wood biomass over the long-term, though not until

conversion technologies are proven and tested on

a commercial scale by a round of first generation

biofuel facilities currently in the planning phases.

Rising housing starts and an improving economy will boost residue production over the next several years, returning almost 90 percent of the supply that was lost from 2005 to 2009 by the end of 2012.

AHEC Sees Market Potential For Hardwoods In JordanWith aims to help develop the market

further, AHEC has partnered with local

importer/distributor A. A. Kattan & Sons

to conduct a workshop on species and

lumber grading, held at the Grand Hyatt

Hotel in Jabal Amman.

“We are taking significant steps to

raise awareness in new market sectors

for American hardwoods in the region,

as more governments in the Middle East

undertake major initiatives to address calls

Amman, Jordan: The American Hardwood

Export Council (AHEC) has identified Jordan

as an important and growing market for

American hardwoods, given the Kingdom’s

contribution to the US$69.3 million worth

of US hardwood exports to the Middle East

and North Africa region last year.

The country is showing increased demand

for interior wood products as its construction

sector continues to witness rapid development

amidst growing economic stability.

for sustainability,” said Roderick Wiles,

referring to the workshop.

With the recent boom in Jordan’s

construction industry, American hardwoods

have been making the rounds in Jordan’s

most recent high-end developments.

“The initiatives we are taking in the region

have resulted in growing recognition for US

hardwoods among specifiers, importers,

retailers, and developers of major construction

projects,” added Wiles.

Long-Term Price Increases For Wood Biomass Market Seen

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Industry News

A Metso pulp mill in Mucuri, Brazil

Metso To Supply Pulping Technology In Russia Helsinki, Finland: Metso will supply the main

technology for Ilim Group’s new kraft pulp mill,

to be built in Bratsk, Irkutsk Oblast, Russia. The

value of the order is approximately €180 million

(US$215 million).

Metso’s scope of supply will cover a complete

fibre line comprising a digester, a screen room,

an oxygen delignification system, brown stock

washing and bleaching plants with wash presses

and a drying line with a Fourdrinier wet end and

two baling lines.

Also included in the Bratsk reconstruction

program are a new recovery boiler and an upgrade

of the evaporation plant. Other deliveries include

automation systems for all process areas, and

necessary analysers and special equipment for

quality and runnability management.

The new pulp mill is scheduled to start up

in 2012.

The new pulp mill will produce 720,000 tonnes

of bleached softwood market pulp a year, bringing

the overall annual pulp production at Bratsk to over

one million tonnes.

When in operation, the Bratsk mill will be one

of the world’s largest and most modern softwood

pulp production facilities. The overall investments

of the St. Petersburg-based firm in the project are

about €570 million (nearly US$700 million).

Vietnam Expects US$2.8B Wood Product ExportsHanoi, Vietnam: Vietnam is expected to earn US$2.8 billion from wood

product exports this year, US$200 million lower than its earlier-set

target, said Nguyen Ton Quyen, chairman of the Vietnam Wood and

Forest Products Association.

“Prices are 10 percent lower than a year ago and it is not easy to

seek those raw materials with certificates of origin that meet US and

EU import requirements,” Mr Quyen explained.

Orders from large export markets are expected to increase in the

coming months with signs of recovery in the global economy while

retailers often stockpile for the end-of-year shopping season.

Mr Quyen suggested Vietnamese wood products exporters pay

increasing attention to new export markets like Russia and the Middle

East, rather than rely too heavily on traditional ones including Japan,

the US and the EU.

Meanwhile, wood product makers make and offer their products

for sales on the domestic market, particularly in major cities, said

Mr Quyen.

Arauco Gets 50 Percent Stake In DyneaSantiago, Chile: Arauco acquired 50 percent of

Brasilian chemical resin firm Dynea. The Santiago,

Chile-based company signed an agreement of sale

through its Brazilian subsidiary Arauco do Brasil to

claim a 50 percent stake in Dynea Brasil corporation

shares, owned by joint venture partner Dynea in

Lillestrom, Norway.

Following the all-cash US$15 million transaction,

Arauco do Brasil acquired full ownership of

Dynea Brazil.

“This investment allows us to continue consolidating

Arauco’s position in the wooden panel market in

Brazil, as well as its expansion in Latin America.

It also confirms the company’s commitment to

the sustained growth of its industrial areas in the

countries in which we operate,” said Arauco CEO

Matías Domeyko.


Industry News

Memphis, US: Former Alaska Governor and 2008

Republican Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin

will address convention attendees during the opening

session of the upcoming National Hardwood Lumber

Association (NHLA) annual convention.

Dubbed as a global gathering for hardwood industry

players, the event will take place from October 13 to

16, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada.

NHLA executive director Mark Barford, welcoming

Palin’s participation, said, “The hardwood industry

has been successfully self-regulated for more than

110 years. Governor Palin supports a free enterprise

system with limited government involvement and

understands that industries such as ours are a great

example of America’s pioneering spirit.”

Responding to previous convention feedback,

NHLA has adjusted this year’s convention schedule

to three full days with less conflicting events for attendees,

exhibitors and sponsors.

“Every year we strive to build a speaker lineup of top

newsmakers and industry leaders. Governor Palin’s participation

continues this tradition and again we are very excited and

Ms Sarah Palin

Schaumburg, USA: Radio Frequency

Identification (RFID) has found its way

into lumber distribution.

In need of a system that would reduce

inventory errors, wood products manufacturer

Cox Industries employed RFID systems

from Motorola and Stark to automate its

manual tracking processes.

Implementing the RFID-based inventory

management system has enabled Cox to

gain greater visibility into the locations

of its lumber package in real-time. The

system has reduced loading and pick-ticket

errors to achieve a shipping accuracy of 99

percent. It also provides customers with

increased levels of visibility and control

over change requests.

For example, if a customer calls

partway through the process of loading

an order and asks to make a change to

the order, the information is transmitted

wirelessly and sent out to a forklift operator,

ensuring that the customer change order

is accurately filled.

The forklifts are outfitted with mobile

RFID readers, which read the RFID tags

attached to the lumber packages. When

a forklift picks up a package of lumber,

the readers read the RFID tag, and the

operator views the information regarding

where the lumber should be stacked in the

yard on a monitor in the forklift.

When the package is stacked, the

information is transferred wirelessly,

enabling management to track a package's

whereabouts, born-on dates and order

fulfillment process.

The RFID solution is being implemented

along with an ERP (Enterprise Resource

Planning) system, a purchasing system

and several other applications that will

provide a single, integrated inventory

platform.

Greg Campbell, director of operations

at Cox Industries, said: "The RFID system...

is helping us reach our goals of increasing

operational efficiencies and redefining

customer service by improving worker

productivity by 44 percent and increasing

annual inventory turns by as much as

two times."

RFID Improves Lumber Distribution

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honoured to welcome her to the premier hardwood industry

event,” Barford added.

Additional speakers, industry panellists and education

programmes at the 2010 NHLA Annual Convention will be

announced subsequently.

Sarah Palin NHLA Keynote Speaker

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Industry News

Ikea Joins Anti-Illegal Logging AllianceWashington DC, US: Swedish furniture giant Ikea pledged support for the recently launched Forest Legality Alliance, which aims to aid private sector efforts and policies to reduce trade in illegally harvested wood.

Apart from Ikea, Alliance members are:

the American Forest & Paper Association, the

Hardwood Federation, the International Wood

Products Association, NewPage Corporation,

the Retail Industry Leaders’ Association,

Staples, and the World Business Council for

Sustainable Development.

Illegal wood that makes its way into international

trade creates an unlevel playing field for the

private sector, allowing a few bad actors to put

companies with legal operations at an unfair

disadvantage. It also affects poor, rural residents

in developing countries who rely on forests for

food, fuel, and other benefits.

Responsible forest management delivers

renewable raw material for a wide range of

products, such as timber and paper.

Initiated by the World Resources Institute,

the Environmental Investigation Agency, and

the US Agency for International Development

(USAID), the Alliance is open to businesses,

industry associations, financial institutions and

civil society organisations with a stake in legal

forest product supply chains.

Alexandria, USA: The International Wood Products Association

(IWPA) unanimously approved a new voluntary veneer grade to

supersede the 10-year-old 'Product Standard for Imported Wood

Veneer and Platforms.'

The new specifications establish minimum acceptable

requirements for each grade, and reflect the current trend in

the way veneers are being produced and used in veneer and

plywood markets.

“It was time to do an overhaul,” said Bronson Newburger,

VP of Clarke Veneers and Plywood. “Taking into account that

veneer faces continue to be thinner and thinner, we realised that

adjustments to the standard had to be made.”

“It’s a better explanation of what mills need to know in order

to satisfy customers’ demand, and what users can expect from

suppliers.” added Mr Newburger. While the product standards are

advisory, and compliance is voluntary, their consistent application

is encouraged.

The newly adopted standard is the result of two years work by

the IWPA Veneer Committee chaired by Mr Newburger. The standard

was approved during the Association’s annual meeting in April.

IWPA Adopts New Veneer Standard

US Timber Producers To Benefit From Rainforest ProtectionsWashington DC, USA: US timber producers stand to rake in billions

more in revenue by curbing tropical deforestation, a recently released

report said.

Titled ‘Farms Here, Forests There: Tropical Deforestation and US

Competitiveness in Agriculture and Timber,’ the report indicates that

the timber industry stands to earn US$36 billion to US$60 billion more

by 2030 with increased rainforest protection from illegal logging.

Findings in the report show that overseas agriculture and logging

operations are expanding production by cutting down the world’s

rainforests to produce cheaper commodities on the world market that

undercut American goods. The report estimates that ending deforestation

would boost revenue for US producers across a number of related

industries by between US$196 billion and US$267 billion in 2030.

Other than timber players, US producers that would see the most

benefit are those in the soy, beef, and oilseed industries.

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Focus

Due to the decline of the economy, European woodworking machinery manufacturers are suffering from

shrinking order volumes.The economic downturn has turned

out to be more dramatic than the experts feared it would be. Over the next few years the world market will shrink, and the outlook for the wood industry is cloudy. The momentum that European woodworking machinery manufacturers had gained years before has now ground to a halt, but they maintain their leadership position in the world markets with Germany and Italy as the two strongest export countries – accounting for about half of worldwide exports.

The difficult conditions are also making it hard for their customers to obtain financing for investments, but the demand for mechanical equipment for processing and finishing wood continues to be apparent.

According to the latest forecast, production will go back to positive figures only in the second half of 2010 and growth will be moderate until the end of next year. And employment – according to the Organisation For Economic Co-operation and Development

(OECD) – will be much slower to recover than production.

Pushing Back GlobalisationAnother serious problem of the crisis is the breakdown of international trade, which has pushed back the process of economic integration on a global scale, causing a sort of ‘de-globalisation.’

Eastern Europe has seen a better trend than its Western counterparts, but its collapse was more dramatic, which is why we still see some caution in purchase decisions of customers. There will have to be an increased workload for the wood and furniture industry before we can see a significant rally of investments. For the time being, demand is mainly represented by old equipment replacement or adaptation of manufacturing systems.

The effects of the international economic crisis had a strong impact in Italy. The main event, Xylexpo in Milan, had less visitors than expected,

with numbers standing at approximately 50,000, as the vicinity of the two shows complicated the decisions of exhibitors and visitors.

The downturn hit the import and export of all countries at the same time, triggering multiplying and chain effects on investments, consumption and employment.

The most affected industries are those open to international competition, which had expanded most during the past few years thanks to the global integration of production processes. The woodworking machinery industry had built its growth on export, depending on foreign business by more than 50 percent of production.

Meanwhile, German-speaking markets have been a safe route for woodworking machinery manufacturers looking for a way out of the crisis. Investments have been holding on relatively well, allowing for a solid base in the future.

After a difficult year for the European woodworking machine industry, signs show that recovery is finally underway. By Franz-Josef Buetfering, president, European Federation of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers (EUMABOIS)

Underway

European Machinery Market:

Recovery


Focus

Well-PositionedNevertheless, European companies were well positioned before the crisis. This is proved by the fact that, despite massive turnover reductions, only few companies have gone bankrupt. With their products, European firms are not just competitive, but leaders in many respects, the most tangible evidence being their 60 percent market share.

Even in the most troubled periods, European companies have conducted their business properly. Despite painful cuts, they have focused on innovation. R&D departments have pushed on the accelerator and today they can approach

the markets with improved products.Eumabois has supported the action

of companies towards Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. However, such expansion has changed their vision, as these markets are mainly dominated by small enterprises. This strategy is an important signal for our associates and is strictly connected to the quality issue.

This approach is based on industry standards and regulations – the European Commission standards for instance – which protect products and their production from the negative effects of competition at all costs.

The Way OutSigns of improvement are coming mainly from Asia, particularly China, while South America is also showing stronger propensity to investments. Even the key market of North America seems to be stabilising, though at low levels. In Russia, the crisis has cleaned up the exhibition calendar and consequently funnelled the country’s potential. Despite some problems, Russia is still one of the best markets for woodworking machinery manufacturers.

Markets in Eastern Europe are still weak. Customers have to deal with the consequences of the financial crisis. The

Graph showing the export trend value from the earlier part of the decade to present. Recent years have seen a significant drop in European machinery exports caused mainly by the financial crisis

Export market in millions of Euros

6000

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

––– Eumabois

––– Rest of the world

––– Europe other countries

62,02%

7,64%

7,88%

2,87%

4,67%

6,22%

8,70%

Eumabois Countries

Europe other Countries

Rest of the World

Japan

United States

Taiwan

China

Country Value (million euro) Var. % 09/08

Eumabois Countries 3052 -39,2%

Europe other Countries 376 -37,4%

Rest of the World 388 -33,1%

Japan 141 -57,7%

United States 230 -24,2%

Taiwan 306 -35,9%

China 428 -25,3%

Exporters market share for 2009 show European

machinery as still the dominant brand despite

the downturn.


Focus

2008/2009 drop harmed several companies in this market, one of the biggest in the world. We see much interest, but companies still have few opportunities to get loans at affordable costs. For this reason, Russia will express its full potential with some delay.

There’s no denying the industry has gone through a major crisis. Turnover collapsed and is still very low in many companies. Such difficulties are expected

Eastern Bloc countries opened up new ways to the East.

German-speaking markets have remained at good levels even during the most difficult periods, and the handicraft sector distinguished itself as a good buyer. Then, China confirmed its potential as output market for European manufacturers. Growth rates have gone back to sustained levels, which are very promising both for

volumes are still low. South American markets are emerging for their resources. There are plenty of raw materials, but machinery import duties are curbing competition. There is an increasing demand for quality, and consequently for European machinery.

Encouraging ResultsThe latest trade fairs in Asia (Indiawood Bangalore, WMF Beijing) and Europe

From South America, to Russia, to China, there are many opportunities to seize after the crisis. The big challenge is to tailor

products to specific customer requirements in each market.

to endure a while longer, but there are also clear signs that the industry has taken the way out. More and more indicators show that the curve is turning upwards. Recent exhibitions have brought not only a more favourable climate, but new business as well.

The woodworking machinery industry has completely disappeared in some European countries such as England. This is complicating things. On the other hand, the political turn of former

primary processing products like panels and MDF, and for furniture and finished products. In Southeast Asia there are still good opportunities for some sectors, and Vietnam in particular is considered a secret promise for European suppliers.

But Asian competitors are quite strong. With its construction industry booming and hence boosting demand for furniture, doors, and windows, India is an interesting growth market, although

(Holzhandwerk Nuremberg and Xylexpo Milan) feed good hopes, as they closed with results much beyond expectations. European exhibitions enjoyed huge attendance with local and international visitors – more than 100,000 visitors in Nuremberg, 50,000 in Milan, with a 50 percent share of international visitors.

Poland’s Drema woodworking and furniture fair in Poznan recorded an extraordinary trend, but was confronted by two events: first, the closing of European airways due to the volcanic cloud grounded exhibitors and visitors; second, the airplane crash that killed the Polish president. Despite these adversities, the number of visitors increased by 16 percent and it was encouraging to see the propensity to invest of many operators in Poznan.

Under current circumstances, encouraging results were seen in Nuremberg. With 1,273 exhibitors from 35 countries and 16,500 visitors from outside Germany – Holz-Handwerk/Fensterbau reached the same levels as 2008, proving that the industry is recovering.

At Ligna 2009 it was already clear that the future issues would be energy efficiency and efficient resource exploitation. In Hannover, big news and innovations were presented in this area,

The latest trade fairs in Asia and Europe feed good hopes, as they closed with results much beyond expectations.

Ligna 2009: Future issues include energy efficiency and efficient resource exploitation.


Focus

and the subject will keep us busy for a long time.

Another factor companies have to manage is how to respond to relentless globalisation. Sales organizations will have to become more and more global, if you look at future markets. From South America, to Russia, to China, there are many opportunities to seize after the crisis. The big challenge is to tailor products to specific customer requirements in each market.

Choosing OriginalMeanwhile in Eumabois, we have decided to inform customers about the necessity of purchasing original machines and components. This approach seems more effective than a direct fight against counterfeiting, and for this reason we launched the ‘Choose the Original –

Choose Success’ campaign in 13 member countries to increase customers’ awareness of the value of original technology.

Counterfeit ing is unacceptable, because it threatens manufacturers and customers to the same extent. On the contrary, the benefits of original technology are evident. To have success on the Asian markets, European manufacturers must orchestrate their action.

So, recovery seems to have started and the industry is struggling to climb back up towards the top. Will we ever go back to pre-crisis production volumes? New producing markets will arise, although Europe will likely continue to ENQUIRY NO. 7001

be the key owner of research and the best technology of the industry.

Wood, the best raw material of all times, will always be needed and in demand. FDM

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Compact as never before

Precision, which leaves everything behind

Quality, which is more than convincing

Advantage - the next Generation - Now

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InnovationChanging

Further information on www.ima.deIMA AG Asia Pacific Pte Ltd2 Kallang Pudding Road #05-16 Mactech Industrial BuildingSingapore 349307Tel: 65 6749 6588 Fax: 6749 [email protected] www.ima-sg.com


Focus

The German mechanical engineering industry enjoys a good reputation all over the world – and has

done so for at least 150 years. In 1862, German engineers inspired experts visiting the London International Exhibition with their innovations, and for the first time seriously challenged the dominance of the English engineering industry. This trend intensified in the following decades.

In 1887, England introduced the requirement of having these products marked ‘Made In Germany’ to protect the industry at home. What started as a warning to customers soon became a mark of reputation. Thanks to mechanical engineering specialists, the ‘Made In Germany’ reputation still stands today.

Competitive EdgeCustomers around the world associate the ‘Made in Germany’ label with quality. And though quality also has its price, leading German manufacturers enjoy an excellent reputation in Asia and are steadily increasing their penetration of the market.

What is the reason for this? “Customers require high-precision cutting and expect reliability in their production process,” explains Jochen Rehm, Holzma area sales manager for Asia. “Innovative technologies and processes, together

with first-class quality, are not an end in themselves – these directly and exclusively benefit the customer.”

Across varied businesses and industries, customers are keen to procure technologies that reduce production time, optimise the use of available resources, and deliver high-quality results. All these ensure a fast return on investment and lasting profitability.

This is particularly important for players in the competitive Asian markets. To survive in this economic sphere, one needs a production process that is

After decades in the industry, German machine manufacturers are keeping their edge. By Kim Esser, head of marketing, Holzma

Made In Germany:

LabelIt Comes

With The

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Focus

not only cost-effective, but, even more importantly, efficient and reliable. Mr Rehm sees the investment behaviour of Asian business partners as being conscious of high performance and precision, even in intensive operation.

Service In Difficult TimesThis behaviour has not changed even in a time of global financial and economic crisis. Some customers have postponed a few investments; but in principle, nothing has been called into question. Until new investments are made, the existing machines and facilities must run as reliably as possible. “An extensive and strong service network is more important than ever for customers. This is key to

the continuing dominance of any world market leader,” says Mr Rehm.

“In times of a weak economy and declining sales volume, it is critical to maintain the strength of service technicians and experts in the respective local markets to ensure that valuable regional know-how is preserved and always available to customers,” stresses Christof Stadel, Holzma head of service and support.

Along with quality, customers around the world associate the ‘Made in Germany’ tag with service performance. As an example, Holzma manages logistical and geographical limitations systematically to increase service availability in Asia and around the globe, with plans to introduce a new customer call centre for the service and support area.

Same StandardsThe presence of ‘off-site’ service centres, outside of the home country, may give an impression that variances in service and product quality are imminent. How does a European brand preserve quality and performance in production and service? Knowledge sharing is a strategy utilized by many companies whereby, as an example, an accredited field service technician installs and maintains the machinery, and trains the operators using a standard qualification matrix. This strategy ensures that knowledge is passed on and transferred directly to the customer.

What holds true for service also applies to manufacturing. For instance, although not all Holzma panel saws are produced in Germany, the quality

A holistic approach across theorganisation and across geographieswill aid a company in designing solutions.

In striving for uniformly high levels of quality, one must not lose sight of the special requirements of individual markets.

and reliability of these machines must meet all standardised quality criteria - whether they are made in Germany, Spain, China, or Brazil. Numerous measures have been put in place to systematically ensure that these criteria are met. These include the close cooperation between locations.

The HPP 180 is an example of this. Holzma's German engineers worked together with their Chinese counterparts to develop this model for Asian markets. Although the entire production process was completed at Homag's Shanghai plant, close coordination between engineers in China and in Germany maintains quality and ensures a competitive price-performance ratio even in keenly competitive markets.

Holistic Approach“In striving for uniformly high levels of quality, one must not lose sight of the special requirements of individual markets,” states Mr Rehm. For example, a company will only build and sell particular models in select markets. But one should also keep an eye on technology concepts that can be extended on the basis of a modular system and then adapted to customer requirements.

“A holistic approach across the organisation and across geographies will aid a company in designing solutions that meet the increasing demands of the customers,” shares Rehm. “Particularly in Asia, we are seeing rapid changes in production processes. Whereas previously large quantities were dominant, today the demand is for more flexibility and scope of application to allow production in small batches of exactly the quantities required,” he continues.

Companies must respond to this demand with fast, high-performance and energy-efficient solutions. A typically ‘Made In Germany’ product steps up to this challenge and thrives in fulfilling it. FDM

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ENQUIRY NO. 7002


Technology

Laminating Technology:

Advances in digital printing technology

and modern fold-down systems are taking

laminates further. By Karin Dullweber,

the Association of European Producers of

Laminate Flooring


Technology

Despite contentions that it is not ‘real wood,’ laminate flooring are increasingly becoming popular with project planners, architects, landlords as well as private home

owners due mainly to its installation ease and design possibilities. Emphasis has recently been given to improvements not only on the laying systems, but also on the flooring’s surface.

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Digital and porous synchronous printing has made fancy décors, while new developments in overlay technology help to optimise both the look and durability of the flooring.

While it may still be a little unusual to find Mona Lisa, Picasso and Marc Aurel on laminate flooring, it is no longer exceptional. The laminate flooring industry has seen surges in the use of digital printing, as the industry’s trade fairs feature décors that are designed for commercial buildings. Most European manufacturers have yet to catch on, but the trend is increasingly becoming popular.

Printing & OverlayMeanwhile, porous synchronous printing is breaking ground as well. Wooden décors produced with this printing technology deliver an authentic look, showing knots and pores of the chosen wood that can be traced perfectly while lending structure and depth to the surface. Real or fake V-bevels emphasise this impression. The so-called ‘hand scraped look,’ also another development, allows for flooring that appears to have been done by hand.


Technology

ENQUIRY NO. 7003

Kaindl: Real-Wood Laminate FlooringKaindl Two, the real-wood laminate flooring collection

from Kaindl, mimics the finish of natural wood such as

exotic, softwood, and vintage. Prints are produced using

Kaindl’s in-house digital printing technology, allowing for

several colours, designs, photographic motifs, as well

as veneer images of rare wood species to be printed

on genuine wood.

With 12 UV-cured top coats, Kaindl Two features an

interlocking panel joint system, a slim-fit panel effect,

and four-sides micro bevel 3D effect. The Kaindl Two

collection was recognised as ‘Product of the Year’ for

2010 by Heimwerker Praxis.

Overlay, the ‘icing on the cake,’ has experienced tiny changes in the composition of varnishes and resins to produce new looks and levels of gloss. As the range of overlay options expand, high-gloss or ultra-matt looks which are not easy to produce are becoming an increasingly popular trend among laminate floors.

Overlay is also crucial to the floor’s production when it comes down to resistance to scratches and anti-static. But these extra features come at a cost and not all consumers are prepared to pay this. But with this feature the laminate flooring industry can further upgrade its product quality.

Laminates In BathroomsNow used in bathrooms, laminate flooring has cores made of glued wood or plastic which are resistant to swelling under moist conditions. Thanks to special edge machining that have made these floors acceptable for such purposes, some European manufacturers have a separate range of moisture-resistant laminate floorings for wet rooms.

On installation, users of laminate flooring can find help in modern fold-down systems which simply have to be laid against one another along the longitudinal groove. This eliminates the need for any tools that can potentially damage the floor’s surface. Manufacturers have also developed extras for laying to make the job of laying floor boards an easier one.

With its circular V-groove and classical appearance, the rustic board is gaining ground among laminate users as well, although plank and two-strip designs still haven’t lost their appeal. Narrow boards (around 130 mm wide) and long boards (lengths from 1.80 m) are proving to be trendsetters.

Today’s laminate floorings are designed to allow the fitting of LED light or cable systems beneath the surface. Skirting boards coloured to match or contrast with the floor are the final element of the product range, thus making a powerful statement. FDM

Enquiry No: 7100

Product hIghlIghts

Tarkett: Water-Resistant Laminate FlooringAquastyle from Tarkett is a water-resistant flooring system

for surfaces exposed to water spills, making it appropriate

for kitchens or bathrooms. Its Moisture Resistance

Technology (MRTech) joint treatment gives the product

capacity to prevent water ingress.

Aquastyle can be used for sealed areas with a range

of dedicated accessories: underlay, waterproof sealing

profile and waterproof skirting. The laminate includes an

anti-slip R10 safety feature, reinforced impact resistance

and abrasion, and stain and cigarette burn resistance.

Available in wood or stone designs, Aquastyle is made

of 84 percent natural and renewable material.

Enquiry No: 7101

ENQUIRY NO. 143


Panels

�

T he International Furniture Research Group estimates the increase in medium density fibreboard or MDF

usage to be from 12 to 16 percent every year all over the globe. The annual production of MDF worldwide was approximately 37 million cubic metres in 2003 and 2004 with Asia dominating the bulk of production,

imminent attacks from Mother Nature due to global warming issues, it is high time we take note of recent disasters happening worldwide and take suitable actions to counter them.

One thing the woodworking industry can contribute is the use of panels made from composite materials. MDF is the most widely used form in this sector.

Sought-AfterAs a third-generation wood substitute, MDF is the most sought-after board in the modern woodworking industry. MDF faces a stiff competition from its counterparts such as the particleboard, plywood, honeycomb, and high density fibreboard

MDF:

Medium density fibreboard can be used in more quantities as a response

to environmentalists’ concern over global warming. By Shiv Kumar Shet,

business development manager, Biesse Manufacturing.

Composite PanelThe

Potential

MDF, usually covered in laminates, is used in cabinets, molded furniture, speakers, kitchens, and flooring.

followed by Europe and North America. These three areas together produce 85 percent of the world’s total production in MDF.

Furthermore, China produces the most as far as any other country is concerned, producing approximately 14 million cubic metres of MDF every year. With environmentalists predicting

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Panels

(HDF), but MDF is often preferred due to its non-resonant properties.

To elaborate, MDF is basically comprised of softwood broken down into very small wood fibres, which are materials that constitute the forming of MDF. Unlike the materials in particleboards, fibres used in MDF are much smaller; hence they are denser and stronger than particleboards. The variation in properties of MDF boards depends on the different species and type of softwood used in manufacturing. These days, materials other than wood such as waste paper, bamboo, glass, aramide and waste wood are also used and the results have yielded good quality MDF. Bark is sometimes

excluded from further processing as it may damage machinery.

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Removing The BarkThe initial step in production is identifying the suitable wooden logs before debarking. Sometimes the bark is also used, but to optimise quality and finish, the bark is sometimes excluded in further processing. Another reason for this is because the grit of the bark can damage machinery, leading to additional expenses. Hence, the bark is avoided in most cases.

Debarking of logs is an important process in any setup making MDF. Today, many plants begin the manufacturing process in the first step and skip debarking as these start off with chips

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Panels

and other waste wood coming from other plants or forests. As with the making of veneers in which the flitch is often removed, logs of 2 to 2.5 metres in length are loaded on lathes for debarking. Other machines such as a Cambio ring debarker are also used. This is the fastest and most widely practiced method as it can process up to one tonne per minute.

Undersized Or OversizedChipping is the process wherein debarked logs are chipped to smaller sizes. Some plants begin with debarking and chipping as they directly start off with wastage from other plants. These are re-chipped by a disc consisting of blades fixed on thick, radial plates numbering between four to twenty.

The chips are screened as either undersized or oversized. The oversized chips undergoes further processing while the undersized chips are used as fuel. The final product is passed over magnetic separators to remove impurities.

Next comes the pulping. Finely chipped particles are fed through a screw feeder in the form of plugs before being heated to approximately 130 to 150°C for about one or two minutes.

Take note that MDF consists of wood cells such as tracheids, vessels and fibres, which are not to be mistaken for particles.

The defibrator is the process in which two plates rotating counterclockwise with radial grooves converge at the circumference, breaking down the plugs at high pressures and temperatures. This defibrates the wood and softens the lignin which helps the separation of fibres in the lamella. Steam is extracted from the pulp. All this happens within a span of a minute in the defibrator. A secondary refiner is utilised to get a fine, spongy pulp.

Blowline And PendistorBlowline takes in the defibrated fibres into its line. The blowline is generally a 40 to 45 millimetre-thick pipe that facilitates the passage of fibres at high velocity.

To improve moisture resistance, wax and resin is used in the blowline while the fibres are still wet. This is done to avoid the bundling of the fibres and to retain its properties. A sudden expansion in the diameter of the blowline to 1500 millimetre along with its heating to about 550°C (by heating coils) dries the fibres.

The consistent shakeup of the fibres distributes the resin uniformly.

The Moisture Content (MC) is approximately 15 percent at this stage and is considerably reduced in the process. The fibres may be stored in containers depending on whatever time it needs to be kept. The time for which fibres are retained at this point before it goes in for the mat forming is not critical.

The pendistor is the process of placing fibres on a moving conveyor plate by consistent air velocities. Here, it is important to maintain the air velocities to achieve a uniform layer on the conveyor prior to the pressing action. The thickness on the conveyor from the pendistor will be around 230 to 600 millimetre thick before it gets reduced in thickness at the pre-presser unit.

Pre-Final StageThe pressing device is the pre-final stage where the required thickness of the panel is processed. Here, the sequence of actions is quite critical since heating, pressing and cutting is all combined in a sequential chain with accurate precision timing and control.

The size of the panel can be achieved

Two common softwood

species are the Monterey Pine

and Scots Pine. Softwood is

broken down into very small

fibres that constitute MDF Jo

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Panels

ENQUIRY NO. 7004

in two ways: by cutting it laterally as it is lowered from the pendistor, or by cutting it off with a saw on the conveyor plate of the pressing line. Pressures of up to 3500 MPa and temperatures reaching 200°C are involved in this process. Some huge plants such as those in Wagga use hot presses up to seven daylights to counter demand. Press sizes can be 1.5 to 2 metres wide and 5 to 20 metres long.

FinishingIn finishing, the boards or panels are later cut to required finish as far as sizes are concerned. They are then sanded and trimmed after being cooled in a dryer. Storage is mandatory since it allows the resins to cure the panel and give it its exact properties. Normally a melamine or veneer layer is opted as per requirement of the end user.

MDF is used in cabinets, molded furniture, speakers, kitchens, and flooring. The advantages of the MDF panel include its flexibility in usage (as far as contours are required), availability, environmental friendliness, cheaper cost, consistency in desired properties, as well as its excellent adaptability to veneers. However, one must also note that it cannot resist

water, that it is heavier than chip board and plyboard, and that it requires more tools to be used by the worker.

Another word of caution is that dust emitted during work is injurious, and may cause lung infection and irritation to the naked eye. Present day machines come with FPH certification*, ensuring better duct extraction and reduced risk to the operator.

An MDF board.

Dust emitted during work may cause lung infection and irritation to the naked eye.

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*FPH certification is awarded by the Institute for Machine Tools (Institut für Werkzeugmaschinen or IfW), a research body at the University of Stuttgart, Germany focusing on machine tool design, metal cutting, woodworking, automation engineering and sustainable production engineering. FDM

Biesse: CNC Working CentreBiesse’s Rover Gold CNC working centre features a 12kW

electro spindle and boring head with 21 drill bits.

The machine, used by kitchen and office furniture

manufacturers who work on MDF panels, has 10

position tool changers fixed with the beam and 24

vacuum cups with different sizes.

Featuring a relay control system

with mobile control board, the

Rover Gold also has a remote

control that enables spindle

and axis adjustment.

Enquiry No: 7102

Product hIghlIght


Panels

When manufacturing any type of composite wood panel, it is important that the right adhesive is chosen for the job. Many different factors come

into play beyond the physical characteristics and performance of the binder. For instance, the wood species used directly affects how it will react. This, in turn, will dictate the chemical composition of the resin required to effectively produce strong panel products.

Selecting the right resin for Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) production ensures a consistent product that performs as desired, but more than that, it can also help producers to maximise plant productivity, with a positive impact on profit margins in turn.

One Such Resin Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate (MDI) is one such resin frequently used in this particular application. Sometimes misunderstood as a high-cost alternative to conventional formaldehyde-based resins, in practice MDI is in fact the preferred resin choice for MDF production.

A tried and tested technology, MDI has consistently proven that it can increase panel performance and that it is an affordable option for manufacturers of MDF. MDI provides a bond with the wood particles or strands as it has a reaction with the wood itself when put under intense heat, thereby creating a chemical weld. This is a different and superior type of bond to the mechanical weld that formaldehyde-based products produce. In the case of formaldehyde products, it is visible where one material starts and another ends.

MDI can help manufacturers of composite wood products such as MDF, particleboard and oriented strand board to achieve a more stable processing window, improved material performance in terms of internal bond strength, and increased protection against thickness swell while reducing production costs.

MDF Production:

The

Selecting the right resin for MDF production ensures consistency and helps producers maximise plant

productivity with increased profit margins. By Iain Stanton, composite wood panel marketing manager for

Europe and Asia, Huntsman

BoardBinder

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Panels

Diffusion InterfaceMDI bonds by forming a diffusion interphase. The resin spreads over the surface of the wood and penetrates into cracks, cell lumen and even cell walls. Penetration depths of up to 1 mm are readily achieved, which is well beyond the three cell depths that are commonly assumed as needed for wood resins to provide adequate adhesive strengths.

In the diffusion interphase, the MDI effectively becomes one with the wood and this, along with the penetration and the spread, is responsible for the strong performance expected from MDI-bonded wood including the resistance to thickness swell and the high strengths.

MDI, with its strong chemical weld, can offer MDF manufacturers the following benefits:• Increasedmillproductivity• Increasedtolerancetoavarietyofwoodspecies• Increase in thepanels’physicalpropertyperformance•Fastcuring•Easeofaddingbiocidesorfireretardants•Excellentstrength toweight ratio•Compared with traditional formaldehyde options, MDI resins

require a lower dosage making it a cost-effective binding option when comparing on a cost/sq m basis.

Tale Of Two ResinsManufacturing MDF using emulsifiable MDI with a continuous press differs from the production of MDF with Melamine Urea Formaldehyde (MUF) resins. Since the two resins behave differently, the manufacturing approach has to be altered. MUF resins create a physical bond, whilst emulsifiable MDI resins create a chemical bond (polyurea glue). This reaction has to be managed in a different way within the press. EMDI resinsthat are run with the same process parameters as MUF resins will result in blown boards.

These MDI resins are formaldehyde-free and fast-curing adhesives and are preferred binders for MDF production. They provide water-resistance, strength and stability by creating a chemical as well as physical bond with wood. Their fast cure time allows MDF manufacturers to significantly increase production output. MDI resins can be used 100 percent volume or as a catalyst with other adhesives, increasing line speed by up to 15 percent.

Adjustments to the press profile are critical in order to produce quality boards with excellent physical properties. FDM

Enquiry No: 7103

Product highlightHuntsman: MDI EmulsionHuntsman’s range of I-Bond MDI wood resins contain no

added formaldehyde and are considered as ‘exempt’ within

the requirements of section 93120.3

of the California Air Resources

Board (CARB) standards. Using

I-Bond resins allows products

to be classified as both CARB

I and CARB II compliant

as well as Japanese four-

star compliant, which is

of increasing concern to

producers.

ENQUiRY NO. 7005

Flooring made of MDF board

Wood fibres in MDF production

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Surfaces & Flooring

Resistance to decay. This has been, historically, the main driver for wood modification. This is

the impetus for modifying specifically low-durability timber species as these require a preservative treatment to extend its service life. However, this may also result in beneficial changes to wood properties. These have increased both the performance of wood products and the range of applications.

The use of new, modified timber products as alternatives to natural wood floor coverings is growing, if recent trends are anything to go by. While these alternatives’ penetration into the flooring market is slow – due in large part to the scepticism of long-standing users of solid wood towards innovation

– products such as Accoya, Indura Wood, Vecowood, Lignia, Lunawood, FloThermo and Thermowood are starting to take root. Their usage has crept to the point where they are being considered even for large flooring installations.

Properties & BenefitsModified wood is defined as natural wood that has been treated with a chemical, biological or physical agent to enhance its performance. It excludes wood treated with wood preservatives. There are three wood modification processes: chemical modification, impregnation treatment and thermal modification.

The

Modified wood floors offer several benefits, but one should realise that they are not a ‘silver bullet’ to all installation problems. By Peter Kaczmar, flooring expert, Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA)

Indoor/outdoor Accoya wood flooring in use in Switzerland. The product has applications for flooring that can run continuously from inside a house to a deck outside. It can also serve as a solid wood flooring solution over under-floor heating or bathroom situations where dimensional stability is critical.

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Beware

Chemical modification involves the impregnation of permeable species of wood with chemicals. These react with water-binding sites present in the wood cell wall, resulting in the wood becoming more stable and resistant to distortion.

Of the modified woods which can be used in the flooring sector, Accoya is the main example where the chemical process

‘acetylation’ produces a hard, resilient and stable material from a softwood species with virtually no cupping. The

Engineered Wood Flooring:

main drawbacks are the slight smell of vinegar, species limitations, and colour choice (the process can only be used on permeable wood species).

Impregnation treatments are responsible for products such as Vecowood, Lignia, and Indura Wood, which can all be used for flooring installations. The processes for Vecowood, Fibre7 and Osmose Indurite involves impregnating wood with fine chemicals that penetrate dry wood when applied under pressure.


Surfaces & Flooring

DegraDation oF wooD by Decay Fungi iS commonly

referred to as rot, decay, brown rot, or dry rot. Fungi are

forms of plant life that derive their nutrition by using

other organic materials as food. Decay is spread by

microscopic spores that are produced by the fruiting

bodies of fungi.

These spores are ever-present in the atmosphere. As

evidenced by buildings worldwide, wood construction can

provide centuries of service life. Proper design, construction

and maintenance is geared toward keeping wood moisture

content below the threshold that supports decay.

Decay Growth & RisksConditions necessary for decay growth include moderate

temperature: a range of 10 to 32 deg C is ideal; food:

organic matter including most wood species; moisture:

prolonged conditions where the moisture content is in

excess of 20 to 25 percent; and oxygen. Of these factors,

keeping wood below the threshold moisture content level

of 20 to 25 percent is the primary means of preventing

decay fungi from growing in wood.

Exterior applications of wood products, such as

sliding and trim, have increased decay risk due to direct

exposure to moisture. Wood products have a history

of good performance because they are exposed to

moisture only intermittently and are able to dry down

below elevated moisture content levels before decay can

take hold. It’s important, however, to prevent conditions

that can trap and hold moisture, reducing the wood’s

ability to dry.

Special ConsiderationsThe exposed end grain of wood products requires

special consideration, such as flashing or other means

of protection, since the high capillarity of end-grain

increases water absorption. Therefore, effective sealing

of the edges of plywood, OSB and composite siding

products is imperative. It also helps to control checking

in veneer-faced siding products.

• Untreatedwoodshouldneverbe in contactwith the

ground.

• Untreatedwoodshouldneverbeinpermanentcontact

with concrete foundations.

• Installedwoodshouldbenocloserthansixinchesto

the finish grade.

Building StandardsProtect interior or sheltered applications, such as floors

and roofs, from moisture leaks. Properly ventilate these

areas. The (US) building code generally requires that

attic spaces be ventilated by providing one sq ft of net

free ventilation for every 150 sq ft (approximately 14 sq

m)ofatticarea.

Likewise, the code generally requires that crawl

spaces be ventilated by providing one sq ft of net free

ventilation for every 150 sq ft of crawl space area. The

use of vapour retarders and proper placement of vents

may permit a reduction in required ventilation area.

Homeowners are occasionally concerned that the

engineered wood products used in their new home will

eventually decay because they were exposed to moisture

during construction. They should not be concerned,

because decay requires prolonged moisture exposure

for fungi to grow. The short exposure during normal

construction is not sufficient for decay, and once the

construction is complete, the materials dry down to a

moisture level below that required for decay growth.

Decay of engineered wood ProductsBy APA – The Engineered Wood Association

Lign

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impregnation treatments are used to create lignia wood

ENQUIRY NO. 7007


Surfaces & Flooring

These compounds polymerise, or bind together, and fill voids normally filled with air in dry wood, thereby increasing wood density and hardness.

Dyes & HeatingDyes may be added in both processes, which change the colour of the wood throughout its section. This can be used to enhance the aesthetics of softwoods and permits repeated sanding without loss of colour. Again, species that are normally permeable are selected to enable modification to occur throughout the section. The main in-service benefit of the impregnation processes is improvement of surface hardness and dimensional stability.

Heating wood to temperatures of 160 to 230˚C for several hours or several days produces thermally modified woods such as Thermowood, FloThermo and Lunawood. Heating wood to these temperatures and holding the temperature for these periods alters the chemistries of a number of structural and non-structural Vecowood showing range of colours.

ENQUIRY NO. 7006

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Modification Type Commercial name of modified product UK availability

Thermal ThermoWood®

S and D ✔

Plato®wood ✔

Retitech™

Bois Perdure©

FLO.TERMO® ✔

Celloc®

MENZ HOLZ

Lunawood® ✔

Chemical Accoya® ✔

Kebony® ✔

Belmadur®

Impregnation Indura Wood* ✔

Vecowood® ✔

Lignia™ ✔

The table above shows the modification processes of wood, the product names, and their availability in the UK.

Modified woods can improve on the natural product in many ways, but like wood

itself they do not offer a ‘one size fits all’ solution. They must be weighed

on their individual merits when selecting for specific contracts.

polymers that make up wood, hence changing its properties. This can mean an increase in dimensional stability, although in many thermal modification processes, there is a reduction in the amounts of some structural polymers. This results in a reduction of density, strength and surface hardness.

A number of these modification processes may change or enhance the appearance of wood. Thermal modification darkens lighter coloured woods and different shades can be achieved with different thermal regimes. The colour extends throughout the wood section, which is desirable for flooring where maintenance, including sanding, is anticipated. Similar benefits can be obtained with the impregnation processes, where pigments may be added specially to enhance or change the appearance of products such as with Vecowood and Indura Wood.

Caution AheadAs with most products, it is important to exercise caution when considering modified wood substrates for certain situations as attendant disadvantages are not apparent. For example, with thermal treatment, the surface of certain species has a tendency to become softer and therefore less capable of withstanding high levels of traffic. There is also a tendency for some reduction in splitting resistance and glue performance, which may influence the type of installation that is proposed.

On the other hand, the use of modified woods as floor coverings has much to offer in terms of improvements in dimensional stability and resistance to distortion. This may allow for greater flexibility in terms of the dimensions of board or plank widths used in specific circumstances. Improved hardness achieved with some forms of modification may also extend the range of circumstances a species – otherwise considered unsuitable for heavy-traffic environments – may be used.

Undoubtedly, these product innovations offer greater flexibility within the wood flooring sector to extend the use and improve the overall perception of wood as a floor covering. However, the specifier must take care not to shoot himself in the foot by using this innovation as a ‘silver bullet’ to solve all installation problems. Modified woods can improve on the natural product in many ways, but like wood itself they do not offer a ‘one size fits all’ solution. They must be weighed on their individual merits when selecting for specific contracts. FDM


&DesignDecor

FDM Asia: What are the available types of furniture films in the market today? SR: There are two main types: 2D and 3D. 2D films are used for furniture, case goods (eg: tables, cabinets) and home décor products (eg: wall panels, partition walls, stereo speakers, TV stands). They are also for retail fixtures.

2D films can be applied in numerous ways: metal lamination, flat lamination, profile wrapping, drawer wrapping, and miter folding. They are ideal for laminating over wood substrates, such as particleboard and MDF. 3D films are suitable for press applications on MDF substrates. They are used for door and cabinet fronts, desk and tabletops, furniture components,

displays, and store fixtures.

There are three main polymers used in the decorative surfaces marketplace today – polypropylene (PP), PVC, and polyester (PET) films. PP is typically used in lower-cost applications such as draw wrapping and profile wrapping. PVC is the most popular film choice and is used in 2D applications as well as 3D solutions. PET is used in higher-end applications for kitchen and bathroom doors. That said, the most important factor in determining film choice is the design, with respect to the local taste.

Further, the choice in surface finish is very important as it can give a different nature to a piece of furniture. While a design in high gloss creates cool and noble optics, the same colour in a super matte surface can create a natural and warm impression.

Speaking to FDM Asia, Sandra Ruhlig, business manager for decorative surfaces films at Klöckner Pentaplast, gives her take on today’s trends and markets affecting furniture films. By Jerome Lim

Furniture Films:

More Than

MeetsTheEye


&DesignDecor

FDM Asia: Could you elaborate on the differences between 2D and 3D films? SR: 2D and 3D go into different applications and products. Basically, 3D is equivalent to a thermoformable film, while 2D films usually are non-thermoformable. 2D is used for profile wrapping, flat lamination, and drawer wrapping. The 2D film is glued inline and then wrapped to the particleboard.

The main applications for 3D films are kitchen and bathroom doors. 3D film is thermoformed with heat and pressure to a shaped and pre-glued MDF board. That also means that 3D solutions add value to the furniture as it offers more possibilities regarding the shape and the design of the door.

FDM Asia: What types of prints are popular with consumers? SR: Maybe it is a sign of the times or a reaction to the economic downturn, but furniture design is increasingly leaning more towards natural colours in warm tones and moving away from the greyish and cool-looking designs from the last few years. Today’s modern living space features warm colours, such as antique white, cream, yellow-green, light brown, and grey-brown.

Working with these colours, we see a strong trend of wood reproductions combined with natural influences. New interpretations of oak and ash are especially popular. The challenge is to combine naturalness, elegance, and quality in designs that meet the market’s needs.

It varies by region, but generally high-gloss films are very popular around the globe. Consumers view high-gloss surfaces as elegant and modern. The surface itself is state-of-the-art and has excellent surface optics.

FDM Asia: What should buyers or specifiers look out for? Could you let us know about purchasing pitfalls?SR: Quality is crucial due to long life expectancy of furniture, especially in kitchens, as most retailers offer a 10-year guarantee. There are all types of quality levels available in the marketplace. However, using a high-quality film will help ensure the furniture will last.

The recent trend toward high-gloss surfaces has resulted in a rise in expectations for high-quality films. In particular, the customer expects a perfect gloss level, surface quality close to perfection, and depth of optics. With high-gloss films, quality is extremely important. One lower-quality component can diminish the overall result in terms of surface quality and depth of optics.

Other important considerations are colour accuracy, light stability, chemical resistance, and scratch resistance. Colour accuracy from batch to batch is a benefit for customers to enable them to mix batches in their inventory and to have the security that they can be assembled even in one kitchen. Light stability is critical since a customer will not want to have any yellowing after a short time.

The surface must be resistant to chemical substances (eg: cleaning agents, juices, coffee stains). It must also be scratch resistant to hold up to daily use. Using thermofilm solutions is a real advantage due to the ability to provide washable surfaces and resistant humidity.

The biggest pitfall is using lower-quality materials. To achieve the best results, one must use quality components not only in film, but also for the MDF and the glue. At the end of the day, the quality of the piece of furniture is achieved by the combination of materials.

FDM Asia: How does one recognise a poor quality film? SR: There are several signs: 1) rapid discolouration of the film; 2) poor scratch resistance; and 3) missing light stability. Those problems usually separate the wheat from the chaff. It is important

&DesignDecor

Product highlights

to bear in mind that the purchase of a kitchen represents an important investment so that quality expectations are met.

FDM Asia: How can users maximise the life and appearance of furniture films? SR: Treat them according to the operating guidelines, especially guidelines on cleaning agents.

FDM Asia: What new trends are seen emerging in furniture films? SR: High gloss will continue for the next few years. A high-gloss finish is still viewed as very elegant and stylish. We see increasing interest in super matte surfaces, such as our Turmalin, Siena, and Umbra finishes.

FDM Asia: From your experience, how has the economic downturn affected the furniture film business? SR: We have seen demand fall. As such, inventories are not turning over as they did prior. Due to decrease in demand, smaller production lots are being ordered. This is a challenge for the industry as it is set up for larger runs.

FDM Asia: What is your outlook on the Asian furniture film market? SR: For the Asian market, we see the rise in income directly correlating to increased demand for 3D films as more and people are able to afford a new kitchen.

The demand for high-quality kitchens will also increase as a result. From a design perspective, we see high-gloss films continuing to lead the way. FDM

ENQU

iRY

NO.

161

Intelligent woodworking solutions

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PRACTIVE - the HOMAG Group range designed specifically for the woodworking shops, offers top-quality engineering and software at an af-fordable price. Outstanding machines for sawing, sanding, drilling and assembly, as well as for edge banding and complete processing. The success-ful range is complemented by a top class service back-up.

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Mit Partnerschaft und Strategie zum Erfolg

50 years HOMAG

Securing success through partnership and strategy

442.indd 1 22.06.10 10:24

Klöckner Pentaplast: Furniture FilmLino Ash from Klockner Pentaplast shows the various aspects of the ash tree. Combined with the Striatura surface (a deep and longitudinal embossing) and the solid colors of Turmalin and Umbra, this design creates a 3D effect. The Turmalin and Umbra colours in earthy tones are designed to blend with the Lino Ash and are available in a super matte finish.

&DesignDecor

Enquiry No: 7104

ENQUiRY NO. 7008



Wood & Sustainability

Wood Drying And Preservation:Dried To PerfectionEnvironmental issues and increasing demand drive the need for greener and more cost-effective wood drying and preservation techniques. By Dr Jegatheswaran Ratnasingam, FIWSc

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ped



‘air-drying.’ This method proved to be time consuming, and also uneconomical. Since the advent of drying technology, the removal of moisture from lumber has been completely transformed.

Two InnovationsTwo major technological innovations brought about this change: first, the development psychometric controls that regulated temperature and humidity in the ambient air around the lumber. This resulted in the development of commercial kiln drying of lumber, making the process

Wood Drying PrerequisitesThe drying of wood needs three essential and interrelated factors:

• Anatmospherecapableofreceivingwater vapour

• Energy to heat up and drive waterfrom the wood

• Airmovementaround thewood

Simply stated, there is a need for dry air, heat and moving air or wind. These three combined will dictate the rate at which the wood dries out, creating the prevailing psychometric conditions that drive moisture out of wood.

Water in wood is present in two forms: (1) free water, which is the water loosely held in the cavities in wood, and (2) bound water, which is the water tightly held in the cell walls of the wood. When green or wet lumber starts to dry, the water that is first removed is called free water. The energy required to evaporate this water is low and is quite similar to that of ‘accelerated air drying.’ On the other hand, when all the free water has been removed, the wood reaches the Fibre Saturation Point (FSP).

The FSP varies between 25 and 30 percent Moisture Content (MC) depending on species. Water that remains in wood below the FSP is called bound water and requires considerably higher energy levels to break its bonds within the wood.

Wood is by far the single most important raw material used by mankind since human

civilisation began, yet its efficient use has been hampered by its intrinsic property: the affinity to gain and lose moisture from and to its surroundings. For this reason, wood’s instability in the presence of moisture has adversely affected its reputation as a premier raw material for industrial application.

Apartfrommoisture,thelingo-cellulosicnature of wood (ie: being a composite made up of cellulose and lignin, wood

Shrinkage is inevitable in wood as it will swell and shrink depending on the humidity in the ambient

condition. This imposes undesirable stresses in the lumber which must be avoided if the lumber or

wood product is to function well in service.

Moist wood harbours bacteria and fungi that induce rotting.

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of moisture removal from lumber faster and economical.

Second was the widespread use of air conditioning in buildings. The extensive use of air-conditioning meant the humidity in the room was much lower (usually between six and ten percent) than the humidity in the ambient air. Therefore, lumber to be used in such environments must be dried to between six and ten percent if the lumber is to avoid catastrophic shrinkage.

Shrinkage is inevitable in wood as it will swell and shrink depending on the humidity in the ambient condition. This imposes undesirable stresses in the lumber which must be avoided if the lumber or wood product is to function well in service. Against thisbackdrop, wood drying has become a prerequisite for the manufacture of value-added wood products of any scale.

has simple sugar molecules as its main building blocks) makes it non-durable, as it is susceptible to attacks by biodegrading organisms such as fungi and insects. Hence, in order to boost the durability of wood and prolong its service life, wood requires the application of preservative chemical treatment.

These ‘treatments’ which include both drying (for moisture removal) and preservation (for chemical treatment application) have far reaching implications on the properties of wood and also the cost economics involved.

Standing trees can have moisture contents in excess of 200 percent, as water is essential for tree growth. Hence, in freshly cut trees moisture contents of up to 100 percent is normal, which in turn must be brought down to between 12 and 14 percent before sawn lumber can be ready for further processing or constructional use.

Historically, the removal of moisture from lumber was confined to ‘drying under the sun’ or what is commonly known as



In fact, as the moisture content drops below 30 percent, the energy required in drying wood increases sharply.

Eventually, wood will reach a moisture content that is in equilibrium with the surrounding ambient humidity – a point commonly referred to as the Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC). In fact, any change to the temperature of relative humidity will alter the prevailing EMC.

Hence, wood drying is a process by which altering the temperature and humidity regimes in the drying chamber establishes a series of EMCs. These series of EMCs form the basis of the ‘drying schedules’ or ‘drying tables’ used by commercial drying plant operators.

Although air drying time for a one-inch Dark Red Meranti (Shorea species, a very common commercial wood material in Asia) board may take two months, that for a two-inch board may take four, while those for thicker lumber can take years, the drying time has been significantly reduced with the advent of accelerated drying technology.

Presently, commercial wood materials are often air-dried to between 25 and 30 percent MC before being placed in a dry kiln. Though often high, the time and costs associated are off-set by better end-product quality and economic returns, making these drying facilities investments that pay itself off.

Wood Drying PhysicsAs mentioned previously, heat energy is one of the prerequisites for drying. The common sources of heat energy in the wood drying industry are: (1) steam, (2) hot water and (3) hot oil, although the latter two are least preferred due to their low heat transfer efficiency.

Steam has emerged as the most reliable and economical source of heat energy, as its generation from boilers using wood-waste is highly efficient and cost-effective for the mills. Further, saturated steam as a source of heat energy has high heat transfer efficiency, providing the necessary heat load to dry wood in an economic manner. More than 95 percent of the existing hardwood dry kilns in the South East Asian region are steam heated and humidity controlled with reversible fans.

Reversible fans and baffles facilitate the air movement necessary for drying wood, taking moisture away and bringing heat back from the wood surface. Airflow is periodically reversed to ensure even drying across the width of the drying stock.

Baffles and false ceilings are used to force the air through wood packages across the wood surface. This ensures that there is little short-circuiting of the airflow, which in turn may create unevenly dried wood stock. The temperature in the drying environment is usually measured using a standard thermometer, expressed as the dry-bulb temperature.

The interaction between temperature and humidity creates a stable humidity environment to which wood will dry out. In this respect, wood behaves like a piece of ‘sponge’ continuously absorbing and desorbing moisture from and to the environment it is in.

This stable moisture condition will be reflected as the moisture content of wood. The moisture content of wood can be determined from the weight changes of sample boards, or

Cracks may appear on wood that is improperly dried.

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through the use of moisture meters. Nevertheless, accurate determination of wood moisture content is essential to ensure an efficient and effective wood drying process.

Conventional Kiln Drying In a 2009 survey by the International Furniture Research Group (IFRG) in Southeast Asia, it was found that the average drying defects expressed in volume loss is between four to seven percent, depending on the wood species. It must be emphasised that the manifestation of drying defects is not only a function of the drying process, but is also influenced by the wood species as some wood species are more prone to drying defects compared to others.

A good example is Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis), which is highly prone

to warping during the drying process. In general, when the drying rate is accelerated, severe drying defects that are not visible on the wood surface such as honeycombing, collapse and internal splits will form. Therefore, the wood drying process should be carried out at a regulated and controlled rate that corresponds to the natural moisture flow rate within the wood, in order to avoid the formation of drying defects.

Wood Drying EconomicsThe process of wood drying has become an integral part of any value-added wood products manufacturing industry, and wood drying plant operators are increasingly conscious about the need to be cost-competitive. In this context, wood drying as a process is simply about “removing moisture from wood to the

desired level, in the shortest possible time with minimal defect.”

Although technology offers many options, at the end of the day economics will prevail. Hence, it is no surprise that research pursuits into wood drying throughout the world is focused on optimising the drying process to ensure the highest possible yield.

Other drying methods include the use of dehumidification kilns, pre-dryers, and solar kilns. Novelty drying techniques include vacuum drying, press drying, solvent or exchange seasoning, high frequency or microwave drying, and vapour drying.

Preservation TreatmentsWood being a ligno-cellulosic material is prone to biodegradation. Inevitably, some wood species, especially the

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medium and low density wood, require preservative chemical treatment in order to protect it from fungi and insects, which are the most common biodegradation agents attacking wood.

Biodegradation of wood in any form is undesirable as it weakens wood in terms of its strength as well as its appearance. It is for this reason that wood preservation has grown to become a sizeable industry, with a market value of close to US$100 million within Southeast Asia alone in 2009.

According to the IFRG, as the increasing amount of lesser-known wood species makes it to the market place, the demand for wood preservation is also expected to grow substantially over the years.

Copper chrome arsenate and other inexpensive organic biocides have been

preservatives that do not impair the environmental quality. Nevertheless, all innovations in the wood preservation sector is confined to the development of new preservative chemical systems, as the methods of preservative application using the vacuum-pressure chamber remains the most widely employed technique up to date.

Ironically, despite being a prerequisite to prolong the service life of wood, the wood preservative industry remains highly cost sensitive. It is for this reason that many water-based preservative systems, particularly the borate-based system, continue to find widespread acceptance in the marketplace where it remains one of the most cost-effective wood preservative. Inevitably, the economics of the wood preservative industry is also

ENQUIRY NO. 7009

As the increasing amount of lesser-known wood species makes it to the marketplace, the demand for wood preservation is also

expected to grow substantially over the years.

the traditional wood preservatives used for many decades worldwide. However, growing environmental and disposal concerns as well as stricter governmental regulations have caused a dramatic shift towards preservatives with lower mammalian toxicity levels and environmental friendliness, such as copper and borate-based systems.

In fact, according to industrial experts the current market trend is focused on employing totally organic biocides based on relatively benign and expensive agrochemicals. However, from the research perspective there appears to be an intense effort to develop non-biocide methods to protect wood.

Nevertheless, synthetic pyrethroids and other water-based preservatives such as borate compounds continue to make a strong presence in the marketplace, as the global market calls for low toxicity

purely numbers, rather than its efficacy against biodegrading agents.

Cost Economics & QualityAs wood resources around the world come under increasing pressure for conservation, the wood resources available will have to be used efficiently and effectively.

Cost economics and quality will therefore become the determinants in any treatments (drying and preservation) for wood. Although wood science and technology has come a long way since its beginning, the evolving market continues to exert pressure on the wood and wood products suppliers to continue to upgrade their products to ensure sustainability and environmental friendliness. FDM

Rubberwood from rubber trees is highly prone to warping during the drying process.

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Believed to be as old as the history of wood usage itself, wood preservation has an extensive usage in industrial, agricultural, and utility applications. By Augustine Quek

Wood preservation encompasses measures and processes taken to prolong wood’s useful life

and to increase its durability and resistance to decay or attack by insects or fungus. Falling within this broad definition is wood drying which involves the removal of moisture and applying any number of different preservatives to wood, timber, wood structures or engineered wood.

Wood treatment provides long-term resistance to organisms that cause deterioration. If applied correctly, wood treatment extends the productive life of timber by five to 10 times. If left untreated, wood that is exposed to moisture or soil for sustained periods of time will become weakened by various types of fungi, bacteria or insects.

The practice of wood preservation is

believed to be as old as the history of wood usage itself. It can be gleaned that historically, wood is treated if it is to be used primarily for industrial, agricultural, and utility applications.

Wood Preservatives: A Closer Look Wood preservatives can be classified into two broad categories: water-borne

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made available oil-borne preservatives formulated as water in oil emulsions or dispersions in water. Coal-tar creosote, one of the most widely used wood preservative, is made by distilling coal tar obtained after high temperature carbonisation of coal.

Creosotes distilled from tars other than coal tar are also available, such as wood-tar creosote, oil-tar creosote, and water-gas-tar creosote. However, these creosotes are generally less

wood being a more stable substrate for paints and translucent coatings.

Chemical-Free MethodsThermal treatment is a chemical-free method of wood preservation. In this process, moisture is removed from the wood. Wood drying has been may be described as the art of ensuring that gross dimensional changes through shrinkage are confined to the drying process.

When wood is exposed to high

preservatives and oil-borne preservatives. Water is the most common solvent carrier in preservative formulations due to its availability and low cost. Water-borne preservatives are often used when the wood surface are required to be clean, paintable, and free from objectionable odour.

However, water-borne systems may swell timber, leading to increased twisting, splitting and checking than other preservatives. Water-borne preservatives

According to the Australian Forest and Wood Products Research and Development

Corporation (FWPRDC), green sawn hardwood can increase in value from

about US$350 per cubic metre or less, to US$2,000 per cubic metre or more with

drying and processing.

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include various metallic salts and other compounds. The principal compounds used are combinations of copper, chromium, arsenic and fluoride. Many common water-borne preservatives include Chromate Copper Arsenate (CCA), Acid Copper Chromate (ACC), Ammoniacal Copper Zinc Arsenate (ACZA), Alkyl Ammonium compounds (AAC) and inorganic boron.

Water-borne wood preservatives, without arsenic or chromium, include Ammoniacal Copper Quat (ACQ), Copper Bis (dimethyldithiocarbamate) (CDDC), Ammoniacal Copper Citrate (CC), and Copper Azole-Type A (CBA-A).

Oil-borne preservatives are usually dissolved in petroleum or other organic solvents in order to penetrate wood. Research developments have recently

effective than coal-tar creosote in protecting wood from decay and insect attacks. Other oil-borne preservatives include linseed oil, pentachlorophenol solutions, organic biocides, organometallic compounds and light organic solvent preservatives (LOSP).

Another method for wood preservation that has been extensively studied is the acetylation of wood. This method uses acetic anhydride to react with wood at the molecular level to improve its performance properties.

Acetylation effectively changes chemical groups called free hydroxyls within wood into acetyl groups, reducing the ability of wood to absorb water. This also limits the wood’s ability to swell and shrink. Other benefits of acetylated wood include extended coating life due to acetylated

temperatures (200°C or more), its properties change significantly. Sugars inside the wood break up into a form that is inedible to pests, and natural protective compounds in the wood are effectively distributed to protect the wood.

Drying timber is one approach for adding value to sawn products from the primary wood processing industries. Wood drying is also done as part of the preservation process before applying preservatives. There are two main methods of drying wood, air drying and kiln drying

Air drying is the process of removing moisture from wood by exposing it to air. Although the temperature, and relative humidity cannot be controlled in air drying process, it is the simplest method of seasoning mainly based on the natural wind circulation over a stack

Engineered wood can be used to replace traditional materials such as steel, such as the ones on this road bridge made out of Accoya wood at Sneek, Netherlands



ENQUIRY NO. 7010

of sawn timber on raised foundations, in a clean, cool, dry and shady place. One of the main benefits that air drying wood offers is colour retention.

Kiln seasoning is drying of timber by keeping it in closed chamber in controlled temperature. In the kiln, the timber is stacked in closed chambers where the equipments are fitted to manipulate and control the temperature and relative humidity of drying the air, and its circulation through the timber

Radio frequency (RF) drying uses microwave radiation to heat the kiln charge. RF drying can be combined with vacuum (RF/V) to reduce the boiling point of water and further reduce the drying temperature. RF drying is still uncommon due to high operating cost as the heat of vapourisation is provided by electricity rather than local fossil fuel or waste wood sources.

Solar kilns uses heat from solar radiation to dry wood, and originated

✔ Prehistoric Era: The Beakermen, a prehistoric group living in the Llandaff area of Cardiff in the UK about 4,000 years ago, applied charring to wood.

✔ Ancient Greece: Records of wood preservation can be dated back to Alexander the Great’s rule (356 to 323 BC), when bridge wood was soaked in olive oil.

✔ Pre-100 BC: The Chinese were already immersing in saltwater wood that will be used as building materials.

✔ Roman Times: The Romans protected ship hulls by brushing the wood with tar.

Wood Preservation Across The Ages: A Snapshot✔ Anno Domini: Pliny the Elder (AD 23 to 79) described the

preparation of 48 different kinds of oil for wood preservation, including one in which wood is rubbed with oil of cedar to make it resistant to woodworm and decay.

✔ Industrial Revolution: During the Industrial Revolution, wood preservation became a cornerstone of the wood processing industry, with inventors and scientists such as Bethell, Boucherie, Burnett and Kyan making historic developments in wood preservation, with the preservative solutions and processes.

✔ 1800s: Commercial pressure treatment began in the latter half of this century with the protection of railroad crossties using creosote.

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stack. The drying is faster and more precise than air drying.

Kiln seasoning enables wood to be dried to any desired moisture content regardless of weather conditions. It normally takes two to five weeks for wood drying in kiln. Almost all commercial timbers of the world are dried in industrial kilns.

Newer FormsNewer forms of drying treatment include vacuum, radio frequency and solar. Vacuum drying works by operating at reduced pressures to increase the rate of moisture movement from the interior of the wood to the exterior.Many commercial variations of vacuum drying exist, such as hot water platten vacuum kilns, discontinuous drying, and super-heated steam vacuum (SSV).

However, the steadily increasing global demand for wood and wood products has meant a continuous effort in improving wood drying and preservation methods.

According to the Australian Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation (FWPRDC), green sawn hardwood can increase in value from about US$350 per cubic metre or less, to US$2,000 per cubic metre or more with drying and processing.

The clear benefits of well-dried and preserved wood meant that the industry will always seek better, newer and novel methods to do so. FDM

as small, hobbyists’ backyard systems. Now commercially available as full-fledge systems with internal controls, solar kilns can match conventional kilns performance while saving significant energy costs.

The steadily increasing global demand for wood and wood products has meant a continuous effort in improving wood drying and preservation methods

Challenges AheadEnvironmental concerns were raised in the last decade around certain wood preservation processes. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has restricted the use of CCA to certain applications. In Europe, Directive 2003/2/EC restricts the marketing and use of arsenic, including CCA wood treatment.


Features

F ingerjointed lumber is a successful example of using small dimension and low-grade lumber to produce

high quality products through innovation. The product is gaining economic importance, especially for the manufacturing of engineered wood products (eg: glulam, i-joists, and so forth).

The process of fingerjointing is complex and requires considerable efforts in order to determine and evaluate the various workable optimum conditions of jointed wood members. Many factors are known to affect the strength of fingerjoints. Some are related to wood, such as species, density, natural defects, Moisture Content (MC), temperature and ‘gluability’ of the species. Others are related to wood machining including:

Fingerjoint?As fingerjointed lumber gains economic importance, one must take note of several factors that affect fingerjointing strength. By Dr Mohammad Mohammad, group leader, structure building systems, FP Innovations - Forintek Division

What Makes A

type of adhesive and gluing processes, condition and cutting tools, curing time and applied assembling pressure.

MC & TemperatureTypically, the MC of wood in bonded products should be close to the Equilibrium Moisture Conditions (EMC) that the product will be subjected to in service. However, large variations within individual boards and between boards are not uncommon in a kiln-dried load of lumber. Since end joints usually contain a large proportion of end grains, control of glue penetration becomes critical.

Two schools of thoughts exist in explaining why poor performance is associated with high MC of wood and an aqueous type of adhesive (ie: Phenol

Formaldehyde or PF, Phenol-Resornicol or PRF, Melamine Urea Formaldehyde or MUF). One study showed that when the wood contains excess amounts of moisture, it absorbs less water and adhesive. This leads to excessive adhesive mobility, followed by squeeze-out when end pressure is applied, thus resulting in a thin glue line.

Other studies have concluded that at high MC, adhesive remaining in the glue line after pressing is diluted and is therefore absorbed by the wood, resulting in a starved joint. At a low MC (below 6 percent), studies have shown that the glue tends to dry out and most of the water from the adhesive migrates into the wood, leading to a granular adhesive.


Features

Increasing wood temperature by heating the fingerjoint accelerates polymerisation of thermo-setting adhesives which lead to increased viscosity of the adhesive, thus reducing excessive penetration of adhesive into the wet wood. Higher temperature could also pre-cure the glue and cause insufficient penetration.

On the other hand, wood that is cold or frozen could decelerate the polymerisation reaction, keeping adhesive at low viscosity for a longer period of time, leading to excessive penetration.

Findings from a recent study carried out at FPInnovations in close collaboration with Université Laval indicated that the MC of fingerjointed black spruce lumber (Picea Mariana) has more impact on the

Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) than temperature, for the range of conditions and the type of adhesives studied (Polyurethane-emulsion-polymer).

Results also showed that the operating envelope for PEP adhesive is between 12 and 16 percent MC and between 5 and 20˚C, while the optimum MC for PRF adhesive was found to be around 16 percent. It was also found that PRF adhesive performed better at high MC.

Geometry & ProfileFingerjoint profiles are manufactured using cutting tools (a revolving head made up of a series of stacked knives, shaped saw blades or a head holding replaceable bits). There are three main types of structural fingerjoints: vertical, horizontal, and inclined.

Under normal production conditions, the vertical profile is relatively stronger than the horizontal configurations, which is directly linked to the bonding area. Five variables usually define the geometry of a fingerjoint: slope, pitch, width, length, and tip width. Several profiles of structural fingerjoints are commonly used to join wood: feather, male-female and reverse. Except for shouldering, the three joint profiles have basically the same geometric parameters.

A study conducted at FPInnovations between 2000 and 2002 in collaboration with Université Laval evaluated the performance of fingerjointed black spruce lumber for three joint configurations: feather, male-female and reverse. Significant differences were found for bending strength among the three joint profiles. The same trend was observed for ultimate tensile strength but differences were not as significant. The analysis indicated that feather profile performs better than male-female and reverse profiles.

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Suitable AdhesivesTechnically, any adhesive suitable for bonding wood could be used for bonding fingerjoints, however, certain factors limit the choices. Those factors include intended use and service conditions (ie: exterior vs interior exposure, structural vs non-structural), physical and mechanical properties of an adhesive, curing speed and method, cost, and sometimes colour.

Adhesive selection for a manufacturer of structural fingerjointed products may begin as a cooperative effort between the manufacturer and an adhesive supplier. Together they should thoroughly review the product, its intended service environment, and all production processes and equipment before choosing an appropriate adhesive.

Fingerjointing End PressurePressure is needed to ensure the closest possible contact between the finger surfaces to be glued and for the adhesive to form a continuous and uniform layer with optimum thickness. It is also intended to force the fingers

together so that a locking action is obtained, giving a certain immediate handling strength after gluing.

Generally, as higher pressure is applied, more locking efficiency and performance can be obtained (up to the point where damage to the wood could occur). Excessive pressure, however, could damage the tips of fingers or split the finger roots, cause compression

failure of the wood and squeeze out the glue.

In a joint study conducted by FPInnovations and Université Laval on fingerjointed 2x3 black spruce to investigate the optimum end pressure, it was found that an end pressure around 3.43 MPa (498 psi) is most suitable for fingerjointing black spruce for structural applications (see figure 1). Lower or higher end pressure can result in lower tensile strength.

Quality ControlThe two primary goals for a quality control system in any fingerjointing operation are to: 1) detect substandard products; and 2) find the cause of a problem and search for a solution. Typical quality control procedures involve the evaluation of strength and delamination resistance of fingerjoints. Strength evaluation of fingerjoints for quality control purposes can be divided into two categories: destructive and non-destructive.

Non-destructive testing of fingerjoints has always been an attractive concept, since it would make it possible to evaluate all joints produced. A recently completed study at FPInnovations focused on developing a non-destructive evaluation

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Influence of end pressure on the tensile strength of fingerjoints.

Figure 1: Optimum End Pressure for Fingerjoints.

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technique by means of Computer Tomography (CT) technology. Results are promising in terms of its potential application for online FJ quality control and evaluation.

In addition to bending or tensile strength, fingerjoints are also monitored for delamination resistance. Delamination resistance is an indirect measure of the ability of the fingerjoint to resist strength degradation when exposed to high moisture conditions. The delamination resistance evaluation that has been adopted by the Canadian standards is similar to that usually used for assessing glued joints for exterior applications.

Business ApplicationsOne example where the adoption of new technologies could make a difference for the fingerjointing industry is associated with the type of adhesive used and the moisture conditions of the raw materials. Even though fingerjointing is most commonly performed on dry material, there are economic advantages to jointing blocks in the green state:

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WINTERSTEIGER SEA Pte Ltd., 2 Ang Mo Kio Street 64 # 05-03A, Singapore 569084Tel. +65 6363 3384, Fax +65 6363 3378, [email protected], www.wintersteiger.com

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increased value for trim blocks; reduced chip production; higher product value for low-grade material; and more efficient use of kilns (medium temperature).

With modern adhesives technology, it is possible to fingerjoint pieces of lumber with high MCs. It is even possible to fingerjoint dry and wet pieces, whether or not they are frozen.

For the fingerjointed lumber industry to succeed, it must take advantage of the existing state-of-the-art knowledge produced through many years of research into the fingerjointing process and product quality. Adoption of some of the critical technical information on new and innovative processing and adhesive technologies will enable the industry to optimise operations and stay competitive. FDM

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Features

FDM Asia: Tell us about your company.Mr Tan: We deal with used woodworking machines, mainly European-made or Japanese-made. We do the reconditioning work and sell the machines as reconditioned machines with warranty.

The other part of our business is the dust collecting system for industries such as the woodworking industry, the paper industry, the fibre glass industry, and the recycling industry.

Although our dust collecting systems are not only for the woodworking industry, this is where our main customers are.

In terms of territories, we cater mainly to the ASEAN, China, India and Middle East market as well.

FDM Asia: How important is a dust collection system in a woodworking environment?Mr Tan: In a woodworking factory, a dust collecting system is a requirement, especially for medium and large factories.

Most customers know how to buy good machinery. And for good machinery, they need good tools. The next thing they need is a good dust extraction system, which can reduce machine maintenance and reduce the number of product rejects.

Rejects can cost a lot of money and if you don’t have a proper dust extraction system, you might have to do reworking for the finishing of the final product due to the dust. The costs for this, together with the costs for maintenance of the machines, are very high.

Also very important for the wood industry are fire hazards. If the machines are not well maintained, any spark or small heat can cause fire and even result in lives lost and we have

seen it happen. We have actually gotten a lot of business from customers that have had experiences with fire before they used our system.

FDM Asia: How long does it take to implement a dust collection system from scratch?Mr Tan: A small one takes two weeks. A sizeable one can take four to five months. Major ones can even take up to a year.

FDM Asia: Is it possible to retrofit a factory that is using a substandard system?Mr Tan: Yes, we can reorganise a poor system. A lot of our work last year during the crisis involved big companies wanting to reorganise their factory.

W K Tan, MD, Lignar Engineering (Singapore), reveals the benefits of having an effective and efficient dust extraction system. By Derek Rodriguez

DustThe

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Features

In some cases, when they relocate their factories, they want a new system. In other cases, when factories are merged, we reorganise their systems. We are able to do it in a minimum amount of time in order not to disrupt their production.

FDM Asia: How long can a system usually last before it has to be replaced?Mr Tan: Many of our systems have already been running for 20 years. These are all permanent fixtures that only require maintenance. For example, some parts that have wear and tear can be changed. And even

then, you are talking about 20,000 hours or four to five years for a change.

The systems won’t get obsolete. However, newer ones can be more efficient, meaning they use less energy.

FDM Asia: How do you differentiate yourself from your competitors?Mr Tan: Our system is very stable; if you run them 24/7 you won’t face problems and this is very important for the factory because any stoppage or any breakdown will cause a lot of production and delivery problems.

On the safety side, we have set a very high benchmark, complying with the European standards. On the efficiency side, our systems are very energy-efficient.

ENQUIRY NO. 7013

W K Tan (right), MD, Lignar Engineering (Singapore) at the Interzum Guangzhou

We also provide very easy expansion. Since ours is a modular system which can be expanded easily, factories can increase their capacity easily. It is very flexible in a sense that our system allows factories to reorganise very easily. The reason for reorganisation is to have better productivity, to have a better flow, and to save a lot of money.

FDM Asia: Give us your thoughts on the global financial situation and whether you have learnt any lessons from the recession?Mr Tan: After having gone through a few (economic crises), we are more prepared this time round. We were actually quite fortunate that we are able to secure jobs from good customers who needed our services. Some customers wanted to change to our system to be more efficient. If they are more efficient, they will naturally have returns and that pays for itself.

This crisis also does us some good. When the market bounces back, most companies will need the machines immediately. Not many have them in stock but we do. Delivery can be six months in some cases, but we can do it in one month. FDM

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ENQUIRY NO. 7011

54 FDM AsiA juLY 2010 | www.fdmasia.com

Market Report

G lobal production of particleboard is forecast to increase from 69.9 million cubic metres in 2009 to

84.1 million cubic metres in 2013, based on current expansion plans and estimated capacity utilisation rates, according to economic forecaster and industry analyst, BIS Shrapnel.

Its Particleboard in the Pacific Rim and Europe, 2009 – 2013 report found production of particleboard in Asia has been growing rapidly over the past decade, but greater Europe, including Russia and Turkey, remains the dominant particleboard producing region.

The increase in production of particleboard is being driven by strong growth in the key end-use sectors of the product – housing construction and furniture manufacturing. Similar findings were shown in the company's companion report, Medium Density Fibreboard in the Pacific Rim and Europe, released last month.

In USAThe downturn in housing construction in the united States reached the bottom of the cycle in 2009, and is expected to move into a rapid upswing from 2010 to 2013. This will drive economic growth not only in the united States, but in many of its key trading partners around the world.

It will also drive renewed demand for furniture, and ultimately the demand for particleboard and MDF. Housing construction in other key regions such as Europe and Asia will also drive an upward phase in the demand for particleboard and MDF over the forecast period.

Rest Of The WorldIn 2009, Europe produced 62 percent of the world’s particleboard, North Asia produced 14 percent, North America produced nine percent, South Asia produced eight percent, South America produced six percent, and Australasia produced one percent. Production of particleboard in Europe is forecast to drop slightly to 60 percent by 2013.

Over the same period production in North America and South Asia is expected to increase slightly to nine percent, and in South America production is forecast to increase to seven percent. Production of particleboard in North Asia and in Australasia will remain unchanged.

Confirmed new capacity for particleboard will amount to 6.4 million cubic metres by 2013. There have been announcements for several new plants in key producing regions, including one known plant planned for Malaysia, two each for Russia, India, Indonesia and Vietnam, three for Brazil, and seven for Turkey.

Medium-Density FibreboardParticleboard, as with Medium-Density Fibreboard (MDF), is mainly used in housing construction and furniture manufacturing. MDF, however, is quite expensive and there is potential for particleboard to replace MDF as a more cost-effective alternative for furniture manufacturing as well as a substitute for plywood.

As the global financial crisis took hold in 2009, consumption of particleboard declined by five percent. BIS Shrapnel is forecasting a modest three percent increase in consumption in 2010, followed by an acceleration to eight percent in 2011 and then a slight drop to five percent in 2013. The average annual growth in consumption will be six percent over the four years from 2010 to 2013, which is a total increase of approximately 24 percent over the forecast period.

BIS Shrapnel found the global financial crisis also had a significant impact on particleboard prices – which are estimated to have declined by an average of 16 percent in 2009. Over the four years from 2010 to 2013, as the global economy moves into an upward phase, prices are projected to increase by an annual average of six percent. FDM

New plants in South Asia, Eastern Europe and South America are coming on stream. By BIS Shrapnel

WorldwideParticleboard

Production Increasing


E-Chain Machinery: Double End TenonersDouble end tenoners from E-Chain Machinery are used for sizing, moulding profiles and sanding curved profiles on parallel sides of workpieces.

Applicable for use on all wood types including hardwood, softwood and manufactured wood, the product is used in the manufacture of office furniture, bedroom furniture, kitchen furniture, parquet, windows, doors, and frames.

The double end tenoners are fully customisable in terms of working widths, configuration of working units, motor horsepower, and other mechanical details.

Hettich: Automatic Drilling & Insertion MachineBlue Max, an automatic drilling and insertion machine from Hettich, has exchangeable drilling units on all modules that reduce preparation time, as well as a 550mm depth adjustment facility with LCD display for exact positioning.

The latch-lever profile can be rotated and individually positioned for four different basic settings. An LCD display facilitates lateral adjustment of the drilling and inserting unit by a total of 2,250mm.

The model’s pneumatic caterpillar drive makes it possible to drill system-32 hole-lines with the automatic drilling machine, while a five-spindle, horizontal drilling unit drills end-face dowel holes.

RazorGage: Saw Stop GaugeRazorGage-ST MiniTouch, the entry-level price point automated saw stop gauge from RazorGauge, features a 4x6” color touch screen allowing either decimal or fractional hot-key dimensional input.

The machine may be mounted onto an existing table or cabinet using standard carriage bolts that fit “T” slots in the bottom of the extrusion. With multiple menu screens including hot-key dimensions included as standard, MiniTouch machines are available in working lengths up to 44 feet.

The machine is upgradeable to a Windows XP Pro PC platform with a 15” touchscreen for networking and optimising.

Enquiry No: 7108Enquiry No: 7107

Altendorf:WA 8XApplicable to wood, plastic and non-ferrous metals, Altendorf's WA 8X sliding table saw can be used for cutting large panels of polyethylene or Plexiglas, or crosscut thick plastics. It features an eye-level operating panel, making it accessible from both sides of the machine. Its extraction hood’s design allows it to switch between narrow and wide hoods in seconds, and cut heights of up to 125 mm.

Further, it has a motorised rip fence with a traverse speed of 250 mm/sec and an accuracy of +/− 1/10 mm. Its emergency cut-out mechanism prevents the risk of crushing, and a mounted crosscut fence enables cutting of 90° angles.


Product highlights

Product highlights


Häfele: Sliding Door FittingsAs part of the Slido range of sliding door fittings from Häfele, the Design 80-Y supports single and double sliding doors made from wood with a minimum thickness of 38mm and a maximum weight of 80kg.

Like most sliding doors, the product takes up little space and is popular with property developers. Appropriate for home and office env i ronmen ts , the entire sliding mechanism is concealed within the door, according to the manufacturer.

Smuso soft and self-closing mechanisms are also available separately with the Design 80-Y.

Thermopal: Hemp BoardWeighing much less than other composite boards, Thermopal’s HPL composite board “Hanffaser Composite” is a lightweight board made of the hemp shives that are obtained when the plant is processed. The shives are lighter than wood fibres, but no less resistant to tearing.

One cubic metre weighs only around 450kg, which is less than other chipboard panels. The surface allows screws to be inserted anywhere on it, and is available coated with 0.8mm of Thermopal HPL.

Customers can create combinations of any of more than 300 designs and 11 different surfaces with some 20 core materials in the design, surface, core technology (DST).

Techno: Nesting MachineThe LC Series Nesting Machine from Techno features a five-horsepower automatic tool change spindle, five-spindle drill bank, vacuum table hold-down system, ten horsepower pump, material location pins, and nesting software.

Machine bases are designed of tubular steel that is welded, ground, and stress-relieved. Each drive system consists of ballscrews on all four axes with an X-Axis beam that includes twin Z-Axes ensuring independent control over the automatic tool changer and drill bank.

The package includes an automatic tool-drill calibration via tool calibration touch pad.

Wintersteiger: Thin-Cutting Band SawFeaturing a 660mm cutting width for cutting wide plank flooring or panels, the DSB Singlehead 660 thin-cutting band saw from Wintersteiger features block guidance in wet and dry cutting, and allows both planed and rough cut blocks to be cut without retooling.

Due to its extended cutting width, the band saw, with its flexible saw blade guiding system, is also used for three-layer or multiple layer boards in door production, and can cut the full width of a door panel. The Singlehead 660 is also capable of processing alternative materials such as cardboard, composites, and other non-wooden material types.



www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 57

Exhibition Review

C lear signs that the crisis affecting the woodworking machinery and technology industry is coming to an

end was apparent at the recent Xylexpo.The exhibit, held at the FieraMilano-Rho

exhibition centre in Milan, Italy, from May 4 to 8, gave little indication of an industry reeling from a crisis as it saw 652 local and international exhibitors cover a net exhibition area of 42,500 sq m.

The spectacle unfolded to about 25,000 international and more than 26,000 local visitors who networked with exhibitors at the show.

Despite figures showing the exhibit as a success, the organisers admit putting up the show was no easy task.

“It was a good exhibition,” said Xylexpo GM Paolo Zanibon. “We knew we had to face a difficult period, with global woodworking technology trade down by 37.5 percent. However, Xylexpo is holding on, proving it still deserves the role it has been playing for 42 years in the global industry exhibition scenario.”

ENQUIRY NO. 7014

Ambrogio Delachi, president of the Italian Woodworking Machinery and Tools Manufacturers Association or ACIMALL, agreed: “These are not just words. Many exhibitors have told me about their satisfaction and the quality of visitors coming to Milan, who were actually interested in the acquisition of solutions and technology within the next few months.

Exhibitors also reported receiving concrete responses from visitors, hinting at an upbeat economic outlook for the coming months.

“These businessmen did not just walk around the stands, they had a real need to update their production equipment. There were orders signed during the exhibition, something we had not seen for a long time,” added Mr Delachi.

The next Xylexpo will take place two years from now, on May 8-12, 2012, at the FieraMilano-Rho exhibition centre. FDM

2010XylexpoFieraMilano-Rho Exhibition Center • May 4-8 2010 • Milan, Italy



Exhibition Preview

Once again, the Georgia World Congress Center opens its doors to a major woodworking

exhibition in the Western Hemisphere, the International Woodworking Fair 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Fair, which runs for three days from August 25 to 28, welcomes 800 exhibiting firms from the woodworking industry in North America and around the world. To wit, the previous IWF boasted 20,000 buyers – more than 2,000 of them from 85 countries.

Woodworking SymposiumIn line with the exhibition, visitors and exhibitors can participate in a series of all-day and half-day symposium on woodworking topics the day prior to the opening. Wood IQ will present

‘Finishing Technology and Sustainability:

The Pathway To Profits,’ a day-long symposium that includes topics such as maximising profitability through cost and waste reduction, meeting compliance standards to capture a larger share of green building opportunities, and cost management for spray operators.

Design Emphasis & Technical SessionsAnother symposium, titled ‘Selling Closets From A-Z - The Perfect Niche For Today’s Market’ will feature speakers from the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals who will talk about the nuances of the cabinet industry. Other symposia series will discuss issues on countertops, organising specifiers’ events, outsourcing, margins and pricing, case studies, and dealing with upholstery over-supplies.

2010AtlantaIWF

Georgia World Congress Center • Atlanta, USA • August 25 to 28, 2010


Exhibition Preview

Meanwhile, the show’s ‘Design Emphasis’ will display furniture pieces designed and built by students from colleges and universities throughout the USA. Students get the chance to demonstrate their creativity and talent before a judging panel of furniture industry designers, manufacturing and retail executives, and members of the

trade press who have design-oriented backgrounds. A total of US$14,000 in prize money will be awarded during the special ceremony.

Twenty-one technical conference sessions, spread out in six topical tracks over four days, are also lined up for the event’s participants. Opportunities include witnessing innovations in manufacturing and material processing, seeing live demonstrations, and expanding networks within the industry.

The six tracks will cover areas of business management, production strategy, manufacturing techniques green/environment, marketing and business development, as well as a non-wood based track to be delivered by leaders in the industry.

The show’s ‘Design Emphasis’ will display furniture pieces designed and built by students from colleges

and universities throughout the USA.

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Exhibition Preview


Exhibition Preview

Challengers AwardVisitors can also look forward to seeing an unprecedented number of 22 finalists for this year’s Challengers Award. The award, known as the woodworking industry’s highest honour, recognises advancements in technology or significant contributions to environmental

Accurate Technology: Software ApplicationProCAB QC from Accurate Technology is a software application to measure and document the dimensional quality of fabricated or purchased parts such as cabinet doors.

Designed for use with a ProTable-CAB two axis measuring system, the program provides a method for importing production or purchase order part data via CSV files. Operators measure the dimensional quality of the fabricated parts in random sequence, as ProCAB QC tracks and documents the results.

Black Bros: Roll CoaterMinimising waste in both process and material in the roll coating operation, the L300RC roll coater from Black Bros uses 30 percent less electricity than a similar machine made 10 years ago.

According to the manufacturer, users can expect to save over two and a half hours from daily clean-up, weekly preventive maintenance and monthly roll changing.

*Partial List Of Finalists

2010 Challengers

Accuwrap: Steel Cabinet Door & Light ValenceDesigned for the woodworking industry, the stainless steel

moulding and five-piece cabinet door from Accuwrap employs materials that are cut and assembled using conventional woodworking tools and hardware.

The laminate wrapped on MDF moulding enables the cutting and installing of stainless steel moulding with conventional wood working tools. Custom profiles, edge banding, and laminate available in matching Stainless steel are available.

Benz: Reciprocating Knife CutterFor use in ‘C’ axis equipped CNC machine, the RCK1 reciprocating knife cutter from Benz utilises a standard spoil board to hold material.

With a reciprocating speed of up to 6,000 strokes per minute, the unit is designed to cut fabrics, leather, veneers, rubber, carpet, cork, vinyl and other similar products. Equipped with a spring-loaded floating ring, it is available to fit any models equipped with ‘C’ axis.

improvement. It focuses on companies that have distinguished themselves by developing innovative technology in products, materials, supplies and services, and challenges IWF exhibiting companies to develop devices that advance the industry.

Richard Campbell, IWF 2010

Challengers Award committee chairman, said: “The quality of the products entered made it difficult to choose 20 finalists. Because of the innovative products that were entered, the IWF Executive Committee decided for the first time in the Challengers Award Competition history to have 22 finalists.

Distinguished Achievement AwardThe Finalists At A Glance*

Exhibition Preview


Exhibition Preview

Merritt Machinery: Wide Belt Wet SanderThe Meinan BFS-40W wide belt wet sander from Merritt Machinery sands finished

panels without further need for ductwork. The machine uses environment-friendly and chemical-

free water circulation for sanding, with Perlite filtering system to trap sanding particles and dust.

USNR: Saw OptimiserUSNR’s AddVantage chop and rip scanners scans wood for geometric measurements and natural and manufacturing defects. By identifying grading characteristics such as wanes, cracks, knots and stain, AddVantage determines the cuts which will result in the highest value recovery from the boards.

The AddVantage products utilise economical four-sided multi-spectral vision, infrared laser geometric profile and optional patented x-ray density measurement to identify and classify a wide range of characteristics. FDM

ENQUIRY NO. 7015

Precision Drive Systems: Tool Change Spindle SystemDyna-Loc from Precision Drive Systems is a compact automatic tool change

spindle system that incorporates standard HSK style tool holders. The conventional drawbar and spring packs are removed, and the pneumatic actuator is moved to the front of the spindle.

System features include a fail-safe design to eliminate accidental tool ejection in the event of a failure. The design also eliminates the hollow shaft, drawbar, spring packs, and expensive HSK clamping sets.

Lamello: Assembly ConnectorsClamex P connectors from Lamello are used for RTA case goods and modular components. No screws or

tools are needed, as connectors slide in pre-cut slot, match up joining panels easily with built in alignment tabs, lock cam lever in place by a turn of a hex key pulling parts together tightly for a strong durable connection.

Parts with Clamex P can be preinstalled, stacked and packaged without risk of damage during transport.

The investment these companies have made into research and development for the industry should be rewarded.”

The seven winning products will be announced on the first day of the Fair after the final judging on August 24th. Finalists and winners will be given recognition via a conspicuous display

area throughout the four days on the show floor. The special area will provide buyers information about the 2010 finalists and winners.

Among the companies participating in the event include Accoya, ACIMALL, AkzoNobel, Renolit, Barberan, Becker Aroma, Blum, Burkle, Dieffenbacher,

Distinguished Achievement Award

Electronic Wood Systems, Hafele, Hess, Hettich, Leitz, NHLA, Schattdecor, Weyerhaeuser, and Wintersteiger.

IWF Atlanta 2010 is sponsored by the American Home Furnishing Alliance, the Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America, and the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association.

Calendar of Events 201024-27 – Wood Products & Technology Tra & Teknik 2010Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre

Gothenburg, Sweden

Elmia Fairs / Svenska Mässan

Tel: +46 31 708 80 00

Email: [email protected]

Website: nemonet.swefair.se/templates/

StartPageMain____1059.aspx or www.snipurl.

com/vioy9

25-28 – IWF 2010: International Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Supply Fair Georgia World Congress Centre

Atlanta, Georgia, US

Tel: +1 404 693 8333

Fax: +1 404 693 8350


Website: www.iwfatlanta.com

September1-5 – The 24th International Famous Furniture Fair 2010Guangdong Modern International

Exhibition Center

Guangdong, China

Tel: +86 769 85900111

Fax: +86 769 85585780


Website: www.3f.net.cn

3-6 – China International Home Furniture Fair 2010 China Import & Export Fair Pazhou Complex

Guangzhou, China

China Foreign Trade Guangzhou

Exhibition Corp & China Foreign Trade Centre

Tel: +86 20 26088888


Website: www.cftc.org.cn

7-10 – Furniture Manufacturing & Supply China 2010 Shanghai New International Expo Centre

Shanghai, China

Shanghai UBM Sinoexpo International Exhibition

Tel: +86 21 6437 1178

Fax: +86 21 6437 0982


Website: www.fmcchina.com.cn

8-11 – Woodpro Africa 2010 MTN Expo Centre, NASREC, Gauteng

Johannesburg, South Africa

Specialised Exhibitions / Allworld Exhibitions

Tel: +27 (0) 11 835 1565

Fax: +27 (0) 11 496 1161


Website: www.woodpro.co.za

16-19 – ZOW TurkeyIstanbul Convention Centre

Istanbul, Turkey

Survey Marketing and Consulting GmbH

Tel: +90 (0) 212 324 9610

Fax: +90 (0) 212 324 9609


Website: www.zow.com.tr

OctOber3-6 – W10National Exhibition Centre

Birmingham, UK

Huddlestone Ltd

Tel: +44 01629 530 998

Fax: +44 01629 530 999


Website: www.w10exhibition.co.uk

6-10 – Ho Chi Minh City Expo 2010Ho Chi Minh City International

Exhibition & Convention Centre

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry & Trade

Tel: +84 8 3823 9572 / 3823 9571

Fax: +84 8 3823 4536


Website: www.hcmcexpo.com.vn

8-11 – Index Furniture 2010 Bandra-Kurla Complex

(MMRDA Grounds)

Mumbai, India

Universal Expositions Ltd

Tel: +91 22 2830 2870

Fax: +91 22 8216 140


Website: www.indexfairs.com

JULY15-18 – Furnitex 2010 Melbourne Exhibition Centre

Melbourne, Australia

Australian Exhibitions & Conferences

Tel: +613 9654 7773

Fax: +613 9654 5596


Website: www.furnitex.com.au

22-24 – Woodmach CebuWaterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino

Cebu, Philippines

Global-Link MP Events International

Tel: +63 2750 8588

Fax: +63 2750 8585


Website: www.globallinkmp.com

27-29 – 6th Furniture Asia 2010Karachi Expo Centre

Karachi, Pakistan

Ecommerce Gateway Pakistan

Tel: +92 21 111 222 444 / 3453 6321

Fax: +92 21 3453 6330


Website: www.furnitureasia.com.pk

27-30 – ForMóbile 2010: International Suppliers Fair for the Wood & Furniture IndustryParque de Exposições do Anhembi

(Anhembi Exhibit Park)

São Paulo, Brazil

Brazil Trade Shows

Tel/Fax: +55 41 3014 8787


Website: www.feiraformobile.com.br

AUgUSt19-Sept 4 – Homes Middle East Furniture & Furnishings Show 2010Expo Center Sharjah

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Expo Center Sharjah

Tel: +971 6 577 0000

Fax: +971 6 577 0111


Website: www.homesmiddleeast.com


*All details subject to change without notice. Please check with organisers for updates.

Kindly indicate the events you are interested in and fax the sheet/s along with your details in the Product Enquiry Page on page 72a to (65) 6379 2806 or enquire online at www.fdmasia.com

13-16 – 2010 NHLA Annual Convention & Exhibit ShowcaseThe Fairmont Hotel / Hyatt Regency

Vancouver, Canada

National Hardwood Lumber Association

Tel: +1 901 399 7551


Website: www.nhlaconvention.com

13-16 – ZOW ItalyVeronafiere

Verona, Italy

Survey Marketing & Consulting

Tel: +39 0541 783775

Fax: +39 0541 635056


15-18 – Maison Bois 2010Angers Parc Expo

Saint Sylvain d’Anjou, France

Atlanbois / Angers Expo Congress

Tel: +33 2 40 73 73 30

Fax: +33 2 40 73 03 01

Website: www.salon-maison-bois.com

16-20 – Wood Processing Machinery 2010 Tüyap Fair Convention & Congress Center

Istanbul, Turkey

Tuyap Fairs & Exhibitions Organisation, Inc.

Tel: +90 (212) 867 11 00

Fax: +90 (212) 886 93 99


Website: www.woodmachineryistanbul.com

19-20 – MTC Global Woodmart 2010Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malaysian Timber Council

Tel: +603 7803 2276

Fax: + 603 7803 3276


Website: www.globalwoodmart.my

20-24 – 7th China-ASEAN ExpoNanning International Convention &

Exhibition Centre

Guangxi, China

Tel: +86 10 8812 8036

Fax: +86 10 8811 6532

Email: [email protected]@caexpo.org

Website: eng.caexpo.org

November16-19 – Wooden ConstructionKrasnoyarsk 2010 Siberia International Exhibition Business Centre

Krasnoyarsk City, Russia

Restec Exhibition / Krasnoyarsk Fair Exhibition

Tel.: +7 812 320 6363

Fax: +7 812 320 8090


Website: www.restec.ru

17-19 – Japan Home & Building Show 2010 Tokyo International Exhibition Centre

Tokyo, Japan

Japan Management Association

Tel: +81 3 3434 1988

Fax: +81 3 3434 8076

Website: www.jma.or.jp/jhbs/en/

22-26 – ZOW MoscowExpocentr’ Krasnaya Presnya Fairgrounds

Moscow, Russia

Survey Marketing + Consulting GmbH / Restec

Exhibition

Tel: +49 (0) 521 965330

Fax: +49 (0) 521 96533 to 99


Website: www.zow.ru

To be considered for inclusion in the Calendar of Events, send details of event (name, date, venue, organiser contact) to: The Editor FDM Asia. Eastern Trade Media Pte Ltd. 1100 Lower Delta Road. EPL Building #04-02. Singapore 169206.

Tel: (65) 6379 2888 | Fax: (65) 6379 2805 | Email: [email protected]

24-26 – IFFT Interior Lifestyle Living Int’l Furniture Fair Tokyo International Exhibition Centre

(Tokyo Big Sight)

Tokyo, Japan

International Development Association of the

Furniture Industry of Japan / Mesago Messe

Frankfurt Corp

Tel: +81 3 3262 8443

Fax: +81 3 3262 8442


Website: www.ifft-interiorlifestyleliving.com

December3-5 – Office Today ColomboBMICH Memorial International Conference Hall

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Buysell Interactions

Tel: + 91 44 2835 3739

Fax: + 91 44 2835 0839


4-12 – Bangkok Furniture FestivalImpact Exhibition & Convention Centre

Nonthaburi, Thailand

Tel: +66 (0) 2314 0855

Fax: +66 (0) 2319 8337


Website: www.unionpan.com

24-27 – Homex & Household Expo 2010 Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre

Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong-Asia Exhibition (Holdings) Ltd

Tel: +852 2591 9823

Fax: +852 2573 3311


Website: www.hka.com.hk



This quick reference guide is provided as an additional service. The publisher does not assume any liability for errors or ommission.

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ENQU

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No Added Formaldehyde –The Right Choice

www.ibondwood.com

I-Bond resins, the family of no added formaldehyde MDI resins from Huntsman, are the naturalchoice when trying to satisfy emissions standards like CARB I and II, or the Japanese F****.

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I-BOND® is a registered trademark of Huntsman Corporation or an affiliate thereof in one or more, but not all, countries.

huntsman_fdm_asia_ad_2010.qxd:Artwork 23/4/10 16:24 Page 1

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