Happenings

Acquisitions and collaborations mark the beginning of 2023 for several companies.

Genesis Products’ Agreement to Purchase Funder America Announced at the IBS Show

Genesis Products entered an agreement to purchase Funder America, Inc., announced at the onset of the 2023 NAHB International Builder Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Their combined product offering drew high traffic at the show, which had an estimated record 200,000 attendees for the week.

The acquisition, expected to close during Q1, positions Genesis to meet the high demand for Thermally Fused Melamine (TFL) panels and broadens Genesis’ expertise as a leading supplier of laminated panels, components and panel processing. Funder America is one of the oldest, largest and most diversified TFL panel and component manufacturers in North America with 50 years of experience.

“Adding TFL manufacturing to our capabilities brings us one step closer to being the most comprehensive supplier of laminated components and panels in North America. We are passionate about leveraging the breadth of our offering to better serve OEMs, distributors and retailers across the country,” said Jon Wenger, CEO of Genesis.

“As an independent TFL producer, Funder has the ability to work with any board or laminate to serve the unique and constantly evolving needs of our joint customers. Our products and capabilities are naturally aligned to be stronger together,” said Peter Funder, who will continue to lead Funder as a division of Genesis after the acquisition.

Funder’s TFL panels and components feature decorative surfaces with enhanced visual appeal, that also exhibit excellent scratch and wear resistance. They are available in a variety of sizes, thicknesses, textures, and designs; an offering that complements industries Genesis currently serves, including kitchen cabinets, closets and shelving, RV, office and healthcare furniture, and more.

In addition to TFL, the following Funder offerings are now available from Genesis:

• High-Capacity Shelving and Panel Processing

– Durable and fully kitted, an ideal choice for designers or specifiers of commercial furniture, store fixtures, closets or cabinets.

• Exclusive Kora Paintable and Stainable Paper

– Achieves the look and feel of hardwood with reduced prep time and environmental impact. Paint-ready with no primer; accepts most stain types.

• Wood Powder Coating Technology

– Powder coating MDF with new and different shapes, contoured with various edge profiles to meet today’s demand for flexibility and fashion design. It features exciting new colors and finishes in a durable end product.

Wenger added that the Funder locations in North Carolina, Florida and Arkansas “will greatly expand our national footprint.” n

Surteco Acquiring Omnova in First Quarter 2023

Surteco North America to purchase Omnova Laminates, Performance Films and Coated Fabrics. The purchase is expected to close during first quarter 2023.

Omnova produces decorative papers and performance films, as well as 2D and 3D decorative vinyl with production facilities in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. The Coated Fabrics production is in Thailand with a distribution center in Mississippi. A leader in transportation and commercial seating surfaces, as well as in the marine industry, Omnova has sales of $280 million with 863 employees.

Surteco produces decor prints, EBC coated foils and applies hotmelt adhesive as well as producing PVC, ABS, and melamine edgebanding. Surteco has production facilities in South Carolina, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Ontario, Canada, with sales of $110 million and 292 employees.

The core business for Surteco North America is decorative surfaces. This acquisition will allow Surteco to supply any overlay and edgebanding product used in panel production in North America.

"With this acquisition, we have taken an important step towards our strategic goal of focused internationalization. In addition, we are further diversifying our products and markets and expanding in the important regions of North America and Asia. We offer our customers a globally unique range in the field of surface", according to Wolfgang Moyses, CEO of Surteco Group SE.

There is no overlap in products produced by Surteco and Omnova so operations will remain as current and existing employees will continue in their positions. n

EGGER Wood Products’ Sustainability Efforts Bolstered With Novem Industries Acquisition

EGGER Group, a global leader in the manufacturing of wood-based materials, has acquired the business and assets of Novem Industries, Inc., an established wood-recycling facility located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The acquisition, via EGGER’s wholly owned subsidiary, Timberpak, LLC, is expected to enhance the mission of EGGER Wood Products LLC to create more from wood and to be sustainable for future generations. Timberpak finalized the acquisition in early 2023.

“This acquisition will not only serve an important role in bolstering our sustainability initiatives here in North America, but will also better position us in key markets as we continue to expand and grow,” says Markus Frevert, plant manager for production at EGGER Wood Products. “Timberpak will process post-consumer recycled materials, diverting resources that would have otherwise gone to landfills, to be used in the production of particleboard and thermally fused laminate (TFL) products at EGGER’s manufacturing plant in Lexington, North Carolina.”

With the Novem Industries acquisition, Timberpak intends to transition and adapt its European-based processes and procedures to meet the needs of the EGGER Lexington plant, supplying raw materials for its wood-recycling operations currently under construction. Timberpak will serve as an additional source of wood for EGGER’s particleboard and TFL production, while furthering the company’s sustainability goals. In addition to Timberpak’s acquisition and new operational location, EGGER Wood Products has strengthened its mission toward sustainability of products by investing an additional $38 million in our Lexington production plant, which will further our ability to process raw recycled materials on site. Timberpak will be a valued partner in the new recycling operation.

RECYCLED WOOD FROM TIMBERPAK, A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF EGGER WOOD PRODUCTS. EGGER ANTICIPATES A SPRING COMPLETION OF ITS RECYCLING OPERATION AT ITS LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA, PLANT.

The Charlotte location, which is now Timberpak’s 14th worldwide facility, will continue to serve Novem’s existing customer base and retain the company’s six employees. The newly established North American Timberpak plant will be an addition to EGGER’s existing waste wood collection operations in the United Kingdom, Romania, France, Germany and Poland.

Timberpak will accept construction and demolition waste wood, in addition to packaging waste — primarily used and broken pallets — from distribution centers for industrial manufacturing. The wood will be ground into pieces about one foot in length before delivery to EGGER’s Lexington production plant.

Further processing will occur at the on-site wood recycling facility, which is expected to be completed in early spring. The recycled wood will be screened for metal, stones, plastic and other foreign materials as it is crushed into appropriately sized chips for particleboard production. n

The Best of Both Worlds: interzum 2023

The time of distance is finally over. From May 9-12, 2023, interzum 2023 will be held in Cologne, Germany, to once again bring together the entire supplier industry.

One of the main international trade shows for furniture production and interiors, panel design and manufacturing, the show takes place every two years, with the last physical show in 2019.

Organizers say they expect a strong showing based on exhibitor numbers so far.

Whether on site in Cologne or online: the trade fair will offer players in the furniture industry and interior design the ideal environment to present newly conceived solutions to an international audience. Thus, interzum 2023 will use with interzum @home a hybrid event approach. Here, the usual strong physical presentation in Cologne will be supplemented by attractive digital offerings - and thus provide an all-round unique trade fair experience.