FDM April 2011

Page 1

Furniture Design And Manufacturing Asia Established Since 1986

APRIL 2011

German

Innovation

Supplement LAMINATE FLOORING:

More Flexibility At A Lower Cost

Strength Of The Hollow Core

SAWING

T H E

SIZES


ENQUIRY NO. 231


011 11 a 2 6. 20 n Lig 03.0 r – e 5, 05. anov th F0 . 0 3 H oo 7, B ll 2 G04 Ha

Innovation Innovation hashas been been in our in our genes genes since since 1873 1873

m e d i e n f o r m e r.de

m e d i e n f o r m e r.de

P A NP EALN PE L APNL TASN T S Even today, after more than 130 years, one thing above all drives us when we build complete lines for the wood panel industry: the development of concepts and technologies which not only satisfy but also delight our clients. To reduce material and energy costs, to boost productivity, or to ease the burden on the environment with intelligent solutions, for example. This is what we live for – now and in the future.

www.dieffenbacher.com

ENQUIRY NO. 229


Furniture Design And Manufacturing Asia Established Since 1986

Contents april 2011 • VOL. 23 NO. 3

market report

16 Asian & US Timber Markets At A Glance

Insights on Asian and US timber markets provided by the Tropical Timber Market Report. By International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)

26

20 American Hardwoods In Asia Close To US$1 Billion

According to the latest data from the US Department of Agriculture, exports of American hardwood to China and Southeast Asia have recovered strongly; value is now close to US$1 billion. By Michael Buckley for AHEC

16

Focus

22 Level Planing Field

Planing is an important process that smoothes, shapes and straightens work pieces. While most planing operations are executed by machinery in an effortless manner, reading the grain direction of the wood will determine the quality of surface finish. By Wong Tsz Hin

20

Technology 26

22

Sawing The Sizes

Panel and beam saws are used to cut panels into appropriate sizes. It is also important that when panels are to be used for flooring, minimum spacing is recommended for room to expand. By Natalia Tee

PANELS 30

Strength Of The Hollow Core

Honeycomb panels offer high strength at low weight. With advancement in technology to drive production cost down, this material has the potential to take up a more dominant role in furniture making. By Wong Tsz Hin

30 2 FDM Asia

april 2011 | www.fdmasia.com

32 SURFACES & FLOORING 32 Laminate Flooring:

More Flexibility At A Lower Cost

Laminate Floorboards offer alternatives to traditional wood flooring with better properties and more flexibility in design. Picking the right floorboard will ensure longevity and reduce long-term maintenance expenses. By Alex Aw and Dennis Teo, Evorich Holdings


ENQUIRY NO. 197

New partnership between Siempelkamp and HAPCO: short-cycle presses with German expertise manufactured in China

www.siempelkamp.com


Contents april 2011 • VOL. 23 NO. 3

FurnIture DesIgn & technology Design inspired By Nature

38

Drawing inspirations from nature explains how the purist concept and comic design are incorporated into industrial design. By Natalia Tee

42

52

Foreword

54

Market Outlook: From a German perspective

Beyond Boundaries Of Design

Step & Look Outward

Designing doors and windows either draw inspirations from traditional designs or adopt contemporary minimalist approach. By Natalia Tee

WooDs & sustaInaBIlIty 48

prosperity needs growth and the basis for growth are resources. By ingo Bette, VDMa

after the global financial crisis, the region’s economic growth rates are once more among the highest worldwide. What can be expected for the woodworking machinery industry? an outlook from a German perspective. By ingo Bette, VDMa

Winners at the Furniture Design award 2011 share their inspirations for designs and their views on the prospects the furniture industry offers designers

44

german InnoVatIon supplement

56

innovation in German Woodworking Products German saws and dust extractor showcase the innovation incorporated in German woodworking products.

58

Certified For Success

With consumer’s growing awareness on sustainability of forest resources, achieving forest certification may become the seal of economic approval. By Frank De Meuller

Word From The Ground German companies who have made their mark in asia share their thoughts on trends in the region and their business expectations for 2011.

44 Established in 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

Regulars 06 08 69 70 72a 72b

editorial Industry news calendar of events product highlights enquiry Form subscription Form

72 page

Events & Exhibitions Exhibition review: 61 Woodmac 2011 62 MiFF 2011 63 The Need For Identity 65 iFFS 2011 66 The Blueprint For Design Exhibition preview: 68 LIGNA HANNOVER 2011

68

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MICA (P) NO. 045/11/2010 • PPS 1204/06/2011 (020107) • ISSN 0219-2284


We are an expert supplier of MDF, PB and OSB production lines, with a good performance of 140 complete lines in China and export markets, due to our innovative technology and high accuracy of manufacturing ability.

Product in good demand:  Size 4’ X 16’ and 18 layer multi-opening production line with 150,000 cubic meter capacity per year (samply factory can visit)  Size 4’ X 8’ and 30 layer multi-opening production line with 120,000 cubic meter capacity per year (samply factory can visit)  100,000-200,000 cubic meter capacity per year continuous pressproduction line (200,000 capacity samply factory trail run in this year)

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Editorial

The Road To

Recovery

EASTERN TRADE MEDIA PTE LTD (a fully owned subsidiary of Eastern Holdings Ltd) Registration No: 199908196C

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O

Wong Tsz Hin

n March 11, 2011, Japan was hit by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake that triggered waves of tsunami of up to 23.6 m in height. This happened just slightly over a fortnight after thousands of residents were displaced in Christchurch, New Zealand, due to seismic activities. The magnitude of destruction caused by these natural disasters may have exposed the fragility of our existence, but the global response demonstrated the resilience of the human spirit. Volunteers flocked to these affected areas to provide emergency services for the stranded and to assist in rescue efforts. Millions around the world offered assistance through monetary donations and contributions of other resources. Amidst the rubbles of devastation is the determined seedling of reconstruction. The wood industry has a crucial role to play in restoring these cities to their former glory. According to official figures released at the end of March, over 80,000 houses were damaged and nearly 5000 were destroyed during the Japanese earthquake. Wood is an essential raw material needed for rebuilding projects, especially for areas susceptible to constant earth plate movements. The elasticity of wood fibre and engineered wood panels help buildings maintain their structural integrity even under violent vibration. On top of that, a large amount of forest products, such as disposable utensils, accessories and equipments, is set to be consumed. As industry players watch cautiously over this increased demand for wood, analysts suggest that they continue to cast their eyes on the expanding markets of China and India. China is expected to maintain its dominance as one of the biggest importers of wood. Already a giant buyer, its appetite for wood products will grow even further. In the Asian region, the furniture industry continues to prosper. Competition for market share acts as the fundamental motivation for the industry to seek alternative approach to value-add products. Organisers of both the Malaysian International Furniture Fair and the International Furniture Fair Singapore recognise the significance of design, which can satisfy consumers’ aesthetic needs, generate innovative material application concepts and create new marketing opportunities. To this end, they have instigated initiatives that aim to expose young and talented designers to the world of furniture making. After the economic slump of 2009, the wood industry has shown its strength by picking itself up in 2010. This year is widely tipped to be the year where the industry can rebound to close to pre-crisis level. Like the mythical phoenix that arises from its ashes, the industry will recover from the setback and this year may just be the time it soars once more.

Wong Tsz Hin

6 FDM ASIA APRIL 2011 | www.fdmasia.com

Published by:

wongtszhin@epl.com.sg writer

Natalia Tee nataliatee@epl.com.sg editorial assistant

Lena Chin lenachin@epl.com.sg senior graphic designer

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Sim Eric simeric@epl.com.sg business manager (China)

Ding Yongmei neweastern_sh@yahoo.cn assistant business manager (China)

Yumi Gui neweastern_sh@yahoo.cn senior circulation executive

Brenda Tan brendatan@epl.com.sg contributors

Michael Buckley Frank De Meuller Alex Aw Dennis Teo Ingo Bette

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Stephen Tay

group executive director

Kenneth Tan

financial controller

Robbin Lim

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ENQUIRY NO. 214

Predictable suPPly. affordable Prices. That’s the way we do business at Weyerhaeuser each and every day. Our Northwest Hardwoods brand lumber is available in a wide range of grades that have been hand selected for maximum yield. This translates to more usable lumber and cost efficiency for you. And American hardwoods are in plentiful supply: the volume has more than doubled since 1953. USDA Forest Service 2007 Contact us for a quote today: Asiasales@weyerhaeuser.com

northwesthardwoods.com

Shanghai, China: 86.21.6249.9898 • Vietnam/Guangzhou, China: 86.20.3878.1570 • Hong Kong: 852.2865.5922 ,

and Northwest Hardwoods are registered trademarks of Weyerhaeuser. © 2011 Weyerhaeuser Company. All rights reserved.


I N D U S T R Y

Industry News

News

APRIL 2011 Lauren, New York, US

Thailand’s Furniture Export Sees Growth In 2010 Bangkok, Thailand: The Department of Export Promotion (DEP) expresses satisfaction with Thailand’s 2010 furniture export growth, during which a record of US$1,172.85 million worth of exported furniture was achieved. The top three importers of Thai furniture products in 2010 were: Country

Total value

US

US$272.06 million, with a 24.07 percent increase

Japan

US$220.74 million, representing a 1.43 percent increase

UK

US$111.33 million, a 3.56 percent decrease

The year 2010 also saw growth in Thai furniture exports in the following markets: Indonesia (106.47 percent), South Korea (78.71 percent), China (72.97 percent), France (63.41 percent), Taiwan (61.55 percent), South Africa (52.71 percent), and India (51.18 percent). Looking forward into 2011, the DEP anticipates a 10 percent growth in the export of Thai furniture items and parts over the 2010 figure, or approximately US$1,290 million.

APP Pledges Commitment To Indonesia’s Wood Legality Laws Jakarta, Indonesia: Jakarta-based

Indonesia’s chain of custody (CoC)

Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP), one of

certification program, enacted in 2009,

the major pulp and paper producers in

establishes strict wood legality and

Forestry and related industries

the world, joined Indonesia’s leading

verification systems (Sistem Verifikasi

contribute approximately US$18

trade associations and companies

Legalitas Kayu/SVLK) to ensure wood

billion of Indonesia’s GDP, or 3.3

involved in exporting wood based

products exported from the country

percent. That is more than triple

products to pledge its support of

are legal and traceable to verified points

the average across Asian countries

and commitment to Indonesia’s

of origin.

of 1.1 percent. The pulp and paper

national timber legality and traceability standards.

full Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) certification.

SVLK certification is designed to ensure

industry, which is estimated to be res-

that the industry will only receive and process

ponsible for approximately 250,000

The unified industry group

timber from legal sources according to the

of Indonesia’s 600,000 jobs in forestry

also called on countries worldwide

regulations of Indonesia, covering aspects

and related industries, also generates

to adopt national procurement

of licensing, harvesting, transporting and

an estimated half of the US$7 billion

policies recognising and endorsing

processing for the industry. The artification

annually that the forestry sector

Indonesian standards.

is an important step in the effort to achieve

contributes to state income.

8 FDM Asia  april 2011 | www.fdmasia.com


Industry News

Vietnam’s Wood Product Exports Soar In February

2010 Is Dieffenbacher’s Most Successful Year Ever Shanghai, China: 2010 has been the most

The company made an impression

successful year ever for Dieffenbacher.

in Asia in the areas of particleboard

Hanoi, Vietnam: According to a report

From January 2010 to January 2011, the

and OSB. The company signed a

from Viet Nam News, the Ministry of

company and its subsidiary Dieffenbacher

contract with Sumitomo Forestry

Agriculture and Rural Development

SWPM received a total of 26 orders for

Company for the first continuous

has announced that wood products

continuous panel systems. Orders from

particleboard line (8x24.5 metres)

exports in February totalled US$200

China made a significant contribution

in Vietnam, with an annual capacity

million, bringing the exports value in

to this success, accounting for 17 lines,

of 260,000 cubic metres. The first

the first two months of the year to

nine of which are CPS lines and eight

OSB line in China started operation

US$548 million, a surge of 17.6 percent

ContiPlus. Sales increased to €330

at Baoyuan this year. The average

over the same period last year.

million (US$461 million) in 2010. SWPM

production capacity would be 220,000

accounted for €43 million of this.

cubic metres per year.

Exports to key markets in the US, Japan, mainland China and South Korea, which together account for 63.7 percent of wood products export value, to South Korea nearly tripled. The US remained the leading market for Vietnamese wood products, accounting for US$118 million worth, followed by the EU (US$90.2 million), Japan (US$49.1 million) and China (US$32 million). Exports of wood products could rise by another 30 percent and exceed US$4 billion this year thanks to rising

Josep Altarriba, Spain

increased significantly, with exports

Saudi Arabia’s Furniture Market To Expand Dynamically

global demand, said Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association vice chairman Nguyen Ton Quyen. However, the association is

Noida, India: According to an analysis

The Saudi Arabian furniture industry

advising exporters to increase their

from RNCOS, the furniture industry in

is witnessing a huge demand-supply

focus on the domestic market to

Saudi Arabia has been growing for the last

gap due to the underdeveloped wood

lower the risk of rising raw material

few years. The sector has outperformed

products industry. Domestic manufacturers

prices.

various prominent industries’ growth

are facing shortage of furniture raw

Vietnam ranked fourth among

and positioned the country as a furniture

material and parts and hence, huge

Southeast Asian wood products

market development hub in the Middle

imports become inevitable.

exporters, but only 20 percent of

Eastern region.

However, it is expected that

wood products consumed in the

Despite the economic slowdown, the

dependence on imports will reduce

country were produced by domestic

industry sustained its growth rate and

in future as international furniture

enterprises, with the remaining 80

achieved positive year-on-year growth.

manufacturers are establishing their roots

percent imported from mainland

Furniture consumption is anticipated to

in the nation and raw material supply

China, Hong Kong, Thailand and

grow at a compound annual growth

is getting government intervention.

Taiwan, according to the Handicraft

rate of around 12 percent during 2011-

Construction of mega projects in

and Wood Products Association of

2013, which will sustain the country’s

both residential and office segments are

Ho Chi Minh City.

attractiveness for domestic as well as

expected to fuel the growth of furniture

foreign investments.

demand in the coming years. www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA  april 2011

9


Industry News

Australia’s Timber Industry Explores Vacuum Drying Queensland, Australia: Results from a three-

percent, with the same or better dried

from across Australia and Forest and

year collaborative study in the Department

quality than conventional methods.

Wood Products Australia.

of Employment, Economic Development

The vacuum drying research formed

Vacuum drying is relatively new to

and Innovation (DEEDI) had shown that

part of a three-year national collaborative

Australia’s timber industry even though

vacuum drying could significantly increase

research project led by DEEDI and

it has been widely adopted in US

forestry industry profit margins.

supported by industry representatives

and Europe. John Loo, Sunnyvale, US

DEEDI scientist Adam Redman explained that a reduction of 50 percent in current industry drying times, with a five percent improvement in dried quality, will equate around AU$24 million (US$24.2 million) profit per year for the Queensland hardwood industry. The study involves predicting drying schedules and drying times based on wood properties and kiln conditions, by using a two square metres capacity superheated steam vacuum kiln located at the Salisbury Research Centre in Brisbane. Results showed that drying times for Australian hardwood species could be decreased by 40 to 70

North American Lumber Companies Improve Output In 2010 Washington, US: The Wood Markets

billion board feet of all US lumber. West

produced a total of 8.1 billion board feet,

annual survey of top 40 Canadian and

Fraser remains as the largest producer

which represented 36.7 percent of

US softwood lumber producers in

of softwood lumber in North America

Canadian output.

2010 revealed that output has improved

at 4.68 billion board feet (10 percent of

by 13 percent, as compared to the

all output). As for Canadian lumber producers,

North American softwood lumber

The top 3 companies in the US

West Fraser, Canfor and Tolko were

industry in 2010 was the strong

produced 22.5 percent, equating to 5.6

the top 3 in 2010. These three firms

growth of lumber exports to Asia,

Pawel Zawistowski, Poland

low point in 2009.

According to the report, the most important event that occurred in the

mainly China and Japan. This has resulted in a peak of lumber prices in 2010 April, which has not been observed since 2006 May/June. As a result, the total softwood lumber production in Canada and US grew. Based on this optimistic result in the market, it is expected that lumber output volumes in 2011 will exceed 2010 production level, as western North American lumber producers look toward Asia.

10 FDM Asia  april 2011 | www.fdmasia.com


Industry News p Cieszkowska, W pomerania, poland

Wood Pellet Exports From North America To Europe Reached 1.6 Million Tonnes In 2010 Seattle, US: Over the past two years,

effort to reach this target, many countries

has resulted not only in increased imports

North America has become a major

have increased their consumption of

from neighbouring countries, but also

supplier of wood pellets to Europe. In

woody biomass in the form of both

from North America.

2010, an estimated 1.6 million tons of

wood chips and pellets in the past few

Higher demand for oil by Asia and

pellets were shipped from the US and

years. In 2010, just over 11 million tonnes

Latin America and the uncertain situation

Canada to the Netherlands, the UK and

of wood pellets were consumed, which

in the oil-producing counties in the

Belgium, according to the North American

was about seven percent higher than

Middle East and northern Africa has

Wood Fiber Review. This is a doubling of

the previous year.

boosted oil prices about 28 percent the

volume compared to 2008.

Demand for wood pellets in some

past three months. Higher oil prices

The European Union has stated that

European countries, including Sweden,

will benefit wood pellet exporters in

by 2020, at least 20 percent of total

the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Denmark

North America, and shipments to

energy consumption should be supplied

and the UK, has outpaced domestic

Europe can be expected to increase

by renewable energy resources. In an

production over the past few years. This

during 2011.

Jo Guldi, Chicago, US

Wood Products And Lumber Prices To Climb In 2012-2013 Georgia, US: Forisk, a consulting firm that does market research for the forestry industry, forecasts that sawn timber prices for US South will

Norske Skogindustrier & CellMark Enter Sales Cooperation Connecticut, US: Norske Skogindustrier ASA and CellMark AB have agreed

be strengthened 4.6 percent into 2012

to enter into an exclusive marketing

and 5.5 percent into 2013 as lumber

agreement for sales in US, Canada

production increases with housing

and Mexico.

starts. Increasing demand for wood

As part of this agreement, CellMark

raw materials indicates higher pine

will purchase all the shares of Norske

stumpage prices for forest owners

Skog’s sales company in the US and

and investors.

form a new marketing and distribution

Alternatively, pine pulpwood,

company to be named NorCell

which is the lower valued raw

Incorporated, which will be based in

material used for pulp, OSB and

Southport, CT (USA).

bio-energy, will gain 1.4 percent

The NorCell company will have

and 2.7 percent in 2012 and 2013

the exclusive marketing rights for all

respectively, with high variance

Norske Skog products sold in the US,

across the 11 states.

surpassing US$11 per tonne for pine

Canada and Mexico.

In 2011, states such as Georgia,

pulpwood. Prices change annually

Execution of the share sale and

Louisiana and Mississippi show

across and between states in the

the start of the NorCell business are

sawtimber prices exceeding US$30 per

10-year forecast as local mills adjust

anticipated to take place towards the

tonne whereas Florida and Louisiana

to end-market demands.

end of the second quarter of 2011.

www.fdmasia.com | FDM AsiA april 2011

11


Industry News

China’s Woodchips Import To Double By 2015 Boston, US: RISI, an information provider for the global forest products industry, reported that China’s import of

Prima Colombia Hardwood & Pacific Lumber To Enter Collaboration

woodchips has increased 340 percent between 2008 and

Vancouver, Canada: Prima Colombia Hardwood has

2010, and that import levels are expected to more than

entered into a letter of intent with Pacific Lumber to join

double by 2015.

forces in Colombia.

The international woodchip trade jumped to record

Pacific Lumber is part of Blue Pacific Assets with

levels in 2010, in both the Pacific and Atlantic markets,

experience in developing natural resource projects

while biomass exports from North America to Europe

in Colombia.

also hit an all-time record. This is good news considering

Prima’s letter of intent anticipates the potential

that 2009 was a difficult year for the woodchip trade and

addition of rights to harvest up to 31.5 million cubic

it was followed by the major earthquake in Chile, one of

metres, approximately 10 times the company’s current

the world’s largest woodchip suppliers.

timber reserves, pursuant to timber concessions to be

New woodchip suppliers are expected to begin export

obtained by the company. The timber reserves under its current license amount

operations in at least eight countries in 2011 to 2012, in response to continued global growth in these markets.

to 3,121,720 cubic metres from an area of 44,596

a.otge

hectares. To date Pacific Lumber has entered into a memorandum of understanding with communities in Colombia in respect of potential forest rights related to 800,000 hectares. Although timber inventories in this area are not complete, it is anticipated that the area will contain sustainable timber reserves of at least 31.5 million cubic metres. The letter of intent provides that both companies will work exclusively together on timber acquisition and to further business interests.

Vancouver, Canada: Conifex Timber

The company is in discussions with

Inc. announced that it has initiated an

BC Hydro in connection with a proposed

approximately CA$45 million (US$46

energy purchase agreement and with

million) bioenergy generation project at

respect to establishing energy savings

its Mackenzie sawmill site, scheduled for

arrangements at its mills. Such agreement

commercial production of electricity in the

and arrangements, if completed, will be

summer of 2012.

subject to regulatory approval.

In connection with the project, the

The biomass power generation

company has entered into arrangements

segment will complement Conifex’s

with Dresser-Rand Canada, Inc. for the

existing woodland operations and lumber

manufacture and purchase of a 36 MW

manufacturing business. Waste fibre from

steam turbine generation.

the company’s sawmilling and timber

R Walker, Bathurst, Australia

Conifex Announces US$46 Million Bioenergy Project

The total cost of the Turbine and ancillary

harvesting operations will be used to

equipment and services is approximately

fuel the bioenergy plant, which in turn

US$10.5 million. The bioenergy project is

will supply power to its sawmills and for

Turbine has been sized to accommodate

expected to generate approximately 230

potential sale to BC Hydro.

future lumber drying requirements of the

GWh of net energy per year.

12 FDM Asia  april 2011 | www.fdmasia.com

In addition, the extraction of the

Mackenzie operations.


Industry News

Herman Miller Acquires POSH Office Systems

Lumber Liquidators Announces Year 2010 Financial Results And Year 2011 Outlook

Michigan, US: Herman Miller Inc.

Virgina, US: Lumber Liquidators, a US retailer on hardwood flooring,

announced an agreement to acquire

announced the financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2010 as

POSH Office Systems Ltd., a Hong

well as its outlook for 2011. In 2010, fourth quarter net sales have increased

Kong-based designer, manufacturer, and

by 11.8 percent to US$153.2 million.

distributor of office furniture systems,

With respect to the fourth quarter in 2010, comparable store net sales

freestanding furniture, seating, and

increased 1.2 percent for the quarter, in comparison to a decrease of 5.7

filing and storage.

percent in the third quarter of 2010 and an increase of 5.5 percent for the fourth

POSH, has annual revenues of

quarter of the prior year. This reflects residual productivity challenges due to

approximately US$50 million in

the SAP implementation, partially offset by customers continuing to respond

2010. Operating with five major

to the company’s value proposition and an increase in average sale. As for the results for the full year, net sales have grown from 13.9 percent

showroom locations, including the

to US$620.3 million in 2010 from US$544.6 million in 2009.

newly opened and largest commercial

The company also opened 37 new stores in 2010, totalling to operating

furniture showroom in Hong Kong,

223 stores.

the company distributes through a

With the optimistic results in 2010, the company expects to achieve net

franchise network in China and more

sales in the range of US$700 to US$730 million in 2011.

than 30 international distributors worldwide. The company employs approximately 1,200 people,

Canada Announces Funding For Forest Industry

including design, engineering, and manufacturing operations based in Dongguan, China. Completion of the acquisition is

Ontario, Canada: Canada has announced the

Catalyst Paper’s Powell Rivermill will

of a legal structure in China necessary

funding allocations to various companies

received CA$13.3 million, while Tembec

to complete the transaction. The

in its forest industry under the Pulp and

will receive CA$975,000 for its mill in

company anticipates this process

Paper Green Transformation Program.

Temiscaming. Casacdes’ East Angus mill

will be completed early in the first

The aim of this

quarter of fiscal 2012. The final

CA$1 billion (US$1.02

purchase price is expected to include

billion) program is to

an upfront cash payment, due at

lay the groundwork

closing, followed by a performance-

for a greener, more

based payment at the conclusion of

sustainable future

an earn-out period.

for Canada’s pulp

The announcement follows a

Robert S. Donovan, Florida, US

pending Herman Miller’s establishment

and paper sector

successful alliance between the

by

two companies which begun in

innovation

September, 2008. Company officials

environmentally

noted that through their alliance

friendly investments

both companies have been able to

in areas such as

leverage their respective strengths in

energy efficiency and renewable energy

in Kingsey Falls will receive CA$3.1 million

product design and distribution to their

production.

to build a modern pulp recycling facility

shared advantage, while confirming a foundation of shared values.

suppor ting and

Smurfit-Stone will receive CA$24

and Nanaimo Forest Products’ Harmac

million to improve the environmental

Pacific Mill will receive CA$9 million for

performance of its mill in La Tuque.

three capital improvement projects. www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA  april 2011

13


Industry News

Certified Timber Operations In Congo Basin Surpasses 5 Million Hectares Geneva, Switzerland: The nonprofit Forest Trust (TFT) announced

with sustainable practices to more than 5.3 million hectares.

that an additional 571,000 hectares of rainforest concessions

But lack of demand for sustainably-produced-and consequently

managed by Congolaise Industrielle des Bois (CIB), one of

higher-priced-wood and wood products could undercut

Africa’s largest timber companies, have been certified under

industry’s striking response to pressure from advocates and

environmental and humanitarian good-stewardship rules,

consumers in Europe and the United States, according to the

bringing the total area of Congolese Basin rainforests managed

Geneva-based charity’s executive director, Scott Poynton.

Alan Levine, Strawberry, US

Poynton and TFT’s industry partners warn that companies trying to do the right thing are under growing competitive pressure, as high-volume buyers of wood continue to purchase from companies that are flouting sustainable practices. The trend continues despite the recent passage of the EU Illegal Timber Regulation, which requires all retailers to be able to trace the wood in their products back to a legal source. The Congo Basin is a 700,000 square miles tropical forest that extends across six countries. The region loses about four million hectares of tropical rainforest each year due to illegal logging, mining, agricultural conversion and mismanagement.

Ilim Timber Industry To Acquire Tolleson Lumber Martin F, Leeds, UK

Henkel Announces Price Increase For Industrial Adhesives Dusseldorf, Germany: Against the background of rising raw material costs, Henkel is implementing a price increase for certain product groups of its industrial adhesives. Increase amounts will vary based on market segment and technology. On average, the price increases will range from 10 to 25 percent. The price increase is attributable to ongoing escalation of raw material costs over the last 15 months, especially affecting oil and natural gas based products. Continual spikes in global demand, coupled with capacity

St. Petersburg, Russia: Ilim Timber Industry (ITI) has

constraints in primary chemical, rosin and resin feed

entered into an agreement to acquire North American

stocks have further tightened supply and driven raw

lumber producer, Tolleson Lumber Company, Inc of Perry,

material prices up.

Georgia (Tolleson), in partnership with management. ITI

For this reason, further price increases will become necessary in the following categories: hotmelts, polyurethane, water based adhesives and surface treatment products.

will be committed to support Tolleson’s strategy to acquire additional capacity in North America. The acquisition is the next step in ITI’s strategy to establish presence in Asia, Europe and America. With the

The company feels compelled to take this step in order

addition of the two Tolleson sawmills, the company’s global

to ensure the delivery of quality products and service

production capacity will exceed 3.9 million cubic metres

standards expected by its customers.

and be broadened to include southern yellow pine.

14 FDM Asia  april 2011 | www.fdmasia.com


Industry News

UPM Raflatac Achieves FSC & PEFC Certifications In Finland s.yume, Vancouver, Canada

Renewable Heat Incentive To Provide Biomass Heating For Free

Tampere, Finland: UPM Raflatac has achieved both FSC and PEFC chain of custody certifications for a range of labelstock produced at its Tampere factory

London, UK: The UK government

in Finland. The certificates verify the

has announced the Renewable Heat

sustainability and legality of all wood

Incentive (RHI) policy to revolutionise

fibres used at the Tampere site for the

the way heat is generated and used

production of paper labelstocks.

in buildings and homes. This £860

The company’s range of PEFC-approved

million (US$1.4 billion) plan will

products in Europe consists of Vellum,

benefit businesses, farmers and

Raflacoat and Coated Board 130 materials,

the public sector and will essentially

which target high-volume labelling in the

provide free installation of biomass

food and retail industries and logistics end-

heating systems and free fuel for

uses. The company also offers a range of

20 years.

FSC and PEFC certified products for the

Lori Downing, US

A4 and cut-size market, together with an A4 grade made from recycled paper. In addition to the Tampere site, the company has achieved a chain of custody

and Wroclaw (Poland), and FSC certification

satisfying both FSC and PEFC certifications

for a factory in Changshu (China). The

for factories in Scarborough (UK), Polinya

Nancy factory in France will attain chain

(Spain), North Carolina (USA), Illinois (USA)

of custody certifications during 2011.

IMA Continues Growth In 2010 Lubbecke, Germany: The IMA Group

has shown a strong 20 percent rise

is continuing its growth with a 38

to EUR28.5 million.

The first scheme of its kind,

percent turnover in the financial year

According to the latest figures

the RHI has been designed to

2010, amounting to EUR115 million

provided by the Association of

reduce the UK’s dependence on

(US$163 million).

German Mechanical and Plant

fossil fuels. Under the scheme,

The manufacturer and system

Engineering, ‘Verband Deutscher

commercial, agricultural and civic

provider of manufacturing plants

Maschinen- und Anlagenbau’ (VDMA),

and public sector buildings will be

for the woodworking industry

German manufacturers of stationary

eligible to install renewable energy

had already secured orders worth

woodworking machines achieved

technologies, including biomass. The

two thirds of the annual turnover

an average sales growth of 18%

RHI provides a financial incentive,

planned for 2011.

in 2010.

with payments being made for each

The company’s performance is

The company generated about

kWh of renewable heat produced.

boosted by positive development in

48 percent of its turnover, i.e.

Tariffs for using renewable energy

its corporate divisions. Throughfeed

EUR55.0 million with domestic

sources will be paid for 20 years

technology in particular has profited

furniture designers. This is a result

for Microgeneration Certification

from the revival of the economy. The

of growing demand for technological

Scheme (MCS) accredited renewable

proportion of project business makes

equipment from European furniture

heat systems commissioned after

up about 70 percent of the total

manufacturers, especially for

July 29, 2009.

turnover while the service business

kitchen application.

www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA  april 2011

15


Market Report

Asian & US

TIMBER MARKETS e c n a l G A t A Shehal Joseph, Nugegoda, Sri lanka

Insights on Asian and US timber markets provided by the ITTO Tropical Timber Market Report. By International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)

MALAYSIA Bulk Of Malaysian Furniture Destined For Exports in terms of consumer spending on furniture, Europeans and americans spent an average of US$540 and US$300 per year respectively. However, Malaysians spent only an average of US$40 per year.

16 FDM ASIA april 2011 | www.fdmasia.com

although Malaysian furniture is of international standards, most Malaysians prefer imported furniture over domestic products. Consequently, some 85 percent of furniture manufactured in Malaysia are for exports. according to trade statistics, the US remained the largest market accounting for rM1.98 billion (US$0.65 billion) of Malaysian furniture exports from January to October 2010,


Dperstin

Market Report Indonesia & Finland Ink Deal On Renewable Energy Sources Indonesia and Finland signed a bilateral agreement to promote wood based biomass and agricultural residue as renewable energy sources in the provinces of Central Kalimantan and Riau. The bilateral agreement will form the basis for the Energy and Environment Partnership (EEP) programme, designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs had earmarked e4 millions (US$5.58 million) for Indonesia to implement the programme from 2011 to 2014. The programme will enable Indonesia to access modern technologies in renewable energy production.

Tight Supplies Of Rubberwood & Palm Fibres Prices of Malaysian timber products continue to climb across the board in line with other commodity prices. Rubberwood prices remain buoyant as natural rubber futures prices breached US$6.44 per kg in the Tokyo commodity exchange TOCOM. Similarly, with crude palm oil futures prices within the range of RM3,600 per tonne, the supply of palm fibres, an important component of most panel products, has become tighter. According to an analyst, supplies of rubberwood and palm fibres will remain tight if high price levels of natural rubber and palm oil are maintained in the international markets.

According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, exports in January 2011 reached US$20.6 billion, 33 percent higher than in January 2010. Imports also rose to US$28.6 billion in January 2011, up 13 percent from the same month in 2010. Declining exports to North America and Europe are being offset by increasing exports to Latin America, Africa and Asia.

CHINA China Draws In US$10 Billion Of Foreign Capital For The Forest Sector China’s cumulative utilisation of foreign capital for the development of its forestry sector reached US$10 billion by the end of 2010. The main forestry activities utilising foreign capital include afforestation, forest product industry and forest tourism. Patrick Fitzgerald, Florida, US

followed by Japan (RM573 million), Singapore (RM477 million) and the UK (RM407 million). Other important export destinations include Australia, Canada, Germany, India, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Asia is emerging as an important market for Malaysian furniture exports on account of population reaching 1.3 billion in China, 1 billion in India and 550 million in the ASEAN economic zone.

INDIA India Maintains Robust Growth In Trade

INDONESIA Indonesia To Sign VPA Within 3 Months The Jakarta Post reports that Indonesia is hoping to sign the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) under FLEGT Action Plan with the EU within the next three months. If this materialises, Indonesia would become the first country in Asia to conclude such an agreement that would require only legally verified timber and timber products from Indonesia be supplied to the EU market. The value of Indonesia's timber trade with the EU stands at an estimated US$1 billion per year. www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA  april 2011

17


Market Report Wooden furniture is the biggest forest product exported from China. Exports of wooden furniture in 2010 were 300 million pieces valued at US$16.16 billion, up 21 percent in volume and 34 percent in value compared to 2009. Exports of paper, paperboard and paper products, plywood and fibreboard also increased sharply. In contrast, exports of sawnwood eased slightly to 539,000 cubic metres in volume and US$340 million in value in 2010, down four percent and one percent from 2009 respectively.

Growth In Peru’s Exports To China The China–Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA) came into effect on March 1, 2010. Following the FTA, Peruvian exports to China have registered robust growth. The total value of Peruvian exports to China in 2010 soared 33 percent to US$5.4 billion from US$4.1 billion in

Deidre Woollard, Los Angeles, US

By the end of 2010, some US$3 billion of credits have been provided by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Investment Bank, Japan and Germany. These have been utilised for the development of the forestry sector in 20 provinces. In addition, Chinese enterprises have attracted US$6 billion of foreign direct investments for the establishment of 5 million hectares of forest plantations. Some of the leading forestry enterprises in China have been listed on the stock market to gain more access to international financing. Meanwhile, China has, to date, invested in some 130 forestry projects in 21 countries, particularly in Russia. More than 80 Chinese enterprises have purchased or rented forestland abroad for logging, primary processing as well as wood product and furniture manufacturing. The duration of these investments ranges from 5 to 70 years.

Imports & Exports Of Forest Products Soared In 2010 According to China customs, the total value of China’s trade in forest products soared to US$96.3 billion in 2010, 37 percent higher than in 2009. The value of forest product exports surged 34 percent from 2009, to US$48.8 billion in 2010, while imports climbed 40 percent from 2009, to US$47.5 billion in 2010. In terms of imports, the volume and value of logs, wood chips, furniture and sawnwood have both increased. In contrast, imports of paper pulp and recycled paper decreased in volume. The volume of imports of paper pulp fell 17 percent from 2009, to 11.37 million tonnes in 2010, but the value of imports rose 29 percent, to US$8.8 billion. The imports of wood chips rose sharply both in volume (67 percent) and in value (90 percent) compared to 2009, reaching 4.65 million tonnes worth US$680 million in 2010.

18 FDM Asia  april 2011 | www.fdmasia.com

2009. Wooden flooring was among the non-traditional timber products which were able to make significant gains in sales to China. China is the main destination for Peru timber exports, accounting for 43 percent of the total value of Peruvian timber exports.

US Rebound Expected In Moulding & Trim Markets For US US demand for moulding and trim is expected to rebound and grow by an average of 10 percent per year to 2014, according to a Freedonia study released in February 2011. Moulding and trim demand suffered in 2008 and 2009 when the US housing market went down. New home construction usually accounts for about 40 percent of total demand for moulding and trim. Much of the increase in moulding and


Market Report

Mykl Roventine, Minnesota, US

trim demand to 2014 will be from a recovering housing market and from non-residential building construction such as offices and commercial buildings. Freedonia forecasts that demand for moulding and trim will be US$9.6 billion in 2014, up from US$6.3 billion in 2009. Some 41 percent of the market will be mouldings, 30 percent stairwork and 29 percent in other products. Interior mouldings account for the majority of the market. Wood will remain the leading material used in moulding and trim, followed by metal, plastic and wood-plastic composites. Freedonia forecasts that by 2014 plastic will be the second most common material after wood. Plastic and wood-plastic composites will gain market share in exterior moulding and trim products. The price of wood materials is expected to grow at a slightly faster rate than plastic or metal.

Sawn Hardwood Imports Grow In Last Quarter The quarterly import data shows that the value of tropical sawn hardwood imports was at its highest in the last quarter of 2010 since the end of 2008. The US imported US$60.8 million worth of sawn tropical hardwood in the fourth quarter of 2010, up 24 percent from the previous quarter. Ipe imports soared by 169 percent from the third quarter of 2010. Imports of keruing, cedro and sapelli also increased significantly from the previous quarter. December 2010 imports of sawn tropical hardwood were 19,866 cubic metres, which represents a drop of nine percent from 21,765 cubic metres in November 2010. Balsa was back at the top of the imported species with 5,253 cubic metres in December. Ipe imports remained high at 2,920 cubic metres, followed by acajou d’Afrique (2,054 cubic metres) and sapelli (2,017 cubic metres). Although imports of most species declined

from November 2010, volumes increased for keruing, mahogany, cedro and jatoba. Most supplier countries shipped less sawn hardwood to the US in December 2010, with the exception of Ecuador and Malaysia who benefited from the growth in imports of balsa and keruing. Year-to-date, import volumes of tropical sawnwood increased by 19 percent compared to December 2009. Among the species that gained significantly in the period to December 2010 are jatoba (+87 percent year-to-date), acajou d’Afrique (+64 percent year-to-date), red meranti (+56 percent yearto-date), sapelli (+52 percent year-to-date) and keruing (+48 percent year-to-date).

Increased Hardwood Plywood Imports From Malaysia & Indonesia In 2010 US imports of hardwood plywood declined in December 2010 to US$78.3 million, down 10 percent from November 2010. However, annual imports in 2010 were 26 percent above 2009 imports. When comparing 2010 with the previous year, Malaysia saw the highest growth rate followed by Indonesia, while imports from Brazil declined even further from 2009. Imports from China accounted for 57 percent or US$688 million of the total imports in 2010. In December 2010, imports from China were US$54.5 million (+26 percent year-to-date) and from Indonesia US$4.7 million (+53 percent year-to-date). December imports from Ecuador were US$2.3 million (+38 percent year-to-date), from Malaysia US$1.3 million (+89 percent year-to-date), and from Brazil US$0.7 million (-10 percent year-to-date).

Tropical Hardwood Flooring Imports Improved Even though hardwood flooring imports saw a slight increase in December 2010, total imports in 2010 were below 2009. In 2010, US hardwood flooring imports totalled US$17.2 million, down 28 percent compared to the previous year. However, flooring imports from tropical suppliers improved during the same period. In December, Canada was the only major supplier who increased exports to the US from the previous month (+63 percent). Hardwood flooring imports from China were US$481,000, from Brazil US$388,000 and from Malaysia US$325,000. On a yearto-date basis, imports from Brazil increased by 10 percent from 2009, Malaysian exports increased by 38 percent, Indonesian exports increased by 21 percent, while Chinese exports to the US were down by 59 percent compared to 2009. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 2001

www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA  april 2011

19


Market Report

American Hardwoods In Asia Close To

According to data from the US Department of Agriculture, exports of American hardwood to China and Southeast Asia have recovered strongly; value is now close to US$1 billion. By Michael Buckley for AHEC

US$1 Billion A

merican hardwood sawn lumber shipments to China (including Hong Kong) rose by 72 percent in value for 2010 over 2009 and at US$377 million, achieved the highest value in the last five years. US hardwood log shipments to China also hit a peak at US$263 million, an increase of 62 percent over 2009. Hardwood veneer shipments improved by 47 percent. The total value of American hardwood materials (logs, lumber, veneer, plywood, mouldings, flooring and siding) shipped in 2010 to China and Taiwan combined to US$685 million, an overall increase of 66 percent.

shipments were up in value by 58 percent, demonstrating the trend towards processed lumber rather than logs, which were up 33 percent in value. Overall, in Southeast Asia, imports of American sawn hardwood were exactly two-third of the total at 66 percent, with logs at 27 percent and veneer five percent. Leading the ASEAN imports of American hardwood was Vietnam with lumber at US$102 million, way ahead of the previous peak of US$65 million in 2007, and registering an increase of 70 percent over the value in 2009. This can be attributed to ongoing exports of competitive furniture to world markets as well as a growing demand for internal joinery in the residential and hospitality sectors. Hardwood log shipments from the US to Vietnam were only up by 17 percent and amounted to US$39 million, demonstrating manufacturers’ increasing desire to ship graded lumber rather than logs.

Market Recovery In Southeast Asia, the recovery has followed a similar pattern with a total increase in value of 49 percent of American hardwood materials to main ASEAN markets. Sawn lumber

Table: Shipments of American hardwoods to Southeast Asia 2005-2010 by value (US$ million) (Variances due to rounding) Source: USDA FAS 2011 Product

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

% Change

% of Total

Lumber

84

110

128

109

96

151

58%

66%

Logs

42

31

52

58

47

63

33%

27%

Veneer

13

15

15

13

9

12

35%

5%

Plywood

1

1

1

1

1(.659)

1(1.279)

94%

Flooring

>1

>1

>1

1

1

1

-2%

Moulding

0

0

>1

>1

>1(.066)

>1(.011)

-83%

141

158

196

181

154

229

49%

Grand Total

20 FDM Asia  april 2011 | www.fdmasia.com

100%


newnowknowhow

Market Report

Demand For Raw Material Indonesia was the second market in Southeast Asia for American hardwoods with lumber up by 55 percent and back to the 2008 peak level at US$18 million. However log imports from US doubled to $10 million, showing that many producers in Indonesia are still looking for raw material rather than converted lumber. Imports of US veneer recovered by 191 percent over 2009 at US$5 million, but are still slightly

behind the level sustained from 2005 to 2008 before the dramatic fall in 2009. Thailand, still a significant market worth US$23 million in total, has not recovered to the peak level of 2006, although lumber rose 11 percent in 2010 and logs by 86 percent to their highest level ever. Malaysia, similarly, has some catching up to its own import peak from the US in 2007, although it registered a healthy 54 percent increase in sawn lumber and up 36 percent in the value of log shipments. The relatively small market in Singapore managed to catch up with a 58 percent increase, placing it ahead of the Philippines where demand for American hardwood sawn lumber has fluctuated over the years from US$1 to US$3 million and log imports are insignificant. The total value of American hardwood material shipped to ASEAN countries in 2010 amounted to US$229 million, which together with China and Taiwan totals US$914 million, or now close to one billion dollars. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 3002

The Altendorf WA 8:

The benchmark for quality.

Altendorf WA 8 NT with non-tilting saw unit and manual rise/fall adjustment of the main saw blade.

Altendorf WA 8 TE with motorised rise/fall and tilt adjustment of the main saw blade.

Since Altendorf was established in 1906, the company has repeatedly set new standards. Now you can experience this for yourself with the Altendorf WA 8. It makes light work of everything from simple but precise squaring cuts through to complex angles, and is ergonomical and easy to use. With a level of quality all its own, the WA 8 lives up to the promise of the international market leader.

Altendorf WA 8 X with motorised rise/fall and tilt adjustment of the main saw blade and motorised adjustment of the rip fence.

F E AT U R E S Sliding table length 2,000, 2,600, 3,000 or 3,200 mm Cutting width 1,000 or 1,300 mm Cutting height max. 100, 125 mm

ENQUIRY NO. 226

Altendorf WA 8 T with manual rise/fall and tilt adjustment of the main saw blade.

Altendorf Asia Sdn. Bhd. H-2-13, Block H, Jln PJU 1A/3 · Taipan 2, Ara Damasara · 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor D. E. Phone +60 3 78428769 · Fax +60 3 78428768 · altasia@tm.net.my · www.altendorf.com

sd_wa8_Anzeige+Produkt+2011_171x122_006_4c_gb.indd 1

10.02.11 10:17 www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA  april 2011

21


Focus

level Planing Field

ďŹ shermansdaughter

Planing is an important process that smoothes, shapes and straightens work pieces. While most planing operations are executed by machinery in an effortless manner, reading the grain direction of the wood will determine the quality of surface ďŹ nish. By Wong Tsz Hin

22 FDM ASIA april 2011 | www.fdmasia.com

the interaction of wood surface with the relevant material. The structural configuration of surface finish is one of the factors affecting the physical properties of finish products. Ryan McFarland, Alaska, US

p

laning is an important finishing process that smoothes, shapes and straightens a work piece to provide even surface and uniform dimension to thickness. in modern application, most planing operations are performed by automated machinery in an efficient and convenient manner. However, without appropriate care and attention to feed direction, this simple procedure may ruin the surface finish drastically. The surface quality of a wood piece has lasting impact on subsequent manufacturing processes. addition of adhesive, coating and joining of work pieces are all dependent on

planed surface characteristics of machined wood are a function of machining quality, which is the coefficient of the number of knife marks per cm, the cutting speed and the stock removal rate. Wood, as a natural and variable material, is porous in structure, making it impossible to completely remove elements of irregularities from its surface. Nevertheless, planing is done to minimise the presence of surface defects.

The Planing Process

Smoothness of wood surface will affect the quality of coating ďŹ nish.

Wood planing machines generally comprise a number of horizontal and vertical cutterheads aligned to produce single, double or quadruple machined


Focus surface. The positioning and quantity of cutterheads used vary according to the requirements of specific finish product. In order to level or trim excess wood from the surface, work pieces are fed under horizontal spinning axle fixed with cutterheads via a conveyor system, where the rotating blades will remove chips from the top layer. The pressure bar and chip breaker help to hold the wood securely in place close to the blades. Generally, the tighter the pressure bar and chip breaker are, the cleaner the wood will come out of the planer.

Determination Of Grain Direction

Ben Hosking, Sydney, Australia

By conventional wisdom, the most important aspect of wood planing is reading grain direction and identifying special features of a wood piece. The nature of wood grain is determined

ENQUIRY NO. 235

by several factors; the annual rings; the way the piece is cut; the section of the tree the wood is cut from; and other natural elements such as curls and burls. The general grain direction can be determined by observing the edge perpendicular to the plane surface. The lines created by the annual rings will indicate the general direction of the grain. When the angle of the grain to the vertical axis of the wood is steep, the ring lines will appear distinctively to be following an edge or leading off towards a face. This results in the appearance of arrow points that run parallel to grain direction. For grain angle that is more subtle or in the case that the ring lines do not appear to head towards a particular surface, the grain direction may be hard to read. In such instances, a combination square can be used to decipher the grain direction. www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA  april 2011

23


NH53

Focus

Select a prominent grain line near one end of the wood and set the blade to that line. Slide the square along the wood to see if the line rises or falls along the length. Grain patterns on the surface of the wood can be deceiving. Looking at the edge of the board is often a better method to distinguish whether the grain is rising or falling.

Feed Direction Of Wood To achieve smooth surface finish, feed the wood piece with the grain, in the same direction with the ring lines. Feeding it in the opposite direction or feeding it too fast for the grain pattern will cause the blade to dig under the rings and tear out chunks of wood, resulting in tearout. Instead of shaving wood chip from the surface, running the blade against the grain will lift wood fibres and pull pieces of wood out along the ring lines. The wood board will be torn,

24 FDM Asia  april 2011 | www.fdmasia.com

chipped and rougher than before planing operation is performed.

Characteristics That Affect Planing Besides looking out for grain direction, elements on the surface such as knots, crotch figuring, burls, bird’s eyes and curly grain pattern must also be considered when feeding wood for planing. Knots are rough circular mass, usually of a darker shade, around which the grain of the rest of the wood converge or diverge. Within a knot, the grain direction can be up to 90 degrees to surrounding grain of the wood piece. The angle can vary from being slightly skewed to almost perpendicular to overall grain direction. Wood pieces should be fed to cutterheads along the grain to prevent the tearing of a knot. Crotch figuring is the transition regions between knots and the neighbouring wood. Although it is not

as hard as knots, it is still harder than the surrounding straight grained wood. The grain pattern is erratic and wavy, but follows a general direction. Wood pieces should be fed such that the blades run along this direction. Burls are hard, dense clusters of undeveloped knots that are surrounded by figuring patterns. Grain direction within burls is totally random, making clean cut difficult. Wood with this characteristic must be planed at a slow feed rate and with shallow cuts. Bird’s eyes are burls, without small knots, scattered throughout a wood piece. They typically appear in hard maple. They have a distinctive pattern that resembles swirling eyes disrupting the smooth lines of grain. The grain of bird’s eyes normally follows a common direction. The wood should be feed into the planer along this direction to avoid tearout. A curly grain pattern is pronounced


dominiqueb

Focus along with any special characteristics that are present. Elements that are hard and resistant to incision should be addressed first. When in doubt, experiment by making a first pass at slow feed speed with shallow cuts to test the finish standards. Machinery may have made planing

an almost effortless process. A lot of hard work still needs to be done in analysing a wood piece before feeding it to the planer to ensure that the resulting surface finish fulfil the quality standards demanded by consumers. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 3101

Features such as knots may cause tearouts during planing operations.

waves of grain in a general direction. The dramatic bends of the curves in such pattern throughout the wood makes it hard to achieve smooth planing result. Wood with this property should be fed with the general grain direction, but at a slow rate with shallow cuts.

Trial & Error

ENQUIRY NO. 234

Most wood pieces display a combination of grain characteristics that hinders the accurate depiction of their overall grain direction. In such cases, look at the different grain present on the wood and try to determine the direction that is in line with most of them. Put the wood through the first pass in this direction with shallow cut depth and at the slowest feed rate. Check for tearouts and change the feed direction for a second pass if necessary. If tears persist on the surface of the wood, calibrate the alignment of the cutterheads and ensure they are sharpened. Feed direction is a critical aspect of planing. A quality machinery setup can ensure neat and even planing operations. However, if wood pieces are fed in the wrong direction, tearouts can occur which drastically affect the surface quality of the product. The grain direction of wood is determined by observing the grain pattern www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA  april 2011

25


Jeff Chin, US

Technology

Sawing The

Panel and beam saws are used to cut panels into appropriate sizes. It is also important that when installing panels for ooring, minimum spacing is recommended for the panels to expand. By Natalia Tee

W

ood is often a preferred choice for flooring and furniture due to its classic aesthetic appearance. However, experience and knowledge have taught woodworkers that wood, being a biological material, expands and contracts according to changes in temperature and humidity. as such, there should be room for expansion when wood panels are installed in floorings to prevent problems like buckling. ‘Sized For Spacing’ is stamped on the wood panels to inform customers that the panels are slightly smaller than the nominal dimensions, indicating that they are ready to be used. Without the panel sizing technology, it is hard to imagine how wood panels are cut accurately with reduced waste. panel beam saw produces cut panels in a large scale, thereby increasing productivity and sales.

Spacing Recommendation Due to the natural characteristics of wood, wood expands and contracts when it is subjected to changes in temperature and moisture.

26 FDM ASIA april 2011 | www.fdmasia.com

although the wood is no longer a living thing, its cells still react to moisture. Expansion takes place across the grains, resulting in the increase in the width of the plank. During manufacturing, the moisture content for wood structural panels is between two and six percent. as the panels become equilibrated in an environment with moisture content of 8 to 16 percent, the panels expand slightly. panels used in the southern US, which has a higher humidity level, may expand more than a similar panel in northern US or Canada, which is less humid. Typically, 5 inches wide and 3/4 inch thick wood panels are the largest that can be manufactured without compromising the structure of the flooring. There is no standard panel size that will perform well in all environments. although finishes of the flooring slow down the transfer of moisture, they do not curb the problem. a few problems may arise if there is no room for wall panels to expand. These include cupping and buckling. Cupping describes a condition in which the edges of the


Technology

AZ-BIMA400V-asia-endg 14.03.11 08:08 Seite 1

Trend-setting machine solutions

60 Years IMA. 60 Years advanced technology. 60 Years of passion.

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wood panel are higher than its centre. This occurs because the moisture causes the wood to swell and crushes the panels together. As a result, the edges will deform. Buckling is one of the extreme reactions to moisture that can occur with a hardwood floor. It occurs when the floor pulls away from the subfloor, up to heights of several inches. It is therefore recommended for homemakers and builders to allow for possible expansion of wood-based panels during installation. For smaller areas such as a 10 ft by 12 ft room, the recommended panel spacing should be 3/8 inches. In contrast, for larger layouts over a few thousand sq ft, the recommended panel spacing should be 3/4 inches. One common piece of advice is to acquire the panels

Sized For Spacing While it is recommended to give allowance for expansion, some wood panels may already be cut less than the nominal dimensions. This makes installation of wood flooring easier as the panels can be slotted without any worry of possible expansion that may cause bulging of the flooring. Grade stamps containing ‘Sized For Spacing’ are often included on such trimmed wood panels. The term means the panels may be trimmed with a reduction of 1.8 inches. This allows the panels to be installed with spacing at the ends and edges while maintaining adequate bearing on the supports.

BIMA 400 V CNC-Processing Center with glueing and integrated C-axis and 5-axis technology – highest flexibility on furniture parts incl. drilling – versatile processing functions on doors and windows – efficient production of bench tops Curious?

www.ima.de

ENQUIRY NO. 230

earlier and allow the panels to acclimate to the environment. When installing panels on the floor, it is recommended for them to float instead of sticking the wood panels directly onto the concrete floor. Minimum panel spacing recommendation minimises the chances of buckling and other problems associated with panel expansion. Other than flooring, panel edge clips can be applied for roof sheathing as they may serve to maintain the recommended spacing.

Technology, that creates real excitement

IMA AG Asia Pacific Pte Ltd 2 Kallang Pudding Road # 05-16, Mactech Industrial Building Singapore, 349307, T +65 67496588, info@ima-sg.com

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27


Wilbert de Groot, Netherlands

Technology For example, for a panel sold at 48 by 96 inches as its size tolerance, it may be 1/8 inch lesser than the specified length and width for ‘Sized For Spacing’, which measures at 47-7/8 by 95-7/8 inches.

Beaming Saw

Bigger Cutter Many woodworking manufacturers prefer panel beam saw to panel saw because beam saw contain automated systems combined with a wide assortment of loading and unloading options. As such, it leads to higher productivity and greater yields with reduced waste. Some beam saws have a saw carriage assembly consisting of a main saw and a scoring saw, which slides on precision linear bearings. The assembly moves up and down by a pneumatic cylinder. The position of the scoring saw blade can be adjusted vertically and axially. The usual cutting procedure of a beam saw is as follows. First, the panels are clamped in dampers. Then, pressure bars are used for zero reference positioning and top pressing. The cutting operation of the saw begins as the saw assembly moves in the top position. After the cutting operation, the saw assembly moves to its bottom position, at the same time, the pressure bars release the boards. Finally, the carriage with the saw assembly starts moving to its start position, and simultaneously, the board is pushed to the next position. Indeed, manufacturers are adding features in their beam

28 FDM Asia  april 2011 | www.fdmasia.com

Jason Meredith, Kentucky, US

With the overview of why wood panels should be allowed to float instead of gluing them onto the concrete floor, processing saw gives a better understanding on panel sizing. There are two types of machines that are used to cut wood panels in a factory: panel saw and panel beam saw. Both of them are used to cut panels into appropriate sizes. There are two main differences. One of which lies in the movement of the saw blade and panel. In using panel saw, the position of the saw blade is fixed (ie: only rotates at its position) while the panel moves on the carriage belt. In contrast, when using panel beam saw, the panel is stationary while the saw blade moves on the carriage belt to perform the cutting operation. Panel saw can be distinguished from panel beam saw from its production rate of cut panels. Panel saw can cut a maximum of 50 to 60 panels sized 1.22 to 2.44 m per day. Beam saw, on the other hand, does the cutting operation on a larger scale. It is generally preferred when cutting panels like Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF), chipboard, plywood and lumber board with greater precision possibly up to 400 to 500 boards per shift. saws to increase the production rate and efficiency for their customers. Features include smoother saw, material guides, higher saw blade operations, automated lift tables and other material-handling options. Since wood expands and contracts due to fluctuations in the humidity level, it is recommended for woodworkers to take into consideration the minimum spacing recommendation. As such, woodworkers have two options of installing wood panels. One is to purchase wood panels that are stamped with ‘Sized For Spacing’. These wood panels are trimmed beforehand. The other is to give allowance for the wood panels to float and acclimate to the surrounding. Beam saw produces more products than panel saw so it is suitable in a large-scale factory. In addition, there are additional features on the beam saw such as Computer Numerical Control that attracts manufacturers. Ultimately, the greater yields from beam saw gives homeowners the luxury of having classic wooden flooring, enhancing the aesthetic design of houses. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 3201


MAKING MAKING MORE MORE OUT OUT OF OF WOOD WOOD Innovative Innovative ∙∙ Efficient Efficient ∙∙ Trendsetting Trendsetting Increased Increasedproductivity, productivity,optimization optimizationof ofcapacities, capacities,flflexibility exibilityin inthe the deployment deploymentof ofhuman humanresources resourcesand andmachinery… machinery…the theinternational international drive driveto toinnovate innovateand andupgrade upgradestarts startsat atLIGNA LIGNAHANNOVER. HANNOVER.Whether Whether it’s it’sintelligent intelligenttechnology technologyfor forwoodworking woodworkingand andtimber timberprocessing, processing,or or how howto tomake makethe themost mostof ofenergy-effi energy-efficient cientmachinery machineryand andequipment equipment–– LIGNA LIGNAHANNOVER HANNOVERshowcases showcasesthe thesolutions solutionsthat thatthe theforestry forestryand andwood wood industries industriesneed needto tomeet meetthe thechallenges challengesof ofthe thefuture. future.

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ligna.de ligna.de

ENQUIRY NO. 233


Panels

Strength Of The

Wildxplorer, Bangalore, India

Hollow Core Honeycomb panels offer high strength at low weight. With advancement in technology that drives production cost down, this material has the potential to take up a more dominant role in furniture making. By Wong Tsz Hin

Social Blog Network

Paper Honeycomb Production The most promising panel seems to be the sandwich panel with paper honeycomb core. Paper honeycomb are generally produced through expansion and corrugation processes. In the expansion production process, paper from a roll is guided on a glue roller, which brings glue lines in the length direction on the paper. The distance between the gluing lines will define the cell sizes of the honeycomb. The paper is then layered into stacks. These stacks

30 FDM Asia  APRIL 2011 | www.fdmasia.com

Vicwood, China

H

oneycomb panels constitute an alternative raw material for the furniture and joinery industry. Development in machinery technology has enabled economic production of such panels through automated processes. The growing interest of the industry in honeycomb design can be attributed to its high strength-to-weight ratio, which makes it suitable for different applications. The most prominent benefit of honeycomb panels is their ability to offer structural strength similar or stronger than conventional solidwood, while maintaining low overall weight. This makes them easier to transport and reduces transportation costs. The furniture industry is steadily replacing wood-based panels, such as particleboards, medium density fibreboard (MDF) and plywoods, with these lightweight panels.

will be fed through a cutting knife to size them into the exact thickness of the desired honeycomb. Sliced pieces are then glued together to form a continuous paper honeycomb. This method of manufacturing offers better production output. At the same time, there is less production waste and the final product is a true continuous honeycomb with no gluing stripes. The layers are also less compressed and the paper width is larger, up to 3000 mm. However, cell size and core height of honeycombs made using this method are usually above 10 mm as the cutting and bonding procedures are more time consuming at smaller cell sizes. The other traditional production method is the corrugation process where paper layers are winded on a winding drum into cardboard sheets. The sheets are then sized to the desire thickness and glued to each other to form a continuous honeycomb. The advantage of the corrugation method is the overall stability of cell size. The surface of honeycomb edges are generally smoother compared to the expansion method. There is no gluing pollution and it allows for production in smaller


Panels

Edgebanding As Core Protection One of the challenges faced by manufacturers is the effective sealing and reinforcing of the edges of honeycomb panels. Due to the hollow structural design, edges must be sealed to protect the core materials from damage due to impact, moisture and liquids, while permitting the panels to be fastened to other structures and providing support for other hardware fixtures. Normally, this is accomplished with edgebanding. Besides acting as a protective cover against external elements, edgebanding also improves panel bending strength and stiffness. To safeguard the core material from compression during the application of edgebanding, a solid edge reinforcement material is required. Surface folding technique is one of the more preferred choices as it can significantly enhance the maximum bending moment of the honeycomb panel without edgebanding. During honeycomb panel production, strips of solid wood veneer, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or composite materials, such as MDF, particleboard and oriented strand board (OSB), are used as edge reinforcements. They are selected as they can withstand the load requirements of the panel by themselves.

automated processes. Lower core material cost and production concepts enable cost efficient manufacturing processes that are suitable for mass production. The reduction in production costs for honeycomb core would mean that weight savings in the raw material could be translated directly into cost savings. The primary source material for honeycomb, paper, is a recyclable material. This will satisfy the growing demand for environmental friendly and sustainable products. With advancement in machinery, production and material technology, the production cost of honeycomb panels will be driven down, revealing the economic incentives for their application. Given its high strength and light overall weight, it is not hard to imagine that honeycomb design may take on FDM a more prominent role in future.

The basic rationale for the demand of honeycomb panels is that it provides the highest strength to weight and stiffness to weight ratios.

ENQUIRY NO. 3301

Plants and Machinery

Plants and individual machines to fabricate  Particleboards  MDF-Boards  Mineral Bonded Particleboards  Laminated Boards  High Pressure Laminates

Common Edgebanding Techniques Common edgebanding techniques adopted by the industry include direct coating, stabiliser edge and surface folding. The edgeband will stretch along the edges of the honeycomb panels and sometimes over a strip of edge reinforcement called the ‘stile’. This enhances the aesthetic finish of the panels and at the same time increases their resistance. The basic rationale for the demand of honeycomb panels is that it provides the highest strength to weight and stiffness to weight ratios. The furniture industry has already adopted the honeycomb design as an alternative raw material. The primary concern of this material is cost.

Declining Production Cost Traditionally, the production cost of honeycomb panels is higher than that of their counterparts. Potential application was restricted in this manner. However, production of environment friendly paper honeycomb cores has been gradually optimised towards

Tailored designs for most profitable plants Brand new production acilities

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Plants and machinery for the board industry

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31

ENQUIRY NO. 227

batches. The standard corrugated cardboard sheets allow small cell size of 5 mm, due to the larger density compared to expanded honeycomb cores. Paper honeycomb sandwich panels had to be built with an internal frame construction to allow edge profiling and the use of conventional connectors. This implies that production must be planned for specific furniture components.


Surfaces & Flooring

laminate Flooring:

More

Flexibility at a

Lower Cost Laminate floorboards offer alternatives to traditional wood flooring with better properties and more flexibility in design. Picking the right floorboard will ensure longevity and reduce long-term maintenance expenses. By Alex Aw, projects director, and dennis teo, Md, Evorich Holdings

l

aminate flooring is a useful flooring invention of the modern world. in the past, wood floors were restricted by choice. The conventional material options in the market were teak and oak. Flooring made of these materials is commonly known as parquet flooring. The two wood species are suitable for use in tropical countries, where the humidity and moisture level render other species inappropriate with their tendency to swell and warp. This significantly limits choices and colours when it comes to choosing wood material for flooring. laminate flooring offers variation in designs, colours and species of wood. it allows for the use of materials like oak, walnut, maple and rare wood species such as cherry wood, as well as species not found in asia. The end result is an array of options that are applicable in all parts of the world.

32 FDM ASIA april 2011 | www.fdmasia.com

Composition Of Laminate Floorboard a laminate floorboard is usually made up of four layers that are pressed together to form one panel. i) Wear Layer The top layer is the wear layer which is made up of millions of aluminium oxide. at about 0.6 mm, this is the thinnest but strongest layer. aluminium oxide is the fourth hardest material found on earth, giving the laminate floorboard strong protection against scratches and abrasions. ii) Decorative Paper The second layer, the decorative paper, is what gives the floorboard its design and colours. laminate flooring companies usually have patented designs and colours for their products.


Surfaces & Flooring

and have different structural characteristics. The indicative pricing for Chinese laminate floorboard is around S$2.80 (US$ 2.18) per square feet; Malaysian floorboard is around S$3.80 per square feet; and European laminate floorboard is above S$4.80 per square feet.

Characteristics Of Good Laminate Floorboard Good laminate floorboard usually displays the following characteristics: a) Wear Resistance This refers to the resistance against scratches. The board is of considerable strength such that dragging heavy furniture across the flooring will not induce damage to the surface. For conventional parquet, it is common to observe fine scratches and dents on the surface caused by abrasion.

iii) HDF Board The third layer is the High Density Fibre (HDF) board, which comprises more than 50 percent of the laminate floorboard. It is considered the ‘heart’ of the floorboard and contributes to its stability.

ENQUIRY NO. 108

iv) Balancing Layer The final layer is the balancing layer, also known as the backing layer, which acts as a moisture prevention backing system for the overall dimensional stability of the floorboard.

Common Types Of Laminate Floorboards The common types of laminate floorboards found in regional markets originate from three places: China, Malaysia and Europe. Products from these three locations vary in price www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA  april 2011

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Surfaces & Flooring b) Lasting Appearance For major laminate flooring brands, the manufacturers will usually offer a long warranty period for their products. Some companies provide warranty of up to 20 to 25 years for residential usage on visible defects prior to laying, as well as premature wear of the floorboards. Traditional parquet often looks dull in colour when it is damp. For quality laminate flooring, the gloss of the surface will stay consistent over time.

c) Easy Removal Of Stubborn Stains Accidental spillage of stubborn stains, such as red wine, hair dye and paints, can be removed from laminate floorboard easily and quickly. This is because laminate flooring is non-porous in nature. Although tile, granite and marble floorings have similar structural property, apparent ‘markings’ will remain on these surfaces even after the spillage is cleaned away. Stubborn stains on laminate flooring can be removed completely with thinner and a piece of cloth. The same cannot

The abrasion class for laminate flooring is determined by clamping a test piece and placing an automatic friction wheel onto it. The initial abrasion point (IP) is the point where wear and tear of the test floorboard is visible. It is measured by the number of turns or revolutions of the friction wheel.

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Surfaces & Flooring

d) Persistent Colour Another unique characteristic of laminate floorboard is that its colour will not change. Even under heavy exposure to sunlight, the colour of the board will not fade. This makes laminate flooring easy maintain. Moreover, the price of good laminate floorboard is not high. In fact, it is generally considered as one of the most economical ‘wood’ floorboard available in the market.

Laminate Floorboard Installation 1) Level The Floor Base Usually, the floor base is not completely levelled. A maximum tolerance of 3mm is allowed to facilitate for the unevenness of the surface. Before laying laminate floorboards, it is essential to ensure that the highest point of the floor base does not exceed this tolerance value. For floor bases that are too uneven for direct application of floorboards, they must be fashioned with cement screed or self-levelling compound. 2) Underlay Items There are two standard underlay items that must be implemented before the laying of floorboards, the ‘plastic sheet’ and the Polyethylene (PE) foam. The ‘plastic sheet’ is put in place to prevent damage to the floorboards through direct contact with moisture from the floor base. The PE foam will be applied on top of this layer to create a balance and stable platform for the laminate floorboards to rest on. Floorboards cannot be laid on uneven floor bases that cannot be rectified by levelling alone. Force installation on these surfaces will cause ‘floating’, where the board will be unstable and creaks whenever pressure is applied on it. In such situation, a solid step underlay would be required. The solid step underlay will create stability and help level the base surface further. In addition, it will also help insulate sound emitted from pressure on the boards. 3) Speedy Interlocking System No glue is required for the installation of laminate flooring. A simple interlocking system will secure two boards together and overlay the existing flooring. The entire process is a speedy one. For example, a three-bedroom apartment without furnishing can be completed within one day. Experienced installers can cover up to 1,000 square feet a day.

Five Selection Tips There are various laminate flooring brands in the market for consumers to choose from. Picking the right type of floorboard

is essential because laminate flooring lasts for a long time. Poor selection will have long term implications in terms of health and maintenance cost. The following are five simple selection tips for picking the right laminate floorboard: 1. Think Health Laminate flooring is durable for use for decades. Other than its aesthetic appeal, an important factor to consider is its impact on health. In the 1990s, studies have found that certain lowend laminate floorboards have higher formaldehyde emission compared to pricier counterparts. Formaldehyde can have lasting effect on health, especially for children with weaker immune system. Laminate floorboards with ISO standards for low formaldehyde emission would be ideal choices. 2. Think Safety A good laminate floorboard not only have grooves to mimic the texture of solid wood, but also surface design that is slip resistance. Some are even fire resistance certified. These floorboards are burn tested to ensure they will not propagate the flame in case of fire. 3. Think Price More expensive laminate floorboards may not necessarily be

Company introduction: Wemhoener (Changzhou) Machinery Manufactory Co. Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wemhoener group in Germany, which is founded on October 28, 2004. WEMHOENER stands for knowledge, innovation and quality, especially in the construction and furniture industries and their suppliers. With its innovative developments, WEMHOENER has become the world leader in Surface Technologies, outstanding in the field of Laminate flooring and 3D furniture doors. The new plant of Wemhoener (Changzhou) Machinery Manufactory Co. Ltd is built in 2006, and has been in operation since 2007. Now because of the rapid development of the company, Wemhoener (Changzhou) is seeking outstanding individuals to join the company. The company has an excellent human resources system, and will provide free working platform, bright career development prospects, numerous professional training opportunities domestically and abroad, competitive benefits, paid annual leave and etc., to the staff. Wemhoener (Changzhou) is willing to grow together with its employees in pursuit of a better future. If you are interested in applying for the position, please submit a resume to the email: melody.yu@wemhoener.cn. For more information about Wemhoener (Changzhou), please visit www.wemhoener.cn. Wemhoener (Changzhou) warmly welcome your joining.

Recruitment Advertisement

Sales Manager For Overseas Market

Major responsibilities: 1. Be responsible for product sales in overseas markets and market development. 2. To be responsible for commercial negotiation and technical support. 3. To be responsible for maintenance to existing customers and potential customers, identify and develop major customers. 4. To be responsible for gathering and analyzing the international market trend and competitor information, and feedback to top management. 5. Participate in overseas exhibitions, and search for new customers. 6. To be responsible for assisting sales team to reach sales target.

Job Requirements: 1. Bachelor degree or above, majored in Machinery or related subject. 2. At least 5 years sales experience in woodworking machinery in international field, possession of customer resource might have priority. 3. Good command in oral and written English. 4. With sharp business judgment, excellent customer management skills, communication and negotiation skills. 5. Good team spirit, integrity, honesty and actively. 6. Preferably accustomed to frequent trips abroad.

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ENQUIRY NO. 236

be applied to wood flooring, whose colour will change upon contact with thinner.


Surfaces & Flooring 4. Think Comfort Most cheap laminate floorboards have low density which gives them a hollow feel. They may also produce noise when walked on. Another element to check for is thermal stability. Some floorboards trap unnecessary heat and make the flooring warm and uncomfortable.

better. Consumers should look at the possible maintenance cost in the long run. For applications in humid environment such as the Southeast Asia, check whether the floorboards have sufficient moisture resistance. Laminate floorboards with low moisture resistance tend to swell or warp in about three years. Another area of consideration is the resistance to heavy impact and abrasion. Surfaces of inferior laminate floorboards tend to tear and wear out easily. For installation at location where heavy human traffic is expected, the constant need to replace damaged floorboards can add up to form a sizeable portion of business expenses.

5. Think Green As the demand for laminate flooring increases, profitcentric businessmen around the world began to massively produce laminate floorboards which do not meet worldwide environmental standards. Choose laminate floorboards with certifications from authorities such as Forest Stewardship Council to ensure the products are eco-friendly. Laminate flooring is an alternative to traditional solid wood flooring that offers options in terms appearance and structural properties. Its composition makes it more resilient compared to other flooring materials and allows for customisations in design to fit the overall interior scheme. However, to ensure long lasting flooring finish with little maintenance cost, it is crucial to understand the environmental conditions of the location and the features necessary to prevent damage. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 3401

Product highlight Allure Locking Flooring by Evorich Allure Locking Flooring is a resilient flooring introduced by Evorich. It provides users with look and touch of wooden flooring.

Its features include: 1) Waterproof Suitable for areas constantly exposed to moisture such as kitchen and bathrooms. 2) Termite proof Unlike wood products, it is not affected by termites and decaying agents. 3) Resilient flooring that can be re-used The floorboards can be removed and reinstalled at another location. 4) Warranty Ten-year commercial lifetime residential warranty. The flooring is also scratch resistant, resistant to heavy impact, crack and chip proof, and can be easily installed. ENQUIRY NO. P391

36 FDM Asia  april 2011 | www.fdmasia.com


Advertorial

Choosing?

S easy!

I read a Chinese story a couple of days ago. It is said that when a new born baby reaches their first birthday, the elders will give the baby something to pick out on their own, such as a book, seal, abacus, or toy. Each object represents a different meaning.

Book represents good studies, seal signifies a career as an official, an abacus means that he or she will be good with money, and a toy shows that the child will make merry.

We can conclude from the above that even from ancient times, we always have to choose. When children make a choice without any disturbance, they will choose what matches them. And, so do we.

service. Also, as per the example: buy a saw blade. Such as the two brands DIMAR and MTL.

For example, when you buy a saw blade for cutting, there are so many brands in the market, but which one would meet our criteria? How to buy with the lowest cost? That may be a problem for you.

Technique: MTL also has its own DevelopEngineer, and uses a set of vollmer machine and the alloy is make by CERATIZIT company. Such as band saw, the kerf width can reach 0.65mm. Deal with the only skill, can bring you long and perfect work time.

Four factors that may help are price, technique, function, and

Receives many years brand (MAO TAI LANG) MTL values, devotes in the researching and producing of the frame saw, finger joint cutters and saw blades, user-friendly design idea, strict product quality supervision system, warm service, try our best to give you best service, all only to. Extend the (MAO TAI LANG) MTL brand idea connotation. We already were engaged in this professional many years, has obtain customer’s faith, to be the tools brand with many users. But we won’t stop going ahead, we will learn hard to offer you better products, create more magnificent chapter. Address: International Woodworking City, lunjiao Town, Shunde District, Guangdong, China

Tel : (86) 757-27727565 Fax : (86) 757-80345399 Mail : harrison@sd-ruima.com.cn arron@sd-ruima.com.cn

Price: DIMAR, the price is for 6a, and the MTL is 3a

Function: If the DIMAR woke effect is 6a, then the MTL can reach 4a. With regards to work time, MTL can also reach 2/3 of DIMAR’S. Service: This part is important, just as mentioned, we always need some professional advice. MTL can give you the answer. Give MTL a message or call on what you want, and MTL can serve you with pleasure. On top of the four factors that may help you, the choice can be an easy thing for you. Just tell us what you want, and we can provide an advice for you. You just need to say A, B, C or D. ENQUIRY NO. 222


Furniture Design & Technology

Design inspired By

Nature Drawing inspirations from nature explains how the purist concept and comic design are incorporated into industrial design. By Natalia Tee

H

Courtesy of Singapore Furniture industries Council

ow to design beyond the ordinary? This is a question that many designers encounter as they try to create furniture, interior design and architecture that will awe consumers. industrial designers often follow a systematic methodology that includes analysis in order to apply creativity and

technical solutions to achieve a built interior environment. Designing extraordinary furniture, however, is not an issue for Vincent Van Duysen, who creates interior design and furniture from an architectural perspective bodied with emotions and sensuality. Also present in an exclusive interview with

Furniture Design and Manufacturing Asia is Marco Cappellin, head of international affairs of Moroso Spa, an italian-based upholstery furniture company. The bold creativity in their designs from both companies stem from their individual sources of inspiration as well as the different design approaches as compared to other designers.

Merging Architecture & Interior Design Today, Vincent Van Duysen's Antwerpbased architectural company, which has worked with 20 collaborators, has realisations and projects in progress all over Europe, US (New York) and the Middle East (Beirut, Jeddah and riyadh). His reputation as an architect was established with the design of the Concordia offices. in converting a 1950s luxury house, the flat was stripped off all interior decorations. He began by making the most of the generous existing space and created a corridor that stretches from

Vincent Van Duysen (L) and Marco Cappellin (C) shared their views on furniture design in Furniture Design Forum 2011.

38 FDM ASIA April 2011 | www.fdmasia.com


Courtesy of Singapore Furniture Industries Council

Furniture Design & Technology

Mr Van Duysen founded the Vincent Van Duysen Architect company.

one end to the other as well as through the interconnecting zones. Japanese influence and aesthetics are present in creating the serene atmosphere, which comprises doors without hinges or knobs, Moroccan tiles, the play of light from the windows to the corridor and large oak wood panels. Most of Mr Van Duysen’s designs originate from his architectural projects. He develops furniture from an architect’s point of view, which means starting from space instead of shape. This is especially so since he does not specialise in industrial design, hence he is not restricted to reinvent a particular piece of furniture. “It is a design of archetypes, not continuous reinvention,” emphasised Mr Van Duysen. With this in mind, he pushes aside rational analysis and opts for tactility in architecture and interior design, which leads him to follow a more creative and sensitive design. The sense of designing archetypes, however, is not often a bed of roses. One challenge arises from this mindset of merging architecture and interior design. This is rooted from rescaling of his architectural work. He explains:

“Despite a purist, minimalist perspective, perception of the design is the same but the complexity in execution is different, in terms of scale. The complexity behind the small object can be as complex as a building, but there are hidden specifications and details in a single furniture.” Another challenge faced earlier in his career is the design of a kitchen system, which should not only be functional, but also incorporates his design concept. He mentions the difficulty in translating

architectural principles and creation into a specific design that is restricted with rules on the archetype. To further add on to the challenge, the design of the kitchen has to be a freestanding unit, in which this object can be placed anywhere in different settings and interior appearances. Establishing instantaneous chemistry with his clients is important to him since

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39


Alessandro Paderni

Furniture Design & Technology Moroso Spa specialises in designing and producing colourful upholstery furniture.

architectural projects might take up to five years of discussion. This is evident as he follows throughout the processes with clients and manufacturers in each phase of the projects. As he said: “Architecture takes years in knowing the client, the project, the object.”

Nature Inspires Mr Van Duysen attributes the inspiration of his works to his Belgian cultural background. Flemish roots and cultural experiences are important fundamentals in his works. To further illustrate this point, he has always been curious about the senses and aging of materials as well as the strong particular way of living with nature. Accordingly, he believes in using local raw materials such as oak and pinewood. “Along with my Flemish background and culture, art has always been an important source of inspiration to me,” comments Mr Van Duysen. It is evident in how he searches for local materials that display natural aging and timeless presence in space. For instance, he admires minimalist interior decorated with plain light and sumptuous furniture made of luxurious and natural materials.

Colour Is Joy As opposed to natural-looking raw materials in furniture, Mr Marco shares the rationale in the vibrant and colourful upholstery furniture in Moroso Spa. This sense of adding colours to sofas and

40 FDM Asia  April 2011 | www.fdmasia.com

armchairs stems from Moroso Spa’s source of inspiration: comic designs. He explains: “We are a very colourful company. Our furniture are always full of colours because we are of the opinion that we do not normally see them anymore. Nature, clothes as well as our lives are colourful. Normally, we use a lot of colours, but why is it difficult to put colours together into furniture? There are many furniture that are brownish, greyish, blackish and whitish. We should use more colours because colour is joy.” Despite conducting market research and obtaining feedback from customers and clients, possibly due to the fact that Moroso Spa is a small family business, the company is capable of experimenting ideas without consideration of organisational needs, hence it affords flexibility in design. This is possibly how the company deals with future demands in the market as they believe that there will be a character in a market who will appreciate the design that the company believes in. To further illustrate this point on experimentation of ideas, he shares how the company celebrated their 50th year anniversary in 2002. Instead of celebrating works that had been achieved in the past or showcasing the history of the company, the company wanted to celebrate the future. They asked 15 designers from different disciplines if they would like to design a piece or model for Moroso because they want to create as many ideas as possible. “Because we believe

in ideas,” added Mr Marco. Most of the upholstery furniture are made of colourful fabric. This is attributed to how fashion has become an inspirational discipline as well. The company had produced a jumper that can be worn but at the same, it acts as a seat cover. Moroso Spa has also designed a wooden furniture that is imprinted with lots of colours and patterns via a heat process, so it will not be scratched. While Mr Van Duysen merges architecture and interior based on the purist concept, Moroso Spa emphasises colours and patterns in their sofas and armchairs. It is interesting to note that designs such as theirs are rooted from seeing beyond nature and collecting inspirations along the way. Mr Van Duysen emphasised his cultural background as an important source of inspiration, which possibly defines how he appreciates different architectural buildings and designs. On the contrary, Mr Marco is open about experimenting different ideas from different disciplines. This possibly explains why the design industry is constantly moving as different ideas can be realised. As how Mr Van Duysen concludes about being a designer: “It is important for designers to be passionate about life, what and how they are studying and their focus. It is also important to be curious, inspired and exposed.” FDM ENQUIRY NO. 3501


RIGHT ON

Stock.Xchng

TARGET! MEETING YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS! When the numbers have to count, FDM Asia will help you meet your business targets. 1 and ONLY BPA-audited woodworking publication in the Asia Pacific region 25,000 potential buyers and business partners are waiting to see your products & services. Advertorial, eMail Blast, Loose Inserts, Print, Exhibition or eMedia, we customise programmes tailored to suit your business needs and marketing budget Furniture Design And Manufacturing Asia Established Since 1986

Edgebanding The Road Ahead

Precision Thin-Cutting: Why Slim Is Beautiful

Future Of Wood-Based Panel Surfacing

Furniture Design And Manufacturing Asia Established Since 1986

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Waste Wood

Recycling Waste Not Want Not

CLEARING

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A RENAISSANCE UPON US

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Furniture Design & Technology

Beyond Boundaries Of Design Winners at the Furniture Design Award 2011 share their inspirations for designs and their views on the prospects the furniture industry offers designers.

Designers Category

Revived By A Modern Twist Abie Abdillah (Indonesia) Honorable Mention Award

The demand for rattan, a traditional material commonly found in Southeast Asia, has declined to a point where many businesses are forced to seize operation. New design concepts may be the catalyst it needs for a second life. The challenge to create a piece of furniture from modular shapes that come from continuous lines of rattan inspired the creation of the Pretzel Bench. The pretzel shape was adopted as it is formed by an uninterrupted line that is looped into a rope tie. The design aims to illustrate rattan’s strength and elasticity. Mr Abdillah hopes that his design will give rattan a face-lift and that people will be able to see the material in a different light. Design creates an opportunity in which conventional limitations of a material’s physical properties can be overcome with new application methods to harness its strengths. Ingenuity may be the key ingredient in reviving obsolete materials with a modern twist.

Architectural Inspiration With A Pinch Of Functionality Jerry Low (Singapore) Grand Award Winner

The modern market craves for furniture with enhanced aesthetic appeal. Besides focusing on this aspect, designers should also harness the power of their ideas to create furniture pieces that can affect consumer behaviour. Drawing inspirations from tropical architectures, like housing blocks of the 1970s, Mr Low designed the Wind Screen/Shelf to capture the elegance of vertical louvres. As if to satisfy the growing demand for multi-facet furniture driven by the shrinking of living space, the screen was integrated with display shelves to offer added functionality. He believes that furniture is one area designers can explore and apply their creative influences. With more interactions with buyers, manufacturers and creative counterparts, designers will be able to gain valuable experience and acquire the necessary knowledge to take their designs even further.

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Eco-friendly Design With Household Materials Page Tan (Singapore) Merit Award

While some insist on carefully calibrated structural designs and the selection of premium materials to provide maximum comfort, Ms Tan demonstrates that with a little bit of imagination, a functional piece of furniture can be made with simple household materials. Inspired by the concept of knitting and weaving, the Igloo Stool is constructed with a long polyvinyl chloride (PVC) hose and common nylon cable ties. The stool requires no internal structure as it leverages on the use of traditional geometrical plaiting. According to her, the furniture industry gives designers opportunities to express their creativity and get recognition for their talents. The social awareness on eco-friendliness in the last two decades presents designers a challenge to incorporate this idea into their concepts.

Cheeky Reminder For Bedtime Readers Sharina Bi Abdul Rashid (Singapore) Merit Award

Sometimes what differentiates a design from the rest is the attention to detail that may not be directly relevant to the purpose of the furniture piece. At first glance, the Sprout may appear to be just an ordinary coffee table. However, avid readers will be able to understand its true intention in design. Built to address the needs of bedtime readers, the petal-shaped bookmark that sprouts out from one of the corners holds the page for future reading. Furniture designs need to strike a chord with target consumers to build resonance that will enhance the appeal of the piece drastically. For Ms Abdul Rashid, the furniture industry not only provides designers with a platform to experiment and explore new furniture archetypes, but also the opportunity to bring these ideas to fruition. Such exposure will expand the designer network and allow for collaboration with people from different parts of the world.


Furniture Design & Technology STUDENTS Category Challenge Convention With Inspiration From Nature

Grace Joan Tanutama (Singapore) Honorable Mention Award

Furniture Approach For Fading Industry Yin Tzu-Chi (Taiwan) Grand Award Winner

Economy is a dynamic network of separate components interacting with one another constantly. Creativity in design can form the bridge that links two different industries. When Mr Yin learnt of the declining domestic towel industry in Taiwan, he wanted to help resurrect it through his designs. By employing the use of locally produced towels in his Sheep Chair, he hopes to motivate other designers to find new ways to utilise this product. He thinks that the furniture industry can provide a form of aesthetic possibilities of life where designers can use a variety of cultural context to give users an access to a unique experience. Modern furniture designs enable the fusion of materials to increase aesthetic appeal and comfort. This gives designers an open sandbox to play with. At the same time, unconventional designs may open new doors for other industries as well.

Design is about pushing boundaries and exploring uncharted territories. The constant conflict against convention fuels the flame of innovation and breaks new ground for cutting-edge furniture designs. The Ostrich Table changes the perception that a table should consist of four legs. It is the end product of an initial concept that was even more ambitious in nature. When Ms Tanutama first began her thought process, she wanted to build a table with only two legs on the side. Drawing inspiration from nature, her idea was refined to take the form of an ostrich sticking its head into the ground. The simplistic design helps to reduce space wastage. According to her, the furniture industry opens up endless opportunities for young designers to showcase their creativity and talent. It is by challenging conventions and finding new approaches that will help accelerate the growth of the industry.

One Envelope To Hold It All Nur Sabeela Binte Abdul Karim (Singapore) Honorable Mention Award

Functionality needs not be a direct contradiction to aesthetic appeal. Slight enhancement to traditional solutions can give users the best of both worlds. 'You’ve Got Mail!' is a simple variation of conventional wall mount shelves that offer easy storage of letters, magazines and notes in a single compartment. Customisation is its strength as it allows for different choice of material, wood or aluminium, and different sizes to cater to the needs of the user. The piece function as a shelving unit as well as an art piece. Ms Abdul Karim feels that designers can enhance the functional features of existing furniture pieces to more viable and up-to-date designs. Advancement in technology will offer more tools from which designs can be based upon to achieve furniture with greater functionality and aesthetic appeal.

The Elegance Of Fluidity

Roger Yeo Wei Ming (Singapore) Merit Award Conventional furniture designs can be redefined with the infusion of sensuality that brings an added dimension to its appeal. The visual play of curves, shadows and light gives the Flux Coffee Table its unique sense of flow. The surface deformation forms a simple circular band with the sides bent up to create an altered structure of a coffee table. This simple, yet flexible design can be replicated with a variety of materials. Mr Yeo sees the ever growing and evolving furniture industry as opportunities for designers to come up with fresh and exciting ideas, which appeal to various market segments. Designers can make use of advancement in manufacturing technologies, as well as revolutionary trends to discover new trends and apply them to furniture designs. ENQUIRY NO. 3503

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Marcos Clei Graeff de Oliveira, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Furniture Design & Technology

Step&

K

Outward Designing doors and windows either draw inspirations from traditional designs or adopt contemporary minimalist approach. By Natalia Tee 44 FDM Asia  April 2011 | www.fdmasia.com

W

hen opened, doors and windows admit light and ventilation, brightening up the room as a result. When closed, they act as a barrier to noise and control the physical atmosphere within a space. In today’s context, it is inadequate for windows and doors to just open and close, allowing the passage of light and people. The aesthetic appearance of doors and windows has been enhanced to appeal to customers. Minimalist design of doors attracts customers who want to complement the modern outlook of the houses and furniture. In contrast, traditional hardwood doors and windows add a classic touch. Designers and architects are able to re-


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Paul Joseph, British Columbia, Canada

Furniture Design & Technology

Colonial Inspired Doors

Stepping In & Out Although there are many types of doors, the more common door designs include swinging, sliding and folding. A swing door has hinges that allow it to open either outwards or inwards. The hinges along one side allow the door to pivot from the doorway in one direction. Since the door’s axis of rotation is not the plane of the door, it reduces the space required on the side to which the door opens. A sliding door, on the other hand, opens horizontally by sliding, whereby the door is either mounted or suspended from a track. It is often used for space consideration. The door can slide in either direction along one axis on parallel overhead tracks, even sliding past one another. It is commonly used in shower, wardrobe and balcony.

ENQUIRY NO. 180

interpret historically accurate aesthetics of windows and doors. Other than the artistic outlook of doors and windows, engineering technology may be included. These include better security and safety features, and the shock-absorbent properties or the Blumotion effect (ie: silent closing action) when closing, so as to minimise noise.

Traditional door designs draw inspiration from the elegant 18th century England, 19th century Neoclassic or British Colonial. Almost all traditional doors are made up of rich, dark brown hardwood, such as mahogany, walnut and cherry. DS Doors manufactures decorative doors and window frames using materials like oak, maple and teak. Using vacuum and pressure systems to inject chemicals onto the wood, the stability of the wood is enhanced. In addition, belt-sanding machines provide smooth and flawless surfaces to the doors. With these processes in place, the company is able to present products chiseled out of wood with intricate wooden carvings. An alternative to producing wooden doors is to perform authentic hand carvings on wooden doors. Woods, a Thailand-based door designer, whose wooden doors' quality matches to those in US and UK, attracts customers who opt for products that are not processed by machines. Nevertheless, not all colonial-inspired doors represent a clone of the past. Rather, architects and designers have merged the colonial traditional doors with subtle contemporary details or colours. For example, colonial-inspired doors may be painted white or cream. While light and soft colours exude a more relaxed, contemporary look onto the colonial style, rich colours and jewel tones give a more formal appearance. Other colonial design options include www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA  April 2011

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Tanaka Juuyoh, Japan

Furniture Design & Technology oversized doors, aluminium or heavy bronze cladding, and radius doors with bent glass.

Japanese-Style Room Inspired Traditional door designs may not be limited to colonial-inspired. Another preference for traditional appearance of doors is the Shoji doors that are commonly seen in Japanese-Style room. These panel sliding doors are made of traditional materials for interior use. They were originally used to separate living space from the veranda or porch, while allowing light to enter. Shoji door is designed in a way that it is wooden-framed, and the screen is made of mulberry bark. Although they are used in themed and contemporary restaurants and Japanese residences, Shoji doors have been adopted along modern minimalist approach. In modern homes, they are placed behind a parallel set of sliding glass doors.

Minimalist Door Designs

designs instead of traditional door designs. Normally, contemporary design takes upon a minimalist approach. Although it may not necessarily be a purist concept, minimalist concept combines classical design with modern accents. In practice, contemporary design comprises open spaces, clean lines and bold geometry. Stainless steel strips built into the door may give a sleek design.

Customers may also opt for copper strips, as they will hue over time to give a more classic appearance. Instead of metallic strips, glass inserts in doors not only pave way for natural light, but also add a sense of mystery. This is due to the perception that the shape of the glass seems to defy gravity as it is suspended permanently. Designed by Giuseppe Bavuso for Rimadesio, Aura swing door is made

SEIER+SEIER

Lauren Manning, New York, US

Today, many architects and interior designers adopt contemporary door

A modern take on the shoji door is the inclusion of glass sliding doors.

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Jeremy Levin

Melodi T, Auckland, New Zealand

Furniture Design & Technology

up of a structure with an aluminium frame, faced with lacquered glass on both sides. Its handle is produced from pressure die-cast metal alloy. All thanks to an invisible magnetic system, the door does not require the use of traditional locks. An extreme minimalist take on the sliding door is the indoor outdoor sliding window from Giorgio Senatore. It has a very thin frame and lacks trim and window hinges, offering maximised view of the external environment. Moreover, this collection carries a wide variety of soundproof and heat insulated glass. Utilisation of this door includes separating bedroom and areas between indoor and outdoor areas.

Looking Out Of The Wind Eye Windows are often referred as the eyes of the building. They are usually glazed or covered with translucent material like a float glass. Open windows allow for ventilation while close windows shield from inclement weather. To prevent them from collapsing in, they are held in place by frames. There are four common types of windows that involve opening and closing, and are usually installed in houses. They include awning, casement, double-hung and gliding. Picture (ie: fixed) and bay windows are designed to give maximum outdoor view and flow of natural light into the room, producing an illusion of a larger room. Casement is one of the most common types of windows being used. The hinges are located along one side of

the casement windows, so they crank outwards. In parts of Europe, casement windows may rely on projection friction and espagnolette locking.

Windows: Before & After Modern casement windows are a product of the stone mullioned windows. They were originally subdivided by glazing bars and joined together with small glass panes. Later on, frames and opening casements were made entirely of timber. In the mid-19th century, windows containing six-panes per casement were decorated with the use of Gothic arches. From then on, glass technology had improved and the number of panes per casement was reduced to two including one horizontal glazing bar. Dynamic Architectural Windows & Doors offers architects to re-create historical-looking wooden windows while ensuring 21st century performance standards. Double-hung windows are designed without visible jamb liners or exposed steel fasteners for an authentic appearance. Frenchdesigned casements may also include Cremone bolt hardware and mouth

blown Restoration glass. The design options for doors and windows range from traditional to modern outlooks. Designers and architects draw inspiration from the past as they create elaborate or simplistic doors and windows. In contrast, adopting minimalist approach has designed the house in a way that there are no physical doors within the house. To add on, doors and windows are topped up with a list of advanced safety and security options. These include sound abatement and enhanced UV protection, historical hinges with finial tips, solid brass cam handles, and stainless steel multipoint locks. Safety film can be applied onto windows. Since it is invisible, it leaves window panes clear. Moreover, it imparts added strength to the windows, making the windows less prone to damage. This is appropriate for homeowners who want added security without the usage of window grills or bars. Such safety and security features give homeowners the assurance of protecting children at home and against risks of burglary. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 3502

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Wood & Sustainability

Certified For

Mark robinson, Williton, UK

Success

With consumer’s growing awareness on sustainability of forest resources, achieving forest certification may become the seal of economic approval. By Frank De Meuller

S

ustainability has become a critical talking point in the last two decades. as Earth’s resources start to dwindle due to irresponsible extraction, the world began to understand the importance of ensuring the sustainability of renewable resources.

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Despite being coined as a renewable resource, regeneration of wood typically requires a much longer period than the term imply. Conventional hardwood takes up to decades before they are matured enough for harvesting. Even for species with shorter life cycles, they will need a good number of years to grow into functional timber. The key lies in proper and responsible management. The aim of sustainability of wood resources is to move towards an equilibrium where the rate of regeneration is the same as consumption. While this target is still

some distance away, the foundation towards this goal has already been established. Forest certification was launched more than a decade ago to protect forests from destructive logging practices. products that bear the forest certification logo notify consumers that the material used comes from forests managed in accordance with strict environmental and social standards. There are more than 50 certification programmes around the world. The most prominent of these are the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the


Wood & Sustainability Principle 1

Compliance with all applicable laws and international treaties.

Principle 2

Demonstrated and uncontested, clearly defined, long–term land tenure and use rights.

Principle 3

recognition and respect of indigenous people’s rights.

Principle 4

Maintenance or enhancement of long-term social and economic well-being of forest workers and local communities and respect of worker’s rights in compliance with international labour Organisation (ilO) conventions.

Principle 5

Equitable use and sharing of benefits derived from the forest.

Principle 6

reduction of environmental impact of logging activities and maintenance of the ecological functions and integrity of the forest.

Principle 7

appropriate and continuously updated management plan.

Principle 8

appropriate monitoring and assessment activities to assess the condition of the forest, management activities and their social and environmental impacts.

Principle 9

Maintenance of High Conservation Value Forests (HCVFs) defined as forests containing environmental and social values that are considered to be of outstanding significance or critical importance.

Principle 10

in addition to compliance with all of the above, plantations must contribute to reduce the pressures on and promote the restoration and conservation of natural forests.

ENQUIRY NO. 232

programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (pEFC). Besides forest certification, FSC also offers chain of custody certification which ensures that sustainable practices are applied throughout the supply chain, including material processing, transformation and product manufacturing. FSC is an independent, nongovernmental, not-for-profit organisation established in 1993 to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. To qualify for FSC forest certification, companies must be able to comply with ten core principles and 56 associated criteria. These are applicable to all tropical, temperate and boreal forests, as well as plantations and partially replanted forests. The ten principles are:

For more information,please visit :www.yalianjx.cn

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Niko Pettersen, Helsinki, Finland

Wood & Sustainability

in forest management and ratified by the respective countries. The eight conventions are:

PEFC is an independent, nonprofit, non-governmental organisation which promotes sustainably managed forests through independent third party certification. Established in 1999, it is the world’s largest forest certification system with a coverage of about two-thirds of the globally certified forest area. PEFC International is the only international forest certification scheme that bases its criteria on internationally accepted intergovernmental conventions and guidelines. In order to be certified under PEFC, companies must adhere to all eight International Labour Organization conventions, even in countries which have not ratified them. This is on top of other international conventions relevant

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No. 29

Forced Labour (1930)

No. 87

Freedom of Associations and Protection of the Right to Organise (1948)

No. 98

Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949)

No. 100

Equal Remuneration (1951)

No. 105

Abolition of Forced Labour (1957)

No. 111

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation)(1958)

No. 138

Minimum Age for Admission to Employment (1973)

No. 182

Worst Forms of Child Labour (1999)

Increasing consumer awareness and the subsequent demand for certified wood products have created incentives for manufacturers to source for certified wood resources. In a study conducted by Universiti Putra Malaysia Press in 2010, 57 percent of the respondents indicated that they are willing to pay premium prices for products that are certified. 74 percent stated that they would choose products made from certified timber. A future where consumer show exclusive preference for certified wood product may soon become a reality. With governments stepping up their efforts to clamp down on illegal timber activities, this is a good time for the forestry companies to get their products certified. The forest certification logo can become a valuable seal of approval from both the environmental and economic perspectives. FDM

ENQUIRY NO. 3601


German

Innovation Supplement

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Foreword

German

Innovation

P

rosperity needs growth – the basis for growth are resources. Limited resources. The consumption of natural resources is about to reach an end, therefore it is essential to develop towards a sustainable approach. A common definition of sustainability reads ‘development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’ – an ethic responsibility to ensure the wellbeing of our children and, in the end, survival of mankind. But besides this global, long term ethic responsibility, especially in our industry with its dependence on a renewable resource, another force for sustainability exists out of plain economic motivation: To secure the commercial basis for our business and enhance competitiveness today, for the wellbeing of both future and also today fs generation. In this context the term ‘resource efficiency’ has become quite common. It is vaguely defined, allowing a number of interpretations. Therefore, it pays off to take a closer look: Which aspect is relevant for any particular industrial sector or particular region? For the woodworking industry in Southeast Asia, three resources bear particular meaning at present:

1. Wood For many years, deforestation and nonsustainable forestry schemes have led to a lack of wood raw material in Southeast Asia. Remaining deposits are difficult

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Supplement

to access, or their utilisation is limited by law. Wood from plantations for the production of rubber or palm oil is not suitable for all applications. The number of plants for the panel board production with their massive consumption of raw material rises. German plant manufacturers are pleased about recent orders from Thailand, Indonesia and also Vietnam: Even though there are only scarce wood resources, the first two continuous presses are currently under construction in the country – one of which will be the largest MDF plant

in all of Southeast Asia. At the same time, a growing volume of sawn wood is being traded worldwide. Precious wood species from America and Europe are processed many times to produce classy indoor furniture in Southeast Asia, only to be immediately re-exported. Besides this product manufacturing sector, the demand for wood as energy supplier on an industrial level is rising. Especially after the recent incidents in Japan, there is a movement in the public opinion worldwide towards renewable energies.


German

Innovation

WR-Fife, Bhutan

Supplement

– can be reduced dramatically with modern woodworking technology. And sure enough: In Southeast Asia, particularly high-tech machinery is currently in demand, which guarantees a maximum yield with minimum of resources. German manufacturers are world leaders not only in terms of volume: Especially in the top segment, there are often no alternatives to the ‘Made In Germany’ brand. The current limit of what can be technically achieved in woodworking will be on display at LIGNA in Hanover. Exhibitors and visitors from around the world come together in order to discuss, consult and buy. As a preparation for that, this issue of FDM Asia with the country focus on Germany comes just at the right time. I hope you will enjoy reading and that maybe you hit one or two ideas which LIGNA exhibitors you should visit. A considerate exploitation of the increasingly precious resource wood is advisable – starting in the forest, but just as well in the primary and secondary processing steps.

on the long run for diesel. A reduced consumption of electrical power or the power generation from wood waste seems advisable.

2. Energy

Particularly in Southeast Asia, successful businesses grow rapidly to a size of hundreds, even thousands of employees. They execute manual labour or run simple machines – cumbersome work, which is sometimes harmful to health if executed for a long time. Employers lament the high fluctuation rate: Of 100 newly employed workers, maybe 30 or 40 will stay for more than one week, after one year, only 10 will be left. After Chinese New Year, it sometimes takes weeks until the production is running smoothly again – workers will simply stay at home after vacation. Wage increases and other costly measures often have to be taken in order to secure a sufficient supply of the resource manpower. The assignment of the three mentioned resources – wood, energy and manpower

3. Manpower

Henry Hingst, Sau Paolo, Brazil

Global warming, conflicts in politically unstable regions with large crude oil deposits, usage of the much disputed nuclear power: The big problems of our time centre around the energy supply. In many parts of Southeast Asia, a reliable supply of electrical power cannot be ensured even today – and the demand is still rising rapidly. It is yet to be seen whether the Southeast Asian states will manage to supply electrical energy nationwide and continuously in the future, especially in rural areas, where the wood industry is mainly located. There are plenty of examples of downtime of entire production sites due to temporary shut-downs of the power grid. Lucky are those who are not reliant on it! But, a rise in prices is also inevitable

– Ingo Bette Marketing Director VDMA

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From A German A

fter the global financial crisis, the Southeast Asian region has recovered surprisingly well. Economic growth rates are once more among the highest worldwide; the overall outlook seems promising. Consultations about free trade agreements add momentum to the hopes for coming years. A German perspective may shed light on the expectations for the woodworking machinery industry.

Homag

Growth & Positive Outlook Machinery supplies from Germany to Southeast Asia had reached an all-time high in 2010, and had even grown another 18 percent in January 2011 as compared to January 2010. Still, it is important to distinguish among the different sectors for woodworking machineries. While several plants for the production of woodbased panels have been sold separately, for example in countries like Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, the solid wood sector is still somewhat slower. The worldwide exports statistics between 2005 and 2009 states that exports across Southeast Asia region in 2009 has dropped by 57 percent on average, as compared to the previous year. Vietnam was hit worst with a reduction of 76 percent. German export figures may shed light on the development from that period onwards. Deliveries of presses for the wood-based panel industry reflected a more positive increase with US$60 million in 2010. With the high rate of orders' demand from German manufacturers, it is anticipated that there will be a stable rate of growth at the secondary processing stage. Many companies in the furniture

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and component industries are investing in highly automated plants, specifically in ‘batch size one’ and flexibility in production.

Current Potential With respect to the industry as a whole, it is expected that the growth rate for 2011 is seven percent. Although this is regarded as a conservative estimate, there are other factors to take into account such as the risks for the economy overall, possible implications of the situation in Japan, high levels of national debt, unemployment in several industrial nations and uncertainties in the financial sector. Contributors to the driving force in 2011 include the Asian and South American markets that drove the upturn for German manufacturers in 2010 due to a dynamic demand. An overwhelming

Dieffenbacher

Joson Ng, Singapore

Market Outlook:


German

Innovation Supplement

Dieffenbacher

Perspective

After the glo b crisis, the re al financial gion’s economic gro w are once mo th rates re among th e highest worl d can be expe wide. What cte woodworkin d for the g industry? An machinery o a German pe utlook from rspective. B y Ingo Bette, V DMA

crude oil and gas play a part in how Russian banks provide favourable rates of finance for their customers. Meanwhile, North America remains as a concern even though a slight positive growth is observed. This is despite the fact that the region would have a particularly large requirement for efficient technology since the recovering housing sector will increase demand for equipments.

optimism, coupled with the need for demand to catch up in terms of living space and interior fittings provide the stimulus needed. Additionally, Eastern Europe, which displays indications of a stable recovery, and Russia who is getting back into its stride are some of the markets with great potential. The high prices in Paul, Germany

German Manufacturers’ Interaction With The Rest Of The World German woodworking machineries contribute to about 30 percent of the world market share. In the top segment, there is often no alternative to high quality and efficiency technology that is ‘made in Germany’. Still, markets with the most dynamic development are found geographically further away from Germany, which bears a challenge for such a small structured industry. The migration of markets is pushing the internationalisation of machinery manufacturers and their global presence. This is not to say a challenge as such will stop the German manufacturers from looking toward Southeast Asian markets as a focus of interest. Promising projects for mutual benefits are to be expected, as Southeast Asia remains a region of potential robust growth.

ENQUIRY NO. 3701

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Innovation in German

Woodworking Bandsaw, Panel Sizing Saw & Throughfeed Bandsaw, panel sizing saw and throughfeed are some of the saw machines used in the woodworking industry. Band saw usually rides on two wheels rotating in the same plane and produces a uniform cutting action as a result of an evenly distributed tooth load. The radius of a curve that can be cut on a particular saw is determined by the width of the band and its lateral flexibility. While a bandsaw is particularly useful for cutting irregular or curved shapes, a panel sizing saw cuts sheets into sized parts. Panel saws typically fall into either horizontal or vertical categories. Vertical panel saws have the advantage of using less floor space. In contrast, horizontal panel saws may include other functions that are not applicable to vertical panel saw. The type of panel saw used depends on the space availability, intended usage, and budget considerations.

• Panel Sizing Beam Saw Holzma has been producing panel sizing beam saws and systems. Their engineers analyse customers’ requirements and needs, then produce customised performance packages. As such, the products enable customers to process the orders quicker, more economically and with greater flexibility. The company revamped their horizontal panel-sizing saw models under the 4 series that will cater to mass producers, as they meet customer requirements from S to XXXL. The series is a collection of high-power single saws and angular systems that are designed to cut large quantities of panels in finish cut quality.

Besides the single saws with lift tables HPL 410 and HPL 430, and the angular system HKL 430, other single saw models include: • HPP 410 with a 110 mm saw blade projection • HPP 430 with a 130 mm saw blade projection In addition, HPL 410 and HPL 430 are also available in profiLine versions. Other additional features include the window in the pressure beam that provides a clear view of the rear machine table, two-fingered clamps throughout, an ergonomic table height of 920 mm and energy-saving ecoLine technologies. Compared with present panel-sizing saws, this series with ecoLine technologies saves up to 20 percent more energy. It allows users to increase productivity and protect the environment at the same time. This means a sustainable economic operation with win-win potential. ENQUIRY NO. 3702

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German

Innovation Supplement

Products • Bandsaw Technology

Dust Extractor

Customers may benefit from the Esterer WD (EWD)’s technology competence and the innovative strength in the design and supply of sawmill machinery.

Fine dust is often produced in processes like sanding, milling, drilling and sawing. It is important to ensure that woodworkers are protected against fine airborne wood dust as it can cause respiratory, dermatological and carcinogenic problems. Therefore, wood dust should be extracted appropriately.

• All-Purpose Vacuum Cleaner

The new system of EWD brings bandsaw lines to the performance class of high-speed circular saw and profiling lines with the big advantage of thinner saw kerfs throughout all cutting heights. The company’s bandsaw technologies include the reducer bandsaw, band resaw, log bandsaw and roboline. The ‘flying Bandsaw’ was developed to increase the sawing accuracy and feed speed of bandsaws. ENQUIRY NO. 3703

• Throughfeed Technology K 350 series from Homag is designed to open up production to batch size one, primarily with the entry level users in mind. The inclusion of the workpiece guides ensures precise dimensional and angular positioning. Like the K 600 series, this series comes complete with a rolling block link chain designed to minimise chain running noise. An additional polygon compensation function reinforces the effect of the smooth running chain, reducing wear. Scope for free equipment with processing units and a durable, torsionresistant machine frame offer a range of additional benefits. Workpieces are transported with precision, and dimensional and repeat accuracy. In addition, the chip and waste piece disposal facility makes for improved machine availability and a longer service life. ENQUIRY NO. 3704

Originated from Nürtingen, Germany, Metabowerke has extended its programme range of all-purpose vacuum cleaners with two tools, ASR 35 L AutoClean and ASR 35 M AutoClean. Both 1,400 W dust extractors have a holding capacity of 35 litres. Vacuuming dust, dirt and non-flammable liquid may reach an air output of up to 3,660 litres per minute. Since the vacuum cleaners are made of low-wear components, they are suitable for continuous use in workshops as well as construction sites. While the ASR 35 M AutoClean is certified for vacuuming dust of medium hazard according to Institute for Safety at work (IFA), the ASR 35 L AutoClean is suitable for dust of light hazard. The AutoClean function enables the clog in the filters to be freed by electromagnetic vibrations during operation, without any compromise on suction power. This saves the user time and money as the service life of the filter extends and the user can work without interruptions. In addition, since the filters are made from high-grade polyester, they can be changed or cleaned dry if required. Other features include a handy support surface that permits users to put down tools and working materials, automatic trailing mechanism that ensures the hose is emptied completely after the vacuuming process. To ensure protection from dust hazardous to health, the automated control in the suction power of the ASR 35 M AutoClean warns the user if the airflow is low, for example when the filter bag is full. As such, users are assured that overflow of dust does not occur. ENQUIRY NO. 3705

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Word From The edge, more structure on the surfaces (paper and edgebanding), as well as the trend on green in Asia –reasons for us to have our plants GreenGuard certified, digital printing, and lighting edge. Our paper decor trends on foils and printed decor papers from BauschDecor and BauschLinnemann. There will be lots of new textures and colours that will be presented at our booth in Interzum 2011. We will see lots of ‘saw cross cut’ decors, fabric patterns, leather and many woodgrain patterns. Another trend to look out for is lights that start to appear as an accent in furniture, and we highlight this with our luminous 3D edges.

The Edge Of Technology Hans Klingeborn, MD of Surteco, is expecting strong growth for its business in the region, and is looking forward to expanding its production capacity. What are the upcoming trends for the industry that we can expect from Germany? Fusion Edge technology – installed edgebanders worldwide is increasing and the technology with premium adhesion properties is gaining increased momentum. Ongoing trends are high gloss 3D 2in1

What is your company doing to meet these demands? In order to meet these demands, we are looking to increase the production capacity of our Indonesian and Australian plants, as well as for the fusion edge technology in our headquarters based in Germany. We are also planning to add more people to help with the change of edgebander technology worldwide for our customers, and build close partnership with machine manufacturers to improve laser technology processes. Ongoing development of technical and design solutions will also give our customers an edge. What is the company’s expected growth in Asia Pacific for 2011? We are expecting a twenty percent growth. But, the impact caused by the crisis in Japan is still unclear. This might have huge influence in raw material supply for our plastic processing as well as in consumer spending and market demands. However, there is a strong growth and need for high quality products in the ASEAN countries as well as in India, so we believe that the growth is still there. ENQUIRY NO. 3706

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German

Innovation Supplement

Ground

German com pa made their m nies who have ark in Asia s ha thoughts on trends in the re their region and their busine ss expectati ons in an exclus ive with FDM for 2011, Asia.

Leading The Way Vollmer Werke is known for its portfolio of grinding and eroding machines. Erwin Geissler, GM of the company’s Taicang subsidiary in China, talked about trends in the industry at a recent interview in China. What are the upcoming trends for the industry that we can expect from Germany? I think the influence of German technology here in China is very clear. This is in terms of the increase in technology level in all the factories. Chinese companies are now also capable of doing quality work and products, and this is a trend that that we’ve initiated from the beginning, and still following. There is a little bit of movement from mass production to do-it-yourself, and on to high levels of industry. Our customers now have highly automated factories and are a very organised industry. What are the challenges facing your company and what is your company doing to meet this demand? There are a couple of challenges. The first is that as technology leaders, there is always a demand to make increase the speed of development. The lifecycle of a product is also getting shorter with time. As such, we must put in more effort in research and development, to maintain our position as a market leader. We also face a lot of competition from local

companies who do not have a research and development department, and these companies just copy and charge low prices. So, on the one hand, we have a lot of research and development works that are expensive, and on the other hand, we must keep our prices competitive. What is the company’s expected growth in Asia Pacific for 2011? The Asia Pacific region is not homogenous. We expect very good business in China, Thailand, Vietnam and maybe Malaysia, but do not expect too much business from Korea and Japan. Asia Pacific is our target market, and this expectation has to do with the economy of the region. ENQUIRY NO. 3707

www.fdmasia.com | FDM AsiA APRIL 2011

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German

Innovation Supplement

Designed To Match Needs Klumpp Coatings, of Friedrich Klumpp GmbH, develop and manufacture high-quality, innovative coating systems for markets that include furniture, panelling and flooring. Stephan Klumpp, the company’s GM, talks about today’s trends and the company’s plans to meet it.

What are the upcoming trends for the industry that we can expect from Germany? The major trends we currently see for the flooring industry are: First, digital printing technology, which is a technology enabling laminate-flooring manufacturers to customise their products with an unlimited variety of décors/ designs. Secondly, we see and support an upcoming trend leaving the old paths of classical UV coatings for flooring, using solely anti-abrasive sealants towards more elastic systems, providing crucial improvements in view to deep scratch resistance – a common form of daily wear and tear. Thirdly, the use of UV-curable coatings instead of solventbased systems gets more and more popular in the panel, furniture and door skin industry (so called ‘flat stock’).

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What is your company doing to meet these demands, and the company’s expected growth in Asia Pacific for 2011? With regards to printing technology, although digital printing technology itself is not a new technology, the use of this technology in the flooring industry is a recent innovation and has become an attractive option for the laminated floor manufacturing industry. Direct printing technology and digital printing technology differ in the application method of the printed image. Digital print applies the image using advanced inkjet technology instead of the roll coat application of direct print. The applied image is then protected by multiple layers of UV curable coatings much the same as in direct print. Further possibilities of adding value to the surface are 3D structure and synchronised pore coatings DPL-floorings. Whether direct or digitally printed, they offer an opportunity to provide maximum product diversity. On top of that, optical and haptical appearance of the surface can be varied by a 3D-structured surface or even a so called ‘synchronised pore’, by the use of thixotropic coating systems applied with engraved ‘doctor rollers’. The expected growth of sales for this market in Asia Pacific this year is five percent. This is due to the considerably high investment still needed for the equipment. However, we expect a growth of 20 to 30 percent on the markets of Europe and US. In 2010, the company developed the so called ‘Lifetime Coating’ - a hard but elastic coating system. The system provides abrasion scratch and impact resistance, thereby extending the life cycle of flooring. Additionally, the layer built-up of protective sealants could be adjusted to higher abrasion values by using a sandwich of the anti-abrasive standard and the recently developed system, extending a flooring’s lifetime and preserving the freshly installed look. The expected growth of sales for this market in Asia Pacific in 2011 is 10 percent. The use of UV coatings has opened up possibilities in surface design, durability and sustainability for panel, furniture and door skin industry (so called ‘flat stock’). The company’s research and development made it possible to transfer the know-how of UV-curable coating systems for rollcoat application of the flooring industry to the furniture and panel industry. The expected growth of sales for this market in Asia Pacific in 2011 is 20 percent. ENQUIRY NO. 3708


Exhibition Review

WoodMac China 2011 March 1 - 4, 2011 Shanghai New International Expo Centre Shanghai, China

T

he 11th edition of WoodMac China and supporting events WoodBuild and FurniTek China 2011 took place from March 1 to 4, 2011 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. The exhibition recorded a 20 percent growth in area to 35,000 sq m with the biggest addition coming from European panel technology companies and Chinese exhibitors offering a range of forestry, panel board, furniture, wood flooring, window and door and other wood product manufacturing technology. International participation was

dominated by European exhibitors, particularly pavilions from national wood technology associations from Germany, the VDMA and from Italy, ACIMALL. The event was supported by the 13-member country associations that make up EUMABOIS, the European Federation of Woodworking Associations. While Chinese participation is under the auspices of the China National Forestry Machinery Association and the private sector woodworking guilds of Shanghai, Harbin in North China, Qingdao, in the East and Shunda, South China. Visitors to the four-day expo totalled 16,730. This represents a 22 percent increase compared to the last installation of the event in 2009. Chinese mainland attendance made up the bulk of visitors with over 14,000. There were also 1,950 visitors from 80 countries including Brazil, Saudi Arabia, India, Malaysia and Indonesia. Alongside the exhibition, Chinese

wood industry associations and institutes organised a series of specialist conferences and award ceremonies. Subjects included a technology forum on labour efficient woodworking machines and energy saving cutting tools; flooring and cabinet makers AGM; wood in interior design; controlling production quality for wood product manufacturing. Brendan Jennings, GM, China International Exhibitions, said: “As international and domestic customers of wood products demand higher quality at affordable prices, Chinese producers have matured and now recognise the benefits of employing quality technology over price.” The event was organised by China National Forestry Machinery Association; Deutsche Messe AG and China International Exhibitions, a member of Allworld Exhibitions. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 3801 www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA  April 2011

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Exhibition Review

Malaysian International Furniture Fair 2011 March 1 – 5, 2011 • Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

M

alaysian International Furniture Fair 2011 (MIFF) took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from March 1 – 5. Spread over two venues, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and Putra World Trade Centre, the show featured over 500 exhibitors from Malaysia, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, India, South Korea, US, Egypt and Japan. Approximately 7,000 international buyers visited the exhibition and the large number of buyers at the fair translated to a RM50 million (US$16.51 million) contribution to the local economy. MIFF is a signature out-bound exhibition which showcases local furniture for the export market. As Dato’ Dr Tan Chin Huat, MD of MIFF, explained: "By displaying their furniture at the show, local manufacturers can save a lot on marketing cost." Malaysia furniture manufacturers produce a wide range of furniture from office, kitchen, bedroom, dining room, occasional, living room, upholstered furniture/sofas, children, outdoor and garden furniture. In 2010, Malaysia’s total furniture exports amounted to RM7.9 billion. Highlights of the event include a series of seminars, buyers’ night and the second edition of the Ideation Award. In his presentation, award winning Swiss designer Daniel

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Korb shared his experience in furniture design. He explained that creativity is something that must be nurtured and groomed. The focus on sustainability saw the inclusion of seminars focused on green furniture materials and certification programmes. The award returned on a bigger scale than the previous year. This year’s theme is ‘The New Urbanism, Innovation and Sustainability’ which challenges young designers to embed the green philosophy and modern limitation of living space in their designs. The aim of the competition is to nurture young talents and give them the opportunity to learn about the furniture industry. More than 200 entries were received. Ian Davies, chief judge of the Ideation Award and Furniture Excellence Award, noted that while the designs of domestically produced furniture have evolved, the presentation by manufacturers still has room for improvement. Creative display of products will enforce a stronger impression and increase overall appeal. Product packaging is another important aspect that can propel the industry forward. MIFF 2012 will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from March 6 – 12. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 3802


Exhibition Review

The Need For

Identity Despite mounting competition in the global furniture market, Dato’ Dr Tan Chin Huat, managing director of Malaysian International Furniture Fair, sees room for expansion for Asia’s furniture industry. By Wong Tsz Hin

G

rowing material costs, driven in part by stricter control on timber extraction, and price suppression due to the prevalence of cheaper product alternatives have created mounting competition within the global furniture market. Developed countries like the US, Canada and other European nations are forced to trim and narrow their manufacturing operations to wood products with higher profit margins as a cost-balancing act. While some may perceive this as the diminishing of a once lucrative trade, Dato’ Dr Tan Chin Huat, MD of Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF), sees it as an opportunity for Asia’s furniture industry to flourish. “For production, there is still a lot of room to grow because higher costs of manufacturing in the west and US will force them to drop certain productions.” Dato’ Tan explained. Productions that are no longer commercially viable for western countries to sustain will be passed on to nations in better positions to gain. Asia can benefit from this with its lower manufacturing cost and established furniture industry. Two decades ago, Malaysia only accounts for 10 percent of the global furniture production in Asia, the figure is now at around 40 percent with plenty of room for growth. Substituting developed countries in competitive production segments will be a crucial area for progress.

dominant player in the market. The focus should shift towards neighbouring eastern countries like China and India, two huge markets with growing appetites for furniture products. Russia, India, China and Pakistan constitute about 66 percent of the world population and South-east Asia alone has a population of 590 million people. The east possesses enormous marketing potential. In order for the region to spearhead towards the frontier of the global furniture trade, the industry must be able to continue to offer competitive pricing and establish an identity in its products.

Competitive Pricing Price flexibility can be achieved through technological research and development. Malaysian government organisations

New Market Focus The furniture industry may have suffered a setback in 2009 due to the economic recession, however, demand has recovered in 2010 and is expected to rise further in 2011. Asia’s furniture industry needs to loosen its grip on the false presumption that global trade refers specifically to export to western countries if it wants to become a www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA  april 2011

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Exhibition Review

equipment manufacturing (OEM) operations to original design manufacturing (ODM) operations. This will empower them to conceive creative designs that are coherent with the features of the identity. Another essential requirement is the introduction of designers into the manufacturing process. Furniture design and production cannot remain as separate components handled by different entities. Many furniture makers place emphasis on practicality and forego the aesthetic element which is vital for building identity.

Ideation Awards

SIRIM and Malaysian Timber Industry Board have been developing alternative materials using waste products such as rice husks. Although at present, these materials are still relatively expensive to make, their production costs are expected to decrease drastically once they enter mass production stage. These materials not only fit in with the latest industrial trend of going green, they also offer a touch of uniqueness to the products.

National Identity Of Products Besides achieving low selling price for furniture products, furniture makers from respective countries should aim to create a national identity in their products. Companies should recognise their nations’ strength and personalities, and embed them into their furniture designs both interiorly and exteriorly. Dato’ Tan noted that once you are able to build an identity and have people acknowledging it, it is already achieving the aim of branding. The establishment of national identity entails enterprises to move from original

64 FDM Asia  april 2011 | www.fdmasia.com

The Ideation Awards was created with this in mind. The objective of this competition is to expose young designers to the furniture making process, from conception to workable prototype production, in hope of enticing them to pursue a career in this industry. Furniture design has not been a conventional career choice for design students mostly due to the lack of understanding of this sector. The competition would be a platform for them to learn and gain interest. Dato’ Tan has a positive outlook for the future of Asia’s furniture industry. He predicts that Asia will continue to expand and take over productions from developed countries in North America and Europe due to cost. The infusion of young and talented designers will help increase the appeal and recognition of furniture. The industry is in a privileged position to prosper, but the push forward will hinge on its ability to maintain low cost production and build an identity of its own. FDM ENQUIRY NO. 3803


Exhibition Review

IFFS/AFS 2011 March 9 – 12, 2011 Singapore Expo, Singapore

T

he International Furniture Fair Singapore 2011 & 28th ASEAN Furniture Show (IFFS/AFS 2011) were held from March 9 to 12, 2011 at the Singapore Expo. The show featured 536 exhibitors from 24 countries, who showcased more than 120,000 products over 70,000 sq m of gross exhibition space. Coming amid a period of strong growth in Singapore as well as the furniture industries in Asia, the show saw a 23 percent increase in the number of exhibitors compared to 2010. The number of show debutantes was amplified with the launch of Hospitality Asia and the expansion of Deco Asia. Tony Pang, chairman of the IFFS/AFS 2011 show advisory panel said that design innovation, quality craftsmanship and timeliness are some of the key considerations that help shape the directions of the fair. He emphasised the importance of watching market trends and staying relevant to changing needs of the industry. One market trend is the growth of the hospitality and contract manufacturing industry in Singapore and the region, which led to the creation of Hospitality Asia. Featuring over 60 exhibitors in its debut edition, the show threw spotlight on a wide range of furniture and furnishing products tailored for the exacting demands of the hospitality industry. The ‘showwithin-a-show’ is expected to be one of the fastest growing segments at IFFS/ AFS. Design took centre stage in this year’s edition. D’Space, which premiered at last year’s installment, made its return as the umbrella for all design-led initiatives at the show such as: PLATFORM, a Singapore Furniture Industries Council initiative to promote emerging design entrepreneurs in the

region; Furniture Design Award 2011; the display of a unique collection of design pieces by Singapore-based designers in collaboration with Japanese minimalist, Naoto Fukasawa; and the PUSH Showcase from DesignS, a network of eight design-centric institutes and associations in Singapore. Ted Tan, deputy chief executive of SPRING Singapore, mentioned that Singapore’s furniture companies excelled through design, quality, customer service and market knowledge. In order for these companies to continue their forward momentum, they will need to continue to improve their productivity, become more design-centric and execute effective branding strategies. IFFS/AFS 2012 is slated to take place in March 2012. FDM

ENQUIRY NO. 3804

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Exhibition Review

The

Blueprint

For

ng

Simon O

Richard Koh

i

n recent years, the furniture industry has begun to realise the power of design and started to place more emphasis in this area. While the ingenuity of designs are known to help break new barriers and pushes the industry towards new trends, its modern importance is more fundamental. Designs help address the growing market appetite for aesthetic products. Society defines individuals by the materialistic possessions they owned. Furniture, which is prominent features within the sanctuary of one’s home, is the perfect demonstration of the owner’s style and taste. The second reason for the focus on furniture design is its ability to discover alternative materials. The desire to be out of the ordinary warrants the constant search for materials that are different from convention. This opens the door for possible cheaper alternatives in a market where the supply of raw materials is highly contested.

The Importance Of Design The Singapore Furniture industries Council (SFiC) recognises the significance of

66 FDM ASIA April 2011 | www.fdmasia.com

Andre

w Ng

As Asia’s furniture industry continues to expand, Simon Ong, chairman of design development, Singapore Furniture Industries Council, Richard Koh, COO, and Andrew Ng, chairman, IFFS, provide insights to the importance of design and the potential of the hospitality sector. By Wong Tsz Hin

design. This is the primary motivation behind its efforts to nurture and promote designers for the furniture industry. Through the Design DNA (Develop, Nurture and Accelerate) programme, the SFiC executed several initiatives that are aimed at providing designers the exposure they need and building an interactive network with manufacturers and their counterparts. The council wants to ensure that talent individuals are granted access to the industry at their early development.

The Furniture Design Award included a student category to create an educational platform for budding designers. “We want to create interest and appreciation for design by making it more accessible for everyone.” Simon Ong, chairman of design development, SFiC, said.


Exhibition Review As sustainability takes a more prominent role in mainstream culture and the masses begin to embrace the idea, eco-friendly furniture designers are getting more daring with creative materials and concepts. This is the direction SFIC seeks, the quest for innovative ways to integrate sustainable design into everyday life.

The Growing Hospitality Sector Besides furniture design, the hospitality sector in Asia is an area with growing market potential. As Richard Koh, COO, IFFS, explained “Singapore-based companies are major players in fitting out and furnishing hotels and attractions, not only locally, but also around the world.” Hospitality Asia was included as part of the International Furniture Fair Singapore to allow these companies to reach out to a broader audience. At the same time, Deco Asia was expanded to cover decorative elements like lighting, fittings and wall decorations. Andrew Ng, chairman, IFFS, noted that the fundamentals for continual growth of the hospitality sector are present and the region’s furniture industry is well positioned to capitalise on it. Singapore’s furniture industry has grown from strength to strength over the years. Recent numbers have shown that the industry grew from S$4.7 billion (US$3.73 billion) in 2009 to S$5.1 billion in 2010, a 9.6 percent increase. The future for the region’s furniture industry looks bright. However, to move forward and gain a foothold in the global market, the industry needs to harness the increasing awareness on design. More talented designers should be introduced to the furniture manufacturing scene to provide creative solutions and alternatives. The industry can also ride on the continual progress of the hospitality industry which will provide more revenue for expansion. FDM

Market Outlook From Regional Delegates Joy C Cancio National President Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines What are the latest trends for the furniture industry in Philippines? We create designs incorporating international trends with our Asian influences and the use of indigenous materials. There is also an emphasis in going green. What are CFIP's plans to increase the export volume of Philippine furniture? We foresee healthy growth prospects, particularly in homestyle and contract markets. We are developing programs

Phan Thi Hoai Phuong Paula Project Manager Vietnam Chamber of Commerce & Industry What are the latest trends for the furniture industry in Vietnam? Most of the Vietnamese furniture combines traditional concepts with modern ideas while following the international trends in terms of designs and colours. What are VCCI's plans to increase the export volume of Vietnamese furniture? The Vietnamese government provides funding and support programmes to the furniture industry. Furniture and handicraft are part of Vietnamese top

to expand design capability, including extensive collaborations with foreign consultants. In addition to our traditional markets in North America and Europe, we are developing markets in other regions such as South America, India and Russia. What are CFIP's predictions on the future of the industry? The many changes in the global environment has fostered renewed cooperation within different manufacturing centres, design agencies and government support institutions to seek and develop new directions, materials and product innovations. These programmes are envisioned to spur the growth of the industry.

ten exports. We provide financial support to timber, labour and all other aspects relating to manufacturing. Organisers of fairs and shows are aware of the appeal of Vietnamese furniture. We encourage our manufacturers to go to as many shows as possible around the world to gain exposure and showcase their products. What are VCCI's predictions on the future of the industry? As many can see, the economic growth of Vietnam and its furniture industry has gone beyond expectations in recent years. We strongly believe that this growth is sustainable and the industry will continue to prosper in the coming years.

ENQUIRY NO. 3805 www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA  April 2011

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Exhibition Preview

Hannover Fairgrounds, Germany May 30 – June 3, 2011

LIGNA HANNOVER 2011

L

igna 2011 will be held from May 30 to June 3, 2011 in Hannover, Germany. Approximately 1,700 companies from 50 nations around the globe will be exhibiting at this year's fair, and 80,000 visitors from 90 countries are expected to attend the event. Forestry and forestry technology displays will be on show in two open-air locations at the Hannover showgrounds, under the Expo canopy and at Hermes Square. Exhibits themed around bioenergy from wood will be located in Hall 13 and at the openair site. Sawmill technology and panel and veneer production technology will be located in Hall 27. Halls 12 and 13 will be home to solid woodworking technology. Furniture production technology will be located in Halls 22 to 26, and the Handwerk, Holz & mehr show for carpenters, joiners and cabinetmakers will span Halls 11, 12 and 14 to 17. This year's show will put the spotlight on three keynote themes, lightweight construction, surface finishing technology and bioenergy from wood.

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New additions to the 2011 display line-up include a presentation by the German Association of the Sawmilling and Timber Industry (BSHD) in Hall 27 themed 'Sawmiller Meets Supplier' and a showcase by specialist hardwood sawmill operators in Hall 12. IN2WOOD, an EU project involving 13 partners, will make its debut appearance. The group is developing a strategic action plan to meet the challenges of innovation, competitiveness and sustainability in the wood industry. In addition, this year's show will feature a lineup of events themed around UN's International Year of Forests. Targeted at decision makers from the forestry and wood industries worldwide, the events will facilitate cross-border clustering through networking and knowledge exchange. The Handwerk, Holz & mehr section will showcase what the market has to offer joiners, cabinetmakers, carpenters and the timber-based construction sector. Staged every two years, this 'fair-within-a-fair' will be in its fourth season in 2011.

Visitors from the skilled woodworking trades will be able to survey a range of machinery, tools and accessories, processes, techniques and applications for natural and engineered woods, software solutions, services and training programs. Then there is the Vector Forum (Aktionsforum vector), a display targeted at cabinetmakers and carpenters that presents the latest in hand tools, materials and fittings, software and accessories live in action. The Vector Forum is organised by the German Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers' Association (VDMA Holzbearbeitungsmaschinen). FDM ENQUIRY NO. 3806


Calendar of Events

2011

APRIL

1-2: The ‘South East Woodworking’ Show Kent County Showground at Detling, near Maidstone, Kent, UK Tel: 00 44 (0)1474 536535 Fax: 00 44 (0)1474 536552 Email: exhibitions@nelton.co.uk Web: www.nelton.co.uk

5-7: International Wood and Wood Machinery Show Dubai Airport Expo Dubai, United Arab Emirates Tel: +9714 2829299 Fax: +9714 2828767 Email: info@dubaiwoodshow.com Web: www.dubaiwoodshow.com

25-28: interzum 2011

7-10: Interwood

30-3 June: Ligna Hannover 2011

21-23: WoodMach Cebu 2011

Hannover, Germany Tel: +49 511 89 32126 Fax: +49 511 89 31263 Web: www.ligna.de

International Exhibition Centre Kipsala, Kipslasiela 8, Riga, Latvia Tel: +371 (0) 670 65000 Fax: +371 (0) 670 65001 Email: janis.abolins@bt1.lv Web: www.bt1.lv/mk

21-24: Tekhnodrev The Far East 2011 Track-and-Field Arena of the V.I. Lenin Stadium, Khabarovsk, Russia Tel.: +7 495 544 38 31 Email: forestforum@restec.ru Web: www.restec.ru

MAY 11-13: Wood World – EGYPT 2011 Cairo International Convention & Exhibition Centre Tel: +20 2 330 37 257 Fax: +20 2 330 46 007 Email: info@stonegateegypt.com Web: www.agd-exhibitions.net

11-13: Designbuild Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre Sydney, Australia Tel: +61 2 9275 9211 Fax: +61 2 9267 2581 Email: beskdale@divexhibitions.com.au Web: www.designbuildexpo.com.au

Taipei World Trade Center Taipei, Taiwan Tel: +886 22725 5200 Fax: +886 22757 6245 Web: www.interwood.com.tw

Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, Lahug City, Philippines Tel: (632)750-8588 Fax: (632) 750-8585 Email: info@globallinkmp.com Web: www.globallinkmp.com

JUNE 1-3: Forestry and Wood Expo

14-17: Forest and Wood 2011

JULY

Cologne International Expocentre Cologne, Germany Tel: + 49 1805 0770 50 Fax: + 49 2218 2199 1 Email: interzum@visitor.koelnmesse.de Web: www.interzum.de

Champion Sports Complex, 41, Gogolya St., Vladivostok, Russia Tel: +7 4232 300-418 Fax: +7 4232 300-518 Email: inter@dalexpo.vl.ru Web: www.en.dalexpo.vl.ru

20-23: AWFS Mandalay Bay Convention Center Las Vegas, USA Tel: +1 702-322-5700 Web: www.awfsfair.org

AUGUST 9-12: The 16th China International Woodworking Machinery (Dalian) Exhibition Dalian Star-Sea Convention & Exhibition Center, Dalian World Expo Plaza Tel: 86 411 82538681 E-mail: mariahcheng@dbfexhibition.com Web: www.sinoexhibition.com

29: 16th Southeast Asia & Greater China Convention American Hardwood Export Council Nanjing, China Tel: +852-2724 0228 Fax: +852-2366 8931 Email: info@ahec-china.org Web: www.ahec-seasia.org

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 #02-05 Singapore 169206 Tel: (65) 6379 2888 • Fax: (65) 6379 2805 Email: fdmasia@epl.com.sg Kindly indicate the events you are interested in and fax the sheet/s along with your details in the Product Enquiry Page to (65) 6379 2806 or enquire online at www.fdmasia.com

25-28: Cambowood 2011 Diamond Island Convention & Exhibiton Centre, Cambodia Tel: 886-2-2659-6000 Ext. 322 Fax: 886-2-2659-7000 Email: steven@chanchao.com.tw Web: www.asiamachinery.net

SEPTEMBER 7-9: Wood & Bioenergy 2011 Jyvaskylan Paviljonki, Messukatu 10, 40100 Jyväskylä, Finland Tel: +358 14 339 8100 Fax: +358 14 667 312 Email:paviljonki@jklpaviljonki.fi Web: www.jklpaviljonki.fi

8-10: Woodworking Ireland 2011 National Show Centre Cloghran, Co Dublin Tel: 00 44 (0)1474 536535 Fax: 00 44 (0)1474 536552 Email: exhibitions@nelton.co.uk Web: www.nelton.co.uk


Cytex Industries: Resin

Henkel: Hotmelt Laminate

Resydrol AY6705 waterborne acrylic modified alkyd resin from Cytex extends durability with its penetration for timber substrates, making it suitable for feeding and protecting exterior wood stains and timber decking. In addition, its quick drying time promotes fast and easy recoating.

Unlike conventional hotmelts, Henkel's Dorus Hot Sealing fulfils the requirements of surface hardness and temperature stability. This hotmelt can be applied onto the finish foil by two different methods, depending on the specific application. It can be coated directly with the finish foil during the lamination process or pre-coated onto the backside of the finish foil in a stationary unit outside the laminating line.

The hybrid system captures the properties of both alkyds and acrylics. The low volatile organic compound resin does not peel or flake. Neither sanding nor chemical stripping is required before the next customary repainting time frame. ENQUIRY NO. P392

ENQUIRY NO. P394

Hafele: Antimicrobial Coating

IMA AG: CNC Processing Centre

Alasept by Hafele protects hardware from being affected by bacteria, in particular, with a view to prevent infections by methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

BIMA 400V is a CNC-processing centre with integrated C-axis for processing of small batch and batch-size-1 production of furniture components and components for interior fittings.

The coating is a copper-based finish. In contrast to anti-adhesive nano surfaces, the cupriferous coating is antimicrobial. It not only prevents the adhesion of bacteria, it kills them as well. The range of products permits integral hygiene concepts which can be implemented in clinics and medical practices, as well as residence, schools and public toilets, food processing areas, wellness facilities and spas. ENQUIRY NO. P393

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Developed by IMA, its features include a tool changer which can store 18 or 40 cutters, a main spindle with one integrated C-axis measuring a maximum power of 18 kW, a L-shaped drilling box containing 14 or 21 vertical drill bit and an automatic feeding table. Its right-rotating turning shaft can carry out drilling work at the speed of 9,000 revolutions per minute. ENQUIRY NO. P395


Product highlights Kuraray: Multifunctional Flooring Panel System

Thermopal: Fire Retardant Medium Density Fibreboard

Designed based on Kuraray’s Felibendy, a non-woven fabric made through steam jet technology, Yukapact makes use of Nanao Industry’s asphalt vibration-damping and sound-insulation material to provide soundproofing and shock absorption properties. The system for wooden floor type comes in a set of 26 pieces, covering approximately 13.25 sq m. The dimension for each panel is 31mm (thickness) x 450mm (width) x 910mm (length).

Consisting of a flame-retarding laminate and fireretardant Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) core material, and classified to Euro class Bs2, d0, MDF Composite type F is ideal for use wherever the requirements for burning material and edge quality are higher than usual. The standard composite board is available in 2750 x 2020 mm and material thicknesses 1706 mm and 20.6 mm. Each board comes with the Pre-Engineered Foam Spray seal which denotes that the material is sourced from sustainable forests.

ENQUIRY NO. P396

ENQUIRY NO. P398

Rockler: Dust Extractor

Vollmer: Disc Eroding Machine

Dust Right Vortex, a 37.85 litres two-stage dust extractor developed by Rockler, captures shop debris such as sawdust and wood chips before they are caught into the vacuum, preventing clogging of the vacuum filter.

Disc eroding machine Ecoselect handles tools with polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cutting for accuracy and smooth surface quality. The machine includes five simultaneously controlled Computer Numerical Control (CNC) axes, automatic measurement and erosion in one setting. In addition, the Ecoselect software packages can be adapted to individual user needs. Users can configure up to three extensions of the basic software package.

Its five-caster base not only provides stability, but also enables the user to manoeuvre throughout the shop. The 91.44 cm flexform hose that connects the container to a shop vacuum will allow user to read the ‘fill’ line. ENQUIRY NO. P397

ENQUIRY NO. P399

www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA  april 2011

71


Advertising Index Enquiry Number

Page Number

Advertisers / Agency

231

American Hardwood Export Council IFC

199

Bino (SH) Machinery Co Ltd

229 Dieffenbacher GmbH + Co KG

1

233 Deutsche Messe AG (Ligna Hannover 2011)

29

232 DunHua Yalian Machinery Co Ltd

49

204

Fulpow Industrial Corp

72

225

Huntsman (Belgium) BVBA IBC

235

Homag Asia Pte Ltd

230 IMA AG Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

27

234

Java Incorporated Bhd

25

180

Jeffer Machinery Co Ltd

45

227 MODUL SYSTEME Engineering AG

31

197

Siempelkamp Maschinen - und Anlagenbau GmbH & Co KG

3

237

Surteco Pte Ltd OBC

228

Shanghai UBM Sinoexpo International Exhibition co ltd

108 Taihao Woodworking Machinery Co Ltd

33

222 Taihao Woodworking Machinery Co Ltd

37

214 Weyerhaeuser Marketing

7

226 Wilhelm Altendorf GmbH & Co. KG Machinenbau

21

236 Wemhoener (Changzhou) Machinery Manufacturing Co Ltd

35

Legend:

5

23

FC

Advertisers with e-Brochures

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

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ENQUIRY NO. 204

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ENQUIRY NO. 225


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The GREENGUARD CHILDREN AND SCHOOLS Program includes specialized requirements that address the unique sensitivity of infants and children in daycares, schools and other sensitive environments. Doellken PVC, ABS, 3D Edgebanding meets these stringent requirements, including additional limits on chemicals such as phthalates and toxins that impact child development.

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WWW.SG.SURTECO.COM SURTECO PTE. LTD. 10 Toh Guan Road · #04-03 T.T. International Tradepark · SINGAPORE 608838 Phone: +65 6226 0669 · Fax: +65 6226 0797 · e-mail: info@sg.surteco.com

ENQUIRY NO. 237

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