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APRIL 2010
April 2010 V
OL. 23 N
O. 3
Cover P
rice: US
$10.00
Furniture Design And Manufacturing Asia Established Since 1986
Improving On Nature
Can Wood Associations Sustain Forests?
Decorative Veneers:
Edge Banding: Endless Advancement
ArtisticCover Up
APRIL 2010
April 2010 V
OL. 23 N
O. 3
Cover P
rice: US
$10.00
Furniture Design And Manufacturing Asia Established Since 1986
Improving On Nature
Can Wood Associations Sustain Forests?
Decorative Veneers:
Edge Banding: Endless Advancement
ArtisticCover Up
an age old material for a new age of thinking.
american hardwood.
alderashaspenbasswoodbeechbirchcherrycottonwoodelmgumhackberryhickory & pecanhard maplesoft maplered oakwhite oaksassafrastulipwoodwalnutwillow
america’s hardwood forests just keep on growing, find out about our exciting range of sustainable species by visiting americanhardwood.org or ahec-seasia.org
american hard maple flooring, castellón auditorium, by carlos ferrater.
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A
A
Kill sparks before they kill you!
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ENQUIRY NO. 142
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CONTENTSAPRIL 2010
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Established since 1986, FDM Asia, formerly Asia Pacifi c Forest/Timber Industries, is a business magazine on sawmilling, woodworking, woodbased panels and furniture manufacturing. The Publisher reserves the right to accept or reject all editorial or advertising material and assumes no re-sponsibility 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 pub-lisher. Reprints of articles appearing in previous issues of the magazine are available on request, subject to a minimum quantity.
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PAGE
TECHNOLOGY
How developments in edge-banding has changed—and will continue to change—the way panel edges are done. By Dr Jegatheswaran Ratnasingam
Progressive automation in compact edge banding machines, continuous developments in adhesive technology coupled with operator friendly approach by leading manufacturers are some of the new advancements in edge banding technology today. By Shiv Kumar Shet, business development manager, Biesse Manufacturing
FOCUS
From North America all the way to Australia, wood industry associations are putting sustainability as one of their top agendas. By Michael Buckley, Turnstone Singapore
16Can Wood
Industry Associations
Sustain Forests?
26PANELS
Panel sizing has come a long way, improving in accuracy and effi ciency to reduce wastage. By Frank De Marcus
The retrofit ecoscalper from the ContiRoll® ecoline family means that local excess material is simply “shaved off.” That spells reduced material usage and an improved mat distribution.
ecoscalper –a cut above the rest
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CONTENTSAPRIL 2010
06 Editorial086264a Enquiry Form64b Subscription Form
64 enquiry numbers.
SURFACES & FLOORING
As a cheaper alternative to wood panels and fl oors, laminates are now fi nding themselves on walls and ceilings. By Jerome Lim
DESIGN & DECOR
Veneers can and are used to express and communicate the natural beauty and majesty of natural wood. By Royce Tan
WOODS & SUSTAINABILITY
By committing to responsible sourcing and making changes to implement policy and eliminate unwanted goods from purchasing profi les, you can provide integral support to customers in the US and Europe. By Betsy Hickman, communications manager, Global Forest & Trade Network
FEATURES
Gains will be promoted by a rebound in housing starts and growth in residential improvement spending. By The Freedonia Group
Terry Gregory, general manager, Microvellum Asia, talks to FDM Asia about his company’s plans to expand in the region.
Using modifi ed wood products over solid timber offers several advantages. By Dr Andy Pitman, head of construction technical services at TRADA Technology
Regulars
EVENTS & EXHIBITION
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China and India, the two heavyweights in world economy are
experiencing a little surge especially in the woodworking industry.
Not that they were too adversely affected in the fi rst place according
to some observers.
Franz-Josef Butfering, president of Eumabois remarked:"
It feels like the economic crisis didn’t show up here in India and the GDP is
expected to grow by some eight percent for 2010. The growth in woodworking
will probably be more."
Though the industries in both nations continue to show robust growth, the
markets are radically different in terms of focus and mindsets. For Michael
Snow, executive director of AHEC, “the manufacturers in China are large and
they would bring in wood directly right from
the beginning.”
In India he feels, “it is the importers who
control everything.” Though there are a few
large manufacturers who will do direct importing,
many manufacturers in India are small; as a
result, they would prefer to buy wood from local
suppliers as and when they need it.
The exhibition climates in both nations
are also lively, given the showing in two
recently concluded events covered by FDM
Asia. In China, Interzum Guangzhou 2010 was
thronged by visitors and buyers alike resulting
in impressive sales fi gures which is a real
‘thumbs up’ given the current market sentiments
elsewhere in the world. Touted as the biggest
furniture and woodworking show in Asia, the Chinese woodworking industry is
defi nitely in the pink of health.
Further down south in Bangalore, India, Indiawood opened to an enthusiastic
crowd who according to the organisers, “came with the intent to see and buy.”
Some 1,000 visitors were recorded within the fi rst hour of gate opening on the
second day.
With the big two driving the woodworking industry forward and acting as
pillars, the immediate future of the industry can be seen as solid as oak.
Editorial
Derek RodriguezEditor
The Big Two
WITH THE BIG TWO DRIVING THE WOODWORKING INDUSTRY FORWARD AND ACTING AS PILLARS, THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY CAN BE SEEN AS SOLID AS OAK.
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managing director Kenneth Tan [email protected]
editor Derek Rodriguez [email protected]
technical editor Joson Ng [email protected]
features editor Tjut Rostina [email protected]
staff writer Jerome Lim [email protected]
editorial assistant Eunice Tay [email protected]
senior art director/studio manager Lawrence Lee [email protected]
art director Phyllis Ng [email protected]
graphic designer Zhang Yue [email protected]
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business manager (China) Ding Yongmei [email protected]
assistant business manager (China) Yumi Gui [email protected]
senior circulation executive Brenda Tan [email protected]
contributors Michael Buckley Dr Jegatheswaran Ratnasingam Shiv Kumar Shet Frank De Marcus Royce Tan Betsy Hickman Dr Andy Pitman
EXECUTIVE BOARDchairman Stephen Taygroup executive director Kenneth Tanfi nancial controller
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8 FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 | www.fdmasia.com
Industry News
Malaysia Furniture Export To Reach US$3.1 Billion This Year
Serdang, Malaysia: Malaysia is confident about reaching its furniture export target
of RM10 billion (approximately US$ 3 billion) this year, according to Plantation
Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainudin in a Bernama
News Agency report.
Speaking from the Export Furniture Exhibition Malaysia 2010, the deputy minister stated
that the government was upbeat on the recovery of the local furniture industry.
He added that the economic slowdown is to blame for the 12 percent decline in
furniture exports the previous year, when it fell to RM7.62 billion (approximately US$
2.3 billion) from RM 8.7 billion (close to US$ 2.7 billion) in 2008.
Citing reports of fresh orders from overseas as confirmation, he encouraged
Malaysian producers and exporters to improve their competitiveness with world-class
quality products while increasing their value by re-branding themselves.
As an added boost, he said the government will inject RM1 billion into the furniture
industry through the Forest Plantation Programme.
The government is also aware of the value of raw materials in the industry, leading
to a government initiative to develop 375,000 hectares of land into large-scale forest
plantation by 2021.
Natuzzi Sales Fall 16.5% In Fourth
QuarterSanteramo in Colle, Italy: A Furniture Today
article revealed that global sales figures
for Natuzzi saw a 16.5 percent plunge
during the fourth quarter of 2009, with its
American business taking a further 29.9
percent dive.
But the Italian upholstery giant considers
the fourth quarter loss of €2.4 million minimal
compared to the same period in 2008,
when they posted a €20 million loss ($29.3
million).
The fourth quarter raked in €152.1 or
US$224.5 million for the firm, along with
a 43.9 million euros sales figure for the
Americas.
Natuzzi chairman and CEO described the
development as a “positive trend,” adding
that the result was attained despite a sales
drop induced by the worldwide financial crisis.
Restructuring, he said, is still in progress
since it was started in 2009.
The company posted a decreased net
loss of €17.7 million for the year, down from
last year’s net loss of €61.9 million.
Sales figures for the full year declined 22.8
percent since 2008, amounting to €515.4 million
or €$718.8 million. Sales in America for the
whole year saw
a 32.9 percent
dive to €139.9
million ($195.1
million) from
previous year’s
figures.
MOU For Forest BiodiversityTokyo, Japan: The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)
signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Secretariat of
the Convention Biological Diversity (CBD) to promote conservation and
sustainable use of forest biodiversity in the tropics.
According to ITTO, the agreement was signed on March 2, 2010 in
Tokyo, Japan, and aims to conduct activities and programmes on forests
and biodiversity in the next four years.
Joint activities are slated this year for the 2010 Year of Biodiversity, with
an International Conference on Biodiversity Conservation in Trans-boundary
Tropical Forests coming up on July 14-17 in Quito, Ecuador.
In line with the MoU, CBD’s 10th Conference of the Parties will also focus
on forest biodiversity conservation in tropical timber production when it
takes place in Nagoya in October this year.
INDUSTRYNews
APRIL 2010
www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 9
Industry News
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: New US and EU laws are
aiming to curb imports of illegally acquired Vietnamese
timber, according to a Vietnam News report.
The amended Lacey Act, which takes effect in April,
now requires all wood products exported to the United
States to have a certification showing they are legal.
Heiko Woerner, technical advisor at the Germany-
based GFA Consulting Group, disclosed the information
in a press conference in Ho Chi Minh.
Majority of Vietnam’s income from wooden exports
come from the US and EU, which bought US$11.2
billion and US$9.3 billion worth, respectively, of wood
last year.
With the new law, he further cautioned exporters not
to simply rely on documents provided by sellers, but must
instead know clearly about their wood sources.
Vietnamese firms should carefully inspect wood
bought from areas with suspected or known high
rates of illegal logging activities, and use sound risk
management system to appraise whether wood has
Illegal Logs Face US, EU Ban
been sourced illegally.
He added that the law is a fact-based statute instead of
a document-based one. Imported materials that turn out to
be of illegal origin later on will still be subjected to penalties,
despite any document or statement stating the contrary.
The law carries civil penalties of US$10,000, individual
penalties of US$250,000, and a US$500,000 fine for corporations
in addition to possible destruction or seizure of goods and
five years’ imprisonment.
Meanwhile, the EU Diligence Regulation will check for
illegally obtained wood via a ‘checking’ system, in which
importers must refuse timber from suppliers who cannot
present a valid proof of origin. The system takes effect in
January 2012.
Furniture can be traced to the source of wood via a system
called chain of custody used by at least 190 Vietnamese
wood processing enterprises.
An ad hoc committee set up by the Vietnamese Ministry
of Agriculture and Rural Development aims to assist exporters
with the new law.
Maule, Chile: Chile’s forest products industry suffered severe
devastation from the February quake, sparking a global shortage
that is giving small players in other countries a boon, stated a
Vancouver Sun report.
The final tally of damage is still under assessment, but as it
is the country’s pulp mills found themselves in dire straits after
the quake dealt a heavy blow to machinery and goods, leading
buyers to turn for supplies elsewhere.
Restoring a mill is no simple task, and it will be months before
a mill can resume production again.
The epicentre struck the country’s forest industry hub off the
coast of the Maule region, unleashing tsunamis that left several
pulp mills decommissioned for months.
One sawmill’s inventory was swept out to sea, while another pulp
mill had its power boiler change position due to the tsunami.
One country that has been benefiting from the shortage is
Canada, which has been described by experts as a relatively
small industry player.
Under such circumstances, Canadian producers such as Canfor
Pulp, West Fraser Timber and Domtar could experience a 15 to
20 percent increase in margin.
In fact, brokers in Canada were reported to have buyers
phoning in to ask how much more they have to pay to outbid
other customers, providing a peek with regards to the extent of
the situation.
Eight percent of the world pulp supply comes from Chile,
resulting in a global impact
from the loss of its mills.
North American and
European producers have
slapped a US$40 increase
in prices from US$910
per tonne to US$950 as a
response to the quake, with
more increases expected
to come in April.
Chile Quake Sparks Global Pulp Shortage
10 FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 | www.fdmasia.com
Industry News
Manila, Philippines: Improving economic conditions
is bringing life back to the Philippines’ furniture and
furnishings industry, but analysts say full recovery
won’t come for at least two more years.
In a Manila Bulletin report, the Chamber of Furniture
Industries of the Philippines (CFIP) said companies are
expected to push up production to 2006 and 2007 levels,
while those that ceased production in the past four years
must be convinced that it is worthwhile to re-open.
The third quarter of 2009 saw gains in the CFIP
export figures, especially those in the United States
and Europe.
Companies have also beefed up businesses in
the Gulf Region, particularly in Abu Dhabi, Qatar,
and Saudi Arabia.
CFIP said a marked shift in attitude on certain markets
have taken place. Traditional competitors such as China,
India, and Thailand are now viewed as potential buyers, while
countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Macau are incurring
receiving interest.
The Philippines, noted CFIP, should continue to employ
aggressive marketing strategies to penetrate more markets in
ever-toughening competition.
The sector should also improve its mapping of new markets
Recovery In Two Years For Philippine Furniture
by looking closely into reports from experts and by making itself
more visible through outbound and inbound business matching
and trade fair participation.
Companies should also undertake programmes for design and
product development, capacity building, materials development,
marketing skills and product standardisation so they can better
serve foreign buyers.
Shu
ber
t C
ienc
ia, P
hilip
pin
es
January Furniture Orders RiseHigh Point, North Carolina: US residential furniture orders in January 2010
rose 4 percent compared to the same time the previous year, reported Smith
Leonard.
Though the sector still has a long way to go, it was a positive development
in comparison to a 24 percent plunge in orders in January 2009.
“While the results were not all that great, the 4 percent increase followed a
12 percent increase in December and 10 percent in November and a flat October
in year over year comparisons,” the report said.
“For the third consecutive month, new orders in January increased over the
same month a year ago,” said managing partner Kenneth Smith. “After two years
of significantly declining order rates, this news has been good news.”
While results are not very significant, he added that it is at least enabling
firms to regain their footing. “Certainly, we are not making up much ground, but
with some stabilisation, this is allowing companies to at least attempt to adjust
to current levels versus wondering how low it can go.”
Meanwhile, factory shipments in January rose 6 per cent after a 3 per cent
increase the previous month, the report disclosed, adding that the last recorded
increase in shipments was close to four years ago in June 2006.
Joan
ne M
aly,
Cin
cinn
ati O
H
www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 11
Industry News
Singaporean Furniture Market Share On Track
Singapore: Promising days are ahead for Singapore’s
furniture sector, according to the city-state’s Trade
and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang as quoted in a
Bernama News Agency article.
Speaking at the opening of the International Furniture
Fair Singapore 2010 and the 27th ASEAN Furniture Show
2010 at the Singapore Expo in Changi, the minister
disclosed that export sales for the local furniture industry
has reached above-target levels of 0.92 percent.
The Singapore Furniture Industries Council had a
target of 1.0 per cent market share by 2015.
Despite the global economic slump, total export
sales climbed to S$4.7 billion for 2009, representing a
47 per cent increase from S$ 3.2 billion in 2007.
Russian Timber Duty LoomsMoscow, Russia: Russia may start imposing export duties on
timber if the US and European countries insist protectionist
measures on oil, a Reuters report said.
Natural Resources Minister Yury Trutnev said that the government
has been postponing the imposition of export duties on timber,
originally planned on January 1, 2009, and may probably introduce
a mechanism that enables Russia to process more timber within
its borders.
The postponement, he said, was done at the request of the
country’s economic partners, but may be reconsidered in response
to attempts to stymie the influx of Russian products.
Wolfgang Poschl Comes On Board At Weinig
Tauberbischofsheim, Germany: Weinig AG has just
expanded its board of directors.
Starting March 1 this year, the company’s supervisory
board appointed 52-year-old Wolfgang Pöschl to establish
a triumvirate again at the head
of the company.
Pöschl, a process engineer,
worked for many years at the
mechanical engineering company
Werner & Pfleiderer before
becoming managing director
of Coperion with international responsibilities.
With the expansion of its corporate management, Weinig
intends to place more emphasis on the Tauberbischofsheim
site and its operational business.
Next to the chairman of the board Walter Fahrenschon
and head of finance Karl Wachter, Pöschl will take
responsibility for business divisions moulders and
window processing machines, as well as production
sites in Tauberbischofsheim and Yantai/China.
Singapore: The Singapore Institute of Manufacturing
Technology announced a collaboration with Sweden’s
Linkoping University to pursue research on environmental
technologies focusing on remanufacturing, clean
production technology processes and industrial
symbiosis.
The partnership will organize various activities
within the academia that will promote the development,
implementation, and commercialisation of environmental
technologies for the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions.
SIMTech Executive Director Dr Lim Ser Yong said,
“This is also timely as sustainable manufacturing
is the theme of our Annual Manufacturing Forum
and we will intensify our industry development
effort in this area.”
The collaboration extension of a research alliance
with the Golisano Institute for Sustainability of
the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), USA,
signed in 2009 to provide a comprehensive and
integrated spectrum of environmental technologies
for the industry.
A Boston University research estimated that the
global remanufacturing industry has generated more
than US$53 billion in annual sales and is considered
a market with major potential.
Singapore, Sweden Partner In Green Research
12 FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 | www.fdmasia.com
Industry News
Sydney, Australia: The US
housing market recovery and
a rebounding global economy
has positioned medium density
fibreboard for robust growth in
the next four years, economic
forecaster and industry analyst
BIS Shrapnel said.
Titled Medium Density
Fibreboard in the Pacific Rim and
Europe, 2009 – 2013, the report
said Falling housing construction
demand has hit bottom in 2009
and is poised for a climb this
year until 2013.
Previous years have seen
seismic shifts in MDF markets
from North America and Europe
to China and Asia, said BIS
Shrapnel.
“MDF markets are now more
mature, and much more price competitive, which has driven
producers to improve quality and develop new products and
markets,” says BIS Shrapnel senior manager, Bernie Neufeld.
“There has also been a significant change in ownership structure
– production has shifted from North America and Europe to China
and Asia and over the forecast period this will continue.
“The effects of the global financial crisis will continue to limit
new production facilities in North America and Western Europe
but developing regions such as China, India, South America and
South East Asia will expand rapidly.”
Contributing to this growth are the new range of uses that
have been developed for MDF, something which Japan have
been very innovative in.
Production is expected to increase from 60.9 million cubic
metres in 2009 to 76 million cubic metres in 2013, based on current
Housing Demand Foretells Solid Growth For MDF
expansion plans and estimated capacity utilisation rates. By 2013,
North Asia will be producing 45 per cent of the world’s MDF, and
China alone will be producing 41 per cent.
The report also noted Russia’s potential as a source of logs
that have traditionally been exported to North Asia and, to some
extent, Europe. Taxing the exports of Russian logs, therefore, will
have significant implications for China.
“China may need to rely more on domestic plantations and
on other sources for imported raw materials and it will be critical
that China produces more efficient engineered wood products
such as MDF and particleboard in place of plywood and timber,”
said Neuel.
Moderate price increases for MDF are expected in the next
four years, which can be fueled further by a declining US dollar
and the development of high value-added products.
Vancouver Convention For International Hardwood CommunityMemphis, Tennesee: NHLA has formally
announced the opening of registration
for the 2010 NHLA Annual Convention
& Exhibit Showcase set to take place
in Vancouver, Canada, from October
13-16.
The convention features prominent
keynote speakers, industry expert-led
education seminars, and an exhibit hall
with buyers and suppliers, on top of
networking opportunities.
NHLA also invites Asian delegates
to the event, which is dubbed as a
“Global Gathering of the Hardwood
Community” at the Hyatt Regency
Vancouver and The Fairmont Hotel
Vancouver.
Pay
ton
Chu
ng, C
hica
go IL
www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 13
Industry NewsIndustry News
ENQU
IRY
NO.
129
Headache Over For Finnish Timber Companies
Helsinki, Finland: The strike that paralysed timber companies in Finland is now
over.
Transport Workers’ Union officials brought an end to the sixteen-day strike on
March 19 after reaching an agreement with employers.
Nevertheless, Finnish forest product giant Stora Enso said it will take two weeks
for production to normalise again, especially those in harbours, while UPM anticipates
operations to get back to normal within the week.
Finnish timber firms UPM and Stora Enso have reportedly
been losing a total of 5.5 million every day of the
strike’s duration.
Many of those who participated in the strike
were stevedores or dock workers who opposed
a new collective labour contract that offered just
six months of protection from termination of
contracts.
The strikes have also received partial blame
for the recent increase in pulp prices caused
mainly by last month’s Chilean quake. The tsunami
resulting from the 8.8 magnitude tremor destroyed
mills and washed away millions of dollars worth of
forestry products in the South American nation.
Malaysian Timber Exports To Pick Up Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Malaysian timber products exporters can expect
a hefty boost from recovering global markets this year, a Malaysian
government minister said in a Bernama News Agency report.
Speaking to reporters from the opening of the Malaysian Timber Council
(MTC) Global WoodMart 2010, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister
Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said the country’s timber export sector can expect
robust growth in 2010 as the world pulls itself out of the financial crisis.
The South East Asian nation shipped RM19.4 billion (US$6 billion) worth
of timber products abroad in 2009—a noticeable drop from RM22.79 billion
(US$7 billion) worth of exports the previous year.
The worldwide credit
crunch has received
most of the blame for
the decline.
Malaysia’s biggest
markets for timber products
include the United States,
Japan, and the European
Union.
Svi
len
Mile
v, B
ulga
ria
Rob
erto
Ver
zo, A
ustr
ia
14 FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 | www.fdmasia.com
Industry News
Kuching, Malaysia: Malaysia’s timber industry must hire
only trained workers or face penalties, a new government
rule said.
A My Star, Malaysia, article reports that the Forest
Department has informed the Sarawak Timber Association
about the new rule, which requires employers to hire only
trained workers to do a prescribed forest activity such as logging
and transportation of timber or other forest produce.
Offenders could face either fines of up to RM5,000
(approximately US$1500) or two years in prison—or both, in
Bothell, Washington:
Lumber prices rose slightly
in the US and Scandinavian
countries early this year,
but low inventories and
slashed outputs rather than
increased demand may
have prompted the growth,
according to a Wood Quarterly
Resource report featured in
Breakbulk.
Southern US experienced
a 24 percent contraction in
lumber output, marginally
bigger than the 20 percent
lumber output reduction in
the Western US, disclosed
the report.
Meanwhile, a surge in
Asian exports helped British
Columbian sawmills reach an
above average figure for total production capacity.
The fourth quarter of 2009 saw Sweden and Finland
with increased lumber prices, despite Finland’s 16 percent
export deficit. A weak local currency and lower log costs
allowed Sweden to enjoy a slight growth in lumber exports,
showed the report.
Lumber Output Down, Prices Up
Elsewhere in Asia, softwood lumber imports slid 14
percent in Japan, as China became the continent’s largest
importer of lumber in 2009 with figures revealing a 75
percent increase in demand, the report further said.
addition to suspension or cancellation of a timber licence.
But the rule, named Forests (Amendment) Ordinance
2001, will not take effect until July 1, apparently in order to
give time to the industry to adjust to the new rule.
The ordinance was imposed since 2002, save for the
new provision requiring only trained workmen to work in
the industry.
Meanwhile, by the end of last year, 162 labourers from
various timber companies have been trained, said association
chairman Datuk Wong Kie Yik.
Timber Industry To Require Trained Workers – Malaysiaar
tin A
lvar
ez E
spin
ar, S
pai
n
www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 15
Industry News
Georgia, USA: To bring
practitioners up-to-date on the
latest efforts to bring some
consistency to this important
area, a one-day Sustainability
Forum (May 4) has been added
as part of TAPPI’s PaperCon
2010 event, May 2-5, 2010 in
Atlanta, GA.
“It’s going to be unlike
anything that’s been done
before,” says Forum co-
chairperson Laura Rowell,
Direc tor, Sustainable
Packaging for MeadWestvaco
(MWV). “There aren’t many
opportunities for people to
hear - in a one-day session
Singapore: Speaking at the Singapore-
Guangxi trade and investment seminar
held at Nanning, Guangxi, Parliamentary
Secretary for Trade and Industry and
Information, Communications and
the Arts, Sam Tan shared the unique
strengths and tremendous potential
of Guangxi as a conduit to develop
Southwestern and Western China,
and how Singapore’s strengths in
modern services can complement the
region’s growth.
Mr Tan was leading a delegation
on a five-day business mission in
Guangxi that will ended April 9, covering
cities that include Nanning, Qinzhou
and Beihai.
Organised by International Enterprise
(IE) Singapore, the mission comprises
representatives from 12 Singapore-based
companies from a range of industries
and modern services, including urban
Guangxi, where labour and land resources
are comparatively cheaper.
Over the least six years, more than
US$1.28 billion has been earmarked to
build railways, ports, roads, and power
and water supply facilities.
The bilateral economic relationship
between Singapore and Guangxi has
developed well over the years. Despite
the global recession, bilateral trade
between Singapore and Guangxi rose
29 percent in 2009 from 2008, to
US$186.1 million, making Singapore
Guangxi’s 15th largest bilateral trading
partner. On the investment front, as
at end 2009, Singapore had invested
in a total of 170 projects amounting
to cumulative actual investments of
US$442.6 million. This made Singapore
Guangxi’s largest investor among the
ASEAN countries and the seventh
largest investor globally.
China Guangxi Region’s Boosts Opportunities For Singapore Firms
- exactly what’s going on in
the world today that affects
their packaging. It will cover
what we do, how we talk
about what we do, and how
we measure it.”
The one-day Forum will be
divided into three sessions and
will focus on the more technical
aspects of sustainability: Session
1 will feature expert speakers on
Standards, Metrics and Labeling;
Session 2 will cover Scorecards,
Databases, and Tools; and Session
3 will address the future in terms
of Inks, Adhesives, Coating and
Laminates.
“Every company says it is
TAPPI’s Forum Focuses On The Science Behind Sustainability
and industrial solutions, port and logistics,
banking and manufacturing.
Guangxi is positioning itself as the
regional gateway between China and the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN). It is one of the two Chinese regions
closest to ASEAN, and the only one in the
west with open sea port facilities.
Coupled with the establishment of the
ASEAN-China Free Trade Area earlier this
year, Guangxi aims to capture a sizable share
of the trade and investment flows between
the two regions, which the Chinese Central
Government and Guangxi local governments
are extremely keen to leverage on so as to
speed up the economic development in
China’s western region.
The Guangxi authorities have been
aggressively improving transport and
supporting infrastructure to attract companies
to set up new operations or relocate export-
oriented factories from the coastal regions to
sustainable, but how do you
prove you are? That’s why things
like scorecards, metrics and
guidelines, and standards have
emerged,” says Ms Rowell. “In
our Forum, we’ll review and
discuss these standards that are
fast becoming game-changers
for our industry.”
Lack of consistent standards
and methodology has put a
burden on the entire supply
chain, according to Ms Rowell.
Currently different companies
use different techniques to
describe their global footprint,
which confuses retailers and
end customers alike.
16 FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 | www.fdmasia.com
T here is not much that anyone, who does not have control over the forest, can do about forest
sustainability; or so goes conventional wisdom. Trade and industry associations in the private sector basically exist to further the interests of their members and there are hundreds of them around the world representing the forest products industry, organised by country, region, state, product or activity.
What often escapes the environmental debate on sustainability of forests is
the fact that probably not one wood association has any motive other than to work positively for forest sustainability – if only for the long term continuous availability of material for their members.
It also has to be said that forests today, private or otherwise, are often political footballs and that the distinction between the private sector and governments is closing. Here are some key associations that have made it their business to enter the debate and play a role with positive contributions.
North AmericaIn the United States the American Forest & Paper
Association (AF&PA) in Washington DC was one of the first. Its Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certification scheme, now totally independent, worked hard to establish standards acceptable to the green lobby, although even this was preceded by the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), set up in California and Washington States in 1941. AF&PA has
AssociationsFrom North America all the way to Australia, wood industry associations are putting sustainability as one of their top agendas. By Michael Buckley FIWSc, Turnstone Singapore
Can Wood Industry
Sustain Forests?
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now largely withdrawn from international activities to concentrate on the US domestic scene but will undoubtedly continue to work on sustainability by lobbying legislators.
By contrast one totally international association is the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) whose activity is exclusively directed to global markets. AHEC has worked tirelessly in Europe and Asia – particularly in Japan – to move the debate on with initiatives relating to responsible trading, legality of resources and now Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) studies of hardwoods compared to other materials.
AHEC has been working for 20 years to establish the environmental credentials of American hardwoods, mainly grown in the eastern States, and with success. Confirmation that the USA operates an effective and fully enforced regulatory framework to deliver sustainable forest management comes from an independent, peer-reviewed study commissioned by the council in 2008 – a major initiative
in transparent communication. This risk assessment report ‘An
Assessment of Lawful Harvesting and Sustainability of US Hardwood Exports’ concluded that “in assessing the breadth and effectiveness of various regulatory and non-regulatory programs that bear on the issues of legality and sustainability, all States in the US hardwood-producing region can be considered low risk for illegal and non-sustainable hardwood sourcing.”
EuropeAnother progressive association is the Timber
Trade Federation (TTF) in UK, which has forged a Responsible Purchasing Policy (RPP) for its importing members – important given the UK’s large dependence on woods of the world. Initiatives in due diligence by the TTF have forged the basis of a model that the European Commission in Brussels is studying carefully.
In fact according to forestry industry
specialist Rupert Oliver of Forest Industries Intelligence in UK, the EU Commission is now looking to the private sector for guidance and solutions as to how to implement due diligence effectively. The Commission regards the trade associations as playing an increasingly critical role in the EU with regard to limiting or eliminating the import of illegal and unsustainable wood.
Under the French importers association Le Commerce du Bois (LCB) French distributors of timber and timber by-products, supported by major corporations, has been active in promoting the positive aspects of wood and in lobbying government to understand the issues of sustainable forestry and responsible procurement.
LCB represents 170 timber trading companies, covering an estimated 60 to 70 percent of total timber imports into France and introduced an Environmental Charter on Wood Purchases and Sales in June 2006 which became compulsory for members in 2008. The Charter covers trade in primary and secondary solid wood products.
French Timber is an association formed in 2001 at the initiative of the Fédération Nationale du Bois (FNB) and a group of French sawmills, which pursues two goals; to promote, on a national as well as international basis, the use of different sawn timber species and processed wood products, coming from sustainable managed French forests; and to ease supplies of sawn timber to foreign companies by increasing the visibility of French sawmills’ offer and expertise. French sawmills participate in sustainable management of resources through the PEFC programme.
It was the Dutch however that led the field in Europe with their importers association Vereniging Van Nederlandse Houtondernemingen (VVNL) - an umbrella organisation representing roughly 300 timber trading companies which account
Mike Snow, executive director AHEC explaining the environmental credentials of American hardwoods to the media in India
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for around 65 percent of the total volume of timber imported into the Netherlands. It has a strong policy on responsible procurement and its certification programme, set up in 1996 under Keurhout (KH-LET), encourages the import of sustainable hardwoods from tropical countries.
In many ways one might be forgiven for feeling that these enlightened Dutchmen of the business community and trade unions got it right from the outset – given that the ENGOs subsequently have succeeded with certification mainly in temperate forests, after so many years of effort. Until the end of 2003 Keurhout functioned as a foundation, but now the services of Keurhout are facilitated by the trade association.
Africa The Inter-African Forest Industry Association (IFIA)
gathers together around 300 companies through trade and industry associations. Since 1996 it has been ensuring the international promotion of African timbers whilst focussing on sustainable forest management.
The association encourages its members to commit themselves to legal timber production and trade and forest certification. Its role in this area is to give open and objective information on the advancement of the various processes, lend timely technical and strategic support, act at all levels to carry forward forest certification in this region, and maintain a dialogue with the different schemes.
The operator is responsible for choosing and deciding on the adoption of a particular certification scheme. According to IFIA the central African region is host to 180 million hectares of tropical forest of which 53 million hectares is currently allocated for commercial concessions. Latest information is that, partly due to the encouragement and
guidance of IFIA, forest management plans have been implemented on 25 million hectares of concessions in the region. Ten million hectares have been legally verified and a further 2.9 million hectares only have been FSC certified. The area of FSC certified forest in tropical Africa, which increased by 80 percent during 2008, includes 1.3 million hectares in Gabon, 877,000 hectares in Cameroon, and 747,000 hectares in the Republic of Congo.
Expectations are that there will soon be 15 million hectares legally verified and 4 million hectares certified. IFIA is working in pursuit of a target of 10 million
certified by the end of 2012. (Source: Forest Industries Intelligence)
International CooperationOne of the outstanding examples of international cooperation in the private sector is represented by The Forest Trust (TFT) with its Timber Trade Action Plan (TTAP), which is a partnership between European timber trade federations and TFT, managed by TFT on behalf of the participating federations.
It is a project aimed at the reduction of trade in illegal timber by helping the European members work towards legality verification of their imported
Forest in Peninsular Malaysia
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Expectations are that there will soon be 15 million hectares legally verified and 4 million
hectares certified. IFIA is working in pursuit of a target of 10 million certified by the end of 2012.
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Focus
timber and wood products and to implement robust Chain of Custody (CoC) systems. In 2005, TTAP started to work in Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Indonesia and Malaysia, and in 2007 with Bolivia, Brazil, China and Guyana, assisting forest and timber companies to take practical steps towards producing and trading legally verified timber.
The seven-year project is co-financed by the EU Commission, with matching co-funds provided by partner trade federations and their members. TTAP provides training, advice, and financial support to companies aiming at the establishment of a timber tracking system that allows them to trace their wood from the forest through processing factories to the export destination in the EU.
Timber and wood products entering the EU market can then be verified legal by third party auditors with extensive coaching in legality, strengthened supply chains and effective chain of custody system systems. This brings TTAP companies to the forefront of market developments, and allows them to proactively anticipate the changing requirements of the EU Commission’s legislation and public procurement policies.
AsiaMention of the Malaysian participation in TTAP reminds
one of the enormous progress that Peninsular Malaysia has made with its internationally recognised
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and independent Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) now endorsed by PEFC and accepted by CPET - an expert group appointed by the UK Government as providing the assurance of legally harvested timber.
The Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) was the agency that first advocated the need to establish Malaysia's own timber certification scheme. MTC was established in January 1992 on the initiative of the timber industry but with government ties. The Council is governed by a Board of Trustees, whose members are appointed by the Minister of Plantation Industries & Commodities. Its main objectives are to promote the Malaysian timber trade and develop the market for timber products globally, to
20 FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 | www.fdmasia.com
Focus
promote the development of the timber industry. MTC also aims to protect and improve the Malaysian timber industry's global image; expand the industry's manufacturing technology base by increasing value-adding in production and increasing the pool of knowledge workers; augment the supply of raw materials for the timber-processing industries and provide information services to its industry.
In Japan the Japan Federation of Wood Industry Associations (JFWIA) is playing a leading role to develop interest in and demand for legally verified products, partly due to JFWIA’s very close relationship with the national government. JFWIA is an umbrella organisation, comprising virtually all associations related to the wood industry in Japan as its members and its member associations have a high rate of membership within the private industry sector.
ENQUIRY NO. 3101
The association represents private sector interests and it is comparable to federations in other industrialised countries but is distinct from these in having strong formal and informal relationships with Ministry of Agriculture, Fish & Forestry (MAFF). As early as 2001, the association established an investigation committee with the objectives of identifying issues and collecting and disseminating information on overseas illegal logging.
In October 2002, the committee issued a declaration on the use of legal and sustainable timber and subsequently advised the wood industry under its umbrella not to accept timber, which had clearly been illegally logged and traded. MAFF entrusted this private JFWIA with responsibility for design and implementation of codes of conduct that could be used to demonstrate conformance to the public sector procurement policy – perhaps watched by the EU Commission, as an example.
Australia & New ZealandAs in Japan, there appears
to be a thin line between the private associations and government in Australia, where most public forest is becoming locked up and only plantation supplies are commercially available in significant volume. The Forest and Wood Products Association, (FWPA), a levy-funded joint venture between industry and government is considered to be very influential. Its marketing programme is central and although the association does not manage forests its many members do.
The New Zealand Forest Owners Association (FOA) represents the owners of commercial plantation forests, which are New Zealand’s third largest export industry and a major regional employer. In both Australia and New Zealand forest owners and industry work within the many associations at national and state level and accordingly exert influence on forest trade issues.
The situation in Tasmania is however unusual, since the result of the last election has produced a hung parliament in which the ‘greens’ hold a balance of power and may dictate forest management and trade policy more strongly than is the case in Europe - for example. It may also mean there that government will not look to the private sector for guidance and self-regulation as is the case increasingly around the world.
With such global evidence from across the private sector, there can be little doubt that many wood industry and trade associations are making a very significant contribution to forest sustainability. FDM
Forest in Peninsular Malaysia
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Technology
Rough EdgesHow developments in edge-banding has changed—and will continue to change—the way panel edges are done. By Dr Jegatheswaran Ratnasingam, FIWSc
TechnologyFor
The different aspects of edgebanding requires different technologies, from feeding to adhesive application
www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 23
Technology
T he call to preserve forest covers to mitigate climate change has reduced logging activities in natural forests
worldwide, resulting in a global furniture industry that is struggling to obtain sufficient supply of quality solid wood resources. Although plantation forests offer alternative supplies, the quality of wood from plantations are somewhat not comparable to wood from natural forests. Nevertheless, plantation wood resources have evidently become the most important wood resource available for both solid wood products manufacturing as well as a wide array of reconstituted products manufacturing.
The dwindling supply of solid wood resources has forced manufacturers of wood products, especially those in the furniture sector, to increase the use of wood-based panels, particularly particleboard and medium density fibreboard, in the manufacture of furniture. In a late 2008 report by the International furniture Research Group (IFRG), it was found that wood-based panels are replacing solid wood resources at a rate of almost 3 percent in applications involving large surface areas, such as case-good, kitchen cabinet and wardrobe production.
The large surface area, reasonable good strength and working properties of wood-based panels make it an ideal material for high quality furniture production. The quality of wood-based panels has also come a long way, as the material can be engineered to meet the demand of any application. Nevertheless, panel edges remain the weakest point as it is generally rougher, is easily damaged and does not look appealing.
As a result, covering the edges of the panels through edge-banding has become the norm when using wood-based panels in furniture application.
The Need For Edge-BandingWith the furniture manufacturing industry’s
Among the more popular edging materials utilized in edge-banding are primed poly-vinyl chloride (PVC), wood veneers, solid wood, melamine or polyester-impregnated papers, and high-pressure laminate. Typical core stocks include particleboard, plywood and medium density fibreboard. Standard, straight edge-banding is usually performed with hot melt adhesives (particularly, ethylene vinyl acetate – EVA), while water-based polyvinyl-acetate (PVAc) adhesives are sometimes used where a more heat-resistant glue-line is required. In these instances, hot melt moisture
increasing use of wood-based panels, especially particleboard and medium density fibreboard (MDF), there has been a corresponding rise in the need for technology to cover wood panel edges. One of the most successful solutions for this has been edge-banding. Although the technology is almost three decades old, continuous innovation has brought about a complete transformation of the technology, as the present day laminates provide varied looks and design to suit the need of discerning customers.
Further, edge-banding is essential for processing wood-based panels such as kitchen cabinets. These panels’ cut and machined edges need to be matched in appearance to the other surfaces and to allow protection from mechanical damage as well as moisture ingression.
Moisture ingression is particularly common in Asian kitchens where water seeps in through board edges. This is because, unlike in developed countries where the modular kitchen originated, the region has an overwhelming tendency to splash water on counter tops and around sinks.
Also, the higher humidity in tropical Asia contributes to moisture entering cut and machined edges of wood-based panels. Though the problem may be tackled to some extent by using exterior grade boards, edge-banding offers a better solution. However, a lot depends on the quality of the edge-banding, which in turn depends on the adhesive used in edge-banding.
Edge-banding: The TechnologyEdge-banding is the process of bonding decorative materials, usually in the form of strips, to the edges of various core stocks. Soft-forming is a similar process, but applies the edging material to a profiled edge only.
Particleboard edges as shown here are often the subject of edge-banding
24 FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 | www.fdmasia.com
Technology
curing adhesives (HMMC) or polyurethane (PUR) are also becoming more prevalent.
The PUR hot melt adhesive is definitely the best with its superior resistance to moisture, but needs special application heads and cannot be used directly on existing machines. The pot and applying parts also have to be thoroughly cleaned regularly before shutting down the machine. Otherwise, glue can set in and can be difficult to remove. In addition, the adhesive is also relatively expensive, giving EVA type hot melt adhesives a predominant 85 percent market share in the edge-banding sector.
Majority of edge-banding equipment employing a vertical adhesive applicator wheel are manufactured in Europe. The hot melt edge-banding adhesives are designed to provide optimal line speeds, reduced energy consumption and excellent machining characteristics, with a variety of open times depending on process speed. This enables manufacturers to ramp up their production throughput significantly.
New DevelopmentsAmong upcoming developments for edge-
banders are more versatile stations that combine several functions in one unit. In the past, most machines had stations dedicated to one application. Today, edge-banding stations are much more versatile and can be easily changed from one operation to another by means of the servo motors and the PC controllers being used. This helps maximise the production time of an edge-bander.
PC controls are now standard on almost all machines, in which running programs change and improve continually. Further, production-tracking software built into the controller is another new addition to edge-banders linked to every machine in the shop and office. This allows for constant tracking of a part or job from beginning to end, as well as for continuous monitoring of all parts and projects as they flow through a shop.
Previously available only for high-speed, custom-made machines and lines, automation is now
available for machines of every size. Controls and automation has become mainstream through standardization and mass production of necessary components, making their serviceability a lot simpler. The competitive prices of controls, automation, and high speed unit technology of all edge-bander sizes will challenge future buyers to come up with solutions that will take full advantage of these features.
The standard feed speed is already at 30 metres per minute (approximately 98 feet per minute) at a 400mm gap (approximately 16 inches) in between panels, but recent developments suggest that higher speeds will come to the marketplace soon. This means that the machine is already faster than what an operator can manually feed. In this scenario, automatic feeding becomes essential to keep pace with the machine.
Machine speed will continue to be a big factor in edge-banding technology, as higher increases in speeds and pre-milling no longer be an just an option but will be included on more machinery. Accessories like servo controls are also being included on entry-level machines.
Generally, the biggest change is the number of overall options such as pre-mill and PC-based controllers. Bar coding is big especially in nested based manufacturing. Increased options, production speeds and capabilities help smaller manufacturers compete, but so
Reduction in solid wood supply has led furniture manufacturers to turn to fibreboards, particleboards, and plywood
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Kanefusa Corporation JapanPhone: +81 587 95 7221Fax: +81 587 95 7226E-mail: [email protected]
P.T. Kanefusa IndonesiaPhone: +62 21 897 0360Fax: +62 21 897 0360E-mail: [email protected]
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ENQUIRY NO. 2203
do medium to large sized manufacturers.In today’s demanding market, small
to large manufacturers must be capable of reacting quickly to smaller batch sizes and more rapid changeover of panel thickness and glue types such as EVA and PUR. Manufacturers of all sizes need to be able to accommodate different materials with all types of finishes. The faster track speeds combined with the quick change type work units allow
Kitchen cabinets in Asia are more prone to moisture ingression as a result of counter top spills
smaller manufacturers to take in some larger jobs to remain competitive.
The future will show more and more multi-combination work units with NC servo type commands and adjustments. With flexibility and speed becoming the future focus of edge-banders, exciting times are certainly ahead in the technology’s development.
Materials Spur Changes In TechnologyIn addition to improved speed and capabilities, developments are being made in core and edge-banding materials. Aluminium edge-banding, which already plays a big role in Europe, will play a big role in the US as well as other parts of the world for high-end residential and commercial cabinetry.
Another trend is the edge-banding of light-weight boards, which is increasingly
making its presence felt especially in the cabinet manufacturing sector. These boards are foreseen to become available in many parts of the world in the near future, transforming the global edge-banding sector.
The FutureEdge-banding technology is a stable yet innovative technology that has been able to cope with different core-stocks and edge-banding materials. Due to its adaptability, the technology has contributed significantly to the successful application of wood-based panels in many applications that were formerly dominated by solid wood resources. In this context, edge-banding technology has emerged as the standard technology for wood-based panels processing and will remain so in the foreseeable future. FDM
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Everybody in today’s wood working industry and all over the globe understands the term edge
banding and its technical facts and features. The continuous improvement by R&D pundits in all leading machinery manufacturing companies strive hard over days and nights to design the most efficient and yet economical machine to make themselves leaders in the field and increase their share among users of such machinery.
Competition has created a bigger impact and pressure on manufacturers to reduce costs by not sacrificing the technical aspects and superiority over their counterparts in the trade. The term
‘customer is the king’ is no longer valid. Today a new slogan called ‘customers are gods’ is rampantly assumed by customers themselves.
Peak Of TechnologyOver 30 years ago, Edge banding machines were quite primitive as far as speed, construction and efficiency were concerned. Today, the technology is almost complete and has reached the edge of the limit as far as improvements
are concerned. Manufacturers still brag about speed, controls, and aesthetics etc which do not contribute to any advantage to the user or to the cause.
The last invention in edge banding technology was the combination of the CNC router with edge banding facility which is also fading away slowly. Other
Edge Banding:
Progressive automation in compact edge banding machines, continuous developments in adhesive technology coupled with operator friendly approach by leading manufacturers are some of the new advancements in edge banding technology today. By Shiv Kumar Shet, business development manager, Biesse Manufacturing
AdvancementEndless
than having the advantage of edge banding areas on the panel board with acute radius, this machine could not prove its mettle as far as speed, cost, production costs etc.
Somebody once said that “Companies want to run a little bit of everything and they want fast changeovers with
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Technology
no operator intervention and added investments”. Probably that is exactly the reason that manufacturers all over the world are placing emphasis on trying out new technologies.
Laser Edge BandingThe latest invention is the LEB (Laser Edge Banding) technology. Laser (Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) as it is often referred to is used to heat a thin layer of the gluing bond or the polymer which is co extruded on the edge and then pressed onto the panel.
The result is a light joint meaning that even light cannot pass through or that the joint is not visible to the naked eye. It means the process will
even such pieces may disclose the joint after duration of time and other ambient conditions.
The laser technology uses special polymers in place of the regular glues. This substance consists of the same colour of the edge being used. This is however bonded previously to the edge material during the extrusion process itself by the manufacturer.
The thickness of the polymer on the edge may not vary more than 100
-200 microns. The temperature may not be as high like that of the conventional edge banders which use approximately 190 to 200˚C. Lasers use up to 135-140˚C to soften the polymer and thereby ensure that perfect joint.
The accuracy in heating the polymer
ensure a perfect joint in terms of visual appearance and functionality. With the usage of laser in edge banding, humidity will not enter due to the absence of capillary holes. The laser unit along with the pressure imparting station is the heart of the laser edge banding machine.
To elaborate on the entire technique, let’s get back to the basic edge banding system. Normally during a standard process in the through feed edge bander the hot melt glue used can be controlled by minimising the flow or quantity and controlled temperature to decrease the joint gap as far as possible.
It may be observed that only a few panels out of a million may have the perfect and a reliable joint. However,
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is catered by the high intensity laser system which aims precisely over the polymer on the edge. The pressure applied by the rollers after the laser operates on the edge ensures that the molten mass fills the surface.
Extra BenefitsAll that simplicity in operation means that the laser fitted edge banders do not have the glue pots with all its heaters around them and the pressure rollers in the machine.
The laser is the heart of the system now. This means that there are no more cartridge heaters, no more glue pot cleansing, wastages in glue, replacement of bearings and maintenances of rollers using expensive lubricants. That is a whole lot of difference in terms of costs when production through out the year is concerned. After all downtime due to faulty machines is a part of the profitability in any plant.
There is no pre heating of the glue in the case of the LEB and the parameters are more easily changed to requirements when compared to the conventional edge banders. Tools life is also enhanced due to absence of glue smearing.
Bulthaup Kuchen from Aich (Bavaria) has patented the process. However, Rehau owns the credit in the invention of the coextruded edging system. Overall the advantages of Laser Edging can be briefly listed as follows.
and the panel surface
ENQUIRY NO. 3202
Here To StayConsidering all the above, we can infer that the laser technology is here to stay. The shortage of power available
The laser technology uses special polymers in place of the regular
glues. This substance consists of the same colour of the edge being used.
in third world countries due to various factors need to embrace such concepts where the consumption of power is far too low when compared to its previous counterparts.
Finally, the single most important advantage is the finish that is produced on the edge and the panel surface by the laser technology. We can assume that there will not be any negative feedback from customers who buy furniture involving edge banding and who always look for a cause to negotiate with the price from the manufacturer. FDM
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Panels
T raditionally used to insulate a room, paneling in the modern sense of the word is usually used for decorative purposes. Also moving on with times, the panels used nowadays
has evolved from wood to plastics or other materials. Staying with wood though, panels come in the form of
Medium Density Fibre Board (MDF), Oriented Strand Board (OSB), plywood and more. Usually sold in 4 by 8 foot (1.2 m x 2.4 m) sheets, they can be used to cover up walls. As they are relatively light, it is a popular way to cover up large areas quickly and effectively.
One pertinent point to note is the absorbance of panels, making them unsuitable for usage in the bathroom or places frequently subjected to humid conditions.
The Right FitStarting its life at the kilns, the panels are then edged to size and function. As mentioned, panels usually come in a standard size and in order to do so, panel sizing comes into play. The difficulty of cutting or sawing differs with the thickness of the board, this challenge of sawing thin boards can be overcome by using vacuum infeed carriages and a
Panels:
Panel sizing has come a long way, improving in accuracy and efficiency to reduce wastage. By Frank De MarcusSizing It Up
nip roller as displayed in Schelling’s cut to size plant.Here, the cycle times as a result of the two alternately
operating vacuum carriages can go up to as high as 25 cycles per minute. Also notable is the boards are transferred one by one by the vacuum carriage to the nip roller.
Ernst Keider, GM of Homanit, manufacturer of thin, smooth-faced MDF/HDF Homadur wood fibre boards, describes the advantages of this type of feed: “While one infeed cycle is running, the other is already being prepared – the systems are interleaved without hindering each other. As a result we were able to double the speed during infeed.”
Higher Accuracy Minimises WasteIn order to mitigate the risk of material wastage during cutting especially with thin boards, alignment is key, as illustrated in the Schelling case study. If the cutting books are precisely aligned, unnecessary trim waste can be avoided. In order to minimise trim waste, cutting books are aligned with precision. As such, the alignment tables on the cut-to-size plants in Homanit’s Losheim and Karlino factories are electronically positioned. In addition, adjustable aligning devices that make
it possible to align boards with low thickness without causing harm within the necessary cycle time.
To ensure the small trim waste does not fall through the saw gap on the sawing machine and cause soiling or malfunctions there, Schelling Anlagenbau developed a saw gap closing device that only opens briefly in the area of the saw blade and then closes again. The waste that is produced during trimming or ‘dust cuts’ is ejected through automatic waste flaps to a conveyor system below. The waste is transferred via a
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PanelsPanels
central outlet to the guillotines where it is chopped up and transported away.
Other Panel Sizing SolutionsIn the woodworking market today, there are also several panel sizing equipment available, all designed with improving each and every cut. Putsch-Meniconi has developed the SVP 420 vertical panel saw, which optimises performances of the machine with help from its scoring unit with separated motorisation.
This feature allows the machine to use the right power for the scoring blade independent from the main blade motorisation. The separated motor automatically starts when the scoring unit is enabled and stops when the scoring unit is disabled so optimising overall energy consumption of the machine.
Elsewhere, the Gabbiani Galaxy 140 by SCM Group is designed for flexibility and accuracy. Able to load automatically from the front, rear and the sides, the machine allows machining versatility and performance.
For small to mid-sized shops, panel sizing centres that offer reliability and speed are suitable. For example, Biesse 108 active series are available in a variety of configurations: front loading, automatic rear-load, and automatic rear loading with integrated head-cut rotating station.
By optimising and automatically adjusting the speed of each individual movable device, the maker claims to have made it possible to reduce the average cycle time by 20 to 30 percent.
Lastly, moving away from cutting, software programs are also being produced to help raise the bar of accuracy in panel sizing. Cut Rite by Holzma is a comprehensive, all round optimisation program that improves cut operations.
The new release 8.0 gives the choice of three software editions and eight practical add-on modules. This means the program can be upgraded as and when the need arises, so that it matches individual operational requirements. FDM
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Heavy duty helical planer cutter head with disposable knives
Helical planer cutter head with disposable knives
Adjustable planer cutterhead
Planer cutterhead with disposable knives
Safety corrugate cutter head
Single/double surface planer - helical planer cutter head with disposable knives
Welding helical planer cutterhead
All kinds of profile cutters
ENQUIRY NO. 3301
Starting its life at the kilns, the panels are then edged to size and function
32 FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 | www.fdmasia.com
Surfaces & Flooring
Despite numerous advantages that laminates offer over traditional wood, consumers and design
professionals alike cite the concern that laminates are “not real wood” as one of the main reasons for choosing solid ones. But as people thumb their noses at laminates as unworthy substitutes, annual sales for the material continues to grow, with worldwide demand projected to climb to 1.68 billion sq m this year.
This trend is expected to rise as technological improvements allow manufacturers to impregnate wood grain laminates with a more realistic look and feel compared to wood, or market non wood grain laminates to a specific niche. While demand for the material on floors continues to be strong, laminates are at the same time steadily finding themselves on walls, ceilings, and furniture as viable alternatives to solid wood.
Cheaper, Easier To MaintainAs economic situations struggle for a rebound, laminates’ relatively inexpensive price compared to wood has remained one of the strongest reason for its usage. For a fraction of hardwood’s price, consumers can get the homely look and feel of wood in homes and offices without paying for the price of a real one. Better yet,
consumers can benefit from wood grain laminates’ finer appearance, largely as a result of technological developments in the manufacture of these products.
To be sure, the natural qualities of hardwood endow it with a more aesthetic appearance than its man-made counterpart, but even the latter offers qualities that nature is hard-pressed to duplicate. Laminates as well as laminate flooring, for instance, are more resistant to dents and stains, making them easier to clean and maintain.
Laminates, including laminate flooring, also resist moisture and adapt to seasonal changes better, and for that reason do not expand and contract so much as hardwoods do in the extreme heat and cold of summer and winter. They also trump hardwood in installations, since users can install them on and detach them later from nearly every type of surface by connecting the interlocking pieces together, whereas hardwood requires a grade-level sub-floor. Unlike wood, laminate does not need finishing, which can sometimes be as costly as the wood itself.
As a cheaper alternative to wood panels and floors, laminates are now finding themselves on walls and ceilings. By Jerome Lim
BeyondFloors
Design purists watch out; fake wood is in vogue.
It is not surprising then that laminates, decor papers, and even wood grain floor laminates are increasingly finding themselves in places other than floors, creeping up walls and ceilings where it proves itself better than wood in terms of maintenance. Hence, they are especially useful in surfaces regularly affected by moisture and dirt, such as kitchens and countertops where dirt and grease from cooking tend to build up on walls and ceilings. For consumers wanting to add a little spice or funkiness to walls or ceiling covered traditionally by tiles and stone, laminates also make an ideal selection in bathrooms as they are stain-resistant and can be easily cleaned with a mild detergent. Custom-designed laminates--which can imitate anything from etched walls to contemporary artwork--are also available for those who cannot find a suitable pattern, providing customers with virtually limitless options in picking a design.
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Surfaces & Flooring
Limited ManufacturersWhile wall and ceiling laminate manufacturers are still limited as of yet, more and more companies are expected to introduce this concept into the market. Just at the recent Domotex concluded in Hannover in January, the Classen Group unveiled its collection titled “gekko - Laminate Goes Wall,” a patented wall lamination series that follows through from the company’s previous wall lamination concepts. Described as an “alternative to traditional wall paneling” such as paper, fabric, wood, or derived timber products, the gekko is just one of the industry’s response to the growing demand for non-traditional uses of laminates, which in turn provides laminate-flooring manufacturers additional business.
Meanwhile, Armstrong has been offering a collection of wood grain laminate ceiling planks for a number of years now. Called WoodHaven, Armstrong’s laminate ceiling planks are made out of medium density fibreboard (MDF) and are quicker to install than traditional wood surfacing, which usually require nails and finishing. As with floor laminates, the planks interlock with one another via installation clips that attach to wood joists or wood furring strips. The wood-grain ceiling laminates
Laminates are moisture-resistant, making them ideal selections for areas usually affected by occasional moist and dirt (such as kitchens).
come in eight colours and measure 5 inches wide by 78 inches long by 3/8 inches thick.
BHK also offers glueless laminate ceiling planks through its Moderna Logo series. With a patented clip system to aid installation as well as the usual tongue and groove profile, Moderna users have five wood grain patterns to choose from in these planks measuring 96 by seven inches.
Surfacing Panacea ?Of course, as with any other material, laminates still have their limitations, and are not a panacea to all surfacing
problems. While laminates require very little maintenance, they do not last as long as stone surfaces do, and are vulnerable to sharp objects which can cut into and damage laminates. This is not so in the case of MDF and HDF laminate flooring, which are generally more scratch resistant than hardwoods. Laminates on countertops, which often make contact with hot utensils from the stove, are also prone to extreme heat of 135˚C for short periods, or of 60˚C for prolonged periods. And while laminates resist water very well, it cannot tolerate standing pools of water—but so does wood—hence making tiles or stone a more viable option.
Ultimately, consumers must carefully weigh the pros and cons of either panelling types, and see which one best suits their needs. Those who do not mind the costs of maintaining hardwood while enjoying the feel of “real wood” might consider wood as a worthy investment, considering how they are more durable than laminates in the long run while pushing up the resale value of property. Laminates and decor papers, on the other hand, can be attractive alternatives for those who want the homely look of wood for a fraction of the cost, while allowing them to choose from a wide variety of configurations other than wood grain. FDM
Wood grain laminates, which are actually just a photograph of wood, offer virtually limitless number of designs.
ENQUIRY NO. 3401
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&DesignDecor
Artistic
Decorative Veneers:
Cover UpVeneers can and are used to express and communicate the natural beauty and majesty of natural wood. By Royce Tan
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&DesignDecor
Wood veneering has been around for thousands of years and it is a pivotal aspect of woodworking.
By definition, a veneer is a thinly sliced sheet of wood usually ranging from 0.25mm (app 1/102 inch) to 2.5mm (app 1/10 inch), although there are veneering companies out there who offer thicker veneers and custom cut thickness. Decorative veneers are normally sliced to a thickness of around 0.3mm to 0.6mm.
Decorative veneers are that subset of wood veneers that are used as overlays for various furniture, cabinetry and interior design uses. Its purpose is to enhance the beauty and aesthetics of furniture pieces, as well as aid interior designers in achieving their artistic vision at a comfortable budget by utilising the decorative qualities of wood. In simple terms, decorative veneering is simply a method of decorating and adorning the surface of one material with a more attractive material.
Since decorative veneers when used as an overlay can give a piece of furniture or part of a living space fitting the illusion that it is made from a higher quality pedigree of wood, furniture designers, manufacturers and interior designers alike can then use cheaper wood for the underlying substrate. This includes particle board, MDF(Medium Density Fiberboard), plywood and other composite panels for the furniture piece or design fitting. That savings can be translated to the consumer.
Hardwood plywood and veneer is more often used for decorative purposes than softwood plywood and veneer. Hardwood species include species as cherry, birch, beech, chesthut, hickory, maple, oak, walnut, gum and poplar. Examples of important tropical hardwood would include teak, mahogany, ebony and lauan. Decorative veneers could also be made out of some more exotic and rare species such as Brazilian rosewood and eucalyptus.
Varieties Of Decorative Wood VeneersThere are hundreds of different types of wood veneer available and there are
equally numerous varieties of decorative veneers on the commercial decorative veneer market. So the furniture designer, architect or interior designer will have a wide range of product varieties and series to choose from.
Raw VeneerBroadly speaking, there are four types of veneers classified by their uses and functions. There is first of all raw veneer. Raw veneer has no backing and both sides of it can be used with either side facing up. Due to the cell structure of the wood from which it is made of, both sides would appear to be different after a finish has been applied.
Paper-Backed VeneerThen you would have paper-backed veneer, which as the name suggests are backed with a paper. The key advantage of this particular type of veneer is that it can be made of different sizes, as smaller pieces are joined together before the paper backing is added. A built-in quality that helps the durability of works made from this form of veneer is that it is far less likely to crack under the stress when used in curves and columns.
Phenolic Backed VeneerAnother variety is the phenolic backed veneer that is basically raw wood veneers backed with a durable phenolic resin. Like the paper-backed veneer, it is available in large sheets where numerous pieces of raw veneer are joined together with phenolic resin as a backing, holding the whole piece together. Being backed by fairly malleable phenolic resin, it is highly durable and is less likely to crack when used on curved surfaces.
Laid Up VeneerFinally, you would have your laid up veneer, which is basically raw veneer joined together to make larger veneer sheets. Though the process is not difficult – as it requires no expensive tools or machinery – it is a time-consuming process that requires care.
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&DesignDecor
Hybrid RangeGiven the advanced technologies and engineering processes that are available, there are other hybrids of decorative wood veneers that one would be able to find on the decorative wood veneer market. One example would be reconstructed veneers.
Reconstructed Veneers are sliced from a laminated timber block made from the laminates and veneers of various wood species. The various pieces of laminates and veneers are placed together in a parallel fashion, and then dyed throughout and glued together under great pressure to form a fused block of reconstructed timber.
Consistency in color and grain of veneer would count to be one of the many benefits of reconstructed veneers. Within the block lots, there is a certain level of acceptable consistency in colour with only some slight grain differences. Being man-created, these reconstructed veneers come in defined lengths. For example, in Australia, these reconstructed veneers generally come in lengths of 2,500 mm to 2,800 mm.
In terms of their patterns, colour, shades and designs, there are numerous varieties of decorative wood veneers, each created differently by use of different pedigrees of wood.
While there are particular varieties of decorative veneers that are unanimously named, such as Burls, Curls and Clusters, Exotic, Pomellos and Figured, different companies usually have their own line of products, uniquely named. The most commonly produced patterns generically speaking would be crown, quarter false,
quarter true and rotary. Their names are given by the way the timber log is cut and sliced.
BurlsBurls is timber at its most magnificent. They result from the most beautifully patterned logs that nature has to offer. By appearance, burls have a lively and engaging quality about them.
CurlsCurls are often sub-categorised as flame, plume, roostertail, feather or burning bush. These descriptions are meant to be literal as they were so created to capture and covey the majesty and beauty of this figure’s appearance. In the case of Clusters, the veneer has patches of burl figure that are rotary sliced from the log.
ExoticSome veneers grains and figures are just dramatically different to the point where they are in a category of their own.
PomellosA scalloped figure usually found in mahogany.
FiguredThis is a special type of grain figure, achieved when logs are quarter cut to produce very straight grain with cross grain figures. The markings often form wavy shimmering patterns.
Decorative Veneers ManufacturingBefore a log is cut into veneer, it is
often steamed or soaked in water of high temperature. This ‘cooking’ process softens the log so that the log can be sliced without tearing or splitting. Depending on the species and usually the region of origin of the log, the length of cooking time varies from a few hours to over a week. The temperature of the water that the logs are cooked in is also a variable that must be strictly monitored and controlled.
The process of veneer production goes as follows. First, there is the process of log procurement. The logs are then sawn into flitches. Flitches are blocks of wood that have been sawn from logs. Most of the slicing processes in veneer production work occur with flitches. The flitches are then placed in large stainless steel or aluminium vats, and the cooking process as mentioned earlier begins. After that comes the slicing and peeling processes.
After the veneer is sliced, there is the drying process by which the veneers are fed either mechanically or manually into press dryers. The veneers are pressed flat between heated platens. Then comes the clipping process that is also known as the grading process. The veneers go through a clipping line where their edges are straightened, and most defects are cut out. Finally, the veneers are bundled into stacks of the same order as when it was removed from the log.
Unlike plywood veneers that are usually produced by a peeling process of common species of wood, decorative veneers used in furniture and wood-panelling industries are produced by slicing finer grained woods.
Depending on the way that a log or flitch is cut, it is possible to achieve striking visual appearances and effects in the decorative veneers. As such, two logs of the same species, even of the same tree when cut and sliced differently produce highly individual and unique grain patterns and figures. The two most common ways that veneers are produced
Experimental shaped MDF with vacuumed veneer.
An expensive timber, satinwood is used principally for decorative veneers and specialised furniture making, turnery and joinery.
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&DesignDecor
of rotary cutting, all the other cutting and slicing process make use of flitches.
An Edge For VeneersVeneers can and are used to express and communicate the natural beauty and majesty of natural wood. Given that veneers are produced from wood that in itself is a renewable resource, veneered products are highly ecological. The harvesting of forests only creates new space for new trees to grow on.
Adding to the list of benefits is the fact that veneering is an economical way to use our valuable lumber resources. To illustrate this point, it is important to note that the veneered surfaces of 16 bedroom cabinets can be produced with just one sq m of wood. These veneers can later on be recycled and used as materials for chipboards.
ENQUIRY NO. 3501
Advantage
IMA AG Asia Pacific Pte Ltd 2 Kallang Pudding Road #05-16 Mactech Industrial Building Singapore 349307 Tel.: +65 6749 6588 Fax.: +65 6749 6577 [email protected] www.ima-sg.com
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from logs and flitches are the rotary cutting and plain slicing methods.
Centering a log in a lathe and turning it against a broad cutting knife that is set against the log at a particular angle create rotary veneer. Rotary cut veneer can be wide enough to provide full sheet (one piece) faces.
Then there is plain slicing, also known as flat cut which the plain sliced veneer is produced from slicing parallel to the center of the log to produce a flat cut veneer. Half round slicing would be the production of wood veneer by cutting on an arc roughly parallel to the centre of the log to achieve a flat cut veneer.
Quarter slicing or true quarter cut achieves a straight grain by slicing perpendicular to the annual growth rings of the log. The veneers produced have a stripy quartered grain to it. There is
also have the rift cut, which is used for various species of oak. The flitch is attached to a lathe. As the flitch is rotated in the lathe, a stationary knife slices off veneers of wood off the flitch. Veneers with a stripy texture are produced with this form of slicing.
Cutting from the heart refers to that method of producing wood veneers that involves splitting the log into three equal parts and then with each piece the log is peeled from inside out. The advantage of this method is that it produces only veneers with cathedral or narrow heart but no quarters. The downside is that the net yield is somehow reduced since you now have three cores instead of two as it is with half round cutting.
Finally you have length-wise slicing that involves passing a block of lumber over a stationary knife. With the exception
38 FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 | www.fdmasia.com
Wood & Sustainability
Estimated at US$380 billion per year, the global forest products industry is sizeable and complex. Navigating
the industry’s intricate web of supply chains can pose challenges to even the most veteran forest products company. Adding to this complexity, an alarming portion of wood funnelled through
By committing to responsible sourcing and making changes to implement policy and eliminate unwanted goods from purchasing profi les, you can provide integral support to customers in the US and Europe. By Betsy Hickman, communications manager, Global Forest & Trade Network
SustainabilityManaging
Illegal logging not only ravages the world’s forests, but jeopardises the raw material the forest industry relies on.
these complex supply chains is derived from illegally logged and unsustainably managed forests.
This is an issue that affects every business in the industry, regardless of size. The practice not only ravages the world’s forests, but also jeopardises the raw material that your business depends
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Wood & Sustainability
enforcement of the Lacey Act declarations requirement begins to include furniture. The Lacey Act is a US law amended in 2008 to ban trade in illegally sourced plants and their products, including timber and paper products.
This policy change follows ‘The Action Plan on Forest Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) of the European Union (EU)’, which encourages businesses to adopt purchasing policies that exclude illegal timber. While the approaches are different, the impact of both forms of legislation has resulted in a refined focus from companies in Europe and North America on responsible procurement in their supply chains.
With this focus on responsible sourcing comes a set of increased expectations on suppliers within Southeast Asia and throughout the
world, to establish traceability for their products and supply chains. Leading companies in the US and Europe are engaging directly with their suppliers to ensure that they understand their procurement policies.
Engaging Suppliers In SustainabilityAs one of the largest retailers of wood products in the UK, with sales of US$9.6 billion in the last financial year, Home Retail Group is a leader in advancing responsible forestry and trade. The company sells products under two retail brands, Argos and Homebase. Both brands are participants in the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) in the UK, and are committed to running an ethically and environmentally responsible business,
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on; threatens the economic viability of responsible producers by introducing cheap, often substandard, materials into the global marketplace; and endangers the future of our planet as a key contributor to global warming.
With increasing international regulations addressing illegal logging in the US and Europe, how can you be sure that your business is not unwittingly contributing to this destructive practice? The answer lies in managing the traceability of your supply chains through responsible procurement.
Controlling Risk With the shifting legal landscape in the US and Europe, it is more crucial than ever for companies to be able to demonstrate due care in sourcing both legal and sustainable wood. In April,
40 FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 | www.fdmasia.com
Wood & Sustainability
promoting responsible forest management and eliminating illegal wood products from its supply chains.
As a result of their commitment to responsible sourcing, the group places stringent requirements on its global timber suppliers to deliver raw materials from verified known and legal sources. Any product that falls short of this standard will be phased out of its supply chains.
Seeking to help its suppliers understand and comply with its procurement policies, the group joined hands with WWF China, conducting three seminars on responsible timber sourcing for the company’s suppliers last November in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
In order to help suppliers meet their timber products sustainability policy, Karen Murray, the group’s quality assurance compliance manager, provided specific training to the 70 suppliers from China, and other parts of Asia that attended the three seminars.
Providing a detailed explanation of its corporate responsibility agenda, she shared information on the company’s sourcing policies and methods of how to reach the related requirements,
including how to verify legal wood, avoid risks and build up legal supply chains and the upcoming legislation concerning timber.
Jin Zhonghao, GFTN-China manager, provided additional insight to the attendees, highlighting the resources available to assist them in raising
awareness, and building capacity within their supply chains to meet the policy’s requirements.
Putting Policy Into PracticeSimilarly, as the third largest consumer of wood products, the US furniture industry has a critical role to play in influencing the sustainability of the forest products supply chain by helping suppliers’ transition to ethical and environmentally responsible sources of timber. And many furniture retailers, such as Williams-Sonoma Inc (WSI), a specialty retailer of high quality products for the home in the US, and GFTN-North America participant, are rising to the challenge and taking this responsibility to heart by developing responsible procurement policies for timber.
With a strong desire to put their wood purchasing policy into practice, WSI joined GFTN-North America on a sustainable development trip to Indonesia, Vietnam and China to learn about their furniture vendors’ wood purchasing policies first-hand, and communicate to suppliers
Increasing international regulations addressing illegal logging in the US and Europe are creating increased expectations on suppliers within Southeast Asia and the world, to establish traceability for their products.
WSI’s David Williams, and GFTN-Indonesia’s trade coordinator, Oki Arifiandi, verify a vendor’s harvest and transport documents to ensure legality of timber supply.
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Wood & Sustainability
ENQUIRY NO. 3601
their pledge to source socially and environmentally responsible timber.
Starting in Indonesia, WSI toured six of their suppliers’ factories, two of which are GFTN-Indonesia participants. Walking through their vendors’ facilities offered WSI staff the opportunity to experience firsthand their suppliers’ level of commitment to sustainability, and attention to detail in ensuring that products can be traced back to the forest of origin. This is particularly important, when dealing with certified raw material.
Several of the company’s long-standing suppliers have made clear commitments to keeping well-organised records and chain of custody practices to ensure the traceability of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood through their operations. In meeting with suppliers, they had the opportunity to review records maintained by Indonesian vendors of their wood purchases, which even if well-organised can be difficult to authenticate. GFTN-Indonesia helped educate the company on what to look for when examining harvesting and transport documents to authenticate the origin of
the timber used in their products. This is to ensure that the legality of every purchase could be verified.
“Our trip to southeast Asia trip was extremely valuable to move the WSI Responsible Wood Procurement Policy forward and has reaffirmed our commitment to eliminating unwanted and unknown wood from WSI's supply chain,” said Christina Nicholson, the company’s sustainability director.
Home Retail Group’s quality assurance compliance manager, Karen Murray, provides training on the company’s sourcing policies and requirements to suppliers in Southeast Asia.
Seven Elements Of A Successful Responsible Purchasing Programme
1. Reviewing your organisation’s present situation, whether at the starting point or a stage in an existing process
2. Obtaining support from key members of management3. Setting policies that describe the boundaries within which
the organisation will operate4. Communicating these values and objectives to key
audiences5. Establishing traceability6. Assessing the environmental status of supplies7. Reviewing and improving
Building Blocks Of SustainabilityAs a critical link in the global supply chain, Southeast Asia is key to achieving sustainability in the forest products industry. So how can you respond to the increasing pressure from your customers in Europe and the US to verify the legality and sustainability of your products?
The solution lies in establishing traceability for your supply chain by developing a responsible purchasing programme. According to the GFTN, a successful responsible purchasing programme requires seven key elements, each of which forms the essential building blocks to manage sustainability in your supply chain.
By committing to responsible sourcing and making changes to implement policy and eliminate unwanted goods from your purchasing profiles, you can provide integral support to customers in the US and Europe in complying with increasing regulations.
Moreover, through this commitment, you can positively transform the nature of the global forest products supply chain and consequently, its impact on forest resources around the world. FDMW
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Market Report
Demand for wood protection coatings and preservatives is forecast to increase 2.2 percent per year to US$3 billion in 2013. A rebound in the housing market will
promote growth, as the residential segment is a key outlet for wood products that utilise coatings and preservatives.
Demand will also benefit from a shift in product mix to higher value items, a slight upswing in pressure-treated lumber production and solid levels of residential repair and improvement spending. These favourable factors, however, will not overcome continued weakness in the key wood siding market.
Wood Modification:
US Demand For Wood Protection Coatings & Preservatives To Hit US$3 BillionGains will be promoted by a rebound in housing starts and growth in residential improvement spending. By The Freedonia Group
US WOOD PROTECTION COATINGS & PRESERVATIVES DEMAND
(million dollars)
% Annual Growth
Item 2003 2008 2013 2003- 2008 2008- 2013
Wood Protection
Demand2300 2715 3030 3.4 2.2
Decking 508 660 730 5.4 2.0
Siding 590 580 600 -0.3 0.7
Furniture 317 355 400 2.3 2.4
Cabinets 204 265 320 5.4 3.8
Windows & Doors 210 245 285 3.1 3.1
All Other 471 610 695 5.3 2.6
Protection On The RiseIn general, wood protection products will achieve the best gains in interior wood applications, such as flooring and cabinets. In these applications, gains will be promoted by a rebound in housing starts and growth in residential improvement spending, as the purchase of these items is common during both homebuilding and remodelling activity.
In order to maintain wood’s position in interior applications, wood coatings suppliers will strive to develop product lines that feature a wider range of colours, improved efficiency and
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Market Report
enhanced durability. In addition, wood coatings suppliers are addressing demands for ‘green’ materials with the development of environmentally friendlier formulations. The longevity of interior wood limits gains in coatings demand, as maintenance requirements are infrequent.
Downside For Exterior Application In exterior applications, wood will continue to suffer losses to competitive materials, resulting in an extremely difficult market environment for wood protection coatings and preservatives suppliers. This is especially as high maintenance requirements are a key factor in wood’s gradual market losses. This is the case in siding, where the use of wood-based products continues to decline.
However, maintenance coatings demand will continue to be supported by the large installed base of wood-based home exteriors and decks. Demand will be boosted by the greater use of higher value coatings, featuring enhanced durability and greater ease of use.
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Market Report
A rebound in the housing market will promote growth, as the residential segment is a key outlet for wood products that utilise coatings and preservatives.
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Features
FDM: WE KNOW THAT MICROVELLUM IS AN ESTABLISHED BRAND IN NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE. WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO COME TO ASIA?TG: Microvellum Asia was started about a year and a half ago with the sole purpose of distributing Microvellum products in Asia. I moved over to Xiamen, China last April and set up an office there and started visiting local factories and furniture factories to understand what they do.
We have also hired certified trainers and sales people in Asia, so now we’re starting the sales process, going to factories, showing them how to take their process of manufacturing up from the brain to the machines. And everybody has the same process. We have to get it out of their heads, put it on paper, then we put it on computer, then we generate a bill of materials, and then generate a machine code around the machines.
FDM: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE AUTOMATION LEVEL OF THE CHINESE WOODWORKING INDUSTRY?TG: It reminds me of the US about seven years ago. Seven years ago, the US was doing similarly, and then they started to embrace automation software, taking control in the office.
What I found in China is that they are still very much cell-based manufacturing. There is very little automation in the front office but some automation in the factory. You have machines in the factory that are being programmed in the factory, not in the office. So whoever is programming at the factory or at the machine is really controlling the company’s destiny. It needs to go back to the front office.
What we find is more and more automation being controlled in the front office worldwide. In the next three or four years, Chinese manufacturers will start to understand that you can control this data easily in the office, and the machine operator is now just running a file. It becomes easier, the quality and the accuracy increases, the errors reduced. We look forward to seeing that shift.
Terry Gregory, general manager, Microvellum Asia, talks to FDM Asia about his company’s plans to expand in the region.
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Features
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Features
FDM: ARE THERE ANY DIFFERENCES IN TECHNOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY BETWEEN CHINA AND NORTH AMERICA?TG: The technology actually costs the same in both countries. If you buy a first class CNC machine in North America, you are going to spend about US$100,000. You buy a first class CNC machine in China, you are going to spend US$90,000 – US$100,000, not a lot of difference.
The biggest difference is the cost of labour. In North America, you might pay an average wage of US$15 an hour, in China, the average may be US$1. There is a huge disparity in wage. But what we find is today, it is as cheap as it is going to be.
With automation, you can double or triple your production with the same amount of employees. So that is what the automation factories are faced with. If you want to grow, how do you want to grow? Building, and infrastructure, and employees? Or do you want to do it with automation? Automation is the only logical choice.
When you look at the cost of labour, at US$1 an hour versus US$15 an hour, the only difference it will make is your return. In America, a US$150,000 investment pays for itself in three months. In China, it may take a year but the same rules apply. You may have a longer payback but the rules stay the same.
FDM: WHAT IS YOUR STRATEGY FOR THE CHINESE MARKET?TG: We want to deliver top quality products to the Chinese market. We have already invested two and a half years translating our product into Chinese. This year, we will have our ERP system in Chinese. We are also hiring local distributors and dealers throughout China. We are working with machinery companies.
Our strategy is not only to offer a good product at a reasonable price, we also want to get great customers, customers whom we can teach how to use our product, customers whom we can guarantee success.
FDM: HOW ABOUT THE REST OF ASIA?TG: I have a dealer in Malaysia and he handles Malaysia and Singapore. I am also looking for dealers all around Asia. The requirements for being a certified dealer is really to understand CNC machinery as well as the woodworking industry.
And as we continue to grow, we are translating the program into more languages; Japanese is next, then Korean. As we translate the program we are able to open more markets.
FDM: TELL US MORE ABOUT TOOLBOX.TG: Microvellum Toolbox offers a design-only program for people who only want to draw pictures. We have a non-CNC version for people who have not automated in CNC machinery yet. We also have a CNC machine version.
Another thing that is different about Toolbox is we actually
46 FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 | www.fdmasia.com
Features
produce our own G-code. We control the machine so we don’t have to have third party CAM programs. We actually generate the G-code ourselves.
What really makes Microvellum unique is we take ownership of the data. I not only can draw the box, I can guarantee that the catalyst is 100 percent correct. I can further guarantee that the G-code going to that machine is 100 percent correct. The drawing is a by-product for us, we generate the data.
Furthermore, anybody running AutoCAD can take our Toolbox and render them very professionally, with different textures, different colours and so forth so you get a true photograph image.
We also have walkthroughs so you can create a walkthrough image of your designs so the customers know what they are getting long before you ever build the first piece.
Microvellum Toolbox comes with a vast library of materials, hardware and even accessories like leg levelers and castors, bolts and screws, and brackets.
You can also add unlimited items of your own. So if you have a dwg or a dxf file, I can add unlimited blocks to our drawings to put like carvings and rosette blocks and engravings and things like that to my drawings so I can build very simple or very elaborate based on the customers’ needs.
FDM: AND ABOUT YOUR ERP SYSTEM?TG: Our ERP system is designed for the woodworking industry but what makes it unique is we call the power of one. One catalogue that is built inside a toolbox automatically publishes the entire ERP system’s catalogue. When you buy an ERP system off the shelf, the biggest challenge you have is getting all of your products in it. It can take everywhere from six months to a year to get all your products in your ERP system.
With MicroManager, whatever you built into Toolbox, and updated today, I can publish into my ERP system automatically. So it makes maintaining the ERP system easier and faster. As you build and design products in Toolbox, they are already built and designed and costed in the ERP system so it makes managing that ERP system so much less expensive than a traditional horizontal market ERP system.
Another thing is that we use touch screen activity stations in the factory. Employees can go in, log in to their identity which is password protected, and the factory now knows that employee is here. Now he goes into his work station, the CNC machine and logs in to his job. Now you have employee number one logged into the factory and you know how much time exactly it takes him to cut his parts. For the first time the factory really understands his true cost.
We also have what if scenarios. Our customers can look
at the plant layout, and he can say ‘if I bought a machine at this specifications, what would it do to my manufacturing process?’ We can run the tables, run a project through it and tell him whether it would increase or decrease his manufacturing time.
FDM: WHAT DISTINGUISHES YOUR PRODUCTS FROM THOSE OFFERED BY OTHER AUTOMATION SOFTWARE PROVIDERS?TG: If our customer builds custom objects, and those objects need to grow and stretch, and they need diversification to build a multitude of options in those objects, there is nothing out there that can do what we do.
If what they need to do is draw kitchens, there are more than 15 programs out there that can do that, if all they do is manufacture, there are five programs out there that can do that. But if they build custom objects, Microvellum is the product that they need to look at.
Also, we have a feature called vendor optimisation. As you have a wide variety of vendors that supply products to you, our program, through a history of reports, tells us which vendor works best.
For example, this vendor always supplies the products but 25 percent of his products are damaged. This vendor always delivers late but they are a 100 percent undamaged. We can prioritise vendors so when we place an order, we work with the best vendors available.
We also tie into accounting systems, other ERP systems, and by being open architecture, we communicate with the rest of the world. When you have a closed system you are on an island, you only work the way they tell you to work. When you buy an open architecture product you work anyway you want to work. FDM
ENQUIRY NO. 3702
www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 47
One of the main drivers for commercialising wood modification was to improve decay resistance
of low durability timbers, including those grown in Europe. These timber species normally require preservative treatment to achieve the desired service life for outdoor applications.
However, when wood is modified, other beneficial changes to its properties may result. Among them are enhanced dimensional stability and hardness, improving both the performance of wood products and the range of applications possible.
Types Of TreatmentWood modification is carried out using three types of treatment: chemical, physical or biological, the first two being the most commercially important because it excludes wood treated with preservatives.
The most important physical modification process is thermal, of which various types have been practised over the centuries. Chemical modification is more recent, though laboratory modification was undertaken as early as the 1920’s. The scaling up of
these modification processes to supply commercially suitable timber dimensions has only taken place over the past 10 years.
The range of commercial products and their availability in the UK are outlined in Table 1. The properties of these modified timbers will vary, depending on:
For this reason it is important to deal with product suppliers to understand performance in specific applications.
Wood Modification: Using modified wood products over solid timber offers several advantages. By Dr Andy Pitman, head of construction technical services at TRADA Technology
NatureImproving On
Sneek Road Bridge, Holland, constructed
from radiata pine modified through the
Accoya process
John
Ale
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er B
SW
Features
48 FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 | www.fdmasia.com
Features
What’s The Difference?All thermal modification processes involve the controlled heating of wood in an atmosphere with reduced oxygen
Modification type Commercial name UK availability
Thermal
ThermoWood S and D �
Plato wood �
RetitechBois PerdureFLO.TERMO �
CellocMENZ HOLZ
Chemical
Accoya �
Kebony �
BelmadurImpregnation Osmose indurite �
Vecowood �
Lignia �
content, protected by steam, or under oil. In all thermal modification processes, wood is heated to temperatures of 160-230ºC for several hours to several
days. One of the benefits of thermal modification is the reduction in wood resin content, reducing the risk of knot bleeding and the problems this causes for coatings.
throughout the wood section, the resultant product can be processed without the risk of exposing unmodified wood. Thermally modified wood tends to be darker than air or kiln dried wood; thus, lighter coloured softwoods can be made to resemble tropical hardwoods.
Chemical modification involves the impregnation of permeable wood species with chemicals that react with the water binding sites in the wood cell wall. In unmodified wood it is the binding of water at these sites
Table 1: Modified wood products and their availability in the UK
Southwark Habitat for Humanity Thermowood
cladding
Platowood cladding (coated) installed on houses in the Netherlands
Phi
l Nas
h
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Features
that results in movement (shrinkage and swelling in service) and that plays an important role in decay.
Chemical modification processes use pressure impregnation techniques similar to those used for preservative pre-treatment to achieve a good level of penetration throughout the wood structure. Wood is then heated, causing a reaction between the water binding sites in the wood cell wall and the chemicals. Chemicals that prevent the binding of water then permanently substitute the water binding sites.
Impregnation modification reacts with small compounds impregnated into the wood together to fill voids normally filled with air in dry wood. This increases wood density and hardness. Dyes may be added to formulations to change wood colour throughout its section, enhancing the aesthetics of softwoods.
More Fungus & Water ResistantFor wood, durability is its inherent resistance to attack by wood destroying
most significant pests of timber in service in the UK, testing the resistance of modified woods against these has received most attention. In addition, some modified species have been tested against resistance to wood boring insects and marine borers.
ENQUIRY NO. 3703
durability of wood against fungi, thus offering an alternative to preservative treatment. A number of thermal treatments improve durability, although the level of performance (durability class) achieved varies depending on modification processes and treatment conditions.
reduce water absorption by the wood cell wall. This results in improved dimensional stability, that is, reduced movement in service. For this reason some modified wood products have a reduced risk of cupping when used for cladding, floor and decking boards; of gapping developing between floorboards; or of ridging in floors as a result of
checking around fixings over time are also reduced.
An additional benefit of reduced movement is improved performance of wood coatings. Reduced movement allows for application of greater film thickness and lessens maintenance frequencies for coatings compared to unmodified wood, which may significantly reduce the whole life costing of exterior joinery.
Strength Properties
bring about changes to the mechanical properties of wood – but this may mean in some cases a reduction in strength properties.
Hardness, the resistance of timber to indentation, is another important property. It provides useful information about how timber is likely to wear in service and is important for applications such as flooring and decking.
Interestingly, the reduction in water binding under atmospheric conditions (equilibrium moisture contents) through chemical and thermal modification has been shown to increase some strength properties relative to unmodified woods of the same species.
To ensure product consistency, a number of quality-assessment standards have been established for modified wood products at national level, among them the Finnish Thermowood Association,
quality label.How the modification process affects
the inherent character of wood will vary from process to process and species to species. To ensure performance will meet requirements for different applications, specifiers should carefully study the detailed technical literature that producers supply for their own brand.
additional choice. As with solid timber, however, they must understand the properties of their chosen product to ensure that it will perform as they would wish throughout its service life. FDMVecowood: Radiata pine modified
with an impregnation technology that includes a dye. Note the differences of colour throughout the section to make the product resemble tropical species
Most modification processes improve durability
of wood against fungi, thus offering an
alternative to preservative treatment.
50 FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 | www.fdmasia.com
Exhibition Review
��������2010
Held at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre, Indiawood 2010 showcased the latest in wood
processing technologies, sophisticated machines including CNC routers, accessories, tools, raw materials, products and woodworking fittings from all over the world.
With over 450 exhibitors from 24 countries and country pavilions from Germany, Italy, Taiwan, and USA amongst others, the event displayed internationality that made the event a platform for potential buyers and vendors to meet and to explore possible joint ventures and collaborations.
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Exhibition Review
Occupying a sizable booth at the recently concluded Indiawood in Bangalore, the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has made its presence felt in India. A repeating exhibitor at Indiawood, the council has clear long-term plans for the India market as Michael Snow, executive director of AHEC shares with the readers of FDM Asia.
“We are looking at the Indian market as a long term project. It is different from a lot of market we deal with, as there is almost no tradition of importing lumber here,” says Mr Snow. Though seemingly a setback for the council as their interest lies in promoting lumber, Mr Snow is prepared to lobby hard for a change in mindset.
Says Mr Snow: “Currently there is a business culture or mindset in India whereby people want logs and they prefer to saw it themselves to specifications and we know that thinking is going to be hard to overcome.”
However, with time, he feels that a change of heart is possible as shipping cost for logs put it at a disadvantage compared to importing lumbers. Moreover, the yield of lumber can be calculated and better controlled.
To bring his point effectively across to the Indian woodworking industry, Mr Snow feels that education is the way to go. According to him, the council has been running seminars in Mumbai, New Delhi, Jodpur, Chennai and Bangalore. The response so far has been heartening.
“Responses have been very good. There are a lot of interests especially from importers. Apart from that, we have seen plenty of investments in India in areas like resorts, hotels and offices. They are good drivers for American hardwood,” he adds.
For Mr Snow, one of the challenges is to develop a taste for certain species of wood that is different to the tropical wood.
As it is a long drawn battle to win the local population over, more efforts are needed and the energy and money to exhibit in India appear to have paid dividends. “I spoke to a couple of my members and they said they had some interesting conversations and we are very encouraged by the number of members taking part in this show.”
Though neighbours in the geographical sense, the two heavy weights of Asia can differ greatly in their respective woodworking industries.
Mr Snow explains: “For the Chinese market, the manufacturers are large and they would bring in wood directly right from the beginning. For India, it is the importers who control everything although there are a few large manufacturers who will do direct importing. As many manufacturers in India are small, they would prefer to buy wood from local suppliers as and when they need it. This is the big difference between the two countries."
AHEC: Changing Mindsets
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Exhibition Review
Leading the Taiwanese charge at Indiawood 2010 is the Taiwan Woodworking Machinery
Association (TWMA). With a large presence in the show, there is no doubt that India is very much on the crosshair of the association and its members. In order to gain valuable insights on the strategies and views from the association, FDM Asia speaks to Joe Chang, the standing director of TWMA who was at the show.
With regard to the importance of Indian market, Mr Chang says: “According to a survey, Taiwanese woodworking machinery is growing in India. Also, when I asked the dealers in India, they felt that Taiwanese machines are competitive both in quality and price. This is good for us as some of the SMEs may balk at the price of certain European made machines.”
Though European brands are well established and generally large in size, Mr Chang feels that the Taiwanese makers have some competitive edge of their own. “Taiwanese woodworking machine industry may not be as large as their European counterparts, but the owners are very specialised and they know how to follow the market. They have the ability to focus, and zoom into specialised markets.”
Another point to note is the companies’ ability to adjust. Despite being relatively small, they are “flexible” so when the economic crisis hit Taiwan, “not
TWMA: Marketing Goods With Homemade Technology
many companies went out of business,” according to Mr Chang.
Like other industrial associations around the world, TWMA sees helping their members gain a bigger piece of the market share as their main focus. As far as exhibitions goes, Mr Chang thinks the association must “provide correct information” to the members in order to identify business opportunities.
Once participation in a particular exhibition has been decided, the association, which is funded by the Taiwanese government, will use its funds to help offset the cost of participation for its members.
In terms of developing the individual enterprises, the association plays an active role in helping companies raise the technological bar. Says Mr Chang:
“In Taiwan, the woodworking machine tools manufacturers are majority SMEs. There are some 270 of them and they have around 10 to 20 employees each.
As they are generally family business, the manufacturers are constrained in terms of marketing and R&D. We have a department to liaise with educational institutes in order to use their research results to help members.”
Funded by the government, the booths in the Taiwanese pavilion have certain uniformity and that according to Mr Chang, is part of the marketing plan. In addition, the association has also included a 3D demonstration, a major crowd puller at their booth this year.
Apart from attracting the crowd to the booth, the demonstrations serve other purposes. “We hope to let buyers know that Taiwan have good electronic technology. We can harness those technologies into our machines. We would also like to use Taiwanese technology to highlight our motto, which is using Taiwanese technology to market Taiwanese high-end goods,” he concludes.
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Exhibition Review
Heavily involved in the organisation of Indiawood 2010 is Eumabois, a non-profit federation grouping
of 13 national associations representing the major European manufacturers of machines and accessories for woodworking. FDM Asia speaks to Franz-Josef Butfering, president of Eumabois who shares his thoughts on the event and more.
His enthusiasm and passion for the woodworking industry can be seen by many at the show. In addition to officiating the opening ceremony of the event, Mr Butfering can be seen walking the exhibition grounds under sweltering heat, holding conversations with exhibitors and visitors alike on a daily basis.
From his conversations and discussions, Mr Butfering feels the visitors are “serious and interested in the things they came to see.” According to him, the visitors came with the intent to see and buy. Some 1,000 visitors were recorded within the first hour of gate opening on the second day. This enthusiasm however, is not limited to Indiawood.
“I travelled around India a few days before the show and visited some customers. We saw almost the same
thing we are seeing here. It feels like the economic crisis didn’t show up here in India and the GDP is expected to grow by some eight percent for 2010,” he says.
“The growth in woodworking will probably be more. So it is really the market of the future.” Apart from that, he also remarks that the people in the Indian market are open and willing to learn.
One of the activities of the federation is to promote the technical and economic interests of the European industry of woodworking machinery. Attending exhibitions is an obvious way to go about bringing the brand to a wider worldwide audience. However, choosing the most suitable exhibition may be a challenge, which the federation can help overcome.
Mr Butfering says: “One of our main focuses is to give our members recommendations on shows and fairs. For example, after we launched Indiawood, we decided to organise Delhiwood in the north. We have similar examples in Russia and Brazil.” As for China, he feels companies that work with solid wood prefer shows in Beijing because
their customers mainly come from the north. Those with focus on furniture should concentrate their efforts in the south of China.
With a close relationship with organisers, the federation also assists by negotiating with the organisers in a bid to help bring down the cost for its members who are exhibiting. Other than exhibition, the federation also tries to harmonise technical standards all over the world, according to Mr Butfering. For instance, they work with exhibition organisers to bring in European standards.
With the economic downturn of 2009, the exhibition organisers and exhibitors alike have taken a more cautious stance. For Mr Butfering, quality is very much on top of the agenda. “Organisers have accepted it is better to have a good show every two years than a so-so show every year,” he says. “Especially after the financial crisis, our members can’t afford a show every year.”
The decision to participate in an exhibition is an important one that has many variables and cost factors. For Mr Butfering, who is also the MD for Butfering (the manufacturer of machine concepts for woodworking applications), which is exhibiting in Indiawood, the manufacturers should maximise their presence in emerging markets.
Says Mr Butfering: “You should be there (exhibitions) from the beginning. In an emerging market, the market starts with panel saw and edge bender. For sanding machines, the business picks up after eight years but we do not wait till then before going in (participation in exhibitions). We are here now, to show customers we are here. The business comes later but it is better for people to know our name.”
ENQUIRY NO. 3801
Eumabois At Indiawood 2010
54 FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 | www.fdmasia.com
Exhibition Review
The International Furniture Fair Singapore 2010 and 27th ASEAN Furniture Show (IFFS/AFS 2010)
achieved an attendance of 17,277 trade visitors from 112 countries over the four-day fair, which ran from March 9 – 12, 2010. This marked a 10.7 percent increase as compared to the last edition.
Amongst the visitors, there were a total of 93 overseas buying delegations visiting the fair and they included notable buying houses like El Corte Ingles from Spain, Interstil from Denmark, Pier 1 Imports from USA, Home Centre from UAE and many more, reaffirming IFFS/
AFS 2010 as the preferred choice for their furniture sourcing needs in Asia.
Following the good news was an estimated US$270 million of spot orders concluded at the fair, while an additional US$2.5 billion of follow-on orders are expected for the year ahead as a result of the bountiful business opportunities secured.
A Global EventThe event hosted 434 global players from 31 countries over a gross exhibition area of 60,000 sq m. This prominent showcase also gathered over 100,000 pieces of the latest and designer
furniture and furnishings for quality buying opportunities.
These comprised of the largest collection of exhibits from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan and Vietnam exhibitors, exhibited outside these respective countries, making it truly Asia’s one-stop sourcing haven.
Visitors at the fair were also the first to preview new collections from local players including the American black walnut timber furniture range designed by Filipino designer Reylan Reario for Koda and Ewins’ Harachair – the world’s first chair classified as a medical device.
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Singapore Expo Singapore March 9 – 12, 2010
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Exhibition Review
Design FocusDesign was the main focus for the event with the introduction of a new overarching umbrella for all design initiatives, named D’Space, which is in short, ‘Designer Space’. As part of D’Space, winning entries from the Furniture Design Award 2010 (FDA 2010) feasted the buyers’ eyes.
This year’s award attracted 1,096 entries from 31 countries, a 72 percent increase from last year. There was also a signifi cant increase in the number of entries under the Student and Young Designer categories.
The Design Conversation 2010 which was held in conjunction with the fair, saw internationally-acclaimed Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa engaging an audience of 420 participants comprising furniture industry players, designers, architects, design students, trade agencies and the media.
Tony Pang, chairman of the IFFS/AFS 2010 Show Advisory Panel, said: “Singapore’s economy has seen a perceptible improvement compared to the same period in 2009. As a result, various sectors within Singapore are beginning to see an optimistic upward trend. Similarly, Singapore’s furniture industry sector has also seen an increasing demand for high quality furniture and furnishing with innovative designs.” FDM
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ENQUIRY NO. 3802
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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56 FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 | www.fdmasia.com
Exhibition Review
2010��������
The seventh edition of Interzum Guangzhou/CIFM was held at the China Import and Export
Fair Complex in Guangzhou. Despite an increase of two halls to make up a total of 10 halls, this year’s trade fair was again sold out weeks before the show opened its doors, with a substantial number of companies on wait list.
Some 887 exhibiting companies showcasing an international mix of the latest technology in furniture production and woodworking took up 100,000 sq m, representing a 17 percent increase in exhibitor numbers and 25 percent increase in gross exhibition space compared with 2009.
International ExhibitorsThis year, exhibitors came from 24 countries and regions including Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, the USA and Vietnam.
Returning country pavilions this year included Germany, Italy and the USA. In addition, the USA pavilion, headed by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) brought with them company representatives from Virginia, Kentucky and Mississippi to showcase North America’s latest furniture production materials and technology.
“In challenging times, it is essential to keep on top of the latest developments and to maintain a strong relationship with the industry. It being another sellout show in 2010 indicates that, Interzum Guangzhou, has once again proven itself to be Asia’s comprehensive
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Exhibition Review
woodworking machinery and furniture production trade fair, and the one-stop platform for participants to meet buyers, manufacturers and suppliers from all vertical sectors of the furniture manufacturing, production and design industries,” said Michael Dreyer, VP Asia Pacific, Koelnmesse on the expansion and new features of the event.
New FeaturesThe first day of the event saw the debut of three newly added feature zones in the international hall.
upholstery and bedding zone with displays including surface materials, textile materials, filling materials and components, PVC, mattresses and linens, electric equipment and various other bedding manufacturing machinery and accessories;
interior works zone with displays including wood and wood products, parquets, laminates, veneers, corks, floor coverings, surface treatments and adhesives; and
components zone featuring a full spectrum of hardware and components for furniture production.
These three feature zones aim to further enrich the product categories and to provide an even more effective sourcing platform for all participants.
Seminars & ForumsAnother highlight is a series of specially tailored seminars, which was conducted alongside the trade exhibition under the joint efforts of the organisers. The seminar is divided into three forums:
The technology forum aims to introduce new technology such as wood cutting, abrasive and polishing and its application in the furniture industry.
The market and interior design forum focused on environmental protection, energy saving and emission reduction, it provided a discussion platform among senior personnel from industrial bodies such as the China Furniture Association, the Guangdong Furniture Association, the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) and leading enterprises.
A development forum was held to discuss the role of raw materials and accessories in the advancement of the furniture industry. In addition, an exhibitor technology exchange on edge-banding technology, and a Q&A interaction session was held on March 29. FDM
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Exhibition Review
ENQUIRY NO. 3805
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Exhibition Review
More than nine hundred fl ooring companies from thirty-eight different countries showcased
their products at this year’s Domotex Asia, the region’s largest fl ooring show that ran from March 24 to 26.
Heavy downpour met the exhibition’s opening day, but it apparently wasn’t enough to deter visitors from showing up, prompting one observer to compare it to “a rock concert instead of a fl ooring exhibition.”
Show director Thurain Aye said, “Today has exceeded all expectations. The event has already generated a media spot on Domotex Asia China fl oor and the visitor attendance has been amazing. Today is a testament to the fl ooring industry the world over that fl ooring market is back on track in China.”
The exhibition opened its doors to more than thirty-six thousand local and international visitors, and its forty-two percent increase in exhibit area size can only be a testament to the robust growth of the Asian-Pacifi c fl ooring market even as the rest of the world reels from recession.
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ENQUIRY NO. 3804
Textile fl oor coverings and area rugs enjoyed the greatest number of exhibitors amounting to 191, with hand made carpets and rugs not far behind at 158. One hundred and thirty-nine exhibitors were also present for fl oor technology, wood and laminate, and timber material, while 103 companies showed up for resilient fl oor coverings.
With DOMOTEX Asia coming in on the heels of a subsiding global fi nancial crisis, Chinese brands stood out for their quality and affordability.
Among the featured events were the 2009 Wood Flooring Trend Show, the Bamboo Flooring of China-Anji Hall Opening Ceremony, the China International Flooring Awards, the International Interior Design & Flooring Application & Development Forum 2009, and the Sino-U.S.-Europe Wood Flooring Summit.
Majority of the foreign visitors numbering no less than fi ve thousand fl ew in from Korea, Japan, US, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The attention that the show is garnering from the industry is indicated by the sixty-eight per cent increase of management decision makers who attended. FDM
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Exhibition Preview
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The 2010 Xylexpo ‘Ideas and Technology’ in Milan will be in its 22nd year of showcasing woodworking technologies
and furniture supplies when it takes place at the Milan Fairgrounds in Rho, Italy from May 4 to 8 this year.
Sponsored by Eumabois and the European Federation of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers, Xylexpo will be opening its doors to semi-finished products, furniture supplies, raw materials, hardware and all other wood based products. Products find space close to machinery and plants in an exhibiting layout.
More than eighty thousand visitors are expected to come and get in touch with 850 exhibitors from various parts of the world.
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Technology and products to be showcased include forestry, surface treatments, sawmills, traditional machines, and furniture production lines. Other products and technology on show include adhesives, process automation, finishing equipment, and production of timber building materials. Technologies on exhausting equipment, workplace health, as well as recycling and energy production from waste will also be on exhibit.
Apart from woodworking machines, the Milan event will also feature raw materials, semi-finished products, furniture and woodworking supplies, technology and products for the building industry and carpentry sector, as well as surface finishings and treatments.
Technologies and products will be grouped according to different processes.
The most recent Xylexpo held in 2008 had a total of 853 exhibitors—close to 300 of them foreign—with 81,980 visitors, half of which were foreigners (non-Italians). FDM
ENQUIRY NO. 3805
60 FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 | www.fdmasia.com
Enquiry No: 3902 Enquiry No: 3904
Grecon: Mat Scanner
Dieffensor from Dieffenbacher and GreCon is able to detect all metallic and non-metallic foreign bodies of high density in fibre, chip or OSB mats, such as glue lumps, superdense fibre lumps or plastic and aluminium parts, which are not identified by usual metal detectors or magnets. Its foreign body detection determines the material dist ribution of spread materials as used (e.g. in the wood based panel or insulating material industry) over the entire mat width. Also, the Dieffensor protects steel belts of continuous presses from permanent damage by non-metallic foreign bodies of high density.
Alphacam: CAD/CAM Software
The Alphacam 2010 R1 features an updated user interface with small and large size button icons, selectable colour themes, enhanced toolbar customisation, and user-definable hotkeys. It integrates the 3D Machining Engine, which has options to automatically close open pockets for Contour pocketing method and to specify Climb or Conventional cutting method. In addition to improved path link methods, options exist to avoid rollover on the edges of open pockets, while trochoidal options allow for full-width moves. Compatible with Windows 7, the product includes 3D mouse support, add-ins, and other essential enhancements.
E-Chain Machinery: Single-end Tenoners
E-Chain Machinery’s ECT-Windotec Series, a series of single-end tenoners, comprising a Windotec 3, 5, 6, each with different configuration of working units.The Windotec is designed to process thick workpieces; it is capable of tenoning a wide range of profiles to the single-ends of workpieces. This function makes it quintessential in the manufacture of construction material for wood houses, window and door frames.The Windotecs have been constructed after close analysis of the European operational style to ensure familiarity as well as ensuring satisfaction in terms of quality of precision and rigor of the machine.
Weyerhaeuser: Lumber
Weyerhaeuser's Pro Series Lumber resists mold, and saves labour and inventory costs from sorting out inferior boards. Stamped with a "Green Approved" rating by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center, the lumber helps reduce atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide through long-term storage of carbon, making it a natural choice for green building. In manufacturing the Pro Series, quality control checks and proprietary technology remove boards that have a greater tendency to eventually space evenly crook, twist or bow. The product is part of a full line of Weyerhaeuser lumber, among them the iLevel Framer Series lumber and iLevel Machine-Stress-Rated Lumber (MSR) and Machine-Evaluated Lumber (MEL).
Enquiry No: 3901 Enquiry No: 3903
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 61
Homag: Edge-banderThe KAL 210 edition edge-bander from Homag is equipped with a four-motor profile trimming unit and stationary snipping stop to ensure compliance with both present and future quality requirements. Features include splinter-free profile trimming with four motors, stationary snipping stop that snip without slip marks, as well as possible options for grooving with intermittent control and adequate motor power for large groove cross-sections. The machine software is capable of automatically resetting edges, and can be activated for standby operation and passive cooling. A diagnostic system and uninterrupted power supply for the machine is also available.
Enquiry No: 3905 Enquiry No: 3906
Venjakob: UV DryerVenjakob’s Ven Dry UV dryer features optimised lamps with emission spectra that are perfectly matched to the individual paint/lacquer. It optimises high reflection radiators for efficient energy use, while a reflector performs throughfeed curing of surfaces and edges. The machine’s IR portion (cold light) has been reduced for sensitive materials, while its UV lamps have efficiency control to ensure stable operating parameters. With a temperature
controlled exhaust air that reduces operating costs, the machine also consumes 20 percent less energy than its predecessor
model. Fields of application include furniture, surface
finishing, UV coating materials, and workpieces of wood, plastic, and metal.
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S H A N G H A I Q I U L I N M A C H I N E R Y C O . , LT DSHANXI QIULIN Tel: +86-354-2411812 Fax: +86-354-2411813GUANGDONG QIULIN Tel: +86-757-27737650 Fax: +86-757-27737670SHANGHAI QIULIN Tel: +86-21-69151280 Fax: +86-21-69151280Email: [email protected]
Website: www.qiulinmc.com.cn
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Calendar of Events 2010
12–15 - Interzum MoscowCrocus-Expo IECMoscow, Russia Koelnmesse GmbHTel: +49 221 821-0Fax: +49 221 821-2574Email: [email protected]: www.interzum-moscow.com
18–21 - Hanoiwood & Furnitec 2010: Vietnam International Wood & Wood Machinery ShowGiang Vo Exhibition and Fairground Hanoi, Vietnam Chan Chao International Company Tel: + 886 2 2659 6000 ext 322 Fax: + 886 2 2659 7000E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.vietnamwoodexpo.com/hanoi
21–23 - Timber and Working With WoodRNA ShowgroundsBrisbane, AustraliaEverything Exhibtions and Events Tel: +61 02 9974 1393Fax: +61 02 9974 3426Email: [email protected]: http://www.eee.net.au/
26–29 - Woodprocessing Ukraine 2010-04-05Palace of Sport “Spartak” Lviv, Ukraine Gal-ExpoTel: +380 32 297-06-28 Fax: +380 32 297-06-27E-Mail: [email protected]: http://www.galexpo.lviv.ua/
JUNE2–4 - Furniture ShanghaiShanghai New International Expo CentreShanghai, ChinaShanghai Buying Exhibition Tel: + 86 21 50552222 Fax: + 86 21 50321966Email: [email protected] Website: www.furnitureshanghai.com/en.do
2–4 - IFFT Summer Edition 2010: Interior Lifestyle Living International Furniture Fair TokyoTokyo Big SightTokyo, Japan Mesago Messe Frankfurt CorporationTel: + 81 3 3262 8453 Fax. + 81 3 3262 8442Email: [email protected] Website: www.interior-lifestyle.com
10–13 - China Furniture and WoodworksDalian Star-Sea Convention and Exhibition Centre (DSCEC) China National Furniture Association (CNFA) and Dalian Northern International Exhibition CompanyTel: + 86 411 82538681 Email: [email protected] Website: www.sinoexhibition.com
24–27 - Furnitech Woodtech 2010 - International Furniture Production & Woodworking Machinery, Equipment and Technology Trade ExhibitionBITEC Bangkok, ThailandReed Tradex CompanyTel: + 66 2686 7299 Ext. 7239Fax: + 66 2686 7288 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.furnitechwoodtech.com
JULY15–18 - Furnitex 2010Melbourne Exhibition CentreMelbourne, Australia AEC (Australian Exhibitions and Conferences Pty Ltd)Tel +613 9654 7773 Fax +613 9654 5596Email: [email protected]: http://www.furnitex.com.au
22-24 – Woodmach CebuWaterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino Cebu, Philippines Global-Link MP Events International IncTel: +63 27508588Fax: +63 27508585Website: www,globallinkmp.com
APRIL13–15 - Woodshow 2010: Dubai wood & wood products showDubai Airport Expo Dubai, United Arabs EmiratesStrategic Marketing & Exhibitions Tel: + 971 4 28 29 299Fax: + 971 4 28 28 767Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.dubaiwoodshow.com
14–17 - Vietnam Expo 2010 Vietnam Exhibition & Fair Centre Hanoi, Vietnam Vietnam National Trade Fair & Advertising Company - VINEXAD Te: + 84 4382 555 46Fax: + 84 4393 630 85 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vietnamexpo.com.vn
23–26 - China (North) International Furniture and Woodworking Machinery Fair (NCIFF) Qingdao International Convention and Exhibition Centre Qingdao, ChinaJinan Deruijia Exhibition and Shandong Furniture AssociationTel: + 0531 82730239 82Fax: + 0531-82980591 82 Email: [email protected] Website: www.sdf999.com/nbfz.asp
MAY4–8 - Xylexpo: International Exhibition of Machinery, Supplies and ComponentsMilan Exhibition CentreRho, Italy Cepra Centro promozionale AcimallTel: + 39 02 89210200 Fax: + 39 02 8259009 Email: [email protected] Website: www.xylexpo.com/eng
*All details subject to change without notice. Please check with organisers for updates.
62 FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 | www.fdmasia.com
Calendar of Events 2010
AUGUST24–27 - Wood Products and Technology Tra & Teknik 2010Swedish Exhibition and Congress CentreGothenburg, SwedenElmia Fairs / Svenska Mässan Tel: + 46 31-708 80 00Email: [email protected]: http://nemonet.swefair.se/templates/StartPageMain____1059.aspx
25–28 - IWF 2010: International Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Supply FairGeorgia World Congress CentreAtlanta, Georgia, US Tel: + 404 693 8333 Fax: + 404 693 8350Email: [email protected] Website: www.iwfatlanta.com
27–30 - ForMóbile 2010: International Suppliers Fair for the Wood & Furniture IndustryParque de Exposições do Anhembi (Anhembi Exhibit Park) São Paulo, BrazilTel: + 00 5541 3014 8787Email: [email protected] Website: www.feiraformobile.com.br/english
SEPTEMBER7 - 10 Furniture Manufacturing & Supply China 2010Shanghai New International Expo CenterShanghai, ChinaShanghai UBM Sinoexpo International ExhibitionTel: +86-21-6437 1178Fax: +86-21-6437 0982Email: [email protected]
8–11 - Woodpro Africa 2010MTN Expo Centre, NASREC, GautengJohannesburg, South Africa Specialised Exhibitions / Allworld ExhibitionsTel: +27 (0) 11 835-1565 Fax: +27 (0) 11 496-1161 E-mail: [email protected]
OCTOBER3–6 - W10National Exhibition Centre Birmingham, UKHuddlestone LtdTel: +44 01629 530 998Fax: + 44 01629 530 999Email: [email protected]: http://www.w10exhibition.co.uk/
8–11 - Index Furniture 2010Bandra-Kurla Complex (MMRDA Grounds)Mumbai, IndiaUniversal Expositions Ltd Tel: +91 22 28302870 Fax: +91 22 8216140Email: [email protected]: http://www.indexfairs.com
13–16 - 2010 NHLA Annual Convention & Exhibit ShowcaseThe Fairmont Hotel/Hyatt Regency Vancouver, CanadaNational Hardwood Lumber AssociationTel: + 1 901-399-7551Email: [email protected]: www.nhlaconvention.com
15–18 - Maison Bois 2010Angers Parc ExpoSaint Sylvain d’Anjou, France AtlanboisTél: 02 40 73 73 30Fax: 02 40 73 03 01Email: http://www.salon-maison-bois.com
19–20 - MTC Global Woodmart 2010Kuala Lumpur Convention CentreKuala Lumpur, Malaysia Malaysian Timber CouncilTel: +603-7803 2276Fax: + 603-7803 3276Email: [email protected]: http://www.globalwoodmart.my
NOVEMBER16–19 - Wooden Construction Krasnoyarsk 2010 Siberia International Exhibition Business CentreKrasnoyarsk City, RussiaRestec Exhibition / Krasnoyarsk Fair ExhibitionTel.: +7-812-320-6363Fax: +7-812-320-8090Email: [email protected]: http://www.restec.ru/
DECEMBER4–12 - Bangkok Furniture FestivalImpact Exhibition and Convention CentreNonthaburi, Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 2314 0855 Fax: +66 (0) 2319 8337Email: [email protected]: http://www.unionpan.com
24–27 - Homex and Household Expo 2010Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition CentreHong Kong, China Hong Kong-Asia Exhibition (Holdings) LtdTel: +852 2591 9823 Fax: +852 2573 3311 e-mail: [email protected]: www.hka.com.hk
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
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 2888Fax: (65) 6379 2805Email: [email protected]
www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 63
64 FDM ASIA APRIL 2010 | www.fdmasia.com
This quick reference guide is provided as an additional service. The publisher does not assume any liability for errors or ommission.
Advertising Index
www.fdmasia.com
LEGEND: ADVERTISERS WITH E-BROCHURES
HEAD OFFICESINGAPOREEASTERN TRADE MEDIA PTE LTD1100 Lower Delta Road EPL Building #04-02 Singapore 169206Sim EricTel: (65) 6379 2888 Fax: (65) 6379 2806Email: [email protected]
REGIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVESTAIWANRobert YuTel: 886-4-2325 1784Fax: 886-4-2325 2967
REPRESENTATIVE OFFICESHANGHAI, CHINASHANGHAI NEW EASTERN MEDIA CO. LTD15D Block B, Victoria Plaza, No.1068, Xikang Rd, Shanghai, P.R, China 200060Ding Yong MeiTel: 86 21 6276 8394Fax: 86 21 6276 4170Email: [email protected]
JAPANTed AsoshinaTel: 81-3-3263 5065Fax: 81-3-3234 2064
KOREAYoung-Seoh ChinnTel: 822-481 3411/3Fax: 822-481 3414
091 AMERICAN HARDWOOD EXPORT COUNCIL IFC
132 BECKER ACROMA THAILAND LTD 39
138 BINO (SH) MACHINERY CO LTD 64
111 E-CHAIN MACHINERY CO LTD 27
142 FAGUS-GRECON GRETEN GMBH & CO KG 1
083 FRENCH TIMBER 5
140 FULPOW INDUSTRIAL CORP 57
127 GIANTWAY MACHINERY CO LTD 19
136 IMA AG ASIA PACIFIC PTE LTD 37
143 IWF 2010 29
139 HOMAG ASIA PTE LTD 43
130 JAVA INCORPORATED BHD 7
129 JEFFER MACHINERY CO LTD 13
100 KANEFUSA CORPORATION 25
135 SHANGHAI UBM SINOEXPO INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION CO LTD (FMC 2010)
21
141 SHANGHAI QIULIN MACHINERY CO LTD 61
124 SIEMPELKAMP MASCHINEN-UND ANLAGENBAU GMBH & CO KG 3
108 TAIHAO WOODWORKING MACHINERY CO LTD 51
110 TECHNIK ASSOCIATES INC IBC
107 TONG FONG CUTTERS CO LTD 31
115 WEN CHIH MACHINERY CO LTD 45
113 WEYERHAEUSER MARKETING OBC
137 WINTERSTEIGER SEA PTE LTD 55
ENQ. NO ADVERTISERS / AGENCY PAGE NO.
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� 110 Mfg complete/RTA furniture (wooden) � 111 Mfg furniture parts/components/mouldings (wooden)� 112 Mfg cabinets for radio, stereo, TVs (wooden)� 120 Mfg building structurals/prefab houses (wooden)� 121 Mfg doors, windows, fl oors & interiors (wooden)� 122 Mfg store/shop wooden parts/fi xtures� 124 Mfg laminated wood/and wood products� 125 Mfg rattan & cane furniture� 130 Sawmilling of logs/sawn timber/lumber� 131 Mfg plywood/veneer� 132 Mfg particleboard/MDF/OSB & other boards� 135 Mfg other wood products - pallets, boxes, handicrafts, barrels etc.� 136 Trading of furniture/parts/components/mouldings � 137 Grading, inspection & testing cos.
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PRODUCTS TO PURCHASE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS INCLUDE:� Woodworking Machinery � Materials & Components � Timber � Software & Applications
CUSTOMERS looking for a fresh, cost-effective alternative are specifying Northwest Hardwoods’ Western Hemlock. It’s fl at, straight, accepts stain well and is available in our custom grades.
Our Western Hemlock is certifi ed to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI), a standard that is also endorsed and recognized by the PEFC.
, and Northwest Hardwoods are registered trademarks of Weyerhaeuser NR Company. © 2010 Weyerhaeuser NR Company. All rights reserved. Graded for Yield®
Shanghai, China: 86.21.6249.9898 Vietnam/Guangzhou, China 86.20.3878.1570Taiwan: 886.42.496.3308Hong Kong: 852.2865.5922
E-mail: [email protected] or visit our website at www.wy.com/hardwoods
ENQU
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