FDM Jan-Feb 2010

Page 1

Techie Furniture: CADCAM does it

A Malaysian AbodeMaking it Happen

Forest ManagementBeyond the Red Tape

Furniture Design And Manufacturing Asia Established Since 1986

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CONTENTS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010ÊUÊ6" °ÊÓÓÊ "°Ê£

TECHNOLOGY

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Regular use of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software in their design and production at Ivrysur-Seine has allowed Fourniture to establish a reputation in the wood industry. by Ellen Marie Hickey, marketing manager, Missler Software

PANEL

ÓÓÊ *>ÀÌ V iL >À`Ê `Ê LiÀL >À`

These two engineered products are indispensable commodities in the building trade. Augustine Quek gives the lowdown on them.

PAGE

22 FOCUS 16

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Created by Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machines, a solution for boat building has matured. The last sailing yacht designed by marine architect Carlo Sciarelli was manufactured entirely with wood by numeric control machines. by F.F. Nautech

ÓÈÊ `Ê ÌÊ/ iÊ ÌÌ Ê"vÊ Ê / iÊ7 À `

When hundreds of ragged gold miners arrived in New Zealand in the 1860’s, fresh from the gold fields of California, they could not have foreseen that the seeds of Pinus radiate, bundled with their socks and blankets would create a second source of ‘gold’, bringing wealth to the Pacific nation 150 years later. by Jacquetta Bell, Nelson journalist

MARKET OUTLOOK

Î{Ê >À iÌÊ"ÕÌ ÊÓä£ä It is the start of the new year and in the wake of the global economic downturn, FDM Asia has asked three players on their thoughts about what 2010 has in store for the industry.

16

26

Established since 1986, FDM Asia, formerly Asia Pacific 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 responsibility for the return of unsolicited artwork or manuscripts. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the magazine, in whole or in part, is prohibited without the prior written consent, not unreasonably withheld, of the publisher. Reprints of articles appearing in previous issues of the magazine are available on request, subject to a minimum quantity. The views expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the Publisher and while every attempt will be made to ensure the accuracy

and authenticity of information appearing in the magazine, the Publisher accepts no liability for damages caused by misinterpretation of information, expressed or implied, within the pages of the magazine. All correspondence regarding editorial, editorial contributions or editorial content should be directed to the Editor. The magazine is available on subscription in Singapore at S$126.00 (GST applicable) per annum by surface mail. Subscription by airmail to readers in the Asia Pacific costs S$160 per annum; Europe and the Americas S$230 per annum. For further details refer to the subscription card found within the pages of each issue. For more subscription information, please fax to: (65) 6379 2806 or email: brendatan@epl.com.sg

Member of Business Publication Audit of Circulation, Inc. IMPORTANT NOTICE The circulation of this publication is audited. The Advertiser's Association recommends that advertisers should place their advertisements only in audited publications. Incorporating:

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TheChinese Chinese Academy The Academy of of Forestry Forestry

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CONTENTS JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010ÊUÊ6" °ÊÓÓÊ "°Ê£

EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS:

,i VÕÃÊ" Ê Ã >

Chris Osborne, the managing director of Homag Asia, shares his opinion on areas that woodworking processing will take when 2010 comes. Daniel Cai reports

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38 SURFACES & FLOORING ÎnÊ / LiÀÊ L Ì

Timber, when partnered with smart interior design, can give urban living a continuous ‘facelift’ without harming the environment. by Joseph Chia, industrial designer

MATERIAL & SURFACES {ÓÊ - `Ê i > `Ê ië ÌiÊ À Ü }Ê-V>ÀV ÌÞ

The solid wood furniture market progresses in a specific direction despite its limited supply. Some can venture to state that it is heading in this direction because of its increasing scarcity. by Augustine Quek

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Michael Hermens, a timber importer, simply wanted to show everyone what could be done in a tropical climate with woods from the world. by Michael Buckley, Turnstone Singapore

{ÊFDM ASIA

JAN/FEB 2010 | www.fdmasia.com

WOOD & SUSTAINABILITY

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As the world’s second largest timber consumer, China has a significant impact on the global forest products trade, and as a result, represents a powerful ecological footprint that can influence the sustainability of the world’s forests. by Betsy Hickman, communications manager, Global Forest and Trade Network, World Wildlife Fund

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advertisers’ enquiry numbers.

EXHIBITION PREVIEWS xnÊÊ ` >Ü `ÊÓä£äÊ ÈäÊ 1«ÃÜ }Ê Ê- }>« Ài]Ê -ÊÓä£ä ÈÓÊ 7 ÊÓä£äÊ i } ÈÈÊ <"7Ê Ê- i â i Ê ÈnÊ ÌiÝÊ Ã >ÊÉÊ

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Sustaining tropical forests requires more than general policies and guidelines. Governmental and international corporate as well as non-profit organisations will need to cooperate and coordinate to find a mutually beneficial meeting point. by Dr Jegatheswaran Ratnasingam, FIWSc

54

50


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Editorial

All Signs Point To

E

TheTop

ntering 2010, Bloomberg reports that Asian economies are advancing in the light of the dollar, traded near a three month high against the euro. Such are the silver linings peering through the recent economic storm. Asia projects a remarkable turnabout as China’s biggest brokerage forecasted a possible surge of up to 12 percent in economic growth for 2010. The South Korea’s won led declines among Asia Pacific’s emerging market currencies. The Thai baht fell to its low for the month and Malaysia’s ringgit traded near its weakest level since October. “Asian currencies continue to be under some downward pressure because of the strength of the dollar in global markets,” said Dariusz Kowalczyk, chief investment strategist at SJS Markets in Hong Kong. The currency movement provides buying economies such as the US and the EU higher purchasing powers and encourage export movements from Asia. This bodes well for the furniture manufacturing and related sectors that aim to capture a larger market share and fulfil new demands from emerging markets. Top of the list in manufacturing is energy efficiency, followed closely by the need to go green. Finally, production flexibility such as just-in-time or batch size one concepts take centre stage. As technology companies geared to demonstrate their latest in full force, be it in energy saving or environmental consciousness, participants throughout the production chain are finding new niches to fill. “We’re seeing a fairly broad-based improvement in most economic measures. Heading into next year, most people are fairly optimistic we’ll see a continued recovery across the global economy.” said Cameron Peacock, an analyst at IG Markets. Production costs for Asian manufacturers may rise to match furniture supply, but for the first time since the start of 2009, markets are moving, with new opportunities found in what was thought as a cashed cow lying with the dogs.

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contributors Jacquetta Bell Michael Buckley Joseph Chia Betsy Hickman Ellen Marie Hickey Augustine Quek Dr Jegatheswaran Ratnasingam

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Kenneth Tan

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Industry News

India Major Player

China Investment Plan

Sarawak, Malaysia: India’s timber imports in 2008 were around US$1.4

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: China, one

billion, out of which, US$362.8 million originated from Malaysia. This

of Malaysia’s biggest trading partners,

made India Malaysia’s third largest timber trading partner after the US

will seek further trade and investment

and Japan. Products exported to India include logs worth US$263 million,

opportunities in the country, in areas

mainly from Sarawak and wooden furniture worth US$44.8 million.

of oil palm and timber. This emerged

A recent trade mission by the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) to

during a press conference held jointly

Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai identified that India is expected to remain

with Mr Hu Jintao, the visiting Chinese

a major importer due to its large population and growing middle-class

president.

income group.

China is becoming a major purchaser of Malaysian sawnwood, plywood and

Glulam Plan

logs. Forecasts are for its economy to grow by more than nine percent in 2010,

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Plans to promote glued-laminated (glulam) timber

driven by growing domestic consumption

products are currently being developed by the Malaysian Timber Council

and exports. Expectations are high for

(MTC) in order to assist local manufacturers. MTC hopes to emulate the

increased wood consumption following

success of its competitors in their successful promotional efforts in Dubai,

the government planned low-cost housing

New Zealand and in Hong Kong.

programme. This aims to provide 7.5

To further enhance its promotion efforts, the council will be organising

million homes to low-income urban

training programmes for overseas architects, designers and manufacturers

households from 2009 to 2011.

in the near future. The MTC is reportedly targeting countries where Malaysian timber products are not widely marketed.

Lamtec Face EU Demand Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Lamtec, a registered trademark for Malaysian wooden laminated scantlings has

South American Hardwoods, South-east Asian Seminars

found acceptance in the German market because of efforts by a German window frame maker, PADO Elementebau GmbH. This manufacturer uses Malaysian and local timbers. Lamtec is the result of collaboration between the Malaysian Wood Industries Association (MWIA), Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB) and Malaysian Timber Council (MTC). The Malaysian timbers used in the manufacture are Meranti, Kasai, Bintangor and Gerutu.

Teak Sawmilling A Sunset Industry

Selangor, Malaysia: In December,

APP Timber, said that he

suppliers from Brazil, Chile

believed this was the first

and Uruguay were featured

time that such FSC certified

Yangon Myanmar: The news magazine ‘Living

in five half-day seminars. It

wood was presented in such

Colour’ published an article highlighting the decline

was facilitated by APP Timber

a manner to South-east Asia.

of the sawmilling industry in Myanmar. This article

and held in Bangkok, Kuala

“We think that there is a good

states that Myanmar’s timber today is exported

Lumber, Jakarta, Semarang

future for wood industries

mainly in log form and not as processed products.

and Surabaya.

in South-east Asia, but not

The author advocated a need to stimulate the

Michael Hermens, managing

local industry from slipping further and the view

director of specialist importer

was well received among the wood industrialists.

8 FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010 | www.fdmasia.com

without additional supplies of timber,” he adds.


Industry News

Indonesia Furniture Selling Well

Reluctant Volunteer Jakarta, Indonesia: Despite three years of negotiation with the European Union (EU), Indonesia still has

Jakarta, Indonesia: Companies

not signed a voluntary accord aimed at stopping

dealing in Indonesian furniture

illegally harvested timber and timber products from

products secured orders estimated

entering the EU market. Indonesia’s chief delegate to

to be over US$380,000 during the

the negotiation is reported to say that Indonesia will

Middle East International Furniture

continue to focus on enforcing good governance in

and Interior Design Exhibition

forests management before signing the Voluntary

(INDEX) 2009, at the Dubai World

Partnership Agreement (VPA). The Indonesian authorities have decided to wait until they can assess the impact

Trade Centre from November 14 Jon Connell, Cambridge, UK

to 17, 2009.

of the EU-Ghana VPA.

The head of the national 21 companies representing it

Indonesia had previously signalled its intention

exports development agency said at the fair, and it included some

to sign the VPA, which would ensure that all timber

that the interest in Indonesian agencies operated by governmental

and timber products entering the EU market derived

furniture supported the view that institutions.

from legitimate sources. Indonesia exports up to third

Indonesian timber products are

of its timber and timber products to the EU annually.

The fair hosted exhibits from

gaining acceptance in the Middle- 1,750 companies and agencies,

The EU is also finalising a new regulation for

Eastern countries, Pakistan, East including those from Malaysia,

2010, which will require timber traders in the EU to

Asia and Africa. Indonesia had Taiwan, Vietnam, and China.

implement procedures to mitigate the risk of illegal timber being traded in the EU.

T

he Shenzhen Xinyunxiang Precision Cutters Company is one of the largest manufacturer of woodworking cutting tools in China, it has 3 production branches, one for diamond cutting tools, another two for TCT sawblades, wood working drill bits and milling cutters. ÂŽ

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ENQUIRY NO. 114

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9


Industry News

Sino-Myanmar Border Trade

Cautious On Volume For Tender Yangon Myanmar: The global recession has affected the teak trade. Indian domestic market for teak remains strong because teak is indigenous to India. Other markets that purchase teak mainly for re-export continue to show signs of weakening. Timber traders are looking for the market to pick up during the middle of 2010. “Because of short supply, the prices for fair and good decent parcels are still holding to the normal market prices. Other lower and average quality parcels are below the normal range of prices. In general, the prices for this month are slightly Todd Huffman, Phoenix, US

better than last month, because of the small quantity put on sale. The seller (MTE) should be careful that if too small quantities are put up for sale, general interest in teak might fade away. It is important to supply the market with a reasonable quantity, to keep commercial interests.” A timber trader quoted. The comment relates to the quantity of teak logs for sale recently when compared to the more than 5000 tonnes offered in the past.

Yangon Myanmar: The ‘7-Days News’ quoted Global Witness, saying that the trade in illicit timber declined by 70 percent

Sellers Versus Buyers

between 2005 and 2008. This was attributed

Yangon Myanmar: The International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) reported

to the efforts by the authorities in China

comments from some analysts that teak is now a buyers’ market. Sellers no

and Myanmar.

longer enjoy privileges such as price fixing, controlled delivery schedules and

Analysts mentioned that the

counter-offers on specifications.

undocumented trade for wood into China

Analysts stated that this relates only to natural forest teak, as they consider

in the past had adversely affected the

‘plantation teak’ a commodity, like other timber. The same trade analysts expressed

Myanmar wood industry, as well as some

hope that Myanmar would gradually scale down the harvesting of teak, for

major Thai sawmills. The result was that

economic reasons and for preserving timber, a national heritage.

timber buyers were sourcing their sawn

The analyst also suggested that Myanmar should consider investing in

teak in China and the industry in Myanmar

reforestation, as more responsible checks should be in place to protect timber

and Thailand were unable to compete

resources from irresponsible harvesting. Conservationists view the shipment of

with the cheaper teak products.

increasing quantities of teak logs with concern.

Indian Consumption Grows New Delhi, India: Wood consumption

India manufacturers prefer to

and natural forests supply the

is growing rapidly and although the

import timber in log form to feed

requirement for the panel industry.

country has more than 250 commercial

the domestic industries. Imports are

The concept of industry owned

timbers (including some of the highly

mostly from Malaysia, Myanmar,

Eucalyptus, Poplar, Casuarinas

prized tropical hardwoods such as Teak,

Indonesia, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana,

and Acacia mangium plantations is

Rosewood, Padouk, Red Sanders, and

Togo, Gabon, Brazil, Panama, Costa

gaining popularity and this helps in

Sandalwood) a conservation policy limits

Rica, Ecuador and New Zealand.

preventing illegal log fellings from

harvesting. This means that India is a

The major ports used for imports

state forests.

net importer of wood and wood-based

are Kandla, Mumbai, Mangalore,

The government forestry agencies

panel products. Indian industrial demand

Tuticorin, Chennai Vishakhapatnam

handles teak harvesting and sales

for wood is recorded at 85 million m3

and Kolkata as well as many internal

are made by auction at forest depots.

in 2008 and is expected to cross 150

container depots.

Even the private logs are brought to

million m3 by 2018.

10 FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010 | www.fdmasia.com

Plantations, agro-forestry sources

the official depots for sale by auctions.


Industry News

Plantation Incentives

GreCon’s New Systems Gunther Starnberger, Wien, Austria

GreCon will present the complete range of measuring and safety systems for the wood and wood-based panel industry, including the new GreCon 5000, at Indiawood 2010. This system will essentially increase productivity and save costs. The GreCon spark detection and extinguishment technology proved itself for the preventive fire and explosion protection. In the wood-based panel industry, the spreading of ignition sources can be strongly New Delhi, India: Besides

There is now more flexibility

limited by using this system “after each rotating

industrial plantations, Sandalwood

for raising private high value

part”. In most cases, the ignition sources are detected

(Santalum album) and Red

timbers and Teak plantations.

early and extinguished by a water mist spray so that

Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus)

The Indian government also

production is uninterrupted. The registration and

are the focus of attention because

promotes bamboo harvesting

storage of all events exactly to the millisecond and

of improved and relaxed rules

as it grows fast with many uses.

a web-based analysis of this data means that danger

and regulations for the growing

The bamboo trade is expected

points can be immediately recognised and allocated.

and harvesting of these valuable

to boost the economy, greening

The flame detectors of the new press extinguishment

and exotic species.

projects and carbon sequestration.

system can also detect fires early, thereby minimising

ENQUIRY NO. 035

the amount of water for extinguishment.

www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010

11


Industry News

Dubai Furniture Fair

Brazil: The furniture sector

at maximum production

in the Sinop region of the

capacity and the furniture

Amazon, is celebrating

sector is booming in the

positive business prospects

region. In the municipalities

São Paulo, Brazil: A group of 23 Brazilian companies

for the end of 2009. There

of Sinop, Sorriso, Lucas do

exhibited their products at the Middle East International

are registered increases in

Rio Verde, Nova Mutum,

Furniture and Interior Design Exhibition (INDEX)

furniture production to meet

Vera and Tapurah, members

2009 held in Dubai.

market demand. While sales

of the Local Production

The fair brought important companies in furniture

projections are influenced by

Arrangement (APL), have

production and related sectors together. The participation

many factors, manufacturers

proposed

increasing

of the Brazilian companies was an initiative of a

are optimistic and say the

revenues by 30 percent by

furniture project developed by the Brazilian Furniture

outlook is favourable.

2011. This would require a

Manufacturers Association (ABIMÓVEL) in partnership

are

jump in sales of over R$ 19

with the Brazilian Agency for Export and Investment

reported to be operating

million (US$10.65 million).

Promotion (Apex).

Manufac turer s

Seier+seier+seier-Copenhagen, Denmark

Full Capacity For Manufacturers

Tax Breaks For Furniture

Logs From Managed Forest

São Paulo, Brazil: According to a forecast by the São Paulo Commercial Association (ACSP), the government’s decision to extend the exemption of Tax on Industrialised Products (IPI) for the furniture industry is meant to generate a six percent increase in sales for December 2009. Wooden furniture currently attracts a five percent IPI but this will become zero until March 31, 2010. An optimistic view was expressed by the Brazilian Furniture Stephan Mosel, Hamburg, Germany

Manufacturers Association (Abimóvel), which believes that sales

Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil: Forest management practices

could grow 15 percent in the first quarter of 2010. The sector was showing signs of recovery before the tax exemption measure was announced. The availability of credit has contributed to stabilised sales. Analysts point out that the tax exemption measure took too long to be defined but should bring many benefits to the furniture sector.

Para Timber Recovers

are established in the state of Mato Grosso. The industry

Pará, Brazil: According to the Association of Timber Exporters

associations intend to show that forest harvesting has changed

of Pará State (AIMEX), the recovery of the timber export sector

and the focus is on sustainable harvesting management,

in the Northern Amazonian state in the second half of the year

taking only trees suitable for processing into lumber,

helped lower the unemployment rate.

plywood, furniture and other products.

Employment statistics show that after eight consecutive

According to the Northern Mato Grosso Wood Industry

months of deficit, the state’s timber sector reported the creation

Union (SINDUSMAD), more than 90 percent of the logs

of more than 800 jobs in September and representatives from

for timber products manufactured in the state come from

the trade says this trend is likely to continue.

managed forest.

Between August and October 2009, Pará exported 54 percent

In the Amazon, only 20 percent of the forested property

more than in the first half of the year. This translates to a trade

area can be legally cleared, and the remaining 80 percent

value of US$ 375 million in the months of August to October.

must be sustainably managed.

The export recovery is the result of the improved economic situation in the main markets of the US and EU.

12 FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010 | www.fdmasia.com


Industry News

Industry News

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Raw Materials Cheaper São Paulo, Brazil: In 2009, the strength of the Real against the Dollar has

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become an obstacle to expanding Brazilian furniture industry exports. However, a strong Real means that imported raw materials for the furniture sector have become cheaper such that it is now feasible to buy raw materials at a competitive cost, to process and add value and subsequently export the finished product.

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As pointed out by some manufacturers, based on the exchange rates, margins saved on raw materials partially compensates for lower export sales. This applies to the solid wood and high-end furniture industry when related to importing hardwoods and veneer from the US.

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impor ts

by

Jon Connell, Cambridge, UK

The level of raw material Brazilian

manufacturers is likely to grow if the Real retains its strength.

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Hardwood Changes North Carolina, US: The Hardwood Review Weekly recently reviewed important changes in the hardwood the market side, flooring and cabinet manufacturers are more important hardwood buyers now than a decade ago, even with the current slump in the housing market. Of all hardwood users,

more flexible operations and handle

the furniture industry has experienced

small and more frequent purchases

the most substantial downsizing. At

and sales. A key driver of this change

least 300 furniture plants were closed

was the need to remain profitable while

over the last ten years.

operating at lower capacity.

Almost 70 percent of the furniture

On the product side, grading and

sold in the US is now imported. Many

sorting of hardwood lumber to specific

American furniture companies are

customer requirements has become

importing the products they sell. The

widespread.

same is true for some millwork and

Another significant change has been

flooring companies who import finished

in the prevalence of forest certification

products.

and chain-of-custody certification.

Hardwood lumber producers and distributors tend to be smaller to have

Thousands of companies in the US are now chain-of-custody certified.

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www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010

13

ENQUIRY NO. 074

Axel D, Germany

industry over the last ten years. On


Industry News

Mills Buying Logs Japan: Plywood mills are still actively buying tropical hardwood logs as their stocks are declining. Recent flurry of buying activity in the South-east Asian log market is due to the Chinese New Year holidays and the rainy season, which slows harvesting and reduces log supply in February. The Japan Lumber Reports (JLR) reported that Sarawak Meranti regular log prices are at 6,200-6,300 yen per koku (CIF) on the Japanese market. Small Meranti log prices are 5,200-5,300 yen while Sabah kapur (floater) log prices are about 8,900 yen per koku (CIF). Reports indicate that log harvest rates and transportation volumes in the producing countries are dropping rapidly due to unfavourable weather conditions, usual for this time of year. Importers say that the weather will improve and water level in rivers will be back to normal in a short time so that towing of logs downstream can resume. The lower log availability has the effect of firming prices. Sarawak Meranti Laszlo Ilyes, Ohio, US

regular log prices are US$180-185 per m3 FOB. Small Meranti logs are selling at US$140-145 and very small Meranti logs are reported as US$125-130 per m3 FOB. Sabah Kapur prices are US$225-230 per m3 FOB. Generally, prices have not increased much but grades, which are in short supply, are up US$5 per m3.

Forest Certification For Flooring

Sumitomo Toyo Merger

Missouri, US: The National Wood Flooring

Wilsonart was the first North

Tokyo, Japan: Sumitomo

Association has joined several environmental

American manufacturers to receive

Forestry announced that

groups to form the Forest Stewardship

FSC chain-of-custody certification for

Sumitomo Forestry Crest

Council Procurement Group. This organisation

laminate flooring. The certification is

(Crest) and Toyo Plywood,

will explore, review and develop systems

for high-pressure laminate flooring,

both subsidiary companies

for private landowners to adopt Forest

which is sold to the commercial sector.

of Sumitomo Forestry,

Stewardship Council

would merge from March

(FSC) certification in

2010. Crest will be the

order to increase the

surviving company but

volume of FSC certified

the Toyo plywood brand

wood in the US market.

name ‘Topura’ will still be

At the moment, out

used after the merger.

of the approximately

Both companies are

100 million hectares

plywood manufacturers

(one million sq km) of

but because of the weak

managed forest in the

demand for building

US owned by small

materials the merger will

private owners, only

allow for streamline of

1 million hectares are

administrative functions.

FSC certified.

The surviving entity will target approximately 39 billion yen in sales by 2012.

14 FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010 | www.fdmasia.com


Industry News

October Plywood Supply Tokyo, Japan: The International Tropical Timber Organisation reports that total plywood availability during October was up 9.4 percent over September levels. Volumes of imported plywood were more than expected and domestic production increased by 6.4 percent from September. In particular, softwood plywood production was 190,000 m3, 7.4 percent more than in September, but sales dropped to 168,000 m3, down 4.1 percent, which resulted in a big jump in inventories. Bryn Pinzgauer

Market prices for domestically manufactured softwood plywood continue downwards and have dropped to a record low. As companies try to secure a larger share of the market many abandon considerations of the demand level, causing confusion.

uncertain market situation. Sales in October were particularly weak because demand for housing remain low and prospects for the final month of the year is not good. Imported plywood

Importers are tempted to re-stock but are holding back as

inventories are said to be low with traders cutting back on

traders do not want to carry high inventories due to the

imports because exporters are asking for higher prices.

ENQUIRY NO. 109

This current irrational market for softwood plywood has impact on the market for imported hardwood plywood.

www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010

15


Focus

BoatingSpecial Feature:

A Pearl Under The Sail

Created by Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machines, a solution for boat building has matured. The last sailing yacht designed by marine architect Carlo Sciarelli was manufactured entirely with wood by numeric control machines. by F.F. Nautech

A

“As regards the steel floors, once wooden templates were made first and passed to the smith. Today Swciarelli’s designs are transferred to the computer, and we commissioned the finished pieces externally.” They were made using a Tecnocut water jet machine. To the left is the rendering of the floors from the CAD project.

combination of wood and formidable technology contributes to the creation of elegant yet sturdy designs, which led to the resulting woodwork. A pearl of a yacht, the ‘Clan II’, was delivered, establishing a landmark in modern wood with limber boards and stringers production history. also in mahogany,” explains The battens in yellow pine made by an SCM This yacht represents a breakthrough concept Stefano Carlini, the yard owner. Superset Class NT moulder. in boatbuilding and woodworking. Borne from a “The boat was initially built with fusion of tried and trusted traditional as well as the hull upside down, from the technologically advanced methods in woodworking, waterlines we placed the templates her successful completion heralds the return to that reproduce the shape of the wood as preferred raw materials in the manufacture hull, including the bevel. Made of yachts. with a 5-axis work centre, this “Today, with numerically controlled machines, it machine not only creates the is possible to build a boat for the price of a top flat geometry, but also the angle The shaping of the keel is done using a 5 axis work centre. quality fibreglass craft, but with the charm of wood. of inclination of the hull. It also I think that if Herreshoff were still alive today, he processed the hull at the right would certainly use computer software of the kind used to trace spacing with battens of yellow pine made by a throughfeed the lines of the Clan,” observed Dario Peracca, the designer automatic moulder.” who succeeded Sciarelli after his passing and oversaw the Explaining the process further, Mr Carlini continued. “Over completion of the yacht. this structure we placed the frames and the keel planks, which The ‘Clan II’ is considered a modern sculpture with hints of were then glued together to follow the longitudinal curvature classical overtures. Completed after two years and 20 thousand of the hull. The shaping of the keel can be effectively created hours of work in the Carlini shipbuilding yard, at Rimini, it was using the 5-axis work centre. The keel, a single beam 19-metres manufactured in sheds that had seen the construction of many long, was taken down and shaped to obtain the form and the Sciarelli designs. The yacht was built with the combination of angles necessary for gluing the planks. Then it was put back in manual finishing and numerically controlled technology. place and the frames fixed on with thwarts in wood and steel. The pine battens were gradually removed and the first layer of longitudinal planking in mahogany was glued on, followed by Contents Of A Hull another two layers at 45 degrees.” “The framework is made up of a keel in laminated iroko, with Once this was accomplished, the hull was turned upright 48 frames per side in laminated robinia, part of them reinforced next to the bulkheads, plus 49 deck beams in Khaya mahogany, and the longitudinal elements such as the beam stringers, the

16 FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010 | www.fdmasia.com


Focus stringers, the structural bulkheads and the stainless steel structure from which the keel would be hung, were properly positioned. The final longitudinal layer of sipo mahogany was glued on and handled with particular care. This was particularly important, as it was copale treated and a visible component of the yacht.

Hands On Deck The deck is made of marine ply and clad with teak battens. After the last layer had been glued on, the coamings for the deckhouse and the cockpit were constructed. The panels of superlaminated ply were subsequently positioned and glued on to the deck beams, the sides and the stringers in laminated mahogany. Beams and deck battens were all made using a throughfeed automatic moulder. While the deckhouse and the cockpit were being completed, the interior was fitted out. The furnishings, in a design orientated combination of panelling and solid wood, were made using another 5-axis work centre, the Morbidelli Author X5 Evo, which can work both on curved parts in 2D and 3D and on marine ply panels when configured for nesting purposes. Panel sizing machines, calibrated sanding machines, presses, painting lines, edge banding machines and boring machines were also used for the manufacture of the interior design furnishings. Made elegantly and in stainless steel, individual components such as the pulpits, the bow roller, the gangway and helm complete the shipbuilding project and give the yacht details that make her unique.

“It is no longer necessary to wait for structural parts to be made so that we can fit templates of reinforcing elements or furnishings,” explains Mr Carlini, “everything can be done at the same time and we can be sure that the puzzle, although the pieces are made in different materials and by different companies, will certainly fit together, so as long as we have previously studied all the elements that optimises the yield of this technology.” Another form of assistance to the workflow progress comes from the production of templates for making the laminated components, such as deck beams or internal framing. The reproduction of individual shapes and modularity of the pieces as templates are easily stored and come off the numerically controlled machines, as parts for disassembly and reassembly, thus allowing the workmen to recreate individual parts. The laminated components can also be adjusted to the final measurements by using other 5-axis CNC machines. In addition, recent years see to the proliferation of software that is user friendly and accessible to many in this industry. The technology is more flexible and there are more suppliers on the market. Today it is possible to commission the mass production of even a single component. The numerous ways one can use numerical control technology is paramount to the revolution after the war with the use of glues in boatbuilding. This industry is facing an epoch-making change. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 1101

From The Yard: The Carpenter’s Thoughts

ENQUIRY NO. 108

Today technology represents the future for the wooden boatbuilding sector. “The building technique does not change,” explains Stefano Carlini, “only the preparation for the work, which was once done entirely by hand.” Gratitude is due to the building techniques that utilises computer designs. The yard uses external suppliers who specialise in the boatbuilding sector to prepare most of the yacht’s wooden components. In fact, by today, a number of ‘Clan II’s can be built easily, as the CNC machines that had been used are already programmed with the instructions to recreate every individual part. There would be considerable savings and fewer margins of errors as the precision of the parts produced by the numerically controlled machines expedites the workflow.

The Morbidelli Author X5 Evo work centre. www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010

17


Technology

Software For Fourniture Production –

Topsolid

A

Case Study

Regular use of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software in their design and production at Ivry-sur-Seine has allowed Fourniture to establish a reputation in the wood industry. by Ellen Marie Hickey, marketing manager, Missler Software

images, and provide a direct link with the workshop. This means that furniture producers can work on “capitalising on know-how and enhancing your own library by creating new components that allows the power of the design office to gradually increase.” Nicolas Mohy, design manager in the Fourniture design office explains. Missler Software, a software supplier of CADCAM solutions that provides integrated solutions, works with Fourniture to engage clients in furniture design and production.

Cabinet-Making Software Programmes An example of a Fourniture interior

C

AD software serves a number of functions, for secondary transformation trades and their sub-contractors. While it is essential to speedily define the products that are to be manufactured, this acceleration should never impinge on design, documentary and production quality. Using software programmes for the design office to the numerical control

18 FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010 | www.fdmasia.com

phase, Fourniture, a furniture design and production company firms up preliminary furniture designs with their client’s approval before sending the specifications directly to its workshop. With a stock library and its machining resources, modern software programmes are able to optimise the management of assembly lines, the exchange of data with partnered designers and photorealistic

Fourniture’s slogan is “You imagine it, we make it.” A new generation of artisan cabinetmakers in Mobilier national, a subsidiary of Fourniture, uses computer technology in manufacturing. Whether the workshop produces only unique furniture in a traditional manner, or in a limited production run, their rigour has attracted architects and contemporary designers. “We manufacture quality furniture to fit in apartments, we produce stands for various boutiques in Galeries Lafayette and all over Europe,” says Bruno Guillon,


Technology manager of the Fourniture company. Fourniture’s sub-contracting structure allows an optimisation of commercial value. Having ‘Créative Agent Consultants’ as a subsidiary company provides a practical relationship with the design department and contributes to commercial profitability while adapting to new markets in the industrial sector. The consultation department meets with clients, identifies problems, presents to the designer, follows up on contracts, and eventually drafts and presents estimates. ‘Creative Agent Consultants’ is meant to be involved in all phases of the product development, whether it is of the product (design), its launch (media event), its immediate environment (standee, POS advertising) or matters related to the indirect environment (shop interior architecture, licensing) or even of its image.

Fourniture On A Design Office Modelled after the Parasolid exact modeller programme and including all the functions of standard CAD software, Missler provides software that caters to furniture manufacturers like Fourniture. From design to manufacture, the manual functions, component designs and processes are directly transferred into the software as instructions and give the operator better control over productivity and design. Being able to customise these industry functions, the software provides a unique function called the ‘design office’, that can adapt the various common manufacturing processes, guiding the design phase into production. With CADCAM, there are no limits on complex geometries, and the ergonomics designed for the panel

control unit allow multiple component assembly in a single operation, including control on the interchange of shaping tools, the grooving function, rebating in assembly and other functions. Various hatching patterns can be delivered along and across the grain on materials such as solid wood, blockboard, counter veneer, particleboard and medium density fibreboard (MDF). The interface allows geometry of parts to be exported in tagged DXF format to most machining software packages such as those with a unified programming system where machine and desktop CADCAM operating interface. From the modelling stage onwards, the industry functions of the programme take into account common machining instructions on 3D models, and create its own components so that it can be reused at any time and make projects a reality. Material removal and assembly processes by components of the software industry functions, such as turning, sawing, grooving, profiling, screwing, and even edgebanding allows the designer leeway in 3D modelling with multiple working methods. Building a stock library, previous modelling works can be capitalised upon. Even for a specific design, it is often essential to refer to standard elements. The properties configuration attributes allows the information of the different parts previously used to be contained in a document and to be modified.

The strapping is made of wood and the interior is made of plexiglas

The Fourniture workshop employs 17 cabinetmakers

Design To Manufacture, CAD To CAM After the design phase, the next step would be an integrated CAM solution for the secondary wood transformation industry, the numerical control phase. This step generates the numerical

During the recuperation of design data from the design to the manufacturing stage TopSolid’WoodCam offers adapted manufacturing strategies for simple and complex machining

www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010

19


Technology control instructions from the part designs at the earlier CAD portion. ISO codes are produced through a post-processor so that designed parts can be produced with numerical control. Being a numerical chain, there are little errors, and the manufacturer saves a considerable amount of time between the design office and the workshop. The compatibility between the materials defined in the CAD and the CAM tools database allows automatic and precise adjustment of the cutting conditions between the CAD defined model and the CAM preparation. The paths of the cutting tools are calculated taking the geometry of the model to be produced into account. The CADCAM software defines the degree of precision. Any modification in the design will be reflected at the machining stage, without the operator having to reconsider the machine’s working hypotheses (positioning of the part, identification of operations, choice of tools). The generation of new ISO blocks following a modification is fast. “Working in a 3D environment with the geometry of the machine allows exact simulation of what will really happen in manufacturing. This simulation means I avoid having to anticipate any risk of programming errors”, says Nicolas Mohy. Modern CAM solutions such as the TopSolid’WoodCam also allow manufacturers the benefit of timesavings as it provides automatic analysis for the machining of assembly parts.

Woods From Elsewhere In furniture making, the choice of wood to be used is often discussed. “With maple, for example, the difficulty is that it is light, it’s white and all the small defects that can be hidden in darker woods show up.” Bruno Guillon, the manager of Fourniture explains.

20 FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010 | www.fdmasia.com

Pierre Paulin’s tables and chairs, inspired by 19th century Austrian furniture, have amaranth and sycamore veneer. “With Fourniture and Mobilier national, I work on wooden furniture, I learn to use wood in the best conditions for its sturdiness despite the rather complex forms that I risk giving it. This work with wood techniques with the Fourniture and Mobilier national team is combined with sophisticated discussion about the

past, be it Chinese or Italian,” He says. Mr Gaillon concludes that with CADCAM programmes, manufacturers invest more time for computing and less in production. A portion of the cabinetmakers, the craftsmen work that has to be done in the workshop, has been absorbed by the software between the design and machining phase.” FDM ENQUIRY NO. 1202

INTERVIEW IN BRIEF Nicolas Mohy, the Fourniture design manager, explains the benefits of Missler’s TopSolid’Wood and TopSolid’WoodCam software for the design phase before the manufacturing workshop. According to him, the use of software programmes since 2006, has led to extensive changes in manufacturing work, with considerable time gains.

QNS: WHAT IS THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS FOR A PIECE OF FURNITURE, FROM THE DESIGN TO THE TIME IT LEAVES THE WORKSHOP? Ans:

The architect comes to see us and submits plans to us. In relation to this project, it always starts with an estimate submitted to invitation, to tender by “Créative Agent Consultants”. If “Fourniture” is chosen, I make a start on design work using TopSolid’Wood. After we have received the architect’s sketches, we integrate the data at design office level, and I redraw all the plans using TopSolid’Wood. We redo them following the designer’s ideas, applying the technical solutions. After a preliminary design on the computer, we make them (the plans) comply with the architect again. More time is spent on the plans than when we design in 2D. On the other hand, although it takes longer for me in the design office, using TopSolid’Wood we save a lot of time during manufacturing.

QNS: WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF TOPSOLID’WOOD? Ans:

Our previous software was Autocad, and we have been using TopSolid for two years. TopSolid is particularly suitable for making furniture. The advantage lies in recovering the maximum number of elements that we have conceived, designed, drawn. I know that when I drill a hole in a panel, it is very easy to carry out the operation on the machine afterwards, and to recover the information. Afterwards, the software proposes the reference phase. It will propose control points. It will then position all the points that are in dialogue with the software. You can use the configurable part, that is to say, you draw a piece of furniture, and you can make it bigger in every direction, by changing the height, the width. The furniture is transformed while remaining consistent.

QNS: WHAT IS THE TRANSITION BETWEEN TOPSOLID’WOOD DESIGN OFFICE, TOPSOLID’WOODCAM NUMERICAL CONTROL AND THE MANUFACTURING WORKSHOP? Ans:

TopSolid’WoodCam is another entity. There is the numerical control machine for someone who does the programming using TopSolid’WoodCam. Once the parts have gone through the machine, they are recovered by the cabinetmakers for further processing. TopSolid’Wood is for creating the drawings, and TopSolid’WoodCam is for manufacturing, that is, it translates the drawing into a language that the machine can understand. When you draw a rectangle in a shelf, you may decide to include small grooves in it. With TopSolid’WoodCam, the drawing is analyzed and the machine will cut the piece of wood and create the small grooves.


ENQUIRY NO. 106


Particleboard and Fiberboard These two engineered products are indispensable commodities in the building trade, amongst others. Augustine Quek gives the lowdown on them.

22 FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010 | www.fdmasia.com

P

articleboard and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) are both engineered wood products. MDF is formed by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fibers in a defibrator, combining it with wax and a resin binder, and applying high temperature and pressure to form panels. Particleboard is manufactured from wood particles, such as wood chips, sawmill shavings, or saw dust, and a synthetic resin or other suitable binder.

Industry Grades There are standard industry grades defined in the ANSI standards for both particleboard and MDF, ANSI A208.1 and A208.2, respectively. The grades defined in both of these standards are mainly based on physical properties, particularly internal bond, thickness swell and screw holding, along with modulus of elasticity, hardness and rupture. Particleboard also has another system of grades, namely: underlayment, M1, MS, M2, and M3,

Thomas Ott, New Jersey, US

Panels


Kill sparks before they kill you!

GreCon Measuring Systems and Spark Extinguishing Systems:

A Spark Extinguishing System

A Exhibition Indiawood

Bangalore 4 - 8 March 2010 Booth No. 1UL A113

Press Extinguishing System Mat Scanner / Steel Belt Protection Surface Inspection System Bond Analyser System Thickness Gauge Raw Density Profile Analyser Laboratory Density Analyser Weight Per Unit Area Gauges High Precision Scale Weight Scales Moisture Analysers Cyclone Plug-Up Detector

O BS 7 O BS 7 O DIEFFENSOR O SUPERSCAN O UPU 5000 O DMR 5000 O STENOGRAPH O DAX 5000 O BWQ 5000 / BWS 5000 O HPS 5000 O CS 5000 / GS 5000 O IR 5000 / MWF 5000 O ABC 7

ENQUIRY NO. 121


Panels it’s patent-pending manufacturing process has enabled the company to produce a cost-effective, sustainable composite panel that supports LEED trade credits for indoor environmental quality and materials and resources.

Another Sergio

Certification

also according to physical properties. M1 are usually used for shelving, while MS and M2can be used for cabinetry and M3, the highest quality, are used for office furniture.

for composite wood products. BASF developed unique pigment preparations in colorants and glues that can penetrate wood fibers and produce a lasting, quality appearance.

Market Forces

Environmentally Friendly

Due to competition and declining prices, the quality of MDF and particleboard and the manufacturing processes have improved dramatically in the last ten years. They can be made consistent in size, shape, and color, and with almost 100 percent yield. For example, Boise Cascade’s hybrid particleboard, BOISE SELECT, is a grade of high-performance particleboard that is claimed to have a high internal bond, tight core and is made with significantly reduced fiber size. According to the company, BOISE SELECT has a finer core, fewer voids and increased strength over regular particleboard, designed to fill the niche between regular particleboard and MDF.

Another relatively recent trend is the demand for environmentally friendly products. MDF and particleboard suppliers have met this demand in various ways. SierraPine has a MDF product called Arreis, a 100 percent recycled wood fiber, medium density fiberboard with no added formaldehyde. According to SierraPine,

24 FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010 | www.fdmasia.com

Plastic Composites Combinations of wood or wood fibres and polymers are also increasingly being used to enhance the performance of plastics. Plastic composite MDF boards are more flexible in producing shapes WKDW DUH GLIÂżFXOW IRU ZRRG FRPSRVLWHV OLNH FLUFXODU DQG XQGXODWLQJ FXUYHV 7KH\ FDQ EH ZRUNHG XVLQJ WKH VDPH WRROV DV ZRRG VXFK DV MRLQLQJ ZLWK GRZHOV FURVV WRQJXHV RU EXWW MRLQWHG

Growing Demand

RichardO

Quality Finish One of the most visible improvements is the quality of the finishes. For example, many manufacturers offer particleboard in which the color, surface and core qualities are consistent in every panel, aided by cross-panel sanding. BASF has a “Design MDF�, which uses a throughcolored MDF technology for creating different variety of looks and colors

PureKor Platinum MDF, from Panel Source International has claimed two key environmental features. The panel contains no added urea formaldehyde, and the product is also certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council, with a 100 percent FSC Fiber Content, and is compliant with LEED Credits: MR 4.1 Recycled Content; MR 4.2 Recycled Content; MR 7.0 FSC Certified Wood; and EQ 4.4 Low Emitting MaterialsComposite Wood. In addition to these features, the product is also highly moisture-resistant.

According to research by BIS Shrapnel, the markets for both products grew at an enormous pace in the decade preceding the financial crisis, with MDF much more rapidly than particleboard, and have changed the dynamics of the industry. The next five years will present unparalleled opportunities for market expansion in new geographic regions, with strong growth in Russia and Eastern Europe, South America and other low cost regions such as Vietnam. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 1302


ENQUIRY NO. 016


Panels

Gold

At The

Bottom Of The World When hundreds of ragged gold miners arrived in New Zealand in the 1860’s, fresh from the gold fields of California, they could not have foreseen that the seeds of Pinus radiate, bundled with their socks and blankets would create a second source of ‘gold’, bringing wealth to the Pacific nation 150 years later. by Jacquetta Bell, Nelson journalist

P

inus radiata proved particularly suited to New Zealand’s maritime climate. The lumber matures in 25 years in comparison with tropical hardwoods that mature in a time span of 200 years. This makes Pinus radiata particularly suited to sustainable harvesting. Since the 1950’s, pine forests have been planted on the rolling hills of the Nelson and Marlborough region at the top of the South Island. Well-managed with staged thinning and pruning, the plantations yield timber that is used in the local construction sector and exported as logs and timber to markets all over the world. However, there is a significant resource of non-export quality logs, and Nelson Pine Industries Limited (NPIL), a subsidiary of the Sumitomo Forestry Company of Tokyo, Japan, processes almost one million m3 of this wood into medium density fibreboard (MDF) and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) annually. The company was established in 1984 and adds value to the region’s pine resource. By 1997 a third MDF line had been added, making NPIL one of the largest single site producers of MDF in New Zealand and the world.

26 FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010 | www.fdmasia.com

In 2002 the LVL line began production, utilising higher quality non-export logs. NPIL Export Manager, Gerard Malcolm says that the raw material used to create the MDF and LVL has attributes that set the product apart from its competitors. “The pulped pine wood fibres are long, giving a high internal bond so the board machines well,” he says. More than just the basic structure, Mr Malcolm adds that “the colour is light and bright, yielding a product that gives no ‘show through’ when it is painted or coated with a thin veneer, foil or paper.”

Green As… Pine Trees The Nelson region of New Zealand has 175,000 hectares (1.75 billion sq m) of plantation forests, primarily radiata pine, yielding a sustainable harvest of 2.5 million m3 every year. NPIL owns 3400 hectares of forests, and buys the remainder of its wood resource from other forest companies and they process approximately one million m3 of the region’s resource into MDF and LVL every year. For this region, sustainable management has always been an economic necessity,

and the pressure is on from the market to show that producers do more than pay lip service to environmental issues. Mr Malcolm explains that as awareness grows, consumers around the world are demanding more information about wood based products, because of growing concerns on environmental subjects like deforestation. Responding to this trend, producers like NPIL make effort to reassure its customers that the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) approves its products. Under the Chain of Custody system, the first of a range of products are branded ‘FSC Mixed’ to show that proportions of the wood being used are from FSC certified forests and the rest are from well managed forests. The ‘green’ direction that companies are headed towards does not stop at sustainable management. For many years, NPIL has taken the lead in reducing the rate of formaldehyde emissions from its products. In 2005 the company became the first MDF manufacturer to offer only F**** (also known as Super E Zero MDF) products to the Japanese market. The company also has certification under the CARB system, now a requirement in America. CARB stands for the


Panels

California Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Resources Board, and its control measures, which have been in place since 2008, is adopted across North America to reduce emissions from composite wood products. “There are significant benefits in having an environmental conscience and being able to ensure a low formaldehyde output,” Mr Malcolm states. “If we didn’t have CARB certification, our Asian customers would have to go elsewhere for their MDF in order to keep exporting to America.” Meeting the CARB emission standard meant making minor changes to the recipes of the products, placing a tighter testing regime and adding a new system of accreditation for the staff doing the tests in the NPIL laboratory. This compliance is tested on a quarterly basis by a third party and works towards environmental safety.

Finishing With Technology From the set up of the first MDF line in 1986, NPIL has imported advanced technology from a group of trusted European suppliers for the manufacture of MDF. With three continuous presses,

Nelson enjoys a moderate climate, with warm summers and mild winters, ideal for the growth of pine forests. Winter occasionally brings snow to low levels on the nearby mountains.

the range of MDF is designed to meet the specific needs of kitchen and furniture manufacturers, joinery companies and builders, worldwide. Fibre enters the presses as loosely formed ‘mattresses’ and the controls are set for heat, speed and pressure to deliver the thickness and density required for the MDF range of panels. Some of the boards are further processed into mouldings used in the building industry. “We see the continuous pressing process as key to our product’s quality and consistency,” Mr Malcolm explains. “With this pressing technology we have the ability to control the parameters of the pressing process, the product continues through the processing line 24/7 and you do not get the inconsistencies of a batch processing system.” The MDF is produced in a range of panel thicknesses and as mouldings used in the building industry. “Demand can be very specific,” Mr Malcolm

says. “For example in the US there is a growing group of female ‘do it yourself customers’. Our suppliers tell us these women are keen to buy our lower density board which gives a quality surface but is lighter for them to lift as well as being easier to drill and saw.” At the other end of the spectrum, there is a customer in Taiwan making gold-plated alters for Buddhist temples. For this function, a thicker high-density board that can take the weight of religious statues is in demand. In addition, other products such as the Thinline boards have found a market niche in the manufacture of ceiling fans. Besides the MDF, the LVL is made of selected veneers that are laid to the required thickness and curtain coated with phenol formaldehyde, an exterior grade adhesive. The veneer mat passes through a 300 kW microwave, to initiate the heating process from the inside, and subsequently into a continuous 45-metre press where the hot oil platens complete the resin cure and an LVL billet is formed. Staying at the forefront of technology continues to be part of the company ethos, and in 2008 there was a significant investment to upgrade the finishing line,

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Panels

Radiata pine trees are harvested after 25 years, and the forest is replanted, ensuring a sustainable supply of wood for production of MDF and LVL.

The new finishing line at NPIL sands the board to a high quality finish and uses two large robots to handle the sawn packs.

where boards are sanded and packed. “The new sander’s 14 heads, comprising six calibrating heads, six finishing heads and two super finishing brushes, sand at rates up to 150 metres per minute. Because the extra heads allow a gradual reduction in grit coarseness the finish of the sanded MDF sets a new standard internationally. From the sander the board moves to the cut-to-size saw, then two large robots transfer the made up packs to the strapping line. This automated finishing line puts NPIL a step ahead in the growing market demand for harder surfaced MDF.

Out In The Marketplace LVL was a natural choice for this warehouse, allowing the construction of a 36 m clear-span building with a total floor area of 3,500 sq m.

28 FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010 | www.fdmasia.com

New Zealand’s GoldenEdge MDF faces competition from producers in countries where labour costs are lower, and where the raw material for MDF production comes from mixed sources. Despite this factor, product quality still plays a large factor in demand.


Panels “In applications where the emphasis is on quality, such as high-end furniture and fittings, we find people are prepared to pay for a premium product coming,” Mr Malcolm says. “Our product meets the demanding specifications, in terms of quality and environmental standards, for end-users with a target market of upmarket consumers.” MDF and LVL products have a wide distribution range in countries around the Pacific Rim and the Middle East. These include India, South-east Asia, North Asia, the US and Canada. Of these places, the demand for high quality furniture made with raw materials of certain grades still grows every year. FDM This photo demonstrates the span of NPIL’s operations as one of the largest single site producers of MDF in the world. The buildings now cover 8.8 hectares and house three MDF lines, along with the production facilities for a veneer plant and a LVL plant.

ENQUIRY NO. 1301

20649_Resources.qxd

2/13/07

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we combine the

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our resources With over 800,000 square feet of manu-

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RESOURCES

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ENQUIRY NO. 705

SOLUTIONS

THAT WORK it’s not just a product...it’s a solution.

4002 Legion Drive / Hamburg, NY 14075 / 716-649-2850 / 800-950-2850 / Fax 716-649-2811 / www.baillie.com

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Executive Insights

Re-Focus On

Asia

Chris Osborne, the managing director of Homag Asia, shares his opinion on areas that woodworking processing will take when 2010 comes. Daniel Cai reports

Homag has grown to be a market leader in its own right. What do you think your company did right? I think that we have a perpetual commitment for developing the latest technology. This is a priority as customers are always looking to improve efficiencies. Companies everywhere in the world are looking to be more efficient. This is especially so in the light of the economic situation, when there are limits on skilled labour, which affect production levels. It is the improvement in our technology and the commitment of our people to our customers, which has driven us. Our employees have been here for a long time, enriching our processes with their experience.

Differentiation – What sets your company and its machines apart from its competitors? I’m quite new to the company but the outstanding factor I identify with is the built of our machines. They are made to be reliable and strong, factors that are sometimes taken for granted by even our own customers. This is understandable as many customers look to make investments in the furniture industry and expect a quick return on their investments. I would say that many of them expect to keep their machines in production for many years, working two to three shifts daily, and operational with minimal disruptions or interruptions to their production.

30 FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010 | www.fdmasia.com

Customers expect reliable machines, whichever they are, to also incur only minimal cost in additional areas such as follow up servicing, parts supplies and other supporting cost over the years of operations. Homag’s main differentiation is that we provide all this on a local basis.


Executive Insights What is an ongoing direction that Homag moves towards? We want to be a leader in technology, ahead of the market, in tune with the customer’s need in terms of furniture design and finishes. Currently in vogue is the Hi-gloss, wood veneers, HPLs, and increasingly ‘lightweight panels’. Homag Group can help in all these areas. Being in a supplier role for market leaders in the furniture production industry help us to understand that the customers are the deciding factor who dictate the direction we head into. Relating to that, a direction we have started towards is to change the perception that German equipment is expensive. We have to impress upon our customers that there are entry-level machines, which are suitable for the smaller factories and workshops. These also double up as flexible tools for the bigger shops as well. For example, we would set up a working cell for a small furniture company that makes kitchens or bedroom furniture. We help the client to establish a workflow with all the entry-level machines, and implement the production line, which is the basis of what they would need to initiate operations. All this can be achieved within a price range of ďż˝ 100,000 (US$145,450) for an entry-level panel saw, edgebander and CNC machine. Unfortunately, current perceptions are that we will cost at least ďż˝ 500,000 and many would not consider our machines. To deal with this perception, we launched a marketing initiative, a common message about who we are and how we can help. We meet more customers face to face and gain a better understanding or their needs and processing ideals. We intend to invest more time and experience into our customers businesses and we can be good ‘solution providers’ for our clients.

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I had a conversation with our Indonesian office, and noticed something interesting. If one were in Indonesia about 10 to 12 years ago, one would observe that successful furniture companies then were only in the export business. There were no companies catering to the domestic Indonesian market. Yet recent development in Indonesia’s economy reveals that the domestic market is progressing at an incredible pace. The market now shows that Indonesia has matured and most of our customers are producing furniture for the local market. Manufacturers have also realised that to meet the market in volume and price they need to employ good machinery and minimal labour, as they cannot afford mistakes due

Don‘t miss this opportunity!

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Executive Insights to poor quality. The lower the price the better it needs to be manufactured. Interestingly enough, the furniture manufacturers are not considering exporting their products and many of the larger factories have carved a niche in the local market. For the business savvy, this is a development of many Asian economies and those who can foresee such progress can stand to benefit from the right placement of their investment dollars. Another area of we identified is in the purchasing pattern of buyers, consumers, and specifiers. As people run down their stocks during the crisis, they receive privileged services that factories provide. Purchasers can choose not to hold stocks as before. Rather, they want to have stocks delivered on a just-intime supply basis. Clients now expect the factories to provide stock storage facilities, and they want to order smaller batches with quicker deliveries, which reduce their own inventory cost. I think the future for the industry is for the manufacturer to have more controlled production. We can see this as the trend in Europe. It is ‘Lean’ manufacturing, or ‘batch size one’ production. A customer can have a set of machines that are operated by software programmes, which allows them just to make one piece of furniture or numbers up to 10,000 pieces. Furthermore, some of the issues that manufacturers face in South-east Asia are the availability and rising cost of labour. Most of our customers, particularly in Malaysia, are looking to different solutions in managing a factory, and I think the way forward is in employing technologies first. This will help with managing labour expectations and requirements. To put it bluntly, this means they do not have to keep so many people, nor train so many people, nor have the issues a labour intensive factory needs to contend with. This carries benefits. When management is not so much focused on training, they will be more focus on production, and the resulting quality is more consistent. Labour concerns

are a big consideration to take away from the manufacturers. Of late, customers are interested in finding ‘green products’ in their furniture. In Europe, wood processors, are looking to recycle their leftover woodcuts to produce panels. It is respectable that such panels are coming from reused or recycled materials. This is a good initiative because technology allows the quality of manufactured panels to remain consistent and everyday furniture from chipboards or medium density fibreboards (MDF) can be made of recycled products.

Are there plans already in place to help meet these targets? Ultimately the machines perform as we say they do. It is really more about communications, about helping the customers to be aware of what these machines can do for their business. In South-east Asia, the challenge for Homag is in expanding our representation in the market. We need to preach to our stakeholders through more methods. We had workshops and seminars for 2009, and 2010 will have several initiatives. We will want to have a technology show here in Singapore where we can complement the upcoming regional woodworking exhibitions. In 2010, furniture companies in Asia will be able to see our technology at the interzum Guangzhou. We plan to release machines and conduct software seminars in our regional showrooms in the following years. Our highlight for 2010 will be the local presentation of the ‘Laser Tech’ edgebanding machine. One has been sold in Asia already and we will have a road show throughout the Asia Pacific to demonstrate the machine. We hope to showcase it here in May and delegates will be invited to attend. We are trying to bring the technology to them and we want to be alongside them, not be sitting with them on the table and have them think all we want to do is to sell to them. Our job is to produce and develop the technology and to ensure the customer know what is available.

Which machine will face demand in the near future and why? We feel that the primary processing industry such as panel sizing and edgebanding, as well as secondary processing aspects like CNC machining, drilling, finishing machines, will face an increased demand, based on the batch size one concept. At the moment, large manufacturers have machinery for bulk production but are now are looking to

32 FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010 | www.fdmasia.com


Executive Insights

Executive Insights

be more flexible and develop smaller batch size development. Smaller competitors are also following suit in that area of development. As an example, if we look into Taiwan, we have a number of customers there looking into batch size one technology. Another advancement in Taiwan that is not yet in other market is the storage system management for material control. When we are cutting and panel sizing, we can take these cut pieces of boards and store them in a different pallets in different sizes in a storage system. When they don’t need it for production, they store it in the storage system and the next process is linked, and the storage is supplied in whichever order of production.

What is the next development for Homag machines that clients can look out for? The ‘energy saving’ function for machines will be the next item for our clients to watch for. One can see from the recent economic development, when it comes to the crunch, companies are concerned about energy cost, which will never go down. So it becomes a marginal business. Efficiency is the next step where energy saving control systems will be an attractive draw. Another is the machines’ production flexibility, when it comes to production control. There will be more CNC machines with setting modes that cater to this process. Otherwise, if batch size numbers get smaller, our clients will have to change the machines more frequently and more regularly.

When you look back on 2008 and 2009, was it a good year? It was a challenging year. Homag started with a hangover from 2008. The slowdown following the second half of 2008 did not help. The momentum just started around the time of the Ligna fair. From then on we have not looked back, with levels of business in Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia and Indonesia improving, we have the feeling 2010 will be the best year in Homag Asia. In the coming four months, we will install more then � 13 million of machinery. We are also into several new markets. Aside from the traditional panel furniture production business, we are looking into providing machining solutions for flooring as well. Solutions range from engineered flooring to wood flooring solutions, from solid wood to bamboo. We aim to penetrate this market. Flooring has been a sector that holds promise for the future.

The amount of flooring that will be used in the world, for the parquets and traditional floorings construction and replacement market. When it picks up, it will definitely become a feasible market to work on.

What is traditional manufacturing process and what are manufacturers changing this in process? Traditional methods are more labour intensive, with lower production levels and more inaccuracies. When you look in the older style of machines in the traditional factories, particularly in relations to the drilling and the CNC machines that are now used, a lot of manual operations have been taken away. Production methods were all quite manual. Furniture design would come from the designer to the drawing office, which would make the 2D drawings for processing. The completed drawing will go down to the saw, the operator would have to calculate the cutting pattern and optimise it himself, and then it would go to the edgebanding machines who would have to recognised one part to the next. Errors such as parts being out of sequence, resulting from guesswork will happen. It would be the same for the drilling and fitting process Aside from efficient machines, the improvement to the traditional method is that production is brought together via software. Taiwan manufacturers whom we work with have integrated their production lines with software, granting further cost savings to affordable machines. In the end, our initiatives are really to ensure our clients consider our equipment to be available at all levels of manufacturing and have trust in us, to help ‘add value’ to their businesses. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 1401

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Huntsman

Kiel Latham, Australia

Market Outlook Given the expected economic recovery and confidence levels for 2010, what changes will be expected in the woodworking industry for the New Year?

What do you predict to be significant trends that will emerge in your segment for the woodworking industry to watch for?

There will be increased demand for mid market wood species, with a focus on sustainability. Wood in general is becoming a fashion product in furniture and construction, and that is great for this industry.

The key trends will revolve around the product life cycle, carbon footprint, ‘green’ buildings as well as sustainability. We know solid wood products store carbon and that is a positive factor. Now we need to address forestry and supply chain management issues, along with the management of materials such as glues and preservative treatments that are used with timber, to complete the ‘green’ picture.

The company’s long-term strategy is to help create a sustainable wood processing industry that captures greater value from forest resources through processing in New Zealand and through greater integration with global value chains.

The industry will focus its efforts on providing building, construction and lifestyle solutions to those markets that recognise the value of sustainably produced wood products. Over the last few years, our company has been working with the industry to drive the sector up the value chain from commodities to manufactured/engineered wood products/systems.

Answer

Daniel Gudsell Marketing Director, Access Pacific

Ravindran Nagasamy Sector Manager – Wood Building and Interiors New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

34 FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010 | www.fdmasia.com


Gemteck1, Washington, USA

David-Stroud,UK

Black and White Wood Finish from Tarkett

2010

d in It is the start of the new year an ic the wake of the global econom three downturn, FDM Asia has asked what players on their thoughts about y. 2010 has in store for the industr

In terms of growth and expansion, what are your company’s plans for the next 12 months, especially in the Asia Pacific market?

What are the market drivers that will propel your industry segment further ahead in 2010?

Our focus in South East Asia is on FSC certified outdoor products. We intend to offer the market a cost effective, durable and sustainable outdoor timber solution. Our strategy is to develop partnerships and joint ventures in ASEAN countries with local partners. In 2010 we are launching O2 Wood in Thailand, a sustainable wood products distribution company as a joint venture with our Thai partners. This is an example of our interest in responsible channel management.

‘Green’ building solutions will certainly be the major market driver in our industry for the year 2010 and beyond. The challenge will be to keep the general industry education and awareness at a pace to match the demand for green buildings, or we can expect a whole new consulting industry that will be created, with its associated costs.

Companies are encouraged to focus on branding, innovation, productivity improvement, adoption of new technologies and to work in collaborative models in overseas markets. In the future, companies will need to get closer to their consumers to develop products with a `differentiation’ or `unique appeal’.

We feel that the major growth drivers are in construction of residential and non-residential buildings, such as commercial, government, institutional buildings, new resorts and marina development and the growing awareness of using wood from sustainably managed plantation forests. We feel that the relevant public will sit up and take notice of wood’s ability to store carbon and reduce the level of emissions as well as the degree of energy consumption in the wood production and processes for lifestyle products.

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Huntsman

Kiel Latham, Australia

Market Outlook Given the expected economic recovery and confidence levels for 2010, what changes will be expected in the woodworking industry for the New Year?

What do you predict to be significant trends that will emerge in your segment for the woodworking industry to watch for?

As an industry that is meant to complement the wood processing industry, we are looking to explore new methods for channel distribution. Last year, we began efforts to work with research institutes on measuring moisture in wood. We feel that approaching these learning and research institutes is ideal, because they are the best spokesperson for the market place and this partnership will assure that our products are qualified at a highly professional level. For example, a certain number of the calibration lines in the handheld moisture meters are the result of cooperation with Forestry Research Institute Malaysia (FIRM). More projects with FRIM are pending and we are currently busy with recording the strength classes of several species. We may discover wood, for which currently there is currently no market that can be applicable for construction.

In South-east Asia, the Radiata Pine is in demand as it has a wide array of applications in the market. We believe this demand will grow in the face of new developments in the market. We believe the emphasis of the market is on eco-friendly forestry management practices. Being one of the few companies in the market that produces moisture measuring contraptions in this industry, we have a new project that would concentrate on the strength and moisture measurement stemming from the trees without retarding or endangering their growth. This is in line with forestry management practices that every forestry plantation owner is working on achieving.

Answer

Pieter Rozema CEO Brookhuis Micro-Electronics BV

36 FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010 | www.fdmasia.com


Gemteck1, Washington, USA

David-Stroud,UK

Black and White Wood Finish from Tarkett

2010 What are the market drivers that will propel your industry segment further ahead in 2010?

We have done our studies and we are currently establishing our interest in Malaysia. We have already laid the groundwork for China as well, but it is a large geographical region so our progress there will be slow. The New Zealand and Australia markets are a little slow in its acceptance, so for our next step, we intend to study and access the Vietnamese. We identified these places with a growing demographic of manufacturers who are more proactive and dedicated to quality production methods.

In the wood processing industry, we can expect wood as a raw material, to increase in price due to falling supplies and increased demand. Moisture plays a big part in its lifespan and strength. For many of our current clients, the future of the wood working industry is in the control over the moisture and lumber strength of their wood, which in turn affect the quality. Companies that want to improve their products will need to consider implementing some controls. With our new projects, we aim to ensure our clients can become reliable suppliers to their clients. This is done by helping them ensure that their product will be of a certain standard, of which they can guarantee. This makes them more valuable in the competitive wood supply market Knowing where they want to be, the products that they have, the quality of the product that they want to be known by are factors that will enable our clients to stand out. Interestingly, when the market is bad, our company sees a growth. A bad market means that companies will need to prove their mettle in quality and standard.

Erich Ferdinand, Germany

In terms of growth and expansion, what are your company’s plans for the next 12 months, especially in the Asia Pacific market?

ENQUIRY NO. 1402

www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010

37


Surfaces and Flooring

Timber

Timber, when partnered with smart interior design, can give urban living a continuous ‘facelift’ without harming the environment. by Joseph Chia, industrial designer

Ambition Systemmind platform and URBIA detail shot.

S

hoebox apartments ranging in size from 300 square feet to 500 square feet (27.9 sq m to 46.5 sq m) are becoming common. As home prices continue their upward climb, the demand for smaller homes will continue to rise. When your home is as small as a hotel suite, it helps to get priorities right. Home sizes are shrinking, but as these tiny flats show, there is no need to surrender style or comfort. With some ingenuity and forward thinking from designers, adventurous homeowners and can explore the beautiful and logical marriage of timber flooring and furniture beyond the

38 FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010 | www.fdmasia.com

common norm. Technological innovation and the awakening of environmental concerns such as global warming, have set the stage for a new trend, that of being environmentally friendly. The intention of this article is not to present a manifesto, to advocate and institute criteria for what represent valid design for small spaces, but rather to present a snapshot of the surge of activity in this direction and to explain the forces and processes that are behind the designers’ work. The initiatives shown here represent the disparate ways in which the issues are addressed. This movement is also a reaction against the way that furniture design, assisted by the media, has become akin to the fashion industry in recent years, with interior styles and trends changing every season and consumers encouraged to keep track and regularly adopt them to keep up with the industry. Unlike industrial design and architects, the interior design vocation have until now been on the fringe of the sustainable design movement. Interior designers may soon find themselves at the centre of the green design debate. The way they modify the way a space work and feel without the need for demolition and rebuilding means they can significantly extend the life of the space. There are many examples of how intelligent interior design can bring disused spaces back to life using relatively few new resources.

Floored With Timber If owners are contented with the status quo, there are numerous offering of the usual flooring suspects for homes. But if one is interested in shaking things up, manufacturers and designers


Surfaces and Flooring are pushing different, varied flooring materials and concepts that could increase the ‘wow’ factor. With ‘cradle to cradle’ as the new mantra, manufacturers are starting to offer 100 percent reclaimed and re-milled antique wood flooring. From trees that grew in virgin forests, the wood grains in reclaimed lumber are tight. Knots and nail holes are all part of the package, and the product has an industrial yet pastoral attraction that is ideal for a loft or a home infused with character that age better with time. These flooring materials have a high style quotient, but they come with a price tag to match and are therefore unlikely to appear on the priority upgrade lists of most owners. However, they could be a nice change of pace, if one intends to take a walk on the wild side. Designers and manufacturers are just beginning to understand what it means to remake materials and processes. Many also rethink how interiors are designed in such a manner that they will not be harmful to the people who are living and working there or to the manufacturers during the materials production process. Mahogany, teak and jarrah are names linked with high quality flooring. Unfortunately, demand for these timbers have seen vast envelopes of deciduous and tropical forest habitat destroyed. Items made from these trees are therefore, exceedingly costly. On the use of alternative wood species and raw materials for decorative purposes, users are slowly but surely discovering new frontiers. Bamboo’s aesthetics, durability, and sustainability have helped increase awareness within the interior design community. Designers have long been attracted to the bamboo’s stability. Although it is often used to make furniture, bamboo is also a viable flooring material. The technological advances of the last decade have enabled a durable, attractive bamboo-flooring product to be made available to the public. With more than 1,000 species of bamboo supplies coming mainly from China, two are fit for flooring construction. Of those, the Mao bamboo poses the best degree of hardness. Most hardwoods generally come from young trees, so they crack and expand more. Bamboo stands out as an alternative choice as some species are registered to be harder than oak and more than twice as dimensionally stable as maple. Furthermore, it expands very little and is more structurally stable than most wood flooring. Bamboo is gaining popularity for the flooring market because it wears well, looks good, and is considered by most to be a renewable resource. In the countries with vast swathe of plantations, the use of rubberwood, sometimes also called parawood, as an environmentally friendly building material, is a recent direction. Rubberwood is now advertised in the industry as an “environmentally friendly” wood, mainly because it makes

Surfaces and Flooring

ENQUIRY NO. 096

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39


Surfaces and Flooring

use of plantation trees that have already served a useful function. The trees, rather than being burnt, are processed and treated as raw material for items such as parquet floors, bathroom fixtures, and high-end furniture. Being fairly easy to work on and glue together, rubberwood is mostly used in the form of finger-jointed engineered lumber, which eliminates some of its disadvantages. It probably does not stir up the same associations of quality, but designers and users are increasingly processing them into furniture and flooring products.

Obra Architects, an international architecture giant, has warmed up to the idea of the ‘modern nomad’, a living space that can be disassembled and taken with the user when they relocate. Aptly named the ‘Urbia Furniture System For Small Apartments In Big Cities’, the concept is a furniturebased interior fabrication that caters to urbanites that move from place to place, a common trait of a hectic, working life. Apropos of minimal materiality and the ‘sustainable design’ movement, this system is composed of hollow wood panels and cabinet units, which can partition a vertical or horizontal space. Their functions depend on the potential of the room’s interior, and hence the layout could be reconfigured in numerous permutations and according to On Top Of The Floor the user’s requirements. This system act as building blocks On the design front, an outfit in Singapore has successfully that user can manipulate to form stairs, partitions, loft floors incorporated rubberwood into a modular raised platform (the panels can be deployed horizontally with the eight foot flooring cum furniture design. Simple and functional with panels upright, reinforcing each other), furniture and more. minimal installation, the sleek-fitting modules can be When the time comes to relocate, all the wood panels are transformed into various forms for different uses, such as a packed up and moved to a new environment. This eliminates raised floor cum platform, a bed, a table, a bench and even the need to install new fixtures or purchase new furniture. steps. As a testament to these modular boxes’ durability This partnership of intelligent design and sustainable and appeal, the ‘Systemmind Platform’ has travelled across material in the face of scarcity of resources and challenged continents with its owners. urban living space has gained reputable recognition as a In addition, to do their bit for the environment, the spearhead in designing for an urban future. manufacturers enhance the appeal of the products by offering Although not a novel idea, the design community has a relocation and re-installation package for the ‘modern nomad’. acknowledged that the need for intelligent, sustainable design is inevitable and we JUST A FEW MORE THAN SIX EASY PIECES: PROTOTYPE 2G UNDER CONSTRUCTION are in the midst of witnessing a growing trend in design. Architecture and design firms are aligning their direction with this movement to cater to modern industry demand. It is comforting to know that forerunners in the timber flooring industry are continually researching and formulating new processes that will correlate to the ‘green’ movement in a positive manner. The alliance between a sustainable material like timber and interior design initiatives promises an urban future where the interaction between the ‘modern nomads’ and their home environment would not be debased and that they stay attached to their ‘possessions’ without relinquishing their freedom of a personalized sphere Assembling the URBIA furniture system. no matter how small the space is. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 1501

40 FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010 | www.fdmasia.com


Embrace

THE WORLD’S FINEST

International Furniture Fair Singapore 2010 27th ASEAN Furniture Show A sneak preview of some debut collections at the show:

Koda Ltd | Singapore

Ever Gaining Furniture Ltd | China

Index Interfurn Co Ltd | Thailand

FDM

Organiser: International Furniture Fair Singapore Pte Ltd 62 Sungei Kadut Loop, #04-19, International Furniture Centre, Singapore 729507 '06 D ,A D 7,46 08;?4<B 411= .97 =2 Visit us at www.iffs.com.sg

ENQUIRY NO. 104

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Materials ѪSurfaces

Solid Demand Despite

Growing Scarcity S

olid wood is a term coined to refer to any non-engineered wooden structures that are not hollow, such as normal lumber like teak. In wood furniture construction, the term ‘solid wood’ means that each exposed part of that piece of furniture, made from one or more furniture wood, is constructed without any veneers and laminates in the finished piece. Furniture wood can be categorised into hardwood and softwood. Hardwood is mainly sourced from non-needled tree such as maple, cherry, mahogany and poplar. These species of wood is reputed for its robustness and durability, but is difficult to carve or detail in terms of woodwork. Softwoods are from needled trees such as cedar, fir, hemlock, pine, redwood and spruce. The difference is that hardwoods are deciduous trees that lose their leaves in the winter while softwoods are evergreen, cone-bearing trees. Both types of wood can contribute to the construction of composite wood. Unlike synthetic materials, furniture woods will never have a completely uniform appearance. No two pieces of furniture wood are exactly alike. Two boards from the same tree will have different appearances, including subtle

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nuances in colour. Each tree develops its own grain pattern and texture over the course of its lifespan. Younger wood or sapwood that is closer to the bark of the tree has a lighter colour than boards from the centre of the tree. These variations in appearance do not affect the strength or durability of the furniture. Instead, they make each piece of wood furniture unique, thus forming one of the greatest attractions of solid wood to consumers. With its natural aesthetics and durability, manufacturers, designers and consumers use solid wood to construct houses, interior decoration and furniture. Most people consider solid wood more attractive than fibreboard, wood panels that are sometimes enhanced with a solid wood veneer or other design overlays like Formica or vinyl. Solid wood is also more attractive than oriented strand boards, which is rarely used where it can be seen. Even alternatives like plywood may have a similar appearance, but its visible layered structure at its ends makes it less pleasing to the eye. For design’s sake, technology has developed to allow manufacturers the

SFIC

The solid wood furniture market progresses in a specific direction despite its limited supply. Some can venture to state that it is heading in this direction because of its increasing scarcity. by Augustine Quek

production of multicoloured solid wood panels, for the construction of furniture and interior decorations (under the US Patent 6115985). Two or more kinds of different solid wood are processed and styled to become partial sections as assembling elements, which are then connected by joining elements to form an assembly of different colours of solid wood for the construction of stair steps, armrest, railing, furniture or other decorative panels.

Strength Of Character Solid wood is stronger than fibreboard, but not as strong as plywood or oriented strand board. However, unlike solid wood, many engineered woods degrade and eventually disintegrate when afflicted with mid to long-term exposure to moisture. This is because solid wood is dried slowly in kilns until it retains about six percent moisture content, and subsequently cut


Materials ѪSurfaces

and shaped into pieces that provide the furniture’s structural integrity. After wood has been dried and converted into useable parts from the tree, it may change its size according to the amount of moisture in the air. As wood is a dimensionally unstable material, designing furniture made of solid wood can be a challenging process. This factor has contributed to the decline in the use of solid wood for manufacturing furniture. Modern solid wood furniture often comprise of wood veneer bonded to solid wood pieces to improve its dimensional stability. It may also be mixed with artificial laminates for furniture construction, including those made of plastic, foil or paper. One such example is a solid door having edges of laminated pressed wood fibre sheet material. Another notable disadvantage of solid wood is its significant cost. Engineered

formats and can include integral fixing systems such as tongue and groove or ‘click’ systems. Solid wood tends to be installed using the battens and joist method to provide the necessary gap between the wood and the subfloor. Recent innovations involving specialist underlay and gluing systems have raised the possibilities of future solid wood installations as floating floors. Another advantage solid wood has is that it does not let off gas or toxic compounds. A solid wood building system using cross-laminated timber panels has been developed in Europe because of concerns for healthy living spaces and the need to tackle climate

Kat Keller

SFIC

Solid wood furniture looks to remain in the hearts of many as the most aesthetically pleasing

wood can be made from waste material like sawdust and chips, but solid wood requires large sections of wood that are relatively free from defects. The cost of labour to produce solid panels, compared to just cutting plywood pieces or veneering a panel is also higher, as less man hours are needed to work with engineered woods than with solid lumber. The cost of one board foot of lumber can be as much as a square foot of 3/4” plywood for many species, and the more expensive solid woods like cherry can cost as much as three to four times the price of engineered woods. Competition has made many manufacturers turn to alternative less costly materials for wood furniture. An example is IKEA, whose mission is to “create well-designed home furniture at prices so low such that many people will be able to afford them”. This has resulted in solid wood furniture manufactured mainly as an expensive luxury. Furniture available in the mass market today is created entirely with laminates, pressed boards, plywood, and other engineered wood. Such artificial wood furniture has been known to be nearly impossible to repair, as the outer protective laminate layer is a manufactured material. One example is wood flooring, an area in which solid hardwood strips are preferred in North America. Solid wood floors can be sanded and finished for several times throughout its long lifespan, while engineered wood has an extremely thin layer that results in a lower allowance for sanding. Therefore, even though it is difficult to tell the difference between a solid wood floor and other types of wood floors, newly installed solid wood floors retain their value better than engineered woods. Most solid wood floors are available in either pre-finished or unfinished

Francisco Antunes From a solid chair to wood flooring, solid wood provides many forms of human conveniences with the added eco-friendliness

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Francisco Antunes

Michael Hiemstra, Canada

Materials ѪSurfaces

versatility of solid wood buildings was the Olympic village built for the winter Olympics in Italy. Each unit was assembled and fitted out in a factory and dropped into place by a crane. After the Olympics, each unit was lifted and moved away.

Sharon Mollerus, Duluth, US

Environmental Growth

change. Panels up to 16.5 metres by three metres are precisely cut in the factory so that a building can be erected rapidly on site. An example of such a construction is a nine-storey apartment block at Murray Grove near the centre of London. This building that houses 29 apartments took just nine weeks to erect. This apartment has a wood composite exterior and the whole building, including the lift shafts, were made of entirely of wood. It proved to be popular, with all units being sold before the project even started. Another example highlighting the

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Solid wood furniture and buildings can provide environmental benefits. Wood that is directly used for the furniture or building’s construction can keep carbon stored for hundreds of years. It also saves the use of energy intensive materials such as concrete, steel and brick. Because it is easy for solid wood to retain heat, energy can be saved. Solid wood saves considerable amounts of fossil fuel energy when compared to other materials. In fact, the continued strong demand for solid wood products has led several wood machine providers to supply specialised solid wood machinery. Stiles Machinery from the US has an entire division focused on solutions for the solid wood industry. Its new division, called Solid Wood Technologies was added to Stiles Machinery’s stable in order to provide solutions that are specifically designed to address the needs of the solid wood market. The company has a range of

The drying process contributes to the dimensional stability of the wood when it is manufactured into furniture

sanders, moulders, grinders and saws, complemented with temperature and moisture measurement, material handling, stacking and grading lines. German company WEINIG’s also has a range of solid wood working tools, including its patented Powerlock tool system which claims impressive operation and feed speeds. As more technology are developed to fully utilise solid wood resources, one can say that industry experts view the solid wood furniture and construction market will continue to grow specifically because of its increasing scarcity. In an age of anthropogenic climate change and social responsibility, product costs may contribute a lesser extent to the consumer’s decision-making process, as more people understand the consequences of market demand and its effect on the environment. In addition to solid wood furniture’s eco-friendliness, it has a charm that is unmatched by any other. The look and feel of solid wood furniture is more socially pleasing than other types of modern furniture so far and looks set to ascend to the luxury class. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 1601


ENQUIRY NO. 116


Materials ѪSurfaces

The ‘WOW Residence’ –

A

Dream Imported

All photos credit: APP Timber

Michael Hermens, a timber importer, simply wanted to show everyone what could be done in a tropical climate with woods from the world. by Michael Buckley, Turnstone Singapore

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Materials ѪSurfaces

B

y the time he had finished, his invited audience simply said “wow!” and the name of his house was born. Based in the heart of Malaysia, Mr Hermens now has a permanent exhibit in Kuala Lumpur to present the features he intended. The entrance of this structure leads to a V-shaped semi-urban site. It has a classical low threshold and one enters an unlit, semi-open hallway that casts the audiences’ eyes upon a split in the structure. A further stroll into the structure reveals a twin-wing residence, one that leads to a lush tropical setting within urban Kula Lumpur. The land provided sufficient space for a ‘V’ shaped designed structure that houses all the facilities Mr Hermens wanted for his family and guests, a home with a harmony of privacy and openness. Michael Hermens, the managing director of APP Timber, was clear about the concept he wanted and engaged a local company, Visage architect, to work with him in creating a unique structure that incorporates all the wood elements his company imports. The wood would be supplied directly to the main contractor, T H Tham Engineering and construction took just a year, by an entirely Malaysian team. One might ask why forest-rich Malaysia should import wood, or why anyone would develop a business entirely based on wood from overseas. Mr Hermens, a Dutchman and long time resident of Malaysia is clear of his answer to this question. “Malaysia has fine hardwoods of its own, but they do not cover the full spectrum of timber products, and there are many sources of wood around the world with different properties, performance and in some cases extraordinary sustainability that can also assist in taking the pressure off Malaysian forests. Scandinavian treated softwoods, American hardwoods and Australian eucalypts are all examples

of wood that perform well in tropical conditions” he says. Michael Hermens set out to demonstrate what he had meant by building his new home. One may call it a showcase for his customers, or brand it in any other way, but the resulting structure is an exhibition in design, aesthetics, installation and performance in the utility of all types of wood. With the exception of some teak houses, there is probably no other house in Malaysia that is predominantly constructed of imported wood, with barely any elements of the local timber. Construction using softwood is unusual in South-east Asia, due to the temperate climatic conditions and its effect on softwood species, but Mr Hermens aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of treated softwood in both structural and visual applications as well as present some of its advantages. Timber traders will already know of softwood’s long-term availability with the huge and sustainable forest resources in Scandinavia, New Zealand and South America. Controlled production standards ensure consistency, and treatment gives a high level of dimensional stability in its use. Being light, softwoods are easy to process and install, and generally cheaper when compared to most other imported or local South-east Asian hardwoods.

onto the softwood and the process will ensure moisture control while preventing a possible swelling of the wood. This prevention is an important factor for the accuracy of the subsequent finger jointing process. After treatment, the solvent carrier evaporates and locks the preservatives into the wood, protecting it against decay and termites. There is little or no discolouration, and this method of machining has the advantage of not producing sawdust or shavings waste for disposal. Furthermore, it ensures that vulnerable joints, end grain and exposed surfaces are deeply impregnated. The treated softwood wood can also be painted or glued. Mr Hermens, who has been in the timber industry for 23 years, believes that the future of South-east Asian woodworking industry will increasingly depend on imports from all over the world, including hardwood and softwood plantations. He also feels that only species from renewable, sustainable and legal sources will eventually be acceptable for the wood processing industry.

A Softwood Treat The double vacuum, low pressure, treatment process is undertaken on fully machined wood before assembly or jointing to produce the roof trusses, laminated beams and internal columns that holds up the house. This treatment process involves the application of a light, organic white spirit, called Light Organic Solvent Preservation (LOSP), which is initially used to dissolve preservative compounds. The solvent solution will be applied

American walnut for a low cabinet in dining room

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Materials ѪSurfaces

European walnut for the bar and half wall cladding in the billiard area

He had suggested that the prices of some local wood species have risen from 30 percent to as much as 100 percent over the last few years and he points out that supplies in countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia will be further restricted by international policies. The quality of commercially available Asian hardwoods is also decreasing due to smaller diameter logs and the fact that the better quality logs are reserved mostly for export purposes. Of the many hardwoods species in the interior of the ‘Wow’ residence, American hardwoods, such as American black walnut, cherry, red oak and sapgum are sourced from the eastern US forests, and are widely regarded as the most sustainable of all temperate hardwoods. The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) had recently released the findings of its independently commissioned study, the “Assessment of Lawful Harvesting and Sustainability of US Hardwood Exports”. This research was undertaken by a team of international experts, and confirmed that hardwoods that are derive from legal and properly managed forests provides assurances of legal sources and that hardwoods procured from the US are classified as low risk in all categories of the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) controlled wood standard. It is the first study of its kind to look at legality on a national basis and is a valuable tool for understanding

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Santos mahogany in the kitchen

Red oak for the study wall cabinet

When it comes to interior design and furniture outfitting, the quality of the various veneered ceiling and wall panels, interior joinery, doors, flooring and custom furniture installed in the house is a testament to the level of skill the local craftsmen had incorporated into the house. Veneers and solid wood from all over the world are combined to create a home of visual warmth and comfort in tropical surroundings. Lenga from Chile, American red oak, cherry and walnut, kiaat and Santos rosewood from South America, all are woods with different characteristics and textures and feature impressively throughout the house. Finally, moving to the exterior landscape, the visitors’ eyes will rove from the house to the garden, where a copse of trees and vegetation lay. It is then possible to look back at a sensation of imported timber that cannot fail to impress.

compliance to a range of sustainable procurement policies, including FSC controlled wood as well as facilitating the supply of FSC labelled products containing American hardwoods. “We are fully committed to sourcing legal and sustainable timber wherever we can, without compromising the wide range of species and solutions we want to give our customers” Mr Hermens says.

Global Conference Of Timbers Showing visiting architects and professionals around the ‘Wow’ Residence, the range of imported species and timber products available in the market was demonstrated. Immediately noticeable are impressions of the Tasmanian oak solid doors and windows from Australia, listed by experts as one of the most effective eucalypts wood species. For the exterior, the house’s external cladding is done with Thermowood, a softwood that is specifically heat-treated from Finland’s Finnforest. This application, now already installed for more than year,

demonstrates the stability and colour retention of softwood in a Malaysian temperate climate. This treatment process uses heat rather than chemicals and the process reduce the wood’s moisture to a low of three to four percent, higher than that of normal kiln drying. Thermowood is also PEFC certified, and adds to the environmentally orientated focus. Other imported timbers that were used for the structure include several West and Central African hardwoods, installed at the entrance and main gate, terrace and decks. Some products, such as mahogany flooring and teak ceiling panels of laminated marine grade plywood, have been sourced


Materials ѪSurfaces

for in China. Much of the veneer has been supplied from European slicers of imported timber species. The ‘Wow’ Residence demonstrates well the aesthetics that a combination of soft and hard wood can command. The imported softwoods can be incorporated in construction and this design does not

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stop merely at interior space. Based on the varying forms of design, it can be further complimented or diminished by the internal joinery fit and complementing furniture. In this aspect, Michael Hermens had spared no expense. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 1602

or s

Kiaat on the bedroom walls

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Wood & Sustainability

A Powerful

Footprint

As the world’s second largest timber consumer, China has a significant impact on the global forest products trade, and as a result, represents a powerful ecological footprint that can influence the sustainability of the world’s forests. by Betsy Hickman, communications manager, Global Forest and Trade Network, World Wildlife Fund

F

degradation of the world’s forests? Furthermore, how can these companies sustainably secure their supply chains? The answer lies in responsible forestry.

Shifting Legal Landscapes The world’s appetite for cheap timber products continue to drive irresponsible and often illegal logging, fostering rampant deforestation around the globe and devastating impacts on the world’s climate. Responding to rising consumer demand for socially and environmentally responsible products, increased international regulations to address illegal logging have emerged in Europe and the US.

Edward Parker, WWF-Canon

aced with an increasing demand for wood products, with limited forest resources, China imports timber from many countries and regions. Supplies come from everywhere, including the most valuable and threatened forests in Russia, South-east Asia, South America and Central Africa. With imports from tropical and temperate regions increasing at a rapid pace, unsustainably harvested timber is very likely to enter China’s supply chains. Moreover, market demand in Europe and North America are growing increasingly sensitive to environmentally and socially responsible products, resulting in legislation to prevent illegal wood from entering their markets. In the face of these challenges, how can wood and furniture manufacturers be certain that they are not contributing to the

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Wood & Sustainability 50 years HOMAG Brent Stirton, Getty Images, WWF-UK, Shanghai, China

Securing success through partnership and strategy

A close up of processed wood at Nature laminate flooring factory, Shanghai.

Recent amendments to the US Lacey Act, which prohibits illegal trade in animal and plants, including timber, has created a host of questions for international forest products companies, especially on the issue of how to comply with the statute’s requirements. This issue includes proving the origin, species and legality of all forest products entering the US. Similarly, the European Union’s (EU) Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade initiative has also contributed to the demand for legally verified timber. This shifting legal landscape has resulted in increased pressures being exerted throughout global supply chains to comply with these legislations. Consequently, important transhipment countries like Vietnam and China will have to be able to quickly sort through often complex and murky supply chains, to provide proof to their buyers that their sources of timber can be legally traced and verified. Encouraging and rewarding transparency and responsibility in the world’s supply chains, legal frameworks, such as the Lacey Act, are having a profound impact on the global forest products industry as companies seek to demonstrate that they are exercising due care in sourcing legal wood.

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Companies wishing to practice optimal ‘due care’ in transforming their supply chains are turning to credible certification to address not only market pressure for legal compliance, but also the need to sustainably secure a lasting supply of wood resources. Certification, which relies on independent parties to verify that companies have produced wood or wood products under environmentally and socially responsible conditions, has gained significant acceptance and momentum throughout the industry as leading retailers such as Nature, Walmart and IKEA create and implement procurement policies which give preference for certified or recycled wood or fibre. As participants in the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Global

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Wood & Sustainability

Katrin Havia, WWF-Finland

By working with these suppliers to progress towards Forest and Trade Network (GFTN), these companies have formalised their commitment to responsible forestry and trade, credible certification, the company is positively impacting the investing in the triple bottom line of sustainability, people, Amazon’s rich biodiversity, ensuring that these valuable forests are responsibly managed, while securing a long-term, sustainable planets and profit. supply of raw materials. By taking sufficient steps to ensure their purchasing decisions help protect forests, rather than contribute to their degradation, these companies are transforming the global marketplace into A Global Responsibility a force for saving the world’s forests while providing economic China is a critical link in transforming the global forest products and social benefits for the businesses and people that depend supply chain into a responsible and sustainable industry, as on them. much of the world’s timber passes through the country before “We view our commitment to responsible forestry and reaching international markets. There is vital role for wood and credible certification as a worthwhile investment. Sustainability furniture manufacturing companies to play in catalysing this and environmentally and socially responsible practices are new era of sustainability through the greening of their supply good business for us,” said Savio CK Chow, the president chains. Sustainable business practices allow companies to of export for China Flooring Holding (Nature). He is a GFTN- gain access to new international markets and by engaging in China participant who manages a leading solid wood-flooring greening activities, the companies gain a competitive advantage. manufacturer that operates more than 1,400 stores in China. “To remain competitive in the international marketplace, it Demonstrating this commitment to responsible forest is no longer sufficient to focus solely on your products quality management and trade, Nature has received chain of custody and design,” said Jin Zhonghao, a manager with GFTN-China. certification for three of its factories from the Forest Stewardship “Environmental and social impact have gained equal importance Council (FSC). The FSC provides a recognised system to in the minds of consumers as they seek assurance that the effectively track timber from its initial processing at the forest products they purchase are sourced responsibly.” of origin to the finished product at the distribution channel. But what are the tangible steps of meeting this rising This label assures consumers that the product originates from demand of environmentally and socially conscious buyers and a FSC certified forest. consumers? First of all, companies will have to review their FSC certification is awarded only to companies that meet supply chain and determine where their source of wood is the council’s stringent criteria and principles for promoting coming from. By classifying and affirming the environmental environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically status of the raw materials being purchased, manufacturers viable management of the world’s forests. To ensure that these can identify and eliminate unwanted and high-risk sources in standards are respected, audits are regularly conducted by their supply chains. independent certification organisations. Armed with such knowledge, a sound This triple bottom line paradigm and responsible purchasing policy can be shift extended throughout the entirety of developed, which will help the company Nature’s supply chain, as suppliers also to set time-bound targets for eliminating recognised the value in measuring their the unwanted sources and risks to their success economically, ecologically and existing supply chains while sending socially. Following Nature’s example, four signals to customers and suppliers of their suppliers achieved the chain of custody robust commitment to responsible forest certification and another supplier committed management and credible certification. to responsible forest management by Out of this commitment, companies can achieving FSC certification for over 200,000 demonstrate their pledge to responsible hectares (two billion sq m) of forests. forestry and trade by ensuring that Nature’s impact extends far beyond they have achieved certification for their South-east Asia as the company has chain of custody, and by providing encouraged 14 timber suppliers in South assurance that their products have been America and a logging enterprise with responsibly manufactured. This is done management control of 200,000 hectares through demonstrating the accessibility of Amazon rainforest to commit to of information on the timber’s origin from responsible forestry by joining the GFTN the forest floor to the retail store. Furniture made of FSC (Forest Stewardsship in Peru and Brazil. The last step is in establishing traceability Certificate) certified wood.

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Brent Stirton, Getty Images, WWF-UK, Shanghai, China

Wood & Sustainability

People working at Nature, a laminate flooring factory, Shanghai. Nature is a member of the WWF’s Forest Trade Network and is working to ensure that its timber is procured from forests that are sustainably managed. Flooring from this factory is exported to markets in the US and EU.

ENQUIRY NO. 115

for timber by gathering information from suppliers through databases, questionnaires and rating their compliance with the responsible procurement policy. Once this is accomplished, it is simply a matter of working together with suppliers to continually improve the phasing out of all unwanted sources and increase the proportion of credibly certified forest products. By assessing risks in their supply chains and developing as well as implementing responsible procurement policies, companies are able to respond to this demand for credibly certified products, thereby transforming the nature of supply chains and subsequently, their impacts on forest resources around the world. Furthermore, implementing socially and environmentally responsible business practices provide tangible bottom line results, and improves the company’s access to growing international markets demands for timber products that come from forest and timber sources that are committed to environmentally and socially sustainable standards. “China is well-positioned to lead the global forest products industry. We only hope that it will also lead the efforts to safeguard the world’s forests,” said Jin Zhonghao. “The only question that remains is whether your business will seize the opportunity to be on the forefront of this change.” The Global Forest and Trade Network is WWF’s initiative to eliminate illegal logging and transform the global marketplace into a force for saving the world’s valuable and threatened forests. By facilitating trade links between companies committed to achieving and supporting responsible forestry, the GFTN creates market conditions that help conserve forests while providing economic and social benefits for the businesses and people that depend on them. The GFTN considers independent, multi-stakeholder-based forest certification a vital tool in this progression that can help to infuse the principles of responsible forest management and trade practices throughout the supply chain. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 1701

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Wood & Sustainability

Tropical Forest Management –

Status and

Challenges

Sustaining tropical forests requires more than general policies and guidelines. Governmental and international corporate as well as non-profit organisations will need to cooperate and coordinate to find a mutually beneficial meeting point. by Dr Jegatheswaran Ratnasingam, FIWSc

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basic goods and services, which are important to human livelihoods.

Drivers Of Change In Forest Management A number of forces, either individually or collectively, influence the management of tropical forests, and the trends related to these forces are not yet clearly understood. According to the International Furniture Research Group (IFRG), an analysis of tropical deforestation in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean regions identifies four proximate causes of deforestation: 1. Infrastructure development 2. Agricultural expansion 3. Wood extraction 4. Environmental factors like land characteristics, biological drivers such as fires, drought and pests and social drivers such as war, social disorder and economic shocks. Furthermore, five clusters of driving

Jayanta Debnath

T

ropical forests are a repository of biodiversity, providing habitats for more than 50 percent of the earth’s plant and animal species. They are an important sink for carbon stores, providing many goods and ecosystem services, and they act as a critical contributor to the livelihoods of more than 1.5 billion people. Of this number, at least 60 million mainly indigenous groups of people are entirely dependent on forests, while 350 million are highly dependent, and 1.2 billion are dependent on agro-forestry resources. According to the Forest Resources Assessment Study by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) report on the Status of Tropical Forest Management, the tropical forests are among the earth’s most threatened ecosystems, with a deforestation rate estimated at nearly 25,000 hectare (250 million sq m) a day. This sector is perceived to be lawless and is threatened by activities such as uncontrolled logging and illegal collection of fuel wood, fires, conversion into agricultural land, the depletion of ground water as well as climate change caused by economic activities. As a result, these forests are losing the capacity to provide

forces that shape these proximate causes are demographic factors, economic factors, technological factors, policy and institutional factors as well as cultural factors. Analysis has shown that tropical deforestation is determined by a combination of proximate causes and driving forces that are specific to time and place.

Schemes Of Tropical Forests Management Recognising the need to address the forces driving tropical deforestation, the international community has engaged


Kangaroo Traveller

Wood & Sustainability

Allie Caulfield, Munich

More than raw materials, forest reserves are rich in biodiversity and perform ecological services that ensure continuous sustainability.

numerous processes to advance the cause of sustainable forest management (SFM). Currently, the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) serves as the main intergovernmental platform to foster dialog and forge a common understanding of SFM. Seven thematic elements have been identified as a basis for defining SFM and indicators have been developed to monitor the progress made. Forest management is recognised to be at a distinct stages of development in different countries around the world. A recent ITTO survey noted significant progress towards SFM since the initial survey that was carried out in 1998. Recent innovations in SFM and ecosystem approaches result in forests being managed as part of the broader social-ecological systems in which they exist. Case studies from Central America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific provide numerous examples of innovative practices. Many countries have established and implemented forest policies that contain basic elements of SFM. More forests, as Permanent Forest Estates (PFEs), have been given some security by committing to managing production or protection in

a sustainable way. Leading countries in the practice of SFM include Malaysia, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil and Ghana. Despite these advances, threats to tropical forests remain real.

Forests Governance Forest stakeholders and managers are successfully designing and testing innovative solutions to the challenges in managing the tropical forest resources under their stewardship. These initiatives can be grouped under several thematic clusters, ranging from the legal, policy and institutional frameworks (with a focus on community organisations) to the evolving role of the private sector. Across the tropics, institutions with the capacity to manage across jurisdictions (from the sub-national to international level) are emerging to deal with forest problems in an integrative, holistic and participatory way. At the sub-national level, where forests are predominantly managed by community based organisations (CBOs), institutional innovations have led to greater decentralisation and empowerment of local governments and communities in the

management of forest resources. These institutions aim to create new livelihood opportunities for forest-dependent people, empower local people, ensure equity and broad-based participation in decision-making and management and recognise traditional ownership patterns and institutions. FAO have documented examples of forest management in Asia and the Pacific, in which forest degradation, poverty and social unrest have been successfully addressed through innovative institutional reforms. Similarly successful examples of decentralisation in Latin America and the Caribbean highlight the importance of municipal governments in forest management (for example, in Bolivia, Brazil and Nicaragua) and the role they play in orienting government policies and donor projects. At the national and supra-national levels, the most important innovation is the development and application of criteria and indicators (C&I). These have helped set standards for forest certification by government regulatory systems, international agencies and forest certification groups. The ITTO estimates that about 25 million hectares of the tropical forests’ sustainable production practices are certified by independent forestry organisations. However, many countries continue to suffer serious losses of tropical forest or have not been able to make significant progress towards SFM. Nigeria, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar,

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Sanjoy Gosh,Texas,US

aussiegall

Jennifer Murawski,Pittsburgh,US

Wood & Sustainability

Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and many others are cases in point.

Of Policies And Legal Frameworks Malaysia is an example of a country that has developed an effective policy and legal framework for tropical forest resources management. The key to its success is a clear vision and political commitment to ensure the continuity of forest product flow, while conserving complex ecosystems that are rich and varied in flora and flora. Essential factors include the development of a national forest policy, strengthening various forest departments for forest resource planning and management, the use of advanced technology for monitoring surveys and logging activities, the development of downstream industries with a focus on

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Even planned sites for generating wood materials contain a high level of biodiversity that can contribute to the economic development of countries.

value adding. Other factors include granting fiscal incentives and full tax exemption under the ‘pioneer act’, the formulation of a Malaysia-specific C&I based on ITTO’s revised C&I and the development of internal assessment procedures for assessing SFM based on C&I. It is also important to note that commercial banks, investment funds and pension funds have recently become interested in investing in SFM, especially in countries like Latin America, because of the profitability of high-value tropical forests (including both investment in monoculture plantations and natural forest management).

Knowledge Generation And Application Over the last few decades, new knowledge and technologies have been generated, based on field experiences and research programs. These cover the multiple facets

of SFM such as biological diversity, forest health and vitality, productive functions of forest resources and protective socioeconomic, legal, policy and institutional frameworks. By way of illustration, progress made in the forest management sector reflects a paradigm shift from conventional, singlepurpose forest management towards an integrated multiple-use management approach to technical, socio-economic, ecological and cultural enhancement. Adaptive Collaborative Management (ACM) is another methodology to promote community forest management and help ensure that the rural poor obtain greater benefits from forest resources. This involves collective action, collaboration among stakeholders and social learning, with strong emphasis on studying processes, capacity building and extension of knowledge. Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) systems are currently being used in Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia and other countries in response to concerns over the ecological and economic sustainability of harvesting natural tropical forest stands. RIL uses an array of harvesting techniques that lowers damage to residual forests, help maintain regeneration and protect biological diversity, This may provide low-cost options for maintaining carbon sinks and forest conservation benefits. RIL systems are an integral part of the certification initiatives and can be more profitable than conventional logging by reducing the overall cost of wood produced up to 12 percent. The profitability of RIL depends on local conditions. A key innovation in Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) management has been the development of a formal certification process spearheaded by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). NTFPs encompass a broad range of products (such as gums, resins, fruits, nuts, medicinal plants, fungi and weaving/construction materials), which are managed for many different objectives.


Wood & Sustainability

Despite the successes in the management of tropical forest resources, there remains challenges ahead. Among the important ones are: – Continuous pressure on forest resources, prompted by increased demand for high-value timber (mainly driven by emerging economies in China, Brazil, India, South Africa and South-east Asia) and driven by population increase in developing countries. – More active engagement with the private sector. Private sector investments in the forest sector in developing countries is seven times greater than the combined total overseas development assistance (about US$1.5 billion per annum) for the forest sector. Engaging the private sector is essential for the promotion of SFM. – Continuous research to understand the upstream/downstream continuity among and between ecosystems, improve modelling, prediction and decision-making support and master the economics of SFM. – Improve methodologies to quantify the economic value of the ecosystem services of the tropical forests and applying these values adequately in land-use decision-making that drives

A close look at progress towards SFM and the challenges the tropical forestry sector faces indicates that solving problems does not necessarily require huge investments. More can be achieved by enhancing national and international governance through the development of appropriate institutional structures and frameworks with two priority objectives in mind, that of improving property and utility rights regimes and eliminating illegal logging and corruption. Another method is to focus attention on the livelihoods of forest-dependant people through the establishment of people-centred management structures. These structures enable forest shareholders to capture the direct economic value of forest products through the promotion of payment for environmental services schemes, and through partnerships with the private sector, whose contribution to achieving long-term SFM goals is vital. To achieve those objectives, it is necessary to assign realistic direct economic value to forests. After all, if forests cannot be valued there is no reason to ensure its sustainability! FDM

ENQUIRY NO. 1702

Liz West, Englewood, New Jersey

Challenges In Tropical Forest Management

forest change, both within and outside the forest sector. – Forests cover 30 to 40 percent of the earth’s land area and provide essential ecosystem services and it will be important to bring these values into markets, cross-sectoral decisions and macro-economic policy making processes. More research will also be needed to support current development of effective markets for the environmental services of forests, such as biodiversity, carbon sequestration and watershed protection. – According to a 2008 report by the International Furniture Research Group (IFRG), studies on tropical forest management have been without any new developments since the early 1990s. Despite a large research budget spent annually on forestry research in the tropics, its impetus on the sustainability is highly questionable. This raises the issue of relevance of the research activities. – Engineering partnerships among the various interest groups are essential for successful implementation of SFM. Some examples of partnerships are the Rainforest Challenge Partnership, which involves two leading conservation organisations, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and World Wide fund for Nature (WWF) as well as two international research centres, the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). They work with local communities, district authorities, development organisations and others to adapt strategies for reducing poverty and conserving unique forest ecosystems in the tropics.

Cliff Beckwith

NTFP harvest has limited negative impacts on forest ecosystems and generates an array of social and economic benefits, particularly to community forest operations. While SmartWood has so far been the NTFP certification leader, several other FSC certifications are beginning to incorporate NTFPs into their assessment and are designing and implementing the required internal systems. Successful cases of certification in Latin American and the Caribbean include medicinal plants, forest tea and Brazil forest nuts.

Corporations will have to be mindful of the line to draw between economic and environmental gains.

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Exhibition Preview

Indiawood Bangalore International Exhibition Centre, Bangalore, India March 4 – 8, 2010

2010

Only In India, Indiawood 2010 The sixth edition of Indiawood will be organised at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre, Bangalore, India from March 4 to 8, 2010. PDA Trade Fairs, the organiser of Indiawood 2010, has indicated that this edition will be a definitive international exhibition, catering to woodworking machinery, tools, fittings and accessories, as well as raw materials and products. Participants to the event will be exposed to a host of equipment and accessories for various purposes, for the production of sawn timber, veneer, particleboard (PB), medium density fibreboard (MDF), oriented strand board (OSB), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), plywood and panels. Woodworking materials and consumables include edgebanding materials, adhesives, lacquers and finishes, sandpaper and abrasives, coatings and more. In addition, there will be kiln drying and related timber technologies, joinery machinery, and others. Visitors will have the chance to spot updated fittings and accessories such as hinges, knobs, handles, as well as other hardware. On an international basis, there will be presentations from groups of furniture manufacturers, and woodworking producers coming from Andaman, Bangladesh,

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Dubai, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore and many more. Countries such as Germany, Italy, Taiwan and the US have already confirmed booths for their respective country pavilions. Participation from China will be expected as well. Registered saw millers, hardware dealers and resellers, interior decorators, woodworkers, timber and lumber dealers and distributors from the Indian domestic regions have also registered their attendance. This will provide the attending exhibitors an opportunity to address visitors and buyers from the South,

South-east Asian and the gulf region. Pradeep Devaiah, chairman and CEO of organiser PDA Trade Fairs, is confident that Indiawood 2010 can cater to the woodworking requirements of India as well as the various Asian and Gulf markets. Originally initiated in the year 1999 as an educational platform for the Indian woodworking industry, this event has since come a long way to realising the growth of the Indian woodworking industries. The last edition in 2008 set a benchmark among woodworking industry events in Asia. The exhibition filled 27,000 sq m with more than 400 exhibitors and country pavilions coming from Asia, the Middle East and both Americas.


Exhibition Preview

India, having experienced a growth rate in excess of nine percent for the last three years, has held its economic ground. Industry experts estimate India’s average growth rate at between seven and eight percent every year. There are more than 40 million families in the mid to upper affluence level. About 1.6 million households earn over US$100,000 per annum and spend US$9,000 on luxury goods each year.

In light of these statistics, international companies from various sectors would be looking at India as a strong potential market to revive sales and revenues. The Indian woodworking industry is considered a sunrise sector and the exhibition has played an important part in contributing to the growth of this industry. In the light of the coming economic recovery, this edition will help to meet the coming demands of the local furniture manufacturing industries and contribute to the growth of

the wood-processing sector. It will also stimulate complementing industries like the interior design trade and create employment opportunities for skilled wood workers. Indiawood 2010 is in a position to provide a platform for business networking and development opportunities. The Indian furniture-manufacturing sector is estimated to be worth US$4.4 billion. More than 65 percent of the allotted 30,000 sq m space in Indiawood 2010 has already been booked. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 1801

ENQUIRY NO. 111

Experiencing Demand

www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010

59


Exhibition Preview International Furniture Fair Singapore/ASEAN Furniture Show Singapore Expo Singapore March 9-12, 2010

Upswing In Singapore,

IFFS 2010

F

rom the 9 to 12 of March, the International Furniture Fair Singapore (IFFS) and the 27th ASEAN Furniture Show (AFS) shall present domestic and international furniture exhibitors in six halls of the Singapore Expo. IFFS/AFS 2010 has seen a steady take-up of exhibition space by a strong line-up of debut exhibitors and supporters from Singapore and around the world. With four months to the fair, more than 90 percent of the total 40,000 sq m of nett exhibition space has been booked, an affirmation of the fair’s standing on the global furniture trade scene. The 2010 edition sees to a registered increase in participation from Australia, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and the US, with companies from these countries signing up

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for more exhibition space. 80 percent of the exhibition are made up of repeat exhibitors and of which, 25 percent of these exhibitors will be taking up a larger showcase and reinforces the show’s reputation as Asia’s one-stop sourcing haven. The IFFS/AFS 2010 will exhibit more than 100,000 pieces of furniture and furnishing products from around the world. Its focus on furniture design, is reflected through an array of design related features and activities.

Of International And Domestic Exhibits The two biggest exhibitors for the IFFS/AFS 2010 are currently Kenas Pacific, with a 900 sq m booth and Halo Asia with 700 sq m of exhibition space. Both are from Hong Kong. Other Asian participants includes Koda from Singapore with a 670 sq m space, China’s Zhejiang KUKA Technics Sofa Manufacture and Violino from Hong Kong with 600 sq m each. First-time exhibitors include both participants from the international and domestic arena. The international companies

making their debut at the fair include Ecolene and Amangriya from Indonesia, Lebello from the US and Maspar-Mahajan from India. There are also SAP Products, Vintage Collection and Zooko Asia from Hong Kong, Amardeep Fabrics of Singapore, Bali Connection, Ballywilliam by Sianhall, the Evershine Corporation, Novaz Singapore and St Louis. Singapore Mozaic ambassador Lorenzo International (Singapore) shows its support for this event by returning to the fair after a five-year hiatus and IFFS/AFS 2010 has also attracted participation from SIA OŠUKALNS, a company hailing from Latvia that specialising in soft furnishings, and Bellagio Asia, an upholstery company from the Netherlands. Both companies add to the show’s international appeal.

Design Centric Positioning itself as a premium furniture trade event in Asia, the IFFS 2010 exhibition will focus on showcasing the latest design capabilities and product developments in the higher end spectrum of the industry. Known for its distinctive focus on furniture design, the 2010 edition shall enforce its design-related theme with repeated and well-received activities such as PLATFORM, an arena for young furniture design talents to showcase their furniture prototypes. The winners of the Furniture Design Award 2010, a


Exhibition Preview

furniture design competition that is organised by the Singapore Furniture Industries Council, will also be presenting their creations at the fair. Visitors to IFFS/AFS 2010 can look forward to a different, expanded design exhibition area. Exhibitors will include industry suppliers and representatives for customised and handcrafted furniture, interior home and office furniture as well as outdoor furniture, decorative accessories and components, and many other products.

Reason To Move Forward Richard Koh, the chief operating officer of IFFS, expects this coming exhibition to expand the spotlight on various design-led initiatives that are developing across the Asian furniture industry. He pointed out that the success of the Singapore Mozaic showcase in Milan in 2009 is an example of how furniture firms are developing market niches. Likewise IFFS is developing towards a design-centric direction, to establish itself as the business platform in the Asia Pacific region. This show is meant to cater for a specific range of furniture products with the credibility to attract relevant audiences in the coming March 2010 show. Besides emphasising on the design factor, the show aims to achieve approximately 10 percent growth in the complementary areas of furniture production, such as in the upholstery and outdoor furniture segments. As an all-round springboard to the

Asian and international markets for global trade players, the previous show, IFFS/ AFS 2009, drew positive comments and feedback from exhibitors and visitors. The show saw an attendance of 15,606 trade visitors from 118 countries, with a total of 104 overseas buying delegations from 38 different countries. It also achieved an estimated total value of US$ 245 million in orders. Based on the immediate business opportunities secured during the fair, an additional estimated US$ 2.2 billion in follow-up sales was targeted for development within 2009. The IFFS/AFS 2009 covered six halls and a gross area of 60,000 sq m at the Singapore Expo. It showcased an array of furniture from 471 Asian and international exhibitors. In addition to the PLATFORM showcase and the displays of the top entries in the Furniture Design Award 2009, the Furniture Design Forum 2009 was held in conjunction with the fair and featured the international celebrity designer Mr Karim Rashid as the keynote speaker. Buyers also viewed first-to-market collections launched at the fair, including the PINKER series that was developed by Mr Karim Rashid in collaboration with Office

Planner and the Level collection by renowned designer Mr John Kelly from Koda. Boasting prominent players from around the globe, the show is considered an increasingly notable sourcing destination for buyers and participants as the industry progresses globally. Mr Tony Pang, Chairman of the IFFS/ AFS Show Advisory Panel, said: “While the general market sentiment is largely cautious, we are heartened to have received positive feedback from international buyers and exhibitors, both on-ground and post event. The numbers and positive response proved that global furniture trade players have remained fully confident in the value and effectiveness of the fair. While the world economy is bracing for challenging times ahead, we remain completely committed to further improving the quality of IFFS/ AFS to provide greater value-add and will offer even better incentives for participants and visitors in IFFS/AFS 2010.� The event organiser, IFFS private limited, intends to make this coming edition more impressive and extensive, with an improved layout design and display areas to showcase the myriad of furniture products and exhibits from around the world. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 1802

www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010

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Exhibition Preview

2010 Beijing

International Exhibition on Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Manufacturing Equipment

WMF

China International Exhibition Centre (CIEC) Beijing, China March 10 to 13, 2010

Working On Recovery Once again drawing professionals from all continents, the 13th International Exhibition on Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Manufacturing Equipment (WMF) / International Exhibition on Furniture Accessories, Materials and Wood Products (FAM) is an expansive biennial global trading platform in the woodworking industry. It will be held on March 10 to 13, 2010 at the China International Exhibition Centre (CIEC) in Beijing, China. The WMF and FAM exhibitions were inaugurated in 1986 and have been

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recognised as an Asian ‘Mecca’ in the woodworking industry. WMF and FAM can be considered the largest fair for woodworking machinery, furniture accessories and materials in Asia. These events have gained support from furniture and furniture related industries on both the international and domestic front. Being recognised as one of the most well established woodworking fair in China, this edition is expected to present and demonstrate the latest woodworking machinery, accessories and tools to an international audience of professional leaders and buying delegates.

2010 - Milestone For Woodworking China is a huge market and domestic sales for furniture in the first half of 2009 have reached RMB 152.9 billion (US$ 22.4 billion), with a 10.6 percent year-on-year growth. Furniture exports in the first half of 2009 remained high at US$ 14.1 billion despite a drop of 9.45 percent and data

from the second quarter showed an increase rate at 15.05 percent. This recovery has enforced enterprises’ confidence for the WMF and FAM 2010, which in turn result in a positive response in both exhibitors recruitment and visitor promotion. Following previous editions in 2006 and 2008, WMF and FAM 2010 continue to be the fair for the woodworking industry in Asia. The show will occupy an exhibition area of 70,000 sq m, accommodate more than 700 exhibitors that hail from 19 countries and regions in Europe, Asia and others. Visitors can expect more than 2,000 machines and other materials to be displayed during the show. The organisers have expanded the venue from 10 halls to 12 halls, and have facilitated themed zones on woodworking machinery, panel board manufacturing technology, furniture accessories, materials and wood products from both overseas and domestic suppliers. These zones will be structured in such a matter that it will


Exhibition Preview enhance the specialisation areas of the fair and facilitate business exchange between suppliers and buyers in an appropriate business environment. In addition, with the launch of the updated official website, www.woodworkfair. com, up-to-date details on the exhibit previews, market trends, show history and other data will become easier for participants to access and enable them to obtain the information they need in a convenient manner. The number of pavilions has also increased to seven. It now include those from Germany and Italy, as well as from associations and regions such as the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI), the Taiwan Woodworking Machinery Association (TWMA), the Qingdao Woodworking Machinery, Shanghai Woodworking Machinery and Lunjiao Woodworking Machinery associations. Mr Bill Hung, the chairman of TWMA stated that the show has a positive effect on Asian businesses. “As the furniture and woodworking machinery industries in China continue to grow year by year, your communicative role and platform to promote the industry is successful.” He said. Mr Fred Huang, the chairman of TAMI echoes similar views on the show. “WMF is the largest, the most internationalised and the most historical woodworking machinery trade fair in China. We expect to receive a very good response at WMF as we had in the past.”

International Appeal In addition to positive responses from Taiwanese companies, numerous companies

in the woodworking, accessories and materials industries from other countries and regions have already confirmed their presences for the event. Mr Manel Castella, the export manager of Barberan was an exhibitor in the 2008 WMF and he believes the Chinese market will be an important one. Being an active participant for a long time, the company has invested in other shows, such as those in Shanghai and Guangzhou, but view the WMF as the most important in China. Mr Zhong Hongwen, the general manager of Beijing Reggar Trading was another exhibitor from WMF’s previous editions and considers the WMF as one of the best biennial woodworking event in China. He had cited that the show’s main benefits were its comprehensive coverage on the industry, advantageous geographical position for the South Chinese market as well as provision of quality manpower and resources. The show also had an international reception, where visitors from the Americas also participated. Mr Jose Pereira Dias, a buyer from Brazil, participated in the WMF 2008 and expressed his satisfaction for the show. His main interest was in the quality of the exhibitors. With the large number of exhibitors, visitors can look forwards to a wide variety of raw materials and equipments that will be on display. Products include logs, panel board, hardware, semi-finished wood products, chemicals, decoration materials, other furniture accessories, as well as many other materials. Machinery and tools being presented include those for wood processing, furniture

manufacturing, panel board manufacturing, knife and blade, machinery accessories, hand tools, grinder, measuring equipments, materials handling equipments. Several companies representing related industries for building and construction such as interior design, decoration and software will also be present.

Exclusive European Support WMF and FAM have secured the exclusive support from the European Federation of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers (EUMABOIS) for this coming as well as the next couple of shows, which enhance the show’s international and local appeal. Eumabois is a not for profit federation grouping of 13 national associations. They represent the major European manufacturers of machines and accessories for woodworking. Approximately 800 industrial companies belong to this association. The participation of Eumabois and other Chinese authoritative associations in WMF and FAM will be welcomed by the exhibition participants, especially for those who have expectations that a singular professional fair to represent the industry in its respective areas. This event is organised once every two years by Adsale Exhibition Services, with cooperation from the state forestry administration, the China International Exhibition centre group, and the China council for the promotion of international trade. Co-organisers include the China national forestry machinery association, the China forestry group and the China building decoration association. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 1803

www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010

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PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

Richfruits: Sanding Tool

Huntsman: MDI

Suitable for panel furniture, wooden composite floor, cabinet

The rubber rollers have a 20 to 40 deg nature, with wearable rubber rollers. Sanding belts run and can be adjusted by frequency converter, making it suitable for various paints and eliminate defective marks. It features a feeding speed ranging from seven to 15 mm per minute, and a sanding belt size ranging from 620×1810 mm to 1320×1920 mm. This machine adopts the 3M polished wheel, which eliminate marks after precise sanding processes, resulting in smooth sanding after effect.

Used in the manufacture of panels such as OSB, MDF, particleboard and lightweight wood fibre insulation boards, MDI technology was developed to provide an alternative resin solution for the composite wood panel industry. The resins by Huntsman have been used within a wide range of panel applications, binding wood with the benefit of a ‘no added formaldehyde’ solution. Produced through a process of sequential chemical reactions, it provides a bond with wood particles or strands by having a reaction with the wood itself. When subjected to intense heat, it creates a chemical weld. It also bonds from a diffusion interphase. The resin spreads over the surface of the wood and penetrates into cracks, cell lumen and even cell walls up to one millimetre.

Enquiry No: 1804

Enquiry No: 1805

door, plane door, art craft, bamboo curtain. The sanding machine works on sanding products after painting and veneer precise sanding.

Siempelkamp: Contiroll

Sandvik: Double Belt Systems

Siempelkamp has developed a concept for the production of thin boards. The company guarantees line speeds of 105 m/ min; however, the plants are designed for speeds of up to 120 m/min. Next to speed, precision and safety are desired plant parameters. The company has developed several methods for the machine. New pressure distribution plates beneath the hotplatens increase the stiffness. Additional pressure cylinders further improve the pressure distribution inside the press. An individual distance control of the cylinders in the calibration zone and an automatic feedback from the board thickness control sensors at the press outfeed lead to increased production accuracy. The press pressure control automatically adjusts to the width of the mat. As a safety measure for the steel belt, the mat surface in the infeed area is scanned by a laser control system to detect any doubling of the mat. When this control is activated, the pressure cylinders in the first frame unit immediately reduce pressure and the press stops to avoid damaging the belts.

Sandvik steel belt technology forms the basis for all the company’s double belt systems. The belts feature a hard and smooth surface, is temperature and corrosion resistant, as well as high thermal conductivity and tensile stress resistance. It is also easy to clean, and can be recycled by re-melting the steel belt. The standard steel belts are suitable for double belt processing applications, and can incorporate a range of special designs. There are various grades of stainless or carbon steel, with polished or plated surfaces.

Enquiry No: 1806

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Enquiry No: 1807


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Exhibition Preview

Rooting For

In Shenzhen Z

OW Shenzhen will be held for four days, from March 19 to 22 2010. Immediately after the Chinese New Year, this period is the ‘busy’ period of the South Chinese trade fair season and considered by many to be an ideal time for business. The Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre will play host to the second ZOW supplier fair for the furniture industry and interior design. ZOW Shenzhen is organised by Survey Asia, and will run concurrently with the Shenzhen International Furniture Exhibition (SIFE). This event attracts more than 60,000 visitors to the Pearl River delta’s economic hub on an annual basis, and now that Zow

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Shenzhen is a regular feature beside the SIFE, the organisers are confident a consistent increase in the number of visitors is imminent.

Coming For Seconds Due to the positive response of the first Zow in Shenzhen, the second ZOW will take place in March 2010, and not in September as originally planned. “Most of the exhibitors from 2009 want to come back, and this provide a good basis on which to expand the trade fair.” Bernd Rademacher, the director of Survey Asia said. “The ZOW concept was new to the Southern Chinese market and went

down well,” Rademacher explained. The product innovations and interactive communication between exhibitors and visitors are the main draws of the trade fair. The organisers encourage these points through open stands and forum areas while a multitude of individual services for exhibitors and visitors provides a fitting business environment at the show. In addition, 2010 will also see SIFE and ZOW again host several industry related sub events within the show, such as the South-east Asia Domain, the Designers´ Dome, the China Square, Decostyle and Woodworking Machinery. These activities are additional incentives for the visiting business delegations.


Exhibition Preview

Zow Shenzhen Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre Shenzhen, China March 19 – 22, 2010 Approximately 100 Chinese and international supply companies will be represent at ZOW Shenzhen, where they will showcase their products in surfaces and fittings, elements and systems, semifinished products and materials, furniture fabrics and upholstery materials. This is more than a two-fold increase from the previous event in 2009. ZOW exhibitors come mainly from China, and there were also a number of companies from Germany, France, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and Turkey. The participating exhibitors are ideal counterparts to those in the SIFE, one of the specialised furniture trade fairs that features high-end furniture producers and who cater to the Chinese furniture market. This event is organised by the Shenzhen Trade Furniture Association, which has been synonymous with the Chinese furniture market since its inception. The Association had strove to consistently promote the quality of the Chinese furniture market and support international investments in China with its business networks worldwide. The visitor demographics for Zow Shenzhen consist of both domestic and international industry participants. In addition to delegations from China

and neighbouring Asian countries, there were also a number of European and American visitors interested in Chinese furniture design. Running Zow Shenzhen in parallel with SIFE means that trade delegations from the furniture and interior design industries can be fully exposed to the featured products and form business networks, both within the sector and with other complementing industries.

Taking Off Based on economic indications that the international markets are recovering, the Asian Development Bank has forecasted that the country will see its economic performance grow by almost nine percent in 2010. The organisers feel that ZOW in Shenzhen is poised to benefit from

this recovery, as Shenzhen is the ideal place from which to make inroads into the South Chinese market. The first ZOW in Shenzhen was initiated in March 2009 with around 40 exhibiting companies. The launch of the first fair in 2009 took place from March 19 to 22, concurrently with the SIFE. It attracted more than 8000 visitors to its launch and the organisers are positive that the next edition will see progressive results. “In 2010, we’re expecting at least 12,000 visitors,” Rademacher said. ZOW in Shenzhen is one of seven ZOW events worldwide. With events in Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, China and Turkey, this trade fair has an international reputation and following. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 1808

ENQUIRY NO. 7301

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Exhibition Preview March 23-25, 2010 · Shanghai New International Expo Centre

DOMOTEX asia/

Returning To The Trade – Domotex asia 2010 Asia’s largest flooring trade show, Domotex asia/ChinaFloor, confirmed that 90 percent of its floor space is sold within three months before its March 2010 show date. The organisers expect visiting delegates and representatives to exceed the 37,000 mark that was set in the previous edition in 2009. International interest on exploring business opportunities in China’s expanding flooring industry is one reason for the show’s popularity. “The continuous growth of our show confirms that people acknowledge China as an exceptional place to source for products and a potential market for western products to be sold in China”, says Thurain Aye, general manager of Domotex asia/ ChinaFloor. According Mr Aye, more companies intend to investigate exporting opportunities to China this year. Market estimates are that China will require up to 40 billion sq m of flooring to match its domestic demand in the coming decade and

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companies with product or technology to export are using the Shanghai show as a means to ‘survey the landscape’. Every product segment related to the flooring industry will be represented, with more than 1,000 exhibitors participating the event. US manufacturers constitute the largest group of international exhibitors. China’s wood flooring industry is growing steadily at around 10 percent each year. Industry experts believe that China’s output in wood and laminated flooring will be around 450 to 500 million sq m by 2010 and 40 percent of the production will be bound for export. Reasons for this growth are better housing construction technologies, growth in real estate, the development of group procurements practices and novel interior designs. The government’s stimulus plans, which had boosted demand for engineered and laminate, chemical and resilient flooring in the face of urbanisation and real estate construction, makes these sectors an attraction for foreign investment capital. Technology and products, including

those for harvesting bamboo and producing rare wood designs, are featured in the wood hall. Given that 80 percent of all bamboo for flooring is grown in China, it is likely that China will dominate innovation and production of bamboo flooring as demands grow. Shanghai’s showroom is “the place to view what the world will be buying next year”, said Mr Aye.

Growth For Asia Pacific Floors The show was officially named DOMOTEX asia/ChinaFloor in 2002 after affirming a partnership with Deutsche Messe, organiser of the world’s fair in floor coverings - DOMOTEX HANNOVER. Since its inception, the show has grown and is now considered by many as the flooring event in the Asia Pacific. Besides an international presence, the exhibition caters to local manufacturers and supply chains. In 2009, the show occupied eight halls with total gross space of 89,125 sq m. It hosted 909 flooring companies from 38 countries. During the three days, the show welcomed a


Exhibition Preview

CHINAFLOOR 2010

total of 36,986 professional visitors from China and abroad. Returning exhibitors and visiting delegates emphasise the practicality of the show, for its geographical location as well as business-orientated benefits. “DOMOTEX asia/ChinaFloor has always been the gate to the Far East for the Balta Group. In no other event you can meet so many professionals from the Asian floor covering trade.” Geert Vanden Bossche, marketing director of Balta Group stated. The Zhejiang Jiusheng Flooring Company also emphasise its support for the show, exhibiting at DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR since 2005 and Franky Helmons, the general manager of Shanghai New Sihe Wood Company commented on the positive developments of the show, for its benefits to his company’s growth.

Events Onsite 2010 will be an important year for the flooring industry. The Sino-US-Europe Wood Flooring Summit will be upgraded into World Flooring Forum (WFF) during

the 2010 edition. Representatives of international flooring associations and companies will be invited to carry out in-depth discussion on popular topics such as environment issues, technology and product standards, industry trading pattern and sustainability in the flooring industry. The organisers shall host the WFF in order to establish this dedicated communication platform. Additional events such as Designer’s Day, and the China International Flooring Awards are repeated events that visitors can participate in and benefit from. In the previous edition, approximately 4,000 architects and interior designers attended the show where 250 of them participated in the International Interior Design, Flooring Application and Development Forum.

ECO Flooring – Seeing Green Energy and environmental issues have encouraged the promotion of global sustainable development and the green economy. The progress of green technology has affected consumption

and production. This has penetrated into all industry sectors and regions. It has also influenced the manufacturers and buyers in DOMOTEX asia/ChinaFloor, particularly those from the US, EU and Asian countries. The organisers shall be promoting the theme ‘Eco Flooring’ and introduce the use of ‘green tags’ to its audience for the first time. The ‘green tag’ is an aide to provide buyers a guide for selecting eco-friendly and environmentally friendly products and raw materials. Its purpose and intentions are to help ECO Flooring gain ground in worldwide market through encouragement and the continuous innovation of green products in Asia. There is market potential in this sector of the industry, especially when numerous global manufacture giants move their production and processing base to Asia. As part of China’s stimulus plan, the development of industrial flooring and commercial flooring environments, polymer and other chemical floors are much high on demand. The exhibitors of DOMOTEX asia/ ChinaFloor stand to benefit from business networking opportunities with nearly 40,000 professional visiting delegates during the show, which will be held every year. In the emerging economy after the economic crisis, the number of registered international visitors remain high as an acknowledgement to the fast paced flooring industry and as a reflection of the attraction the Asian market has to the rest of the world. The Domotex asia/ChinaFloor 2010 will be held from March 23 to 25, 2010, at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, China. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 1809

www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010

69


Calendar of Events 2010 *All details subject to change without notice. Please check with organisers for updates. JANUARY 16 – 19 – DOMOTEX World Trade Fair Messegelande 30521 Hannover, Germany Deutsche Messe Tel: + 49 511 89 0 Fax: + 49 511 89 32292 Email: info@hf-singapore.com Website: www.domotex.de

19 – 24 - imm cologne Cologne, Germany Koelnmesse Messeplatz 1, 50679 Tel: + 49 1805 91 3131 Fax: + 49 221 821-3551 Email: imm@visitor.koelnmesse.de Website: www.imm-cologne.com

3 - 6 - MADE Expo

4 – 8 - Indiawood 2010

New Milan Fairgrounds Milano, Italy MADE eventi srl Tel: + 39 02 29017144 Fax: + 39 02 29006279 Email: info@madeexpo.it Website: www.madeexpo.it/it/index.php

Bangalore International Exhibition Centre Bangalore, India PDA Trade Fairs Tel: + 91 80 25513081 Fax: + 91 80 25542258 Email: Indiawood@pdatradefairs.com / christopher@pdatradefairs.com Website: www.indiawood.com

8 - 11 - ZOW Exhibition of the Suppliers to the Furniture Industry Bad Salzuflen Exhibition Centre Hall 19-23 Bad Salzuflen, Germany SURVEY Marketing + Consulting GmbH and Co. KG Tel: + 49 521 96533-55 Fax: + 49 521 96533-66 Email: zow@survey.info Website: www.zow.de/en

16 – 20 - Bautec 2010 21-25 - Vivi La Casa In Fiera: Furniture and Furnishing Exhibition Market Veronafiere Verona, Italy Ente Autonomo Fiere di Verona Tel: + 045 8298 111 Fax: + 045 8298 288 E-mail: info@veronafiere.it Website: www.vivilacasaweb.it/index.asp

在欧洲优化的 安全性能 Singapore Expo hall 3-8 Singapore International Furniture Fair Singapore Tel: + 65 6569 6988 Fax: + 65 6569 9939 Email: enquiry@iffs.com.sg Website: www.ifcsingapore.com

FEBRUARY

2 – 6 – MIFF: Malaysian International Furniture Fair

2 – 4 – Surfaces 2010, Floor Covering Show

Putra World Trade Centre, MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Centre Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia MIFF Sdn Bhd Tel: + 603 9282 2888 Fax: + 603 9286 1551 Email: info@miff.com.my Website: www.miff.com.my

Sands Expo and Convention Centre Las Vegas, US Hanley Wood Tel: + 972 536 6317 Fax: + 972 536 6401 Email: dteague@hanleywood.com Website: www.surfaces.com

4 – 7 - Manila Now: PIFS 2010 2 - 6 – IMOB Istanbul Furniture Fair CNR Expo Istanbul Istanbul, Turkey Istanbul Trade Fairs Tel: + 90 212 465 74 75 Fax: + 90 212 465 74 76/77 E-mail: info@itf-imob.com Website: www.itf-imob.com

Philippines International Furniture Show Manila, Philippines SMX Convention Centre Global-Link Exhibitions Specialist Tel: + 632 750 8588 Fax: + 632 750 8585 Email: info@globallinkmp.com Website: www.globallinkmp.com

QUALITY DEVELOPED IN e UROPE Woodworking Technology Made in Europe

Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino Salinas Drive. Cebu, Philippines Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation (CFIF) Tel: + 63 32 422 8083 Fax: + 63 32 422 8081 Email: info@cebuexhibition.com Website: http://www.cebunext.com

9 - 12 – IFFS 2010: International Furniture Fair Singapore/Asean Furniture Show

Berlin Exhibition Grounds Berlin, Germany Messe Berlin GmbH Tel: + 49 030 3038 0 Fax: + 49 030 3038 2069 Email: info@bautec-expo.ru Website: www.bautec-expo.ru

MARCH

5 – 8 – CebuNext 2010: Cebu International Furniture and Furnishings Exhibition

10 – 13 - WMF Beijing: International Exhibition on Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Manufacturing Equipment China International Exhibition Centre Beijing, China Adsale Exhibition Services Tel: + 852 2516 3382 Fax: + 852 2516 5024 Email: publicity@adsale.com.hk Website: www.woodworkfair.com/WMF10

欧洲制造的木材加工技术

10 – 14 - TIFF 2010: Thailand International Furniture Fair Impact Exhibition Center, Munag Thong Thani Nonthaburi, Thailand Department of Export Promotion, Royal Thai Government Tel: + 66 2512 0093 Email: tiff@depthai.go.th Website: www.thaitradefair.com

eUMABOIS European Federation of of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers European Federation Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers


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Calendar of Events 2010 11 – 14 - IFFINA 2010: International Furniture & Craft Fair Indonesia Jakarta International Expo Centre Kemayoran Jakarta, Indonesia. Dyandra Promosindo Tel: + 62 21 392 6867 ext 117 Email: etty@dyandra.com Website: http://www.iffina-indonesia.com

24 - 27 - EXPOBOIS

14 – 17 – Vietnam Expo 2010

Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre Paris, France Tel: + 33 01 42 93 04 04 Email: j.saczewski@clccom.com Website: www.en.expobois.fr

Vietnam Exhibition & Fair Centre Hanoi, Vietnam Vietnam National Trade Fair & Advertising Company - VINEXAD Te: + 84 4382 555 46 Fax: + 84 4393 630 85 Email: info@vinexad.com.vn Website: www.vietnamexpo.com.vn

24 - 27 - Holz-Handwerk 12 - 15 – Vietnam International Furniture and Home Accessories Fair (VIFA) Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC) Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Handicraft and Wood Industry Association (Hawa Corporation) Tel: + 848 5404 2463 39143851 Fax: + 848 5404 2464 Email: info@hawacorp.com.vn Website: www.vifafair.com

12 - 15 – TIFL: Taiwan International Furniture and Lighting Show Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1 Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) Tel: + 886 2 2725 5200 ext. 2629 Fax: + 886 2 2722 7324 Email: tifl@taitra.org.tw Website: www.tifl.com.tw

19 - 22 - ZOW Shenzhen Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center Shenzhen, China Survey Marketing + Consulting GmbH and Co. KG Tel: + 86 755 96000555 Fax: + 86 755 82848700 Email: Bernd@bridges.com.my Website: www.zow-shenzhen.cn

23 - 25 - Domotex Asia/ChinaFloor Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC) Shanghai, China Deutsche Messe and VNU Exhibitions Asia Tel: + 86 21 6247 7668 Fax: + 86 21 6247 6638 E-mail: dolly.han@vnuexhibitions.com.cn Website: www.domotexasiachinafloor.com

Exhibition Centre Nuremberg Messezentrum, 90471 Nürnberg, Germany Nürnberg Messe GmbH Tel: + 49 0911 86 06-0 Fax: + 49 0911 86 06 8228 Email: info@nuernbergmesse.de Website: www.holz-handwerk.de

23 - 26 - China (North) International Furniture and Woodworking Machinery Fair (NCIFF)

27 – 30 – interzum guangzhou China Import and Export Fair Pazhou Complex Guangzhou, China Koelnmesse Tel: + 86 20 8755 2468 Fax: + 86 20 8755 2970 Email: info3@koelnmesse.cn Website: www.interzum-guangzhou.com

APRIL

Qingdao International Convention and Exhibition Centre Qingdao, China Jinan Deruijia Exhibition and Shandong Furniture Association Tel: + 0531 82730239 82 Fax: + 0531-82980591 82 Email: daxiaoyuan@126.com Website: www.sdf999.com/nbfz.asp

MAY

在欧洲优化的 安全性能

13 – 15 - WOODSHOW 2010: Dubai wood & wood products show Dubai Airport Expo Dubai, United Arabs Emirates Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions Tel: + 971 4 28 29 299 Fax: + 971 4 28 28 767 Email: info@dubaiwoodshow.com Website: http://www.dubaiwoodshow.com

4 – 8 – Xylexpo: International Exhibition of Machinery, Supplies and Components Milan Exhibition Centre Rho, Italy Cepra Centro promozionale Acimall Tel: + 39 02 89210200 Fax: + 39 02 8259009 Email: info@xylexpo.com Website: www.xylexpo.com/eng

欧洲制造的木材加工技术

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 2888 | Fax: (65) 6379 2805 | Email: fdmasia@epl.com.sg

SAFETY OPTIMIZED IN e UROPE Woodworking Technology Made in Europe

eUMABOIS European Federation of of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers European Federation Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers


Advertising Index ENQ. NO

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

ADVERTISERS / AGENCY

091

AMERICAN HARDWOOD EXPORT COUNCIL

IFC

705

BAILLIE LUMBER CO

29

035

BECKER ACROMA THAILAND LTD

11

096

BINO (SH) MACHINERY CO LTD

39

117

DIEFFENBACHER GMBH & CO KG

122

DIAMOND WOOD NANJING MANUFACTURING CO LTD

111

E-CHAIN MACHINERY CO LTD

081

EUMABOIS

109

EXTEND LIGHT MACHINERY CO LTD

15

121

GRECON

23

119

HOMAG ASIA PTE LTD

31

120

HOMAG ASIA PTE LTD

51

104

INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR SINGAPORE LTD

41

106

JAVA INCORPORATED BHD

21

074

JEFFER MACHINERY CO LTD

13

112

SANDVIK SOUTH EAST ASIA PTE LTD

5

118

SHANXI QIULIN MACHINERY CO LTD

49

114

SHENZHEN XINYUNXIANG PRECISION TOOLS CO LTD

9

088

SIEMPELKAMP MASCHINEN- UND ANLAGENBAU GMBH & CO KG

3

108

TAIHAO WOODWORKING MACHINERY CO LTD

110

TECHNIK ASSOCIATES INC

107

TONG FONG CUTTERS CO LTD

72

115

WEN CHIH MACHINERY CO LTD

53

113

WEYERHAEUSER MARKETING

016

WUXI KEMAR STAINLESS STEEL TREATMENT PLATE CO LTD

25

116

VNU EXHIBITIONS ASIA

45

LEGEND:

7 COVER 59 1

17 IBC

OBC

ADVERTISERS WITH E-BROCHURES

HEAD OFFICE

REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE

Canice Gan Tel: (65) 6379 2888 Fax: (65) 6379 2806 Email: canicegan@epl.com.sg

Ding Yong Mei Tel: 86 21 6276 8394 Fax: 86 21 6276 4170 Email: neweastern_sh@hotmail.com

SINGAPORE EASTERN TRADE MEDIA PTE LTD 1100 Lower Delta Road EPL Building #04-02 Singapore 169206

All kinds of profile cutters

PAGE NO.

SHANGHAI, CHINA SHANGHAI NEW EASTERN MEDIA CO. LTD 15D Block B, Victoria Plaza, No.1068, Xikang Rd, Shanghai, P.R, China 200060

REGIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVES TAIWAN

ENQUIRY NO. 107

Robert Yu Tel: 886-4-2325 1784 Fax: 886-4-2325 2967

JAPAN

Ted Asoshina Tel: 81-3-3263 5065 Fax: 81-3-3234 2064

KOREA

Young-Seoh Chinn Tel: 822-481 3411/3 Fax: 822-481 3414

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

www.fdmasia.com 72 FDM ASIA JAN/FEB 2010 | www.fdmasia.com


ENQUIRY NO. 110


CUSTOMERS looking for a fresh, cost-effective alternative are specifying Northwest Hardwoods’ Western Hemlock. It’s flat, straight, accepts stain well and is available in our custom grades. Our Western Hemlock is certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI), a standard that is also endorsed and recognized by the PEFC. Shanghai, China: 86.21.6249.9898 Vietnam/Guangzhou, China 86.20.3878.1570 Taiwan: 886.42.496.3308 Hong Kong: 852.2865.5922

ENQUIRY NO. 113

E-mail: even.tong@weyerhaeuser.com or visit our website at www.wy.com/hardwoods

, and Northwest Hardwoods are registered trademarks of Weyerhaeuser NR Company. © 2010 Weyerhaeuser NR Company. All rights reserved.

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