material+technik möbel special 02/17

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P R O F E S S I O N A L M A G A Z I N E F O R M A N U F A C T U R E R S O F K I T C H E N S , C A B I N E T, O F F I C E A N D S E AT I N G F U R N I T U R E A N D F O R I N T E R I O R F I T T E R S A N D D E S I G N E R S ¡ W W W. M AT E R I A L -T E C H N I K . D E ¡ 3 0 8 3 5

The magazine for furniture production and related fields

Quality Inside special 02|17

06.09.17 11:34

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Quality Inside

Reshuffling the cards

Richard Barth, Editor-in-chief

With the “Quality Inside” special issue, the German trade journal material+technik möbel wants to provide the furnishing industry outside of Western Europe with useful information about the Western European market as well as about innovative supplier products and machine technolo­ gies. Many of those made their debuts in the spring at the two leading trade fairs interzum in Co­ logne and Ligna in Hanover and are presented on the following pages. In addition, the magazine delivers helpful data and progno­

ses about the economic develop­ ment in Western Europe as well as about the changes in the fur­ nishing sector.

In the past twelve months, there has been a reshuffling of the cards in the sector – among furni­ ture producers as well as in the supplier industry. In Germany, the largest furniture market in Eu­ rope, furniture and kitchen pro­ ducers with a long tradition have slid into bankruptcy and in the meantime some have closed their doors permanently. Perhaps as a consequence of the concen­ tration on the customer side, the suppliers are now reshuffling the cards and looking for new sour­ ces of income.

The German fittings producer Vauth-Sagel has bought HetalWerke, also in Germany, and has thus provided a further source of income for itself as a supplier for the automobile industry as well.

The giant Continental Group, in

turn, wants to use the takeover of Hornschuch Group to build up a second source of income outside the automotive sector.

Just as with these takeovers, the most recent acquisitions in the woodworking machine industry are not only a matter of gaining market power, but also of diversi­ fication. By taking over the major­ ity of shares at the German com­ pany HG Grimme, the Italian ma­ chine producer SCM has strengthened its source of in­ come outside the woodworking segment. Through the acquisition of the Italian companies Movetro and Montresor the Biesse Group from Italy has now machines for producing and processing glass and stone in its portfolio.

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Content

Title: On short notice, Oster­ mann (Germany) can deliver the matching edgebanding for trend colours and decors of woodbased materials producers such as FunderMax (Austria).

Photo: Ostermann

Editorial 3 European economy on the upturn 4–7 Comfort and individuality extremely popular 8–9 Europe’s most important furniture markets 10–11 Convenience is “trendy” 12 Great design and durability 13 A new hinge generation 13 Well-suited for furniture production as well 14 The time-saving cabinet connector 14 Europe’s trend surfaces 15 Specialists for edgebanding 16 Metamerism free edgebanding 17 Capacity expansion and diversification 18–19 Cooperation with international designers 19 Further automation in furniture production 20–21 Automation in the upholstery industry 22–23 Blum invests in its factories and in a new logistics concept 24 Homag invests in its Schopfloch location and plans complete takeover of Benz 24 IMA builds new assembly hall 24 Biesse: Investment in software 24 Pfleiderer invests in new coating line technology 25 Kesseböhmer: New electroplating line 25 Vauth-Sagel: Takeover of Hetal-Werke 25 Kastamonu Entegre produces in Italy as well 26 SCM takes over Grimme 26 Egger: On course for expansion worldwide 26 Partners to the furniture industry 27 Imprint, Index of advertisers 27

KURIS Spezialmaschinen GmbH Degginger Straße 6 D-73326 Deggingen

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06.09.17 14:49

European economy on the upturn At the present time, the economic development in Europe is undergoing a satisfactory period. In 2016, many member states of the EU noted a powerful tailwind. On the other hand, there are still some countries, which are heavily in debt. The intended withdrawal of the UK from the EU and its effects upon the island kingdom itself and on the remaining member states is awaited with a mood of tension.

In March 2017, the UK officially initiated the withdrawal procedure from the European Union (EU).

Eight months previously, the Britons had announced their intention to withdraw (Brexit). The individual modalities will be negotiated during the next eighteen months; the withdrawal is to be complete by March 2019 at the latest. This schedule, at least, is anchored in the statutes of the European Commission.

Today, there is a great deal of fierce speculation regarding the effects of the Brexit upon the European single market. Currently, there are numerous forecasts and scenarios as to the consequences for the British economy.

At present, positive signals can be observed from the housing construction industry in Europe, which

contributes to the current satisfactory performance of the EU economy. In 2016, more housing units were built in Europe than originally expected, and the forecasts for the next two years are more than positive. Thanks to a 2.5 per cent increase, the number of completed units registered in the 19 member states by Euroconstruct rose to 1.47 million units. For 2017, the research and consultation network even anticipates an increase of 2.9 per cent, while for 2018 an increase of 2.4 per cent is expected.

This means that 1.7 million new dwellings are to be built in Europe.

Housing construction will receive positive impulses from the increased demand due to immigration and internal migration, low interest rates for loans and mortgages and the improved consumer

climate due to increased trust on the part of consumers in the economic development.

As recently announced by Euroconstruct, the increases in housing construction in Poland, Switzerland and also in Germany are particularly high. In the crisis-ridden state of Spain, a slight recovery can be observed, although admittedly the number of units built was still almost 80 per cent below the level of 2007, the year of the worldwide economic and financial crisis. The recovery in Ireland as well as in some countries in South and East Europe, according to the market researchers, is still sluggish. By 2019, for some EU countries, the experts even expect two-digit growth rates in housing construction. With an annual increase of 15 per cent, Hungary

tops the list, followed by Ireland with 7.7 per cent. A high level of housing construction is also expected in Poland, the Czech Republic and Portugal, where growth rates between 4.1 and 5.5 per cent are expected.

However, in spite of these growth rates, the number of new housing units in these countries is still clearly below the level of the precrisis period. Only in Poland, Norway and Sweden did the number of new units reach pre-crisis level already in 2016, and is expected to increase further until 2019.

The furnishings industry also will profit from the additional new housing units, especially the kitchen furniture industry, because as a rule, when moving into a new home, a new kitchen also is bought or has already been planned for by

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Quality Inside

Following the intended withdrawal of the UK from the EU, this will in future only consist of 27 member states.

Photo: fotolia.de/ Vlad Kochelaevskiy the builder. At the same time, all other furniture segments are likely to feel a rise in demand.

Effects of the Brexit During recent months, the economic researchers of the Ifo-Institut have been studying the possible effects of the Brexit upon the UK and on the European economy.

Because the negotiations on future trade relations with the UK have only just begun, the researchers have developed various different scenarios of possible effects.

In general, the economic experts proceed from the assumption that

the effects will hit the individual EU member states with varying degrees of severity, and these effects will diminish in accordance with the geographical and cultural distance from the UK. The Ifo Institut further assumes that the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the UK will fall more drastically than in the remaining EU member states. The Gross Domestic Product is an important indicator for the economic strength of a country. It comprises the total value of all goods and services, which are produced within the borders of the country in the year under review and subserve the final consumption. In the event of a free trade agreement being concluded, the researchers assume a fall of 0.6 per cent in the British GDP, and of 0.1 per cent in the EU. In the event that such an agreement is not

reached, and that customs dues should once again apply as with non-EU countries, the British GDP would in the long term fall by 1.7 per cent, whilst the fall in the remaining 27 EU member states would – on average amount to only 0.3 per cent.

EU economy on target The economy of the 28 EU member states, according to leading economic research institutes, continues to hold its growth course.

Now that a growth rate of 1.9 per cent has been recorded for the year 2016, the experts expect an increase of 2.1 per cent for the current year. In 2018, the growth rate is expected to fall back to 1.9 per cent. A positive effect on the consumption of furnishing items could arise from the fact the unemployment level in the EU in

The following are short profiles of the economic development and housing construction in selected European countries Germany: In Germany, the favourable economic development is continuing in 2017 also. Germany contributes approx. one fifth – and so the largest part – of the economic performance of the EU. This is the fifth year in succession in which the German economy has been continually growing. Because of the positive development during the first half-year, the economic experts expect an increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 1.7 per cent in the current year. In 2016, the economic performance of Germany grew by 1.8 per cent and in 2015 by 1.5 per cent. For 2018, a further increase of 2.0 per cent is expected. As before, the pillar of the economy is private consumption, which, in the view of the experts, during the current year will admittedly increase by only 1.4 per cent after 2.6 per cent in 2016. One reason could be the 2.0 per cent price increases following stable prices in the previous years.

On the other hand, a positive factor in the purchase of furnishing items will be the favourable employment situation, with a fall in unemployment of perhaps 3.7 per cent, and the increase in house construction. After the number of new housing units in 2016 had increased by 2.4 per cent, a further

increase of 2.0 per cent to 275,000 units is forecast for 2017. According to forecasts, the number of new units in the next two years will again increase, so that the experts expect an increase of 280,000 new units for 2019.

United Kingdom: Because of the Brexit, forecasts for the future

2016 fell to 8.6 per cent and by 2018 should even fall back to 7.4 per cent. In the opinion of the researchers, inflation will be a little higher than in 2016 (+0.3 per cent), but will remain moderate, with 1.7 per cent in the current year and 1.6 per cent in 2018. Admittedly, the forecasts for the individual EU countries vary considerably, so that we cannot assume optimum conditions for the purchase of furniture and other furnishing items in all member countries.

The following survey provides an overview of the most importent economic data and forecasts in selected EU countries and is based, in the main, on the latest publications of the Ifo Institut (Munich/Germany), the Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel/Germany) and the European network Euroconstruct.

economic development of the UK are difficult. On the basis of initial indications, the UK must expect negative economic development.

Within the EU, in terms of economic performance, the UK takes second place, behind Germany. After the British government in June 2016 had announced Britain‘s exit from the EU, the country registered a declining economic growth rate. Following an increase of 1.8 per cent in 2016, this year an in-

The continuing increase in the number of housing units being built is having a positive effect on the purchase of furnishing items.

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For 2017, the economic performance of all 28 member states is expected to grow by 2.1 per cent.

Chart: European Commission

crease of only 1.6 per cent is expected. Originally, a growth rate of 2.1 per cent had been expected.

Meanwhile, another negative factor has become evident – the falling consumer demand of the Britons, because the devaluation of the British currency has reduced the purchasing power of the population, so that imports have become more expensive. Although consumer prices during recent years had increased only to a small extent, an inflation rate of 2.7 per cent is anticipated for 2017. Consumer spending, which had increased by 2.8 per cent in 2016, will therefore rise by only 1.5 per cent during the current year. Another victim of the reduced willingness to spend will probably be house construction, which will reveal only a low rate of growth during the next few years. Although the number of new housing units

in 2014 and 2015 increased by 8.4 and 4.2 per cent respectively, the growth rate in 2016 was only 2.7 per cent. Approx. 170,000 units were built. For 2017 and 2018, the experts forecast an increase of only 1.3 per cent per year. A positive effect could be the expected slight fall in the unemployment rate. Following a rate of 4.8 per cent in 2016, a fall to 4.2. per cent is expected for the next two years.

France: With a share of almost 15 per cent of the EU‘s economic performance, France takes third place. But, compared with its neighbour countries, France has not been able to effect a clear upturn. In 2016, France‘s economic growth rate amounted to only 1.2 per cent. However, the experts now believe in an improved development following the election of the new President Emmanuel Macron, and predict growth rates of

1.5 per cent this year and next year. Last year and this year, consumer spending has been an important pillar of the economy, because purchasing power last year increased by 1.8 per cent. However, the expected rise in consumer prices could have a negative effect on the French public‘s willingness to spend. These have remained stable during the recent years, so that in 2017 and 2018 they will probably increase by 1.3 and 1.1 per cent respectively. Furthermore, the high unemployment rate acts as a brake. In 2016, this amounted to 10.1 per cent. For 2017, a slight fall to 9.5 and for 2018 to 9.1 per cent are expected.

With regard to the furnishings industry, during recent years this suffered particularly under the declining construction activities.

This is expected to change in the future. Although in 2016 only

350,000 housing units were built, the experts once again foresee an increase in the coming years. In 2017, 4.4 per cent more units are to be built and in 2018, 3.8 per cent more. This may be deduced from the currently increasing number of building permits issued.

Italy: Together with France, Italy is one of those countries in the EU, in which the economic upturn has not as yet taken place. Due to the current economic slump, Italy‘s share in the EU‘s economic performance has meanwhile fallen to 11.1 per cent. As a result, Italy now takes fourth place in the EU. For the current year, the market experts estimate an increase in the GDP of 1.3 per cent after 1.0 per cent in the preceding year. For 2018 also, there is no upturn in sight, and the GDP will grow by only 1.2 per cent.

Owing to the high unemployment rate of 11.7 per cent and the negli-

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Quality Inside

gible fall to 10.9 per cent by 2018, consumer spending will probably remain at a low level. In addition, for 2017 and 2018, a small increase in consumer prices of 1.3 per cent is expected after a slight fall in 2016. A negative factor for the furnishings industry is the low level of building activity. During the current year, probably only 81,000 units will be completed. However, in the next two years, the number of new units completed should increase slightly by 2.3 and 2.1 per cent respectively. For 2019, the experts foresee approx. 85,000 competed housing units.

Spain: With ca. 46 million inhabitants, Spain is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe, but also has the secondhighest unemployment rate in Europe. Owing to the long years of economic crisis, this amounted in 2016 to almost 20 per cent. However, since last year, experts have identified signs of a modest upturn and predict a slight fall in the unemployment rate. In 2017, this is expected to be 17.4 per cent and in 2018 only 16.0 per cent. This should give a further boost to private consumption and so improve economic performance. Following an increase of 3.2 per cent in 2016, the experts foresee an increase of 2.9 per cent for the current year.

For 2018, an increase of 2.1 per cent is forecast. The expected increase in building activity could have a positive effect upon the furnishings industry. In 2016, the high level of unsold housing units had slowed down building activities, resulting in an increase of only 1.6 per cent. This year and next year, 3 per cent and 4.1 per cent more units respectively are expected.

According to the Euroconstruct forecast, a total of 80,000 units could be reached in 2019. In 2016, the total was only 42,000 units.

The negative side of the slight economic improvement is that the consumer prices will no longer fall as in previous years, but will increase. In 2017, consumer prices will probably rise by 2.2 per cent and in the following year by 2.0 per cent.

Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg: With a total population of almost 29 million, Germany‘s three neighbours, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg,

are a not unimportant economic power within the EU. Altogether, in 2015, they contributed roughly 7.8 per cent to the economic performance of the EU. With a share of 4.6 per cent, the Netherlands were the largest economy of the three. In all three countries, the IfW expects a continuing stable economic development in 2017 also. In the Netherlands, following an increase of 2.1 per cent in the GDP in 2016, a growth of 2.2 per cent is expected in the current year. In Belgium, the GDP is forecast to rise from 1.2 to 1.8 per cent. For 2018, however, the economic experts predict a smaller increase in economic output. Because of the expected drop in unemployment, consumer spending could be adversely affected by the increase in consumer prices. In 2016, these were fairly stable.

Austria: In 2017, Austria was once again able to expand its economic performance and, according to a forecast of the IfW, will achieve an increase in the GDP of 2.1 per cent following 1.6 per cent in 2016. For 2018, the experts are not quite so optimistic, and forecast an increase of only 1.7 per cent. The unemployment rate, which amounted to 6.0 per cent in 2016, is expected to fall slightly this year and next year, so that only the increasing consumer prices could have a damping effect on consumption. For the furnishings industry, positive impulses are expected from the slight increase in the number of completed housing units. Given that not quite 48,000 units were built in 2016, 50,000 are expected for 2017. By 2019, the experts forecast an increase to approx. 55.000 new housing units per year.

Greece: Greece does not show any signs of a substantial improvement in its economic performance. In fact, in terms of its contribution to the economic output of the EU, Greece has once again fallen behind. The current unemployment rate of 23.6 per cent is the highest in Europe and will probably not fall significantly in 2017. Experts assume a continuing rate of 22.2 per cent. Admittedly, with a share of 1.2 percent, Greece

contributes very little to Europe‘s economic performance, but the country‘s negative development over the last years has a weakening effect on the Euro area. However, in the opinion of the market researchers, the repeated rescue measures by the EU should have a positive effect in the next few years. Although Greece registered zero growth in 2016, the economic experts of the IfW forecast an increase of the GDP of 0.7 per cent in 2017 and of 1.8 per cent in 2018.

The falling unemployment level should boost consumption, but will at the same time result in an increase in consumer prices. Because consumer prices remained stable in 2016, the economic experts foresee an increase of 1.3 per cent for 2017 and 1.1 per cent in 2018.

Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark: Of the four Nordic countries, all are EU members with the exception of Norway, but only Finland has the Euro. All the remaining three Scandinavian countries have kept their national currency. Norway has a special trade agreement with the EU. Owing to the strong building activity, the furnishings industry – especially in Sweden and Norway – can enjoy a strong tailwind. Last year in Sweden, low interest rates and a high demand for housing have boosted the number of new units from 41,000 to 50,000. In 2017, some 64,000 new units are to be built. The Swedish government intends to react to the housing shortage in future with 70,000 new units per year. With a fairly stable unemployment rate of 6.8 per cent, the experts foresee a slight fall in the GDP. Following an increase of 3.1 per cent in 2016, only 2.1 and 1.8 per cent increases are expected for 2017 and 2018 respectively. This means that Sweden has the second highest economic growth in Scandinavia. This year, this is expected to reach 2.0 per cent in Denmark and 2.8 per cent in Finland. Both countries have been able to increase their economic output considerably compared with 2016. In Norway, economic performance this year will probably rise from 1.0 to 1.2

per cent. As far as building activity is concerned, Euroconstruct does not forsee any substantial changes in Denmark, Norway and Finland.

With ca. 30,000 and 33,000 completed housing units in Finland and Norway respectively and ca.

15,000 in Denmark, there are few changes either up or down. In all three countries, the unemployment rate is expected to fall slightly compared with 2016. At the same time, a stronger increase in consumer prices is expected for 2017 and 2018.

Poland: In terms of furniture manufacture, Poland has for years been reckoned among the most important production countries and is one of the largest exporters in this field. But in other fields also, Poland – which joined the EU in 2004 – has been able to enjoy positive economic development.

For example, a strong increase of 3.9 per cent in the GDP is expected for 2017, after reaching 2.8 per cent in 2016. For 2018, the experts are not so optimistic, and expect economic growth of only 2.9 per cent. In terms of housing construction, Poland occupies a leading position in Europe and its performance is increasing year by year. In 2016, ca. 166,000 new housing units were completed in Poland, and for 2017 a total of 175,000 units is expected. According to forecasts of Euroconstruct, probably 190,000 new units will be built in 2019. The continuing fall in unemployment contributes to this development; in 2016 unemploymnt amounted to 6.2 per cent and in the current year is expected to fall to 4.7 per cent. For 2018, the experts foresee an unemployment rate of 4.3 per cent. The downside of the situation is the increasing consumer prices. In 2017, these will probably increase by 2.5 per cent. In 2016, prices fell by 0.7 per cent. The higher prices will probably have only a minor effect on consumer expenditure, because in recent years wages and salaries have undergone a real increase.

After private household expenditure rose by 2.7 per cent in 2016, an increase in excess of 4.0 per cent is expected for 2017.

Richard Barth

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Quality Inside

Comfort and individuality extremely popular Held every two years, the interzum is the most important showcase for supply products for the furnishings industry worldwide. In May 2017, the fair presented the hitherto widest range of exhibits and displays in its history, attracting more exhibitors and visitors than ever before.

With 69,000 visitors, the number of persons attending the fair exceeded that of the previous edition in 2015 by 19 per cent. The majority of these, namely 51,000 persons, were from 152 different countries worldwide.

The increased number of visitors from important European furniture-producing countries reflected the improved sales situation in these countries. But from other world regions, too, more purchasers than before took an interest in the interzum – especially from Asia with an increase of 53 per cent and from India with an increase of 41 per cent. Just as international as the interest shown by visitors was the participation of the exhibitors; 79 per cent of the total of 1,732 exhibitors were from 60 different countries. Among the approx. 200 new exhibitors was, for example, the woodbased pan-

Concept study by Blum (Austria): self-closing folding door.

Photo: Blum els manufacturer Sonae Arauco.

The company was formed only a few months before the fair through a joint venture between the South American Arauco company and the Portuguese company Sonae.

This means that, for the first time, the majority of the leading suppliers of woodbased panels were present at the fair: from Germany, for example, Pfleiderer and Egger; from Switzerland, Swiss Krono, and from Italy, Saviola. The laminate industry was almost fully present, as well. Among the members of the fittings industry and

decor printers, attendance at the fair was nearly fully complete. Only the decor printer Interprint once again chose to appear at the exhibition centre “Design Post Köln”, located directly opposite the Cologne exhibition halls.

Digital printing with haptic effects In the field of surface materials, the trends of previous years, powered by new technologies, proved to be true: on the one hand, super-

Hettich (Germany): With decor profiles in wood or other materials, drawer frames can be designed individually.

Photo: Hettich matt surfaces with anti-fingerprint effect are in demand, while on the other hand, there is a call for high-quality mirror-gloss surfaces, which can be produced more economically than before with the aid of innovative processes.

Digitally printed surfaces now permit enormous repeat patterns and, consequently, completely new optical impressions. Further effects followed: At the special event area “3D Surfaces”, for example, the “Digital Lacquer Embossing” technology developed by Hymmen (Germany) was being presented among other innovations. This is a new process devised by Hymmen for imparting structured effects to digitally printed surfaces.

The wood reproductions were dominated by oak, though less rustic than in previous years. NuWood reproductions with an authentic, elegant effect: the new surface decor “Elegant Wood” by Resopal (Germany).

Photo: Resopal

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merous wood decors were to be seen in bleached versions. New exhibits were exotic woods, especially “patchwork” decors, in which various material effects had been combined with one another, for exam“Patchwork” decors such as “Porto” by Schattdecor (Germany) demonstrate a variety of materials.

Photo: Schattdecor

pliers of thermoplastic foils presented a pore structure matching the wood structure.

The many reproductions of woven fabrics and leather were also underlaid with a matching structure, producing a higher degree of authenticity.

Even more individuality In the fittings segment, visitors found solutions with which the diversity of parts

Discover the world of PLEXIGLAS®

gree pattern. Some exhibitors presented new individual solutions for drawer frames and for the entire interior of the pull-outs, thus offering the industry further possibilities for differentiation. In the upgrading of the interiors of drawers and pullouts, wood plays an increasingly important role as an alternative to chrome.

The next edition of the interzum will take place from

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DESIGN

ple, wood structures with woven fabrics and concrete, or wood with leather.

Further, a mega-trend among the reproductions was that of marble and stone, in which mostly expressive and multicoloured types of marble served as models. The authenticity of the reproductions was highlighted by means of synchropore and haptic or other structured effects; for the first time, supThe Surteco Group (Germany) presented digitally printed decors with haptic effects.

Photos: Barth

and stockkeeping levels in furniture factories can be reduced. A range of innovative connection fittings was presented, that can not only be pre-installed on knock-down furniture but also consists of only one connection piece, thus reducing the risk of complaints about missing parts and increasing the quality of the products.

In the case of concealed hinges, work on the quality of the damping mechanism has been continued, so that, for example, temperature fluctuations are of less importance and the hinges can be designed to a more fili-

With its one-piece construction, the connection fitting “Blu” from Car (Italy) offers advantages in installation.

Photo: Car 21 – 25 May 2019 in Cologne (Germany). Prior to that, the trade fair organiser Koelnmesse will appear as new organiser of the ZOW (Zuliefermesse Ostwestfalen). This will be held 6 – 8 February 2018 in Bad Salzuflen (Germany) and, in its new form and on an area of 12,000 m², is intended as a regional event for business contacts.

Richard Barth

LIGHTING NOT LAMPS

ARCHITECTURE

FACE-TO-FACE WITH PIRANHAS

ART

WHEN PROCESSING TURNS INTO ART

TECHNOLOGY

DIVING DOWN TO THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

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06.09.17 11:46

Quality Inside

Europe’s most important furniture markets Germany and Italy contribute five and four percent respectively to worldwide furniture production. In Europe, both countries are even the biggest furniture markets. While Germany plays a leading role not only as a production country, but also as a sales market for furniture, Italy continues to be an important production country, but has lost a lot of its significance as a sales market in the past years.

The German economy is booming, and the furnishing sector can also look back on successful years, not least, because there is a great propensity for buying furnishing products. In 2016, the domestic market for furniture (productionexports+imports) grew by 3.8 per cent to almost EUR 20 billion. Not only German furniture producers, but also foreign manufacturers profited from that growth. For years now, furniture imports have increased more strongly than exports. According to the VDM (German Furniture Industry Association), furniture imports rose by 2.2 per cent to EUR 12.4 billion in 2016. In contrast, growth of 1.3 per

cent to EUR 10.4 billion was registered for exports.

There has now been a trend reversal in 2017 to date: In the first six months, furniture imports sank by 2.4 per cent, while exports could be increased by 1.7 per cent.

Poland is important supplier In addition to China, Poland in particular has been a successful supplier for years now and is meanwhile in second place. Part of the reason is that Poland functions as an extended workbench for German furniture providers. That is especially true for upholstered furniture. In this segment almost half of all imports to Germany in 2016

growth. The deliveries to the Netherlands, for example, increased by 8.6 per cent, to the Czech Republic by 13.7 per cent, and to Spain by 5.8 per cent. At the same time, exports declined in important markets outside Europe such as the USA, China and Russia.

For the fourth year in a row, the production turnover in furniture factories in Germany is rising.

Photo: Häcker Küchen

Only low growth in 2017 The German furniture industry was able to expand its production turnover by 3.2 per cent to EUR 17.96 billion in 2016. Following growth of 6.2 per cent in 2015, a new record was thus achieved in the year under review. In addition, the furniture factories now contribute roughly 51 per cent to the total turnover of the German woodworking industry, which increased by only 2.4 per cent to EUR 35 billion.

The year 2017 did not start off quite as successfully for the furniture factories: in the first half of the year, the German furniture industry registered an increase of only 0.5 per cent to EUR 9 billion in sales. While foreign sales could be increased by 1.7 per cent, domestic turnover stagnated.

According to the most recent forecasts by economic experts, however, Germans are still strongly inclined to buy. In a representative survey by the CreditPlus Bank (Germany) in the summer of 2017, a total of 49 per cent of those surveyed said that they wanted to invest more than EUR 1,000 in furniture in the coming twelve months.

Every tenth person interviewed even wants to spend more than EUR 2,500 for furniture. At the very top of the wish list in the survey was furniture for the living room, which Germans are meanwhile more and more using as a dining room where they can watch television at the same time.

came from Poland. In the first half of the year 2017, Germany imported 3.8 per cent less furniture from Poland for the first time; imports from China, on the other hand, increased by 6.4 per cent.

Among the countries that bought German furniture, France was number one in 2016 at EUR 1.3 billion. Switzerland (EUR 1.2 billion) and Austria (EUR 1 billion) took the next two places. With the exception of Switzerland, some countries registered above-average high

Italy: Cautious optimism The market development on the Italian furniture market was the opposite of that on the German market in the past years. Domestic sales declined constantly, and a large number of furniture producers had financial problems as well.

In Italy, there are almost 80,000 companies and 320,000 employees in the woodworking and furniture-making industries. That makes the country Europe´s front runner in that area, also in regard to its

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roughly 30,000 furniture producers. That number also includes the crafts enterprises, so it is not comparable with the data on the German furniture industry, which includes only companies that produce industrially. The entire woodworking and furniture business in Italy had a turnover of EUR 41 billion in 2016 and was thus able to surpass its previous year’s turnover by 2.2 per cent.

Further declines in turnover in the furnishing sector as well as bankruptcies could be prevented in the past years only because of a national program that provided incentives for buying furnishing objects.

Since the middle of 2013, tax benefits have been in effect for purchases of furniture. The so-called “Bonus Mobili” has meanwhile been extended till the end of 2017.

It is estimated that more than EUR 3 billion in turnover had been generated by the end of 2015 because of the national incentive program.

Further EUR 1.2 billion are estimated to have been added to that sum in 2016.

According to data from the Federlegno-Arredo industry association (Italy), the furniture industry in that country earned a total of 51.3 per cent of its turnover of ca. EUR 20 billion (+2.3%) outside the country. That corresponds to a value of EUR 10.3 billion and an increase of 1.6 per cent in comparison to 2015.

Federlegno-Arredo reports the entire production turnover of the furnishing industry to be roughly EUR 26.3 billion (+2.5%) in the year under review. That also includes bath

Furniture industry in Germany and Italy in 2016 (numbers in billions of euros/change over previous year in per cent) 19.96 (+ 3.8 %)

17.96 (+ 3.2 %) 15.78 (+ 1.5 %)

10.40 (+ 1.3 %)

12.40 (+ 2.2 %) 9.08 (+ 2.1 %)

8.65 (+ 1.3 %)

1.95 (+ 9.0 %)

turnover

exports

imports

■■ Germany, ■■ Italy

furniture at EUR 2.65 billion, lighting at EUR 2.18 billion and furnishing accessories at EUR 1.4 billion.

Regarding only home and office furniture – not including lights, mattresses or semi-finished wood products (ca. EUR 4.5 billion), the CSIL market research institute (Italy) calculates a production value of EUR 15.78 billion for 2016. Exports were reported by the institute to be EUR 9.08 billion, imports EUR 1.95 billion.

Domestic market growing again In 2016, thanks to the “Bonus Mobili”, it was possible to increase sales on the domestic market as well for the first time. Turnover was EUR 8.61 billion, surpassing the previous year’s level by 1.3 per

domestic market Source: VDM, CSIL

cent. It was different in the years before: Since 2008, Italian furniture consumption has declined in value by about 40 per cent. Then, furniture with a value of EUR 12.6 billion was still being sold annually in Italy in terms of figures, but by 2014, that value had declined to EUR 7.8 billion. With the introduction of the furniture bonus, there was a trend reversal in 2015.

The incentive program especially benefited the domestic producers because furniture imports play only a comparatively small role in Italy. In 2016, only about 22 per cent of domestic sales were imports.

Almost all product segments were involved in the generally positive performance in the year 2016. The highest production increases were

in chairs and kitchen furniture with 4 and 3.8 per cent respectively.

The bedroom, living room and teen room segments registered growth of 3 per cent. For beds and sleeping systems, the increase was 2 per cent. There was a decrease of 0.5 per cent in sales only for so-called other furniture. In regard to exports, France, Germany, Great Britain, the USA and Switzerland proved to be the most important buying countries.

Positive Tendency According to early signs, the Italian furniture sector was also able to continue its growth in the first months of 2017. That can be seen in the early statistical data. According to Federlegno-Arredo, furniture production increased by 4.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2017.

And the foreign trade figures are also indicators of positive development. According to CSIL, the furniture factories were able to deliver 3 per cent more furniture to foreign countries by the end of May. Furniture imports even rose by 6 per cent in the period under review. And thanks to the “Bonus Mobili” incentive program, sales on the domestic market are also estimated to have increased by 3 per cent in the same time period.

Richard Barth Thanks to a national incentive program, Italian furniture factories sold more furniture in 2016.

Photo: Cucine Lube

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Convenience is “trendy” Aesthetic flair – With its latest fitting solutions, Hettich (Germany) demonstrates a sure sense of design details. The new “Sensys” hinge for adhesive mounting not only ensures that glass doors close softly but also combines that functionality with good looks. The design character of the piece of furniture thus continues right into the interior.

Photo: Hettich

More order in cabinets – In combination with shortened shelves in tall, base and hanging cabinets, the “Tandem side” door shelf by Kesseböhmer (Germany) provides functional and flexible storage design with good access to all of the goods stored. All of the shelves and storage levels can be adjusted in height. The new door shelf thus fills the gap between a “simple” cabinet interior and a fully equipped functional interior. It is also available with frames in different heights.

Photo: Kesseböhmer

New technology in proven design – Salice (Italy) has equipped its new “Silentia+” hinge generation with an innovative type of damping by means of two silicone oil dampers. The integrated technology can be adjusted directly on the hinge and thus provides improved damping properties.

Now the level of damping can be quickly and easily adjusted to correspond to the size and weight of the furniture front.

The slender design of the “Silentia” hinge and all of the connections to the furniture remain unchanged. Photo: Salice ­­­12 material+technik möbel – special 02|17

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Pioneering wood joining

P-System Form-locking anchorage without tools With “Duropal HPL XTreme SolidColor”, designers can work without visible joints and abutting edges.

Photo: Pfleiderer

Great design and durability “Duropal HPL XTreme SolidColor” by Pfleiderer (Germany) is an innovative symbiosis of fully dyed laminate and especially durable surface quality. With it, designers and processers can also work without visible joints and abutting edges in places where surfaces are subject to a lot of wear and tear, such as shelves, furniture fronts, doors or table tops.

The new “XTreme Matt” also gives the popu-

lar “SolidColor” a new surface quality with more depth of colour and resistance to fingerprints. It has a warm, soft feel, more colour depth and, according to Pfleiderer, it is more durable and significantly more resistant to fingerprints than other matt surfaces. In addition, due to an innovative functional layer, “Duropal Xtreme” is easy to clean and resistant to chemicals. leo

– High-quality aesthetic solution Differentiation to furniture standards – Time saving process benefits in manufacturing, transport and installation – Versatile and flexible application Fitting for all joining situations and angles

Clamex P-14 Detachable connecting fitting

Tenso P-14 The new hinge generation “T-type Glissando”.

Photo: Titus

A new hinge generation

“T-type”, the new generation hinge from Titus (Slovenia), enables time-savings in cabi-

net assembly and assures life-long consistent performance with “Confident Close” on a wide range of doors in the kitchen, bedroom and other furniture. The “T-type” soft closing action is tuned to Titus “Confident Close”. The door closes fast; the deceleration action begins at a late point of door closing action and the closing is especially slow and soft in the last stage. leo

Self-clamping fitting as glueing aid

Divario P-18 Self-clamping, invisible fitting for slide insertion

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Well-suited for furniture production as well “Plexiglas” with Optical HC is used here as a high-gloss door in the kitchen. Photo: Huga KG

“Plexiglas” has long been a favou­ rite for shop fitting and lighting de­ sign. Now more and more furni­ ture producers and interior archi­ tects are focusing on the versatile material.

Especially in furniture design, the materials that are used are di­ verse: Whether glass, wood, plas­

tic or metal – the material that is chosen plays a major role in the appearance of the object that is made. High­gloss surfaces, for ex­ ample, make a particularly elegant impression; velvety surfaces, on the other hand, look warm and soft. According to the acrylic pro­ ducts business unit at Evonik, both

effects can be realised with differ­ ent materials from the “Plexiglas” family.

For example, the highly transpar­ ent “Plexiglas” Optical HC with scratchproof coating ensures a premium look on furniture fronts that is also very durable. The back of the material can be printed as

desired, thus making customised design of objects possible.

By means of a special production process, in which transparent and coloured layers are inseparably joined together, “Plexiglas” Hi­ Gloss offers the effect of great depth. The backsplash in the kitch­ en or the shower stall in the bath­ room can be replaced with such a groutless solution without exten­ sive renovations.

With other versions of its brand name acrylic glass, Evonik offers even more: The glazed surface on “Plexiglas” Satinice, for example, makes an especially warm and soft impression. And it can be dyed or printed in an almost infi­ nite number of ways, is good to work with, is also lighter and more break­proof than glass and doesn’t turn yellow. leo

The time-saving cabinet connector “Cabineo” is a one-piece connector that is inserted in drilled or milled grooves.

The producer Lamello (Switzerland) has a new connector called “Cabineo” in its assortment – a one-piece connector that is inserted in drilled or milled grooves for assembling cabinets by using only surface machining.

According to the producer, it can be used on any CNC system, including 3-axis machines and nesting machines. In comparison to cam and dowel connectors, “Cabineo” wins over users with more efficient processing and faster assembly. And it also scores points because it holds

tightly without the additional use of wooden dowels.

“Cabineo” offers advantages for production, transport and assembly processes. The connector can already be installed in the workpieces during the production process, for example, and then the workpieces can be conveniently stacked for transport without any

protruding parts. And there is no need for the additional time and expense connected with the packaging and logistics for a separate fittings bag. The added value for final assembly is that no loose fitting parts have to be installed. That makes the assembly time much shorter and completely does away with faulty assembly.

The connector is inserted in the groove in the horizontal workpiece. That process can take place before transport during production

or after transport at the destination. Afterwards, a standard ball head screwdriver is used to screw the preinstalled screw in the connector into the 5 mm drilled hold in the counter piece. With an electric screwdriver, the workpieces can be quickly and strongly connected. leo

The connector can already be installed in the workpieces during the production process.

In comparison to cam and dowel connectors, “Cabineo” wins over users with faster assembly.

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Europe’s trend surfaces Oak is number one in furniture surfaces – At decor printer Interprint (Germany), the wood is interpreted in very different designs. The decor “Intra” makes an experimental appearance, for example: On the black-varnished oak, faults, cracks and erosions portray marks of natural wear and tear. In contrast to the darker parts of the wood, the original lighter shade is revealed here and there as well. According to the decor printer, that makes it easier to combine the decor with other materials and plain colours.

Photo: Interprint

Copper is one of the megatrends in Europe – The elegant material has meanwhile been taken up by surface specialists and further developed with the aid of haptic effects into a furnishing material that makes an authentic impression. Kröning (Germany), for example, has put real metal foils for covering profiles and laminating surfaces on the market, which were developed on the basis of its successful relief coating technology. From now on, the real metal foils with haptic structures in polished look and hammer finish will set decorative accents in modern furniture design.

Photo: Kröning

Marble is at the very top of the popularity scale – That could be seen by visitors at the most recent furniture trade fair in Milan. In reproduction as well, marble meanwhile makes tables and other furniture more attractive. Schattdecor (Germany) has now created a marble decor called “Wasabi” that is not only an authentic copy of the material but also makes a really vibrant and premium impression with its colours and patterns.

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Specialists for edgebanding

On short notice, Ostermann can deliver the matching edgebanding for surfaces made by more than 70 producers all over the world.

penters offer customers perfect service and technical support in the most important world languages every day. In addition to its headquarters in Germany, Ostermann also has subsidiaries in the Netherlands, France, Italy, Belgium, Great Britain, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, where customers can get advice as well.

Far beyond Germany’s borders, the Ostermann company has made a name for itself as a specialist for furniture edging. But the wholesaler has also become an important provider for the furnishing sector with other supplier products. The company places particular value on optimal service for craftsmen who make furniture by hand.

By expanding its logistics centre and thus doubling its storage capacity for furniture edgebanding to over 40,000 storage bins, Ostermann (Germany) has been able to offer faster and more comprehensive delivery for its customers in Europe as well as all over the world for a few weeks now.

With over 400 employees and up to 3,000 orders a day, the company is already the leader in the mailorder trade in edging and fittings in Europe today. With the new building, by far the largest assortment of furniture edging in Europe is now stored at the company headquarters in Bocholt (Germany).

Ostermann is able to deliver the right edgebanding for the surface decors of more than 70 particle board providers all over the world on short notice. But the whole­

saler’s constantly growing assortment also includes adhesives and cleaners, technical profiles and other products such as workshop supplies, furniture handles or innovative design surfaces.

Perfect service for craftsmen Since its founding in the year 1948, the company has particularly focused on perfect service for craftsmen. For example, Ostermann delivers furniture edging in the smallest amounts, beginning with one meter in length, in any width up to 100 mm.

The extraordinarily fast just-in-time delivery service is also extremely popular. In many European countries, the wares can get to their destinations as quickly as in 24 hours. Over 60 employees on the telephone and trained joiners/carpenters and master joiners/car-

Online shop in ten languages International customers can also place orders in the online shop, which is currently available in ten languages. There, with the help of the quick search function, for example, processors can find the matching edgebanding for the brand-new trend colours and decors at the big wood-based materials producers Pfleiderer (Germany), Egger and FunderMax (both Austria).

At the beginning of the year 2017, all three companies put their new collections on the market at almost the same time. All at once there were more than 400 new panel colours and decors, for which the Ostermann team could provide the right edgebanding. The company has its own Research and Development Department and definitely knows its way around high-tech products such as laser, Airtec or Infratec edging.

In order to increase the quality of the advice given and to provide expert tips based on practical experience, various fields of application are regularly simulated in the company’s own workshop. ba

After being doubled in size, the logistics centre (left in picture) now has more than 40,000 storage bins for furniture edgebanding.

Photos: Ostermann

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Quality Inside

Metamerism free edge banding The edge banding specialist MKT (Germany) has developed decorative edge bandings, which, even under various light effects, are no different in colour from the corresponding surfaces of tables and cabinet furniture.

Until now, edge bandings colourmatched under simulated daylight conditions (D-65 Standard) fitted the board sample perfectly, but when the lighting was changed to typical office-lighting (TL-84), the colour of the board turned to shades of red, sometimes also to shades of yellow. The colour of the edge banding in turn behaved differently. This was a problem facing all manufacturers of furniture. So far, manufacturers were unable to eliminate this metamerism problem: The reasons lay not only in

The two decor reproductions seen here show how colours causing metamerism problems change under simulated office-lighting (right) on a board surface and on edge banding (both below), and how successfully the new colours of the “Alpha-Tape” edge banding series (above) can eliminate this problem.

Photos: MKT the different light spectra of the various types of light, but also mainly in the different colour pigments used in printbase papers and in decor printing.

The new colour series for the “Alpha-Tape” ­ edge bandings, which MKT manufactures and distributes under this brand name, now follow exactly the changes in

the board surfaces. They were developed in close cooperation with the Printec company (Germany), which is specialised in the production of printing inks, lacquers and colour pigments, In 2005, with the acquisition of Printec, MKT became the only edge banding sup-

plier with its own ink manufacturing facilities. MKT also announced that the new metamerism-free colour series are already being used in “Alpha-Tape” edge banding for the current collections of major suppliers of woodbased panels such as Pfleiderer and Egger. ba

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Quality Inside

Schattdecor (Germany) puts a new digital printing machine in operation. Photo: Schattdecor

Capacity expansion and diversification In recent years, the market for paper-based surface materials grew both in Europe and worldwide. The decor printers reacted to this development by extending and expanding their production capacity. Because the demand outside Europe grew more strongly than inside, the printers are stepping up their international commitments or relying upon diversification in order to make themselves more independent of the European market.

In recent years, paper-based surfaces were able to expand further.

In the year 2016, according to data from the decor paper manufacturer Ahlstrom-Munksjö, production of such surfaces (excluding China) worldwide increased by 4.6 per cent to 8.79 billion m². In 2011, the total was still 7.15 billion m². Including China, the company estimates the total production for 2016 at approx. 16.24 billion m².

Roughly 73 per cent of total production (without China) in 2016 was accounted for by LPL (Low Pressure Laminate) and impregnated films. Finish foils had a market share of 13 per cent, and have thus lost one per cent as compared with 2011. HPL/CPL surfaces (High Pressure Laminate/Continuous Pres-

sure Laminate) achieved a market share of 13 per cent.

In its latest issue of “Decor Paper Market Research 2016“, AhlstromMunksjö estimates the worldwide demand for decor paper at 745,000 tonnes (without China), an increase of 4.9 per cent over that of the previous year. In 2011, the demand amounted to only 611,400 tonnes. Including China, the demand in 2016 was estimated at 1.41 million tonnes, representing an increase of 8.5 per cent against the previous year.

In the next few years, the company expects an average annual growth rate of approx. three per cent in Europe, and approx. five per cent outside Europe.

The increased demand for paper-

based surface materials is also reflected in the activities and investments of the decor printers and finish-foil manufacturers. In the last twelve months, they have stepped up their production worldwide and at the same time, by investments in pioneering surface technologies and digital printing, they have reacted to the need for individualisation and differentiation of their customers in the furnishings segment.

Investment in digital printing As the worldwide largest decor printer and surface materials manufacturer, Schattdecor (Germany) has in recent months invested in future-oriented printing technology and commissioned an industrial-

scale digital printing line as an addition to its decor rotogravure printing machines. The new line can print at a running speed of up to 162 m/min over a width of 2.25 metres with rotogravure-identical colour pigments. Altogether, at 15 production locations in Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, China, Brazil, Turkey, Switzerland and the USA, Schattdecor annually produces on 34 rotogravure machines 1.7 billion m² of decor paper and 600 million m² of finish foils and melamine films. Furthermore, by the end of 2018, the surfaces specialist intends to invest approx. EUR 120 million in further developing its facilities – among others, in four rotogravure machines at its facilities in the USA, Turkey and China, as well as a shareholding in the Chinese impregnating facility Saintdecor in Wuhan as capacity extensions in the impregnation segment at the production sites in Italy, Russia and Brazil.

After Interprint (Germany), already two years ago, started up a new digital printing line, the company commissioned a further rotogravure line in summer this year. The ultra-modern four-colour line with a printing width of 2.20 metres is the eighth rotogravure line at the company’s headquarters in Arnsberg (Germany) and altogether the 25th printing line of the Interprint group. The total investment amounts to approx. EUR 6 million.

By this investment, Interprint aims to achieve an increase of its production output of 4,000 – 5,000 tonnes of printed decor paper annually. Last year, the company achieved sales in excess of 940 million m² of printed, impregnated and lacquered special papers.

Global thinking This year, as a further leading decor printer, the Surteco SE (Germany) extended its production pillar “edgebanding” with its acquisition of the Probos group (Portugal), thus continuing its expansion activities, which began in 2013 with its purchase of the decor printer Süddekor. With approx. 470 employees, Probos is specialised

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Quality Inside

mainly in the production of plastic edgebanding and in 2016 realised sales of EUR 66.5 million. Thanks to Probos’ production facilities in Brazil and Portugal, as well as other sales and compounding locations, Surteco has at the same time considerably extended its regional presence, above all in the The Continental corporate logo now embellishes the headquarters in Weißbach (Germany).

Photo: Barth

strategically important markets South and Central Amercia. Asian companies also are increasingly “thinking global” and acquiring production pillars in other regions of the world. For example, the decor paper and finish-foil manufacturer Toppan (Japan) has acquired a majority shareholding in Decotec Printing (Spain). Until now, this decor printer belonged to the Spanish woodbased products company Finsa. And by the acquisition of a production facility in the USA, the

Japanese decor printer Chiyoda also has been present in North America for several years.

Activity in the furniture foils segment Amid the competition for market shares in the surface materials market, a reshuffle is taking place among suppliers of thermoplastic furniture foils too. In spring this year, the Hornschuch group (Germany) was acquired by the internationally active Continental group (Germany). The group is one of the largest suppliers to the automobile industry and, through the Benecke-Kaliko group (Germany), was also accounted world market leader in the field of automobile interior foils. In future, the business outside the automotive segment is to be extended under the brand name “Continental” with the help of the former Hornschuch group.

With its branded products marketed under the names “skai” and “dc-fix”, Hornschuch has for years been a leading supplier of thermoplastic furniture foils and synthetic

leather for the furniture and upholstered furniture industry, as well as interior design. In the business year 2016, with more than 1,800 employees at four production sites in Germany and in the USA, the Hornschuch group recorded sales of EUR 436 million. The Continental business division BeneckeKaliko manufactures at seven locations in Germany, China, Mexico, Poland and Spain. In 2016, it achieved sales of approx. EUR 599 million with 2,000 employees. On the other hand, Klöckner Pentaplast (Germany) relies upon further diversification. In addition to the furniture foil segment, packaging is an important business mainstay.

With its purchase of Linpac (UK), Klöckner Pentaplast recently acquired a manufacturer and converter of foils for food packaging in Europe. In future, the group aims to achieve sales in excess of US $ 2 billion. Through this acquisition, Klöckner Pentaplast now controls 32 production facilities in 16 countries, with a total work force of approx. 6,300.

Cooperation with international designers The decor printing specialist Interprint (Germany) commissioned a team of renowned international furniture designers to create new decors, and presented them during a four-day exhibition in the German city of Cologne. This “Co-Creation” idea was intended to generate mutual inspiration and, in addition, to stimulate modern decor design. The initial concepts of the designers were presented in May in the framework of the event “transform”, which was held parallel to the supplier fair interzum, in the exhibition centre Design Post Köln. The decors developed for Interprint by the designer stars Jochen Flacke, Thorsten Keissner (Dolf Langemann Design) and Peter Kern from Germany, as well as Attila Kuzu from Turkey and Luca Tormena, were not there simply to be appraised as examples of their work; with original materials and background-stories, Interprint also encouraged the international visitors to participate in the creative process of decor development.

The event in Cologne was linked to the event program “Interprint Furniture days”, which had been held in the months before at various locations worldwide, also under the motto “transform”. At the end of March 2016, for example, Interprint had presented the furniture days for the fifth time in Bento Goncalves (Brazil). This

summer, however, the company implemented the event motto within its own ranks, and announced the end of the “furniture days”. By October 2018, Interprint aims to present a completely new concept and so, after ten years with its decor presentations, will also ensure a further “transformation”. ba

Luca Tormena, designer from Italy, explains the “Co-Creation” idea and the life history of “his” decors “Harris” and “Crusoe”.

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Further automation in furniture production Every other year, the furnishing sector comes together in the German city of Hannover to get information about the newly developed technologies for producing furniture and floor coverings. The Ligna fair is considered to be the world’s leading trade fair in this area and attracted roughly 93,000 interested visitors from all over the world in May 2017.

The Ligna fair, which took place in Hannover (Germany) from 22 – 26 May 2017, had a new layout concept. By combining the previously separate exhibition areas for craftsmen and industry, the organisers meant to take the changed market situation into account. Due to the restructuring, almost all of the exhibitors changed their stand locations and found themselves in different halls. Especially the smaller companies profited from the changed locations of the giant machine companies. Since each of the leading producers exhibited in a different hall, it was possible to engender a similar number of visitors in all of the trade fair halls.

The internationality of the Ligna fair was reflected in both the exhibitors and visitors: 900 of a total of ca. 1,500 exhibitors came from outside Germany this year. Increases in the number of visitors were recorded, especially from Asia, The new “DP Z3 router” from AKE (Germany) stands out with its precise chip removal and avoids repeated chip cutting. Photo: AKE

North America and Europe, so the number of foreign visitors rose to 42,000 persons.

The successful course of the L ­ igna fair was also due to the positive economic situation. The German and Italian woodworking machine producers came to the trade fair with well-filled order books and can look back on a successful 2016.

production companies. There were live demonstrations of complete manufacturing cells enabling smaller companies, for example, to economically and automatically produce small batches of individual pieces of furniture. The motto “Industry 4.0” dominated at the trade fair and was also a focal point for the tool providers, who also want to contribute to making processes more reproducible and thus more efficient. In the future, tools should be able to provide woodworking machines with im-

At Ima (Germany), robots are used in the areas of loading, stacking and sorting. Photo: IMA

Focus on Industry 4.0 The exhibitors showed lots of networked solutions in action designed for both smaller and larger

portant parameters or at least make identification of the tool possible. There are already various tool coding methods for this purpose – the QR or Data Matrix code as well as the RFID or NFC chip.

Alternatively, each operation on and with the tool can be digitally recorded and stored in a data cloud and then be retrieved by the machine operator by means of an app.

For the first time, Homag (Germany) showed the “GSH 100 SH” spray painting system it developed in cooperation with partner companies.

Photo: Homag

Variety in surfaces With a new exhibition area called “Surface Technology”, the organisers have taken the growing significance of that segment into account. The variety of technologies

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Gabor Maczko, Product Engineering Leader

With its “Inert Coat” technology, Barberan (Spain) provides economical surfaces with highgloss coating.

Photo: Barberan has increased tremendously in recent years. Due to the in­ troduction of digital printing technology and innovative coating processes that in­ clude “HotCoating” and “In­ ert Coating”. That could also be seen in the wide range of products at the Ligna fair, where visitors were con­ fronted with a multitude of new providers in the individu­ al segments.

The Homag Group (Germa­ ny), for example, appeared for the first time with a com­ plete range of products in the surface technology segment, which now includes automat­ ic spray coating systems as well as laminating systems.

At Bürkle (Germany), the au­ tomated spray coating prod­ uct range also made its de­ but. The Giardina Group (Ita­ ly) was there, not as a new player in the segment, but with a new name. Before the trade fair, the formerly sepa­ rately run companies Giardi­ na Finishing, Mauri Macchi­ ne, Ventilazione Italiana and MM Store were united under this name in order to be stronger against tougher competition and especially to be able to present them­ selves better worldwide.

Digital printing that can be felt Regular visitors to the Ligna fair were also able to find out

about the continuing pro­ gress in digital printing tech­ nology. Now edgebanding can be printed and surfaces can be provided with a tactile structure. More and more of­ ten, processes are being used in which different tech­ nologies are combined in or­ der to take advantage of eco­ nomic benefits and/or to achieve a better quality.

Combi­nations of digital print­ ing and “HotCoating”, for ex­ ample, and combinations of “HotCoating” technology with the advantages of “Inert Coating” could be seen.

Various technologies were shown for the creation of a “zero joint”, with which pro­ viders want to create a nearly invisible transition between a surface and its edging. As an alternative to laser technolo­ gy, hot air technology and Near Infra Red (NIR) technol­ ogy, the Homag Group (Ger­ many) wants in future to put edging on furniture with the help of microwave technolo­ gy to create optical zero joints.

Inspection systems and robots The most noticeable change in comparison with the previ­ ous Ligna fair was the in­ creased presence of robot technology. All of the big ma­ chine makers had robots in use, and in the demonstra­ tions at the trade fair, they took over not only individual tasks such as loading or stacking, but also combined functions.

The increased automation and complexity of modern

Hymmen (Germany) presented the option of digital printing with synchronized pores.

Photos: Barth production methods offers the users a more efficient process, but it demands a new way of thinking for qual­ ity inspections. Conventional practices and especially vi­ sual checks are hardly possi­ ble anymore. At the Ligna fair, several providers thus presented sophisticated in­ spection solutions that com­ bined several monitoring pro­ cesses.

Digital platform The various concepts of the individual exhibitors showed, that digitalisation is advanc­ ing in the woodworking in­ dustry. The Homag Group, for example, presented a digital platform called “tapio” and invites other companies in the sector to participate.

With “tapio”, the company not only wants to achieve the networking of complex pro­ duction processes, but also to give the participating com­ panies via this platform the chance to monitor the perfor­ mance of their products and to optimise them.

The next edition of the Ligna fair will take place in Hanno­ ver from 27 – 31 May 2019.

The leading global trade fair thereby alternates with the Italian Xylexpo, which will present the latest woodwork­ ing machine technologies in Milan from 8 – 12 May 2018.

Richard Barth

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Fourteen products by ­Horn­schuch (Germany) were built into “The Pioneer” concept car that was on display.

Photo: Hornschuch

Automation in the upholstery industry Three international trade fairs in Germany focused on topics concerning upholstered furniture production in May 2017. The Techtextil and Texprocess fairs in Frankfurt and the interzum fair in Cologne presented functional cover materials as well as technology solutions for automation and increased efficiency in the upholstered furniture industry.

The interzum fair in Cologne (Germany) and the trade fair duo Texprocess and Techtextil in Frankfurt (Germany) take place only every other year. But the two trade fairs in Frankfurt are direct competition for the event in Cologne only to a limited extent. While the interzum is tailored exclusively to the needs of the furnishing industry, visitors to the trade fairs in Frankfurt find a wide range of products from all segments of the textile process chain: many products and innovations that were originally created for the clothing and technical inAt Bullmer (Germany), a robot takes over the sorting of cut pieces.

Photo: Barth

dustries are also used in the upholstered furniture industry on a regular basis and offer furniture buyers additional functions and more comfort. Ground-breaking advances in processing solutions for textiles and the software necessary for them can be seen at the Texprocess fair as well; with certain modifications, they can also help the upholstered furniture industry to achieve a higher degree of automation and to make better use of material.

More exhibitors and visitors At this year’s edition, Texprocess and Techtextil were able to bring together more exhibitors – 1,789 in all – on a larger exhibition area of

about 100,000 m². A total of 47,500 visitors came from all over the world, which was an increase of 14 percent for the trade fair duo. As in previous years, the Techtextil fair proved to be the larger event. 1,477 providers exhibited their products there this year, while the Texprocess fair attracted 312 exhibitors. Even though, in comparison to the previous event, visitors found a larger range of products and many new exhibitors, the product range in the digital printing segment was limited this time because many providers had already shown their products four months earlier at the Heimtextil furniture and decorative fabric trade fair, which had taken place in Frankfurt as well.

More cutting solutions In contrast, the range of cutting solutions presented for working with textiles was all the more comprehensive. The number of exhibitors of automatic cutting systems and the relevant peripheral products had not only grown at the Texprocess fair, but had also become more international. The world market leader Lectra had decided not to make an appearance at the fair, however. Its competitors had primarily brought cutting solutions for textile and technical materials to Frankfurt. Solutions for automatic leather cutting, however, weren’t presented to visitors from the furnishing industry until the interzum fair. There, for example, the CAD/CAM specialist Expert (Germany) showed its innovation in the area of leather cutting: With automatic defect recognition for leather hides, the company from Bielefeld wants to start a revolution in this area.

In Frankfurt, it was apparent that most of the providers had significantly upgraded their peripheral products for cutters and were offering complete processing solutions. At this year´s trade fair, visitors could see for the first time, how a robot can be used to further automate the processing chain.

The Bullmer company (Germany) had developed a cutting solution in cooperation with the robot producer Kuka, in which a robot picks up the cut pieces and sorts them into piles. But other exhibitors at the Texprocess fair could also demonstrate that digital networking has arrived in the textile process chain and is leading to more automation.

All providers had added automatic labelling systems, barcode scanners and new cradle feeders to their systems. The Gerber company (USA) showed that a smooth flow of data is also ensured into the cut room where spreader and Expert (Germany) presented the world’s first fully automatic leather defect recognition system.

Photo: Expert

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Quality Inside

scanner can carry out orders by means of a simple barcode scan.

At Zünd (Switzerland), the new cradle feeder offers the advantage that telescoped or coreless fabric rolls can be easily processed. Kuris (Germany) demonstrated how a new automatic labelling system, which is integrated in the production solution (behind the automatic spreader), puts labels on the individual cut pieces, making it easier to pick and sort them.

Visitors to the trade fair were also able to observe that most of the providers are focusing on modular construction for their cutters, so they are better able to respond to the individual wishes and needs of their customers. Many producers can add special knives or punch units to their cutting solutions if needed.

Networked sewing For the first time, visitors from the upholstered furniture industry were able to see for themselves that digitalisation has arrived in the sewing machine segment as well.

Leather hides can be digitalised and evaluated with the scanning station from Kuris (Germany).

Photo: Kuris velopment is a phosphorescent yarn that can glow in the dark for seven hours after being exposed to light for only a short time.

providers, the solution should be available from autumn 2018.

Upholstery gets additional features At this year’s fair, Techtextil once again displayed the entire range of technical textiles and nonwoven fabrics for all areas of use. Visitors came from all walks of life: the automobile and the construction industry as well as medical technology and architecture. Fibre producers were also among the exhibitors whose products make woven upholstery covers with

with properties that prevent mould formation.

Aspects of health also played a role in cover materials. Phthalatefree artificial leather and antimonyfree polyester fibre are meant to ensure that in the future, there are no allergic reactions and that the users’ health is not negatively affected. The new products by fibre producer Trevira (Germany) have also proven to be environmentally friendly. The company presented yarns made of 100 % recycled polyester as well as yarns made of biopolymers (PLA). Another new de-

Innovative special areas Both events offered visitors a look into the near and distant future.

There was positive response to the “Living in Space” special area, for example, which was organised in cooperation with the European space organisation ESA and allowed visitors to take a look at materials suitable for use in space.

Following its debut at this year’s Heimtextil fair, a “Digital Textile Micro Factory” could be seen again at the Texprocess fair. It was realised in collaboration with the German Institutes for Textile and Fibre Research (DITF) in Denkendorf (Germany). At this second appearance, the entire production process involved in the creation of a piece of clothing could be experienced live – from design to digital printing to automatic cutting to sewing.

The next edition of the trade fair duo Techtextil and Texprocess will take place from 14 – 17 May 2019, which is once again a week before the next interzum in Cologne (21 – 24 May 2019).

Richard Barth Zünd (Switzerland) celebrated the premiere of its new cradle feeder.

Photo: Zünd

Automated complete solution from Gerber (USA): the “GerberSpreader” spreading system, barcode scanner and “Paragon” cutter.

Photo: Barth The Dürkopp-Adler and Pfaff companies (both Germany) presented an innovative solution called “Qondac Networks” that can monitor up to 1,500 sewing machines via Wi-Fi or Ethernet and thus make the sewing process, which has always been considered a critical point on the way to Industry 4.0, more transparent. In contrast to the production of cabinet furniture, manual craftsmanship is of vital importance when upholstered furniture producing. According to the

functional characteristics possible in the first place, but who primarily address and deliver to weavers.

Among the companies were Schoeller Textil (Switzerland) and Sanitized (Switzerland), which provide textile materials with additional features by means of special finishing products, and Outlast (USA), which gives materials thermo-regulating properties.

Artificial leather also wants to score points in the upholstered furniture industry with functional characteristics. These features render them suitable for use in the hospitality segment possible as well as in hospitals and nursing homes and outdoors. For marine use, there are artificial leathers

Advertisement

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Quality Inside

Blum invests in its factories and in a new logistics concept In the past fiscal year, the Austrian fittings producer Julius Blum GmbH (Austria) invested a total of EUR 174.62 million in its factories in Bregenz and in the new punching centre in Dornbirn. In addition, the family-run company has developed a new logistics concept in cooperation with partners that is meant to help reduce the number of empty railway containers in international movement of goods. To ensure that no empty containers have to be sent back by rail from the big North Sea harbours to Blum in Vorarl­berg, the steel provider and Blum supplier Wuppermann uses them to transport its steel deliveries from its location in Moerdijk (Netherlands) to Blum in Vorarlberg. The jointly devel-

IMA builds new assembly hall

oped railway round trip concept has been in operation since May. According to information from Blum, it is among the largest exporters in Austria: The group currently delivers goods to roughly 120 markets worldwide. About 48 per cent of the EUR 1788.08 million (plus 8 per cent) in sales in the 2016/2017 fiscal year (30 June) were generated in the EU region, 16 per cent in the USA. There has been very positive development in sales in Eastern Europe as well, where growth can also be seen in Russia and Turkey again.

The new Blum plant in Dornbirn.

Photo: Blum

IMA Klessmann GmbH (Germany), the German systems manufacturer for the furniture industry, has built an additional production hall. The new production site with a total area of 3,328 m² is exclusively for the assembly of digitalised, fully automatic lines for batch size one production and for putting them into operation. According to the company, the customers will profit from shorter delivery times, faster start of production, improved product quality and higher acceptance on the part of machine operators. IMA will benefit from shorter distances and work times because all of the experts as well as material and technology are on site.

Biesse: Investment in software

Homag invests in its Schopf­loch location and plans complete takeover of Benz The German Homag Group (Germany), in its own estimation the world’s leading producer of machines and systems for the woodworking industry and craftsmen, has invested about EUR 2.5 million in its location in Baden-Wuerttemberg. A hall extension will further increase the production area by 1,800 m2. Other investments are to follow. In January, the Homag Group already announced that it was increasing its share of Benz GmbH Werkzeugsysteme, which is one of the leading producers and providers of components and systems in tool and machine technology worldwide, from 51 per cent to 75 per cent. As the company announced, the remaining 25 per

cent of shares will be taken over by the Homag Group at the end of 2018. It will then be the sole stockholder. The shares are being sold by the Zimmer Group (Germany). For many years now, Benz – with its locations in Haslach and Rheinau and with its woodworking products – has been a development partner and supplier for the Homag Group in the area of tool systems. According to the Homag Group, which belongs to the Dürr Group, the company has continued on its course for growth and registered strong demand for its products in the first half of the year 2017. Orders increased by 33 per cent to EUR 734 million in that period of time.

The machine producer Biesse (Italy) has taken over control of Avant, its software partner of many years.

Avant specialises in software for the integration and monitoring of production lines and cells. According to the company, the applications are capable of automatically managing all of the information in the production process, from cutting to edge processing to drilling. That software has been the backbone of the batch size one production system in recent years. The Biesse Group and Avant have developed real-time tracking and management systems that give users control of the production process and thus make increases of more than 90 per cent in production efficiency possible, according to Biesse.

The Biesse Group was founded in 1969 and plans, builds and sells machines, integrated systems and software for furniture manufacturers as well as door and window producers, among others. Since June 2001 the company has been listed on the stock market in the Star segment. It has nine production locations with 37 branches and exports about 90 per cent of its production. According to Biesse, it has installed more than 1,000 production lines worldwide; in the past three years alone, it has been able to increase the number by 170 per cent.

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Quality Inside

Vauth-Sagel: Takeover of Hetal-Werke

Pfleiderer invests in new coating line technology The Pfleiderer Group, the international woodbased materials producer (Poland/Germany), is investing in a new type of coating line technology. In cooperation with paint and adhesive specialist Kleiberit from Germany, the company has created a coating line, with which wood-based beams, high-pressure laminates and compact panels can be coated in a width of 2,100 mm.

According to Pfleiderer, the machine configuration is unique on the market so far and is to go into operation at the Leutkirch location (Germany) at the end of the year. The investment sum adds up to about EUR 12 million. The woodbased materials producer wants to use the investment to offer a complete assortment of functional surfaces. After extensive renovation measures, “dekoraPur”, a subsidiary of Kleiberit, can already achieve the same surface quality in high gloss and super-matt on the existing line at its reference facility near Hanover (Germany) as

Pfleiderer created a coating line in cooperation with Kleiberit.

Photo: Pfleiderer

the exclusive development partner of the woodbased materials producer. A new technology is used there, in which the “Hot-Coating” process

by Kleiberit plays an essential role.

For 2017, Pfleiderer has planned investments totalling more than EUR 60 million. The most important projects also include the completion of a new sanding line in the largest particle board production facility in Neumarkt (Germany) and putting it into operation as well as measures to increase the use of recycled wood and to sink costs for raw materials at the same location.

Pfleiderer reported turnover of EUR 506 million for the group in the first half of 2017. That corresponds to an increase of 3.4 per cent in comparison to the same period in the previous year.

Vauth-Sagel (Germany), the producer of system components for the kitchen and furniture industries, has taken over the Hetal-Werke Franz Hettich GmbH & Co. KG from the Würth Group. The medium-sized company in Baden-Wuerttemberg manufactures its products with about 50 employees at two locations – at the headquarters in Alpirsbach and in Betzweiler. For decades, Vauth-Sagel has also been active in both segments as well as in other business areas. The familyowned and – run company says it is selectively rounding out its product portfolio with the takeover.

For more than 55 years, the VauthSagel Group has produced system solutions for the furniture, care, caravanning, automobile and multi-market sectors at four locations in East Westphalia and Northern Hesse. Main points of focus are the furniture and automotive segments. The product portfolio for the two segments are supposed to be sensibly expanded through the takeover of Hetal-Werke, for example with corner cabinet systems and cabinet hangers for kitchens and subassemblies for automobile seats.

Hetal-Werke was part of the Würth Group from 2007 on, which among others also includes Grass, the Austrian producer of motion systems. In the past years, the “flap fitting” product segment had already been transferred from Hetal-Werke to Grass.

Kesseböhmer: New electroplating line Kesseböhmer (Germany) has set up a new electroplating line with a total investment sum of EUR 20 million. By building the second electroplating line at the company’s headquarters, the German fittings producer wants to create the right conditions for the future growth of the company. In July, the most modern electroplating line in Europe was put into trial operation at the Bad Essen-Dahlinghausen location, according to information from the company.

Working with two lines expands

capacity, heightens the reliability of delivery for customers and in the end offers a high degree of flexibility, says the company. The daily capacity of the two lines is about 60,000 parts with electroplated surfaces. So the company offers the greatest product volumes in decorative surface finishing in Europe.

Kesseböhmer has set up a new electroplating line.

Photo: Kesseböhmer ­m aterial+technik möbel – special 02|17 25

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Quality Inside

Kastamonu Entegre produces in Italy as well Kastamonu Entegre (Turkey) has taken over the Trombini Group (Italy). According to Kastamonu, it has 16 factories inside and outside the country and is the biggest wood-based materials producer in Turkey. With this investment, it wants to add Italy to its production locations. Altogether, Kastamonu Entegre’s foreign investments in Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Russia and other countries thus exceeds EUR 800 million. The Trombini Group in north-eastern Italy was founded in 1962 and had two particle board factories in Pomposa and Frossasco. With a total capacity of about 800,000 cubic meters per year, it was the third-largest particle board producer in Italy. Kastamonu, which belongs to the Turkish Hayat Holding, wants to begin production with those facilities in 2018 and thus achieve a market share of 20 per cent in Italy.

SCM takes over Grimme The SCM Group (Italy), the Italian woodworking machine producer, has bought 51 per cent of the German HG Grimme SysTech GmbH (Germany). The company in the Allgäu region is the producer of systems for working on plastics and composite materials, which can also be used for working on aluminium, wood and other materials. The machines, which work with milling, cutting or water jet cutting technology, are used in the aerospace and automobile industries, by automobile suppliers, in yacht construction as well as in model and form construction. As SCM says, the partnership is meant to strengthen its position as world leader in the production of technological solutions for working with plastic and composite materials, a field, in which the SCM Group is already represented with the CMS brand.

In the year 2016, the group increased its sales to nearly EUR 600 million (previous year: EUR 513 million), and the wood segment accounted for more than EUR 400 million of that.

The Italian group’s share of exports was about 90 per cent.

Egger took over a factory in Concordia, Argentina. Photo: Egger

Egger: On course for expansion worldwide The wood-based materials producer Fritz Egger GmbH & Co. OG (Austria) is planning to build a new factory in Lexington, North Carolina (USA).

Plans are for the realisation to take place in several phases: As the first step with an investment volume of about EUR 260 million, a particle board factory with coating capacities is to be built. Construction should begin at the end of 2018, production should begin in the year 2020. The factory in North Carolina is supposed to have state-ofthe-art systems for producing coated particle board and to make it possible for Egger to better serve its customers in North America.

In July, the family-run company also took over a factory in Concordia, Argentina, from the Chilean company Masisa S.A. That means that the woodbased materials producer will now be represented with a production location outside of Europe

for the first time. According to the group, it is consistently following a strategy to continue to grow on its own and to position itself in a secure way for the future through further internationalisation.

Masisa has a market share of 35 per cent and is number two in Argentina. Masisa Argentina had sales of ca. US $ 131 million for the year 2016.

The factory in Concordia has systems for the production and coating of particle board and MDF panels. In 2016, its production capacities were 165,000 m3 of particle board, 280,000 m3 of MDF panels and 274,000 m3 of coating.

In addition, a particle board factory is being built in the city of Biskupiec in northern Poland. The new wood-based materials factory will have a raw particle board capacity of 650,000 m3 as well as coating and impregnating lines. It is expected to go into operation towards the end of 2018.

The protagonists of the agreement (left to right): Andrea Aureli (CEO SCM), Wolfgang Grimme (founder of HG Grimme), Davide Masnada (CEO Cms), Consilia Grimme, Sarah Grimme-John and Marco Mancini (CFO SCM).

Photo: SCM

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Partners to the furniture industry Castors and glides

Decor papers – unprinted

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