New Milestones set in the golden anniversary edition

of a AWFS^® fair

event over the course of four demanding days. With 910 exhibiting companies, the most of any previous show, occupying 475,875 net sq ft, an increase of 14% from 2005, AWFS^® Vegas 2007 was the largest, most successful and exciting Woodworking Machinery and Supply Fair^® to date.  Angelo Gangone noted that, “With more exhibitors occupying more exhibit space, it was only due to careful planning and the incredible team effort on the part of all of our staff and vendors that exhibitors experienced the smoothest move-in ever. This set a highly positive buzz that continued over the next four days.”

Other milestones of the 2007 event included a 40% increase in the number of new products vying for Sequoia Awards, a 30% increase in the number of entries in the Fresh Wood Student Competition, a 45% increase in the attendance at the Gala Awards Dinner and the successful inaugural debut of the National Belt Sander National Championships. Exhibitors such as Vollmer of America, already have plans to substantially increase the size of its exhibit space in 2009.  For Vollmer this is a six-fold increase since making their initial appearance as an AWFS® Fair exhibitor in 1999.  “The ’07 show was a big success for Vollmer in many ways.  We were able to reinforce existing partnerships with customers while introducing them to our newest technologies. The Fair is a wonderful opportunity to present new applications and to listen to our customers; to learn how to better serve their needs and meet industry expectations. It is this willingness to listen and then adapt our systems to customer needs that drives VOLLMER’s success. The AWFS Fair provides our company with an unmatched opportunity to accomplish these goals and more,” said VOLLMER of AMERICA President, Ralf Kraemer.

The continued growth in attendees drawn from the cabinet industry, the Fair’s largest attendee segment, growing by 12% in 2007, offset the prolonged decline in the furniture category that has occurred over the past decade even though it had been buoyed slightly in 2005 as a result of the co-location of the Furniture Market’s grand opening event.  International attendance from our neighbours to the north, Canada, also set new record highs, growing once again by 27%.  Ana Druk, AWFS^® international liaison, notes that this year’s international program was the best ever in participation, use of the International Business Center, and seriousness of the international buyers attending the show.  Formal delegations came from a number of countries that had never had a single attendee in the past, and these individuals were prepared to buy.  One first time international attendee, not only found two new suppliers, but finalized initial purchases of $135,000 and plans on repeat orders if the products measure up.  Another individual used the IBC to finalize the purchase of two pieces of equipment costing approximately $165,000.  The DOC representatives who spent the time meeting both exhibitors and international attendees, commended AWFS^® on the association’s initial participation in the IBP program and on the quality of the fair’s International Directory, distributed to all international exhibitors who attended the event.

Dale Silverman, AWFS^® EVP, notes that “As in 2005, we had many new attendees from throughout the U.S. and around the world.  Particularly thrilling was the record number of Wood and Wood Products Top 100 companies that sent a record number of their employees to the Fair this year and signed most of them up for the Awards Dinner as well. The Awards Dinner has distinguished itself as being “THE” premier industry event celebrating the best and brightest.” One of the many first time attendees that had never experienced a “major” show before,  Rusty Henderson, Master Refinisher from Troy Ohio dropped by the AWFS^® booth to thank the association.  The Fresh Wood Competition, showcasing 58 finalist pieces drawn from a record 210 entries not only drew record crowds of attendees and exhibitors, but the national press.  “AWFS^® goal is to continue to strengthen the value proposition of the AWFS^® Fair, building it into the most important woodworking supply and machinery industry show in the world.” notes Skip Hem, AWFS^® president.  “The 2007 event is now history and both the board and staff are already working on a number of creative and innovative ideas to make the 2009 event as vital, exciting and important as was 2007.”

up

THE NEW ACIMALL BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR 2007-2010

So, both the President Ambrogio Delachi (Delmac) and the Vice Presidents Grazia Finocchiaro (Gruppo Scm) and Paolo Griggio (Griggio) were confirmed. Many board members were also confirmed – Claudio Ginnasi (Simimpianti), appointed as the new treasurer, Luca Lari (Artiglio), Marco Alberti (Alberti Vittorio) and Gianni Volpato (Volpato) – plus two new entries, namely Franco Paviotti (Metal World) and Gianni Raggi (Falcioni-Cefla).

 “The will expressed by our associates – commented Ambrogio Delachi – is proving the effectiveness of our decisions and the strategies we have pursued for the past three years. But this is also a clear spur to providing our industry companies with the necessary tools to face a more and more competitive and global market, where we cannot think that the “made in Italy” mark will be enough to ensure our success forever.”

It is worth underlining that the composition of the board of directors – that will guide the association until 2010 – is highly representative. “Over the next three years – Delachi added – Acimall will rely on the contribution by board members coming from different industry segments and organizations. From small and medium businesses to large industrial groups, from primary operation to tools, from finishing to traditional equipment, up to big plants. Incomparable sources of knowledge and experience that will help our association identify, interpret and support the specific needs and features of the many different areas we represent.”

up

BAJAJ HINDUSTHAN FORAYS INTO MDF BOARD & PARTICLE BOARD

Bajaj Hindusthan Ltd., from Bajaj Group - one of the largest industrial groups of India, is diversifying from sugar and allied products and has set up a 100% subsidiary - Bajaj Eco-tec Products Ltd. (BEPL), to produce Medium Density Fibre Board (MDF), High Density Fibre Board (HDF) and Particle Board (PB) from sugarcane bagasse. BEPL has already tied up with some of the reputed technology and equipment suppliers from Europe and China, for use of their state of art technology for manufacturing high quality MDF, HDF & PB from sugarcane bagasse. This will save cutting of Wood/Forest and save valuable foreign exchange.

The Company plans to set up three new plants at an estimated total cost of Rs. 240 crores . Two of these three plants will manufacture MDF / HDF, and are being established in Eastern and Central U.P. and the third unit will manufacture Particle Board, which will be set up in Western U.P. The total production capacity will be about 2.10 lakh cubic meters per annum, making Bajaj Eco-tec Products Ltd, the single largest manufacturer of MDF, HDF & PB in India. 

Orders for all the three brand new imported lines have already been placed and construction activity has also commenced. All the three plants are scheduled to commence commercial production by November 2007.

Bajaj’s USP is that the entire raw material for making MDF and PB is available in-house. This in turn will ensure continuous availability of MDF & PB, something which has been the single most hurdles for all MDF and PB manufacturers.  

This forward integration into the manufacture of MDF/PB has been envisaged to fulfill the anticipated exponential growth in demand for the Housing and Furniture sectors.  The boom in housing will inevitably boost the demand for Engineered Panels. Besides the se, the rapid growth in IT and Organized Retailing sectors will further push up the huge demand for these engineered panels.

 BEPL plans to manufacture the following range of products:

 a)  Plain & Prelaminated MDF Board with thickness ranging from 6mm to 30mm in size 8’ x 4’

 b)  Plain & Prelaminated Particle Board with thickness ranging from 8mm to 30mm in size 9’ x 6’

 c)  Plain & Prelaminated High Density Fibre Board with thickness ranging from 8mm to 12mm in size 8’ x 4’

 d)  Laminated Flooring

up

LIGNA+ 2007 – AN AWE-INSPIRING SUCCESS STORY

The figures for Asia were even more impressive, with visitor numbers up 32 percent to 5,800 (2005: 4,400). The same 32-percent growth rate was achieved by the United States and Canada, which together accounted for 4,500 attendees compared with 3,400 in 2005. The list of the top ten visitor nations was headed by Italy and Austria, followed by the United States and Canada.

Wood crafts showcase “Handwerk, Holz & mehr” attracts 30,000 visitors

Upbeat mood among exhibitors

Exhibitors identified their main objectives for coming to LIGNA as staying in touch with existing customers and generating new leads. The main criterion for a successful fair was cited as being the caliber of its visitors, and LIGNA fully met all expectations in this regard. Accordingly, exhibitors rated the benefits derived from participating in the show even more highly than in 2005.

Sector trends

The displays in the halls devoted to sawmilling technology, solid wood working, wood materials and veneer production featured machines for wood sawing, milling, planing, sanding and pressing, all in continuous operation. Here, too, there was an emphasis on the topics of wood optimization, new surface technologies for laminates and parquet floors, and high-performance machines. This included several “world premieres”, for example a new thin-kerf band saw for dividing wood blocks into thin wood slices for sandwich panels, and a saw for kerfs of less than 0.7 mm.

up

ASH - ONE OF AMERICA’S FINEST HARDWOODS

American ash is mainly white ash, Fraxinus americana, but includes black or brown ash, Fraxinus nigra.  This is sometimes the root of confusion, for the heartwood of white ash is also frequently referred to as brown ash.  The percentage of brown heartwood in americana depends very much upon growing location.  For example in the faster grown southern ash the heartwood accounts for less than the slower grown colder climate northern ash.  White ash is often sold as northern or southern.  And the density varies too.  Its provenance extends from New England to Florida in the east and as far west as Minnesota and eastern Texas.  So the old adage, when specifying American hardwoods, (not a wives tale) is “know your source”!  Most European hardwood importers and distributors are well versed in their different characteristics.

Ash represents about 10% of the American hardwood sawn timber imported into the UK making it the second most popular after white oak, which compares to 6% for Europe as a whole, where ash is number four or five.  In the first six months of 2006, the UK imported $4.7million. 

One of the earliest uses of American ash was as a snake preventative, the leaves being worn in hunter’s boots and pockets. Since then it became better known for baseball bats, tool handles and anything where wood needs to be bent or absorb shock.  The seeds are a huge source of wildlife food - important because ash is spread thinly throughout the entire eastern US forest rather than in isolated concentrations. The tree grows to 70 or 80 feet, rather larger than its European cousin, thus producing long wide boards relatively free of defect.  Ash may only represent 4.5% of the total standing hardwood resource (Source: USDA/FAS, 1992) but that nevertheless amounts to 373 million cubic metres.  Ash has been cut continuously for widespread use since the settlers first arrived and yet it increases its growing volume by sound management and natural regeneration – a true measure of sustainability.   

Lincoln (ISBN 0 85442 028 2) describes American ash as “weighing around 660 kg/m³ with very good bending properties, good strength, elasticity, toughness, stiffness, and hardness qualities allied to its relatively light weight.and excellent shock resistance.”  This was enough to encourage the American Hardwood Export council in Europe to select ash, along with red and white oak and tulipwood for structural testing by BRE several years ago.  The results are contained in the publication, Structural Design In American hardwoods which provide architects and engineers with structural data under Eurocodes not previously available.

The Sage Gateshead, UK

American ash is classified as non-durable although the sapwood is permeable and easily treated with preservative, whereas the heartwood is moderately easy to treat.  This fact also enables American ash to be more easily treated with fire retardant chemicals than some other hardwood species.  For example, using the heartwood treatability designations given in EN 350-2, Trada lists American ash as being Class 1, easy to teat, while European ash is listed as Class 2, moderately easy to treat.  This better permeability of American ash leads to a greater uptake and retention of chemicals necessary to achieve the Class 0 fire rating demanded by Building Regulations for internal linings used in escape routes and circulation areas in public buildings.  Other properties lead to the harder wood needing pre-boring for nails, but it machines well and also glues, stains and polishes well to a fine finish.  The decorative properties of ash are derived from its strong grain patterns and generally warm colour, which varies from pale to yellow.       

There are many references for the use of American ash.  Joan Bakewell’s kitchen in Fulham won a Carpenters Award for the white ash joinery some years ago.  A whole generation of young people grew up with black ash furniture, a fashion that still lingers today.  Many shop-fitters have used the species to good effect in high street renovations for such clients as major building societies and banks; and at airport shopping facilities where natural light is minimal or non-existent.  Wherever a light and airy feel is needed, designers have turned to this fresh looking wood.  In performance it hardness makes it ideal for flooring, and with its distinct grain pattern it shows wear and tear less than some other light species such as hard maple, another American favourite.  But its most recent recognition was the FSC certified white ash specified by Foster and Partners in their Sage Gateshead complex on the river Tyne for Gateshead Metropolitan Council.  The conference and concert Auditorium, seating an audience of 1,700 was completely lined out in solid wood to a very complex curvature which required the assistance of TRADA for the work done by Abrahams and Carlisle in Bradford.  This highly experienced joinery contractor used an MDF base to make up the profile with ash to provide the visual and acoustical surface.  The effect has drawn praise from musicians and audiences alike.  The Office of Public Works in Dublin also specified ash for its highly acclaimed EU Veterinary Office and more recently in the new Marine Institute in Galway.

Source: American Hardwood Export Council

up

DOMOTEX ASIA/CHINAFLOOR 2007 REACHED A NEW HEIGHT!

DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR (DACF) 2007 once again broke several new records at the end of its Shanghai run from 28 to 30 March, with organizers reporting double-digit growth rates for Asia’s biggest floor coverings show. A total of 35,695 professionals came to Shanghai to see and source the latest products and trends. The interest from overseas increased significantly. The number of foreign visitors was 5,944 (compared with 4,315 in 2006, a 37% growth) from 91 countries from all 5 continents. The top 5 visitors’ origin countries and regions were Korea, USA, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Taken together with the fact that 38% of all visitors attended the show was major decision makers, it’s easy to see why over 62% of all visitors came to place orders during or directly after the fair. 90% of all visitors said they would be back for the 2008 edition.

The number of exhibitors grew by 11% to reach a new total of 928 (2006: 833), among which 239 exhibitors were from outside China. And the show also registered an increase in the amount of display space sold, reaching a new high of 85,000 square meters for gross display space (2006: 73,000m² - a 16% increase). According to the exhibitor questionnaires, over 89% of all exhibitors state their participation objectives had been met with over 90% further adding that they would be back again next year.

DACF2007 saw big increase in its four major segments. Wood & Laminate Flooring covered 3 standard halls and 2 temporary halls this year, with over 40,000 square meters space, further establishing its importance for the market and the show. Textile Floor Coverings also had up to 20% growth, reaching 24,000sqm with more and more international and Chinese brands actively participating. Resilient Flooring also doubled the size of last year to 6,000sqm and has become more and more popular with visitors from hospitals, office buildings and other contract businesses. Flooring Technology section also grew 38% in exhibition space, covering 10,000sqm and was well received by the flooring manufacturers from China and abroad.

Various conferences and satellite events were held in conjunction with the exhibition.

Design Week Shanghai 2007, the premier designers’ event attracted over 800 designers and architects and many of them visited DACF. Sports Arena the special display area for sports flooring provided an ideal meeting place for the constructors from stadiums nationwide and a series of workshops were held. The 1st edition of DACF Floor laying Competition concluded with great success. All players in the competition were well-prepared and performed excellent with outstanding techniques, winning cheers from visitors. Finally Zhejiang Jiusheng Flooring Company won Solid Wood Flooring Gold Prize and both Sika and Richfame won the Silver Prizes. At the Sino-US-Europe Floor Summit on March 30, association leaders and representatives of companies discussed hot topics in the parquet and laminated coverings industry.

DOMOTEX asia / CHINAFLOOR 2008 will be held in Shanghai New International Expo Centre during March 11-13, 2008.

up