Surface & Panel - Q2 2023

UNITING MATERIALS, TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN

Spotlighting Surfaces in Credit One Stadium Renovation

Embracing Sustainability

Optimizing the Industrial Metaverse

Previewing NEOCON and AWFS

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DEPARTMENTS

8 From the President Patrick Adams and his wife are finding themselves.

10 From the Editor Jennifer Williams doesn't like to throw things away.

12 Happenings

Industry news and announcements.

42 Sales & Marketing

Our first call to a potential customer has more to do with how much business we will do with them than any other call.

44 Human

Increasing the engagement and retention of good employees can propel a company’s success.

68 Ad

70 Three

with Keith Christman President, Decorative Hardwoods Association

ON THE COVER: Challenged with transforming an aging stadium in Charleston, South Carolina, into the ultimate venue for refined revelry, designers looked to one of the pioneering companies in the surface & panel industry.

Making Materials Matter

Sustainable products intentionally designed to elevate your environment.

Our PET office partitions, privacy screens and QWEL designer acoustic ceiling tiles take aesthetics and performance to the next level. Explore acoustical office and education solutions that provide sound damping and absorption for a calming space that's beautiful, high-performing and environmentally-friendly.

Booth 2050 Floor 7

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER

Patrick Adams

PH: 714-486-2735

padams@526mediagroup.com

VICE PRESIDENT

Shelly Adams

PUBLISHER EMERITUS

John Aufderhaar

PH: 920-206-1766 john@bedfordfallsmedia.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Jennifer Williams

PH: 714-486-2735

jwilliams@526mediagroup.com

David Koenig, DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL

Sara Graves, SENIOR EDITOR

GUEST COLUMNISTS

Kevin Gammonley, Amy Gath, David Kahle, Susan Palé

CONTRIBUTORS

Tyler Sharpe

SALES

Nick Kosan

PH: 714-486-2735

nkosan@526mediagroup.com

Chuck Casey

PH: 714-486-2735

ccasey@526mediagroup.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Dara Fowler

DIGITAL SUPPORT

Alekxandr Olson aolson@526mediagroup.com

Mik Olson molson@526mediagroup.com

CIRCULATION/SUPPORT

PH: 714-486-2735 info@526mediagroup.com

526 MEDIA GROUP 151 Kalmus Drive, Ste. E200 Costa Mesa, CA 92626

PH: 714-486-2735

Surface & Panel is published quarterly by 526 Media Group, 151 Kalmus Drive, Ste. E200, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, telephone 714-486-2735. ©

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Finding Yourself

A“ MILESTONE BIRTHDAY” was coming up, so I was excited to plan something special for the most important person in my life. Since we met when she was 19, she has mentioned her “bucket list” included staying in “one of those island places where the bungalows were right over the ocean.” Since she doesn’t like surprises, I gave her some notice of my intentions and her “mother reaction” was not what I expected. Instead, she shared that she would prefer something a bit closer to home. To my surprise, she ended up picking a ranch in western Montana … in March.

Now, for me this is heaven! Not unlike my favored elk hunting locations, I knew the area — high mountain country — cold, pure, unspoiled and, in winter, not many people (i.e., tourists). I sat puzzled for many weeks at her selection wondering if I should attempt to save her from herself. Whether it was my trust in her, or my own selfishness, away we went to Montana for some time at a ranch without the kids in tow (a rare treat these days).

During the flights, my mind was racing back over all of the packing advice I gave her in hopes that I could make what she was about to land in at least bearable. Thermals, wool socks, good boots, head covering … the list went on, then back through again. As we flew east from Seattle, the scenery out of the plane started to reveal the landscape that I have found must have been my home in past lives. Have you ever been somewhere that almost instantly you feel yourself change inside? Your mind stops racing, your pulse rate drops and that huge smile that’s inside starts to creep to the outside. As we landed and made the drive to Phillipsburg, she marveled at the raw beauty of the landscape.

Together, we explored and did things that normally I wouldn’t have imagined her wanting to sign up for. We went fly fishing — in 28° weather and she caught a rainbow trout! We went horseback riding in untouched snow and she tried her hand with both clays and long rifle. Each night for dinner, we walked about a half-mile from our cabin to the lodge. Half the time it was snowing and every time it was cold. There was a small river directly behind our cabin that each early evening, wildlife would wander down to for their evening’s hydration and grazing.

The entire time we were on the move, mostly on foot and always in the cold. There were many times I considered how far away from her “bucket list” this trip was. But each time I looked over at her, she wasn’t shivering or grimacing about trudging through the muck.

Her eyes were up and constantly scanning like a bright-eyed kid. When she hooked the trout in that river, she immediately looked over to me beaming with pride and a smile that took me back to when she was 19. When we rode horseback side by side, without another human in sight, it reminded me of those walks we used to take on the beach as kids because I didn’t really have the funds for much more on date nights back then.

Almost the minute we got home, we fell back into our routines and managing the chaos of our wonderful, blessed life — business, kids, dogs, laundry. Since we’ve been home, I’ve thought about that trip so many times I can’t begin to count. Yes, I’ve thought, “Why can’t every day be like that? Maybe we should just move somewhere like that.” But I know that’s not realistic on countless levels. I’ve thought of how I can be more of that person I was during our trip in Montana every day, regardless of where I am. But more than anything, I keep thinking about whether she chose that trip for her, or for me? Did she really give up the island bucket list trip because she was curious about Montana, because she didn’t want to be that far from the kids, or because what was on her bucket list was finding ways to find ourselves again? I’ll probably never know.

In this frantic life of goals that we pursue, it is easy to lose yourself. It’s easy to blame it on stress or other demands in life and after long enough, it’s easy to lose sight of the person you really are. It sometimes feels even more stressful planning a trip away from your responsibilities when what you should be doing is working. But do it anyway! Find yourself… and then fight to hold on to that person regardless of where you are.

Thank you for the privilege of serving you and this great industry. Enjoy your spring and get out there!

Patrick Adams, President | 526 Media Group, Inc.

�... she wasn’t shivering or grimacing about trudging through the muck. Her eyes were up and constantly scanning like a bright-eyed kid.�

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Ahead of Our Time

I don’t like to throw things away.

Much to the chagrin of my ever-organized, ex-military husband, I like to consider myself a methodical packrat. I am one of those people who collect things and just know I’ll find a place or a purpose for each item I keep. That has finally come to fruition with two girls in college, setting up their own apartments, so we are clearing out our basement a bit at a time (hubby is very happy).

While looking to finish furnishing these apartments, we turned to thrift shops and the Habitat ReStore to score some deals. And since my husband is also a woodworker, if a piece needed a little love, he could certainly help make it great.

In fact, we share a passion for fixing or restoring items that otherwise would be thrown away, including furniture, appliances and vehicles. From resealing a deep freezer to repairing a leaky high-efficiency washing machine (me) to rebuilding a turbocharger and a transmission (him), we have discovered that YouTube videos can help you fix and repair just about anything.

My daughter recently got an estimate to repair her vehicle while at school. She quickly called her dad and we swapped vehicles for a few weeks so he could work on her car instead. He

worked for hours, day and night, and finally fixed it. She told me later she was so very happy that her dad was “handy,” and saved her all that money — he was just happy to be able to help her.

Little did we know that we have been ahead of our time, saving all these things from landfills and junkyards, and unknowingly becoming part of an environmental movement to “reduce, reuse, recycle.”

And as I’ve discovered over this past year with Surface & Panel, sustainability has become the norm, rather than a trend. Many companies are reconsidering the way they do things, trying to be more environmentally conscious — and it’s not just for show. Companies are finding that thinking outside the box for production and transportation can not only reduce their carbon footprint but can also help their bottom line.

In this issue, we look at the amazing renovation of an aging stadium in Charleston, South Carolina, using many flexible, durable products that will withstand the test of time (saving money and materials in the long run). And recent trade shows have embraced sustainability and have shown how the entire industry is implementing ways to be more environmentally friendly.

It’s not just the grand gestures that make a difference. Every little bit adds up — from taking part in your community’s recycling program to donating items instead of throwing them away. Some actions may take a little extra effort, but leaving the world a better place is a cause everyone can support.

As for me, I’d like to say that I’ve specifically been keeping everything in my basement for the day my girls moved away. While that may not be the case for all of the things boxed up down there, I clearly was ahead of my time. It just took a bit for my family to appreciate what I’ve been doing all along.

Jennifer Williams, Managing Editor

�Little did we know that we have been ahead of our time, saving all these things from landfills and junkyards, and unknowingly becoming part of an environmental movement to “reduce, reuse, recycle.”

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Genesis Launches New Leadership Structure

Genesis Products announces new leadership strategy on the heels of a major acquisition. Now that the ink is dry on the recent acquisition of Funder America Inc, Genesis is investing again — in a new leadership structure designed to organize its divisions around customer needs and lean into the deep talent of its executives and managers. Jon Wenger, President and CEO, says, “In this moment of growth, at our current scale, it is time to give more result ownership to our broader management team.”

These changes create an opportunity for Genesis to align product and operations teams to the industries they serve. Formerly structured in four divisions based on operating facilities, the company will now shift its organization to two industry-focused Business Groups: RV & Vehicles and Industrial Wood Products. “This gives us the opportunity to truly focus on the unique needs of customers in these industry verticals. Our product, engineering and materials teams will no longer divide their time between RV and industrial demands. This streamlines efforts and accelerates our ability to serve our OEM partners,” says Wenger.

The restructuring is opportune, as Matt Hazelbaker, VP Panels & Mouldings, announced his plan to retire last year. Hazelbaker has been

a partner at Genesis since 2013 and was integral in the success of the company’s lamination business. He has worked closely with leadership on a transition plan that will culminate at the end of June. In addition, the company recently chose to go in a different direction and separated with Trent Evans, former VP of Interior Components.

All RV & Vehicles product and operations teams will be centralized under the leadership of Dave Stace, Business Group VP, who will step into the role having led the Welformed Division at Genesis for the past year. Stace has deep roots in the secondary automotive and RV industries, serving in various product and plant management roles at Dura Automotive Systems and Coachmen. Most recently, Stace was the General Manager at Shyft Group, strategically leading his division through a major period of growth with continuous improvement across sales, procurement, quality and engineering. His 28 years of executive leadership unites a team of experienced product business leaders on the RV side who will continue to serve OEMS with passion and expertise: Nic Bontrager, Cabinet Doors & Components; Cody Harman, Panels, Mouldings & Tape; Phyllis Beyers, Laminates & Design; Kam Betzer, Countertops. Paired with the seasoned leadership of Heather Jenks, VP of Sales, Genesis is excited to nurture and grow its RV business under this new optimized structure.

David Moser takes on the Industrial Wood Products Business Group VP role, after leading industrial sales and business growth efforts at Genesis for more than three years. All product, operations and sales activities, in addition to four recently acquired plants in the Southeast, fall under his leadership.

These changes complement other investments in leadership made by the company last year, including the addition of Erin Curtis, VP of Marketing and Development, and a dedicated Product Development team led by VP AJ Balthes. Both are at the forefront of innovation at the company; Curtis spearheading RV aftermarket and retail channel expansion and Balthes pioneering product research and development, allowing Genesis to meet customer needs in completely new ways.

CEO Jon Wenger is confident in this team to drive the next evolution of the company, “We couldn’t be in a better position for the future. Our teams are more focused, our dynamic executive team is culturally aligned, and the next generation of leaders is driving value for our customers. We are better today than we were yesterday, and we only continue to grow stronger.” n

THE GENESIS TEAM (LEFT TO RIGHT): DAVE STACE, BUSINESS GROUP VP, RV & VEHICLES, NIC BONTRAGER, PRODUCT MANAGER, CABINET DOORS & COMPONENTS; CODY HARMAN, PRODUCT MANAGER, PANELS, MOULDINGS & TAPE; PHYLLIS BEYERS, PRODUCT MANAGER, LAMINATES & DESIGN; KAM BETZER, PRODUCT MANAGER, COUNTERTOPS

“We couldn’t be in a better position for the future ... We are better today than we were yesterday, and we only continue to grow stronger.”

— GENESIS CEO JON WENGER

Roseburg Announces Historic $700 Million Investment in Southern Oregon Manufacturing

Roseburg Forest Products recently announced plans to invest $700 million over the next four years to upgrade and expand its manufacturing operations in Southern Oregon, where the company was founded nearly 90 years ago. The investment includes the creation of two new, state-of-the-art manufacturing plants, and technological improvements and upgrades at existing plants in rural Douglas and Coos counties.

The total project represents the largest ever known investment in manufacturing in rural Oregon, and one of the largest private capital investments of any kind in the state’s history.

“Across the business, Roseburg is embracing advanced manufacturing and leveraging new technology and methods to make our current products and develop new ones, with the goal of ensuring we remain competitive in the global market,” Roseburg President and CEO Grady Mulbery said. “I want to thank our partners at the Governor’s office and Douglas and Coos counties for helping make this historic investment possible.”

Nearly 100 people gathered at the Douglas County Fairgrounds for the announcement. In attendance were Allyn Ford, Roseburg’s owner and board chairman, and representatives of the state and county agencies who worked with Roseburg on the project.

The investment includes two new highly technical manufacturing plants at the company’s Dillard Complex, located just south of Roseburg, Oregon. Visit roseburg.com for more information. n

Registration Opens for WMS, Canada’s National Woodworking Event

Registration for the first Woodworking Machinery & Supply Conference & Expo (WMS) in four years is now open at www.wmscanada.ca.

Canada’s national industrial woodworking show returns Nov. 2-4, 2023, to the International Centre in Mississauga, Toronto. The event, normally held every other year, was last held in 2019, with the 2021 show cancelled due to COVID concerns.

“We are obviously thrilled to be organizing WMS with the pandemic far back in the rearview mirror,” said Harry Urban, show manager. “As we have seen from the response to other industry events that have taken place since the wain of COVID, professional woodworkers are eager to get back to seeing live demonstrations of machinery, and software; sampling new hardware and other supplies; and meeting with vendors and their peers face to face.”

Canada’s largest display of industrial woodworking machinery and supplies manufactured around the globe will be augmented by WMS Live, a free conference program right on the show floor. Each day of WMS Live will open with a keynote presentation including:

• Thursday, November 2 – “Investing in Robots; Incentivizing Employees” by Luke Elias, president of Muskoka Cabinet Co.

• Friday November 3 – “Digital Integration: Industry 4.0 Roadmaps for Cabinetry, Millwork, and Furniture Manufacturers” by Mark Corker, executive director, MTechHub (WMCO)

• Saturday, November 4 – “5 Digital Marketing Trends That Will Impact Your Business in 2024” by Darrell Keezer, CEO, Candybox Marketing (WMCO)

In addition to the keynote presentations slated for Friday and Saturday of the show, the Wood Manufacturers Cluster of Ontario (WMCO) is organizing four other education sessions on topics such as cybersecurity trends and lean manufacturing.

Other WMS Live highlights include:

• A panel discussion on “Troubleshooting Common Wood Project Miscues” featuring members of the Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada (AWMAC);

• “Employee Recruitment & Retention,” a joint presentation by the Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association and Wood Manufacturing Council; and

• A step-by-step “Advanced Closet Installer Demo.”

Visit www.woodworkingnetwork.com to view the full WMS Live schedule, for more information and to register. For information about exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities, contact Gavin McAuliffe of Corcoran Expositions at 312-265-9649; gavin@corcexpo.com. For general inquiries, contact Harry Urban, show manager, at harryurban@ woodworkingnetwork.com. n

Grand Slam Renovation C

INNOVATIVE MATERIALS ELEVATE STADIUM MAKEOVER

hallenged with transforming an aging tennis stadium in Charleston, South Carolina, into the ultimate venue for refined revelry, designers looked to one of the pioneering companies in the surface & panel industry.

“We wanted this space to look very sophisticated and serene, yet it needed to be extremely durable,” says Michelle Hertel, Senior Interior Designer with LS3P Associates LTD, a multidisciplinary firm offering architecture, interiors, and planning services to a wide variety of clients nationwide. “Formica proved to be one of the solutions to that challenge.”

Hertel led the design team for the Credit One Stadium expansion, which began in 2020 and was completed less than two years later — no small feat for a project of this size during

BY JENNIFER WILLIAMS

the COVID-era. In the end, they helped create a world-class tennis stadium that can transition to an elite entertainment venue. The design features a reimagined VIP club level, wellness-focused player and performer amenities, media and support spaces, and private hospitality suites ringing center court.

As home to the largest women-only tennis tournament in North America and one of the largest concert venues in the area, Credit One Stadium required design solutions to accommodate its diverse users. Amenity spaces needed to be luxurious enough to compete with those of the Grand Slam tournaments around the world in order to draw top competitors year after year. Support spaces needed to be versatile enough to transition from a media broadcast to a full-scale concert. The team needed to consider how each space would be used and curate an aesthetic that

LEFT:

RIGHT:

could evolve from day to night; bright, airy environments are favorable for day tennis, shifting to a subdued aesthetic which is keenly focused on center court by night. Finishes and fixtures needed to be durable enough for large events, yet elegant enough to create an intimate escape.

“Our concept was inspired by a Charleston garden,” says Hertel. “And we wanted to make sure that the inside was kind of restrained and quiet so that your attention would go to the main court, or if there's a concert that your attention could still be brought to the stage. The tennis tournament takes place during the day and the concerts are typically held at night, so you have a space that needs to look beautiful to different patron groups and look good day or night, any time of the year. We worked to coordinate all the colors and finishes throughout the stadium so that the exterior was really married to the interior and it all blended well together.”

The design team also drew inspiration from the abstraction of a tennis ball, and a circular motif is subtly woven into every space through arches, light fixtures, tile patterns, and wall textures. Utilizing a restrained color palette, the various program areas are defined by aesthetic changes in the texture and pattern of materials, furnishings, and custom art installations.

SURFACED PANELS TO THE RESCUE

With their flexibility, durability and affordability, Hertel says surfaced panels have become increasingly popular for use in commercial spaces, from stadiums to retail stores to doctor’s offices. And the advances in realistic replication of natural materials only make the manmade options more attractive to designers and consumers alike, also allowing for a more sustainable product.

“We wanted this space to look very sophisticated and serene, yet it needed to be extremely durable. Formica proved to be one of the solutions to that challenge.”

THE CLUB LEVEL PROVIDES SPACE FOR PLAYERS AND VIP PATRONS TO MINGLE AND DINE. THE DESIGN SEEKS TO BRING THE OUTSIDE IN, CONNECTING WITH BOTH THE STADIUM ARENA AND THE LANDSCAPE BEYOND.

THE PLAYERS’ LOUNGE PROVIDES A RESPITE AREA FOR ATHLETES BETWEEN MATCHES WITH TREEHOUSE-LIKE VIEWS TO NATURE, A SOFT COLOR PALETTE, AND TEXTURAL VARIETY.

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Formica is a company Hertel says she’s used throughout her career and it proved to be a natural fit for the stadium project. “We wanted it to feel high-end for people to go watch tennis,” she says. “Yet when there are people in there rocking out to concerts, drinking beer — we needed everything to be super durable as well, so Formica was a really good solution for us to get a higher look but with all the durability.”

“We actually used the anti-fingerprint finish in the suites that are going to be getting a lot of people so that they would continue to look good and it would work like almost like a high end matte paint finish. But it wasn't; it was a laminate,” says Hertel. “And

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 ›

“We worked to coordinate all the colors and finishes throughout the stadium so that the exterior was really married to the interior and it all blended well together.”

FAR LEFT: THE PRIVATE SUITES FEATURE CUSTOM WOOD SLAT CEILINGS AND WALL FEATURES THAT GLOW WITH WARM LIGHT IN THE EVENING. THE LARGE GLASS ACCORDION DOORS PROVIDE PREMIER VIEWING AND SOUND CONTROL TO BOTH TENNIS AND CONCERTGOERS.

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

the wood-look laminates look so realistic, we did some real-wood veneers up high, where you couldn’t touch it or brush up against it or equipment wouldn't be scraping up against it, but in the more high-impact spaces with heavy traffic spaces, we used the Formica.”

In fact, Formica laminate is used throughout the venue — Greige Softwood on the main casework in all amenity spaces, including the private suites and players lounge and Black Recycled Kraft on casework in support spaces. Graphite laminate has also been used on base cabinets in the private suite kitchenettes and islands, and Hertel says it is hard to distinguish the natural elements from the manufactured ones.

“We have a little subtle grain texture to the wood, too, so it looks very real,” she says. “Just how far these materials have come in their believability and then using the matching edgebanding with the cabinetry so you don’t see this outline like you used to… I don't think many people would realize that it's not wood. Most people would be fooled. Probably only an interior designer would know — and then, only if they looked really closely.”

Formica’s Light Rolled Steel DecoMetal metal laminate was used on the feature wall surrounding the multi-screen media center in the club. The subtle metallic striation provides a gorgeous contrast to the natural elements of moss and white oak. “It turned out really well,” says Hertel. “The metal laminate looks so good, is durable and it fit our budget, giving us this cool, metallic, almost industrial look.”

And while there are still some holdouts who prefer natural materials, Hertel maintains that the advantages to using manufactured materials outweigh the bias. “You know the materials are not real, but you also don’t have to worry so much about damaging those materials and having to replace them in a few years.”

“Just being able to utilize these various finishes that are durable, and knowing they will look good for a long time without a lot of upkeep,” she says. “It’s just kind of like the perfect blend of what is needed for those commercial spaces.” s p

LEFT: THE CLUB LEVEL BAR OPENS TO THE ROOF DECK WITH A FOLDING WINDOW. BACK-LIT TERRACOTTA BLOCKS IN A SWEEPING ARCH CELEBRATE THE ENTRANCE TO THE PLAYERS’ LOUNGE.

BOTTOM LEFT: THE SPONSOR’S SUITE FEATURES FLEXIBLE FURNISHINGS AND A MIX OF NATURAL MATERIALS AND TEXTURES WITHIN THE RESTRAINED PALETTE.

Embracing Sustainability

NO LONGER AN INDUSTRY BUZZWORD, SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES ARE HERE TO STAY.

BY JENNIFER WILLIAMS

Designers and industry professionals hesitate to use the word “trend” when discussing the use of sustainable materials in the industry.

Instead, the movement towards sustainability has become more of a constant — what is expected from companies all across the globe.

The recent Ligna and interzum shows each held their first in-person events since 2019, focusing on sustainability in many of their presentations. Exhibitors touted not only their latest products, but also spotlighted how they are minimizing their environmental impact and carbon footprint.

And the Environmental Protection Agency just proposed amendments to the 2020 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Plywood and Composite Wood Products (PCWP) to further protect air quality and public health by reducing emissions of hazardous air pollutants [see sidebar, page 24].

The surface & panel industry constantly faces challenges including changing customer demands, increasing competition, rising costs, environmental regulations, and quality standards.

To overcome these challenges and gain a competitive edge, companies understand the need to embrace sustainability as a strategic priority and a source of innovation. Sustainability is not only about reducing the environmental impact of the production process and the products, but also about creating value for customers, businesses and society.

GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND REGULATION

Customers and regulators are increasingly demanding more information and accountability from the surface & panel industry regarding the environmental and social aspects of their products and operations. The industry as a whole must comply with various standards and certifications that measure and verify their sustainability performance, such as EPEAT, EcoVadis, FSC, PEFC, and others. These efforts must then be communicated to both stakeholders and customers through means such as reports, labels and websites.

REDUCING CARBON FOOTPRINTS

Delivery is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions

in most industries. Companies are looking to optimize their delivery methods and routes to reduce their fuel consumption and emissions. Companies also continue to explore alternative modes of transportation that are more efficient and eco-friendly, including electric vehicles and rail transport, which can also result in costsavings for the company, as well.

RISE OF THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

RIGHT: THE HOTEL DOS REIS BY THE BEAUTIQUE HOTELS USES ONE OF VICAIMA’S MOST EXCLUSIVE SOLUTIONS: VICAIMA INFINITY. THE COMPANY’S INNOVATIVE APPROACH PROVIDES A HARMONIOUS INTEGRATION OF VARIOUS ELEMENTS, INCLUDING DOORS, PANELS, WARDROBES AND FURNITURE PIECES, USING ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE CUSTOMIZED DESIGNS AND FINISHES. VICAIMA HAS A CONSTANT CONCERN FOR SUSTAINABILITY, BEING THE FIRST PORTUGUESE COMPANY IN THE SECTOR TO OBTAIN FSC (FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL) CERTIFICATION. CONTINUED ON

The circular economy is a concept that aims to eliminate waste and extend the life cycle of materials and products by reusing, repairing, remanufacturing, recycling, or composting them. Many companies are looking to adopt circular economy principles in their design and production processes to reduce their material usage and waste

ABOVE: UNIBOARD: THE IMPRESSION OF WHITE OAK EMBELLISHED WITH TEXTURES SUCH AS RATTAN AND LINEN IS A GOOD CHOICE OF MATERIALS TO CREATE THE SOUGHT-AFTER JAPANDI ATMOSPHERE. HERE, UNIBOARD’S K97 – ZINC IS PRIZED FOR ITS LINEAR WOOD GRAIN, CREATING AN UP-TO-DATE SPACE WITH A CHOICE OF SUSTAINABLE, ORGANIC MATERIALS IN HARMONY WITH NATURE THAT WILL BE AT THE TEST OF TIME.

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 generation. Another facet of this could extend to customers through take-back programs, refurbishment services and others.

USING AI AND DATA

Data and artificial intelligence (AI) are technologies that can help improve a company’s sustainability performance by analyzing large amounts of data, identifying patterns and trends, making predictions and recommendations, optimizing processes and outcomes, detecting anomalies and errors, and providing feedback and guidance. For example, data and AI can help optimize a company’s production schedules, adjust parameters based on real-time conditions, monitor quality and performance, prevent failures and downtime, and improve customer satisfaction. Again, efficiencies in these areas can lead to reduced costs overall.

These days, sustainability is not only seen as a responsibility, but also as an opportunity to create value, offering companies a chance to innovate and stay competitive. s p

EPA Proposes Amendments to Air Toxics Standards

On May 5, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended amendments to the 2020 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Plywood and Composite Wood Products (PCWP).

The suggested amendments respond to a 2007 partial remand and vacatur of portions of the 2004 PCWP NESHAP and a petition for reconsideration EPA received following the 2020 PCWP NESHAP technology review, noting the EPA’s obligation to address unregulated hazardous air pollutants (HAPs).

In this action, the EPA proposes maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards for:

• Acetaldehyde, acrolein, formaldehyde, methanol, phenol, and propionaldehyde from fiberboard mat dryers at existing sources, hardboard press predryers at existing sources; and atmospheric refiners at new and existing sources;

• Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) from tube dryers, reconstituted wood products presses, and miscellaneous coating operations at new and existing sources; and

• Non-mercury metals, mercury (Hg), hydrogen chloride (HCl), dioxin/furan (D/F), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from direct wood-fired dryers.

The EPA is also recommending annual burner-tune up standards for all direct-fired PCWP dryers, direct-fired lumber kilns, and associated combustion unit bypass stacks, and is proposing work practices for various resinated material handling process units, lumber kilns, log vats, stand-alone digesters, fiber washers, and wastewater operations.

In this action, the EPA also seeks to:

• Remove the emissions averaging compliance option;

• Require monitoring of process unit bypass stack usage at all times; and

• Require emissions testing, monitoring, reporting, and recordkeeping relevant to the standards being added.

The EPA is proposing that existing sources demonstrate initial compliance with the new MACT standards within three years after the promulgation of the final rule. The EPA also expects that new sources, constructed or reconstructed after the proposal date, would need to demonstrate initial compliance upon the publication date of the final rule or start-up, whichever is later.

The proposed amendments would protect air quality and public health by reducing emissions of hazardous air pollutants (HAP). The EPA estimates that the prospective amendments would reduce HAP and volatile organic compound emissions from the PCWP source category by approximately 590 and 8,100 tons per year, respectively. Additionally, the EPA estimates the proposed amendments would have a total annual cost to industry of approximately $51 million per year (in 2021 dollars).

— www.epa.gov

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Safety First

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ABOUND TO HELP KEEP EMPLOYEES SAFE ON THE JOB

INDUSTRIAL FIRES MADE THE NEWS ALL TOO FREQUENTLY IN 2022.

A July 25 fire destroyed the 135,000-square foot Timber Products Ampine Division particleboard mill near Martell, California. On September 2, the Mill Fire began at or near Roseburg Forest Product’s veneer mill in Weed, California, killing two people, burning nearly 4,000 acres and destroying 118 structures.

And while investigators are still piecing together the exact causes for these fires, Timber Products decided not to reopen the mill that employed 145 people and Roseburg continues to pay settlements while investigating whether a third-party machine failed to sufficiently cool ash at their mill, leading to the blaze.

An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, they say, and protecting workers from hazards and risks in the workplace remains a top priority in any industrial setting. To this

end, companies have created innovative methods and products to keep fire and other dangers at bay.

From spark suppression systems that prevent fires to pressurized mats that automatically shut down heavy machinery when people get too close, there are a multitude of ways to reduce or prevent the occurrence and severity of accidents and injuries in the workplace.

Some safety equipment is required by law in certain areas and situations, but other products fall into the “good idea” category for companies.

Fagus-Grecon has an entire line of spark suppression devices. One of their latest models, the DLD 1/9 Intelligent detector, adjusts to work in both dark and light areas and is a highly sensitive detector for both sparks and hot particles. It is insensitive to daylight and artificial light and offers excellent detection performance for all ignition sources in any environment

— FAGUS-GRECON

thanks to adaptive detection technology.

The company also just released a new Intelligent Extinguishment Module (IEM) for the reliable extinguishing of sparks with integrated early wear recognition. The integrated intelligent extinguishing technology (IET) permits highly precise monitoring of extinguishing and allows for the recognition and removal of clogged nozzles or a too-low flow pressure. Increasing wear of nozzles or valves will be reported predictively to permit targeted and efficient planning of maintenance. The automatic extinguishing system is ready when a spark appears, and in outdoor areas, the optional integrated frost monitoring can render operation as safe as possible, even in winter. Visit www.fagus-grecon.com for more information.

Fire is not the only hazard in industrial or commercial spaces. Companies using loud, heavy machinery can also utilize specialized equipment to help keep their employees safe while working.

Machine guarding products have been around for quite a while, but Pinnacle Systems has designed, manufactured and serviced a variety and multitude of these safeguarding devices for industrial

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 ›

ceflafinishing.com

BELOW: A FIRE DESTROYED THE 135,000-SQUARE FOOT TIMBER PRODUCTS AMPINE DIVISION PARTICLEBOARD MILL NEAR MARTELL, CALIFORNIA.

“Every 5 minutes, an industrial fire breaks out”

Cefla, the Italian world leader in the Finishing market, manufactures your finishing solutions in the USA

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

manufacturers. These safety devices include safety light curtains, safety mats, ergonomic palm buttons, safety relays, safety controls and much more. These machine guarding products provide assurance to the employer and the machine operators that hazardous areas and the dangerous point of operation requirements of industrial machinery can be made more safe. Applications such as power press guarding, press brake guarding, robot guarding and automation guarding are just a few examples of machine safeguarding capabilities offered by Pinnacle Systems.

One of Pinnacle’s latest innovations is a flexible, customizable safety mat. Safety mats are pressuresensitive machine safeguarding products for the industrial marketplace and are designed to detect the presence of workers or passers-by on the mat surface area around hazardous machines. These mats are flexible, impact resilient, functional after punctures, extremely durable and will not rust.

The STTS (Soft Tactile Transducer Sensor) Safety Mat System is a technological paradigm in the field of presencecontact sensing/pressure sensitive safety mat systems. This revolutionary mat system is a hybrid design that combines features to meet and surpass both domestic and international safety standards. Through its advanced technology and state-of-the-art design features, this flexible safety mat system is customizable by shape and size, with a large 6′ x 12′ single mat capability. The Category 4 STTS Controller actually pulses each individual mat every 19 milliseconds to assure no tampering to the mat or controller has been attempted. Visit www.pinnaclesystems.com for more information.

TOP: FAGUS-GRECON HAS JUST RELEASED A NEW INTELLIGENT EXTINGUISHMENT MODULE (IEM) FOR THE RELIABLE EXTINGUISHING OF SPARKS WITH INTEGRATED EARLY WEAR RECOGNITION. ONE OF THEIR LATEST MODELS OF SPARK SUPPRESSION DEVICES, THE DLD 1/9 INTELLIGENT DETECTOR, ADJUSTS TO WORK IN BOTH DARK AND LIGHT AREAS AND IS A HIGHLY SENSITIVE DETECTOR FOR BOTH SPARKS AND HOT PARTICLES.

ABOVE: THE STTS (SOFT TACTILE TRANSDUCER SENSOR) SAFETY MAT SYSTEM IS A TECHNOLOGICAL PARADIGM IN THE FIELD OF PRESENCECONTACT SENSING/PRESSURE SENSITIVE SAFETY MAT SYSTEMS OFFERED BY PINNACLE SYSTEMS.

In addition to these more recent innovations, some other common industrial safety equipment includes:

• Safety cabinets to store flammable liquids, corrosive chemicals, pesticides, and other hazardous materials safely and securely. They can prevent leaks, spills, fires, and unauthorized access to dangerous substances. Safety cabinets can also help comply with regulations and standards for safe storage of hazardous materials.

• Safety cans can hold and dispense flammable liquids safely and easily. They can prevent leaks, spills, fires, and explosions by having features such as self-closing lids, flame arresters, pressure relief vents, and ergonomic handles. Safety cans can also help comply with regulations and standards for safe handling of flammable liquids.

• Safety showers and eyewash stations can provide emergency flushing of the body or eyes in case of exposure to harmful chemicals or substances. These can reduce the risk of injury or infection by rinsing away contaminants quickly and thoroughly. Safety showers and eyewash stations can also help comply with regulations and standards for emergency response to chemical exposure.

• Gas detection systems can monitor and alert workers of the presence of flammable or toxic gases in the workplace. These systems can prevent fires, explosions, asphyxiation, and poisoning by having features such as sensors, alarms, displays, controllers, and communication devices. Gas detection systems can also help comply with regulations and standards for safe working environments.

• Personal protective equipment (PPE) help protect workers from various hazards and risks, including cuts, burns, abrasions, impacts, noise, dust, etc. PPE can include gloves, helmets, goggles, masks, ear plugs, boots, aprons and more. PPE can reduce the risk of injury or illness by providing a barrier between the worker and the hazard and can help companies comply with regulations and standards for worker safety.

Safety equipment and products are essential to help protect workers from hazards and risks and to comply with regulations and standards for safe and responsible operations. These products can also improve the quality and efficiency of the production process, as well as the customer satisfaction and reputation of the business. Safety equipment and products may add cost to production, but are an investment that pays off in the long run s p

National Fire Protection Association said ...

The National Fire Protection Association (www.nfpa.org) said that U.S. municipal fire departments responded to an average of 37,910 fires at industrial or manufacturing properties each year between 2011 and 2015. The NFPA says they estimate the annual losses from these fires at 16 civilian deaths and $1.2 billion in direct property damage.

Structure fires are more common in manufacturing or processing properties, while vehicle fires are more common in agricultural properties. Electrical distribution and lighting equipment was involved in 24% of structure fires, and heating equipment was involved in another 16% of these fires. Hot ember or ash was the leading heat source in 15% of outside non-trash fires in industrial properties.

The vast majority of fires (71%) in industrial and manufacturing properties were outside or unclassified fires, which accounted for an estimated average of 3 civilian deaths, 38 civilian injuries, and $265 million in direct property damage each year.

Vehicle fires accounted for an estimated average of 9% of industrial and manufacturing property fires) each year, with losses estimated at 6 civilian deaths, 17 civilian injuries and $125 million in direct property damage each year.

BELOW: THE FAST-SPREADING VENEER MILL FIRE LAST SEPTEMBER IN WEED, CALIFORNIA, KILLED TWO PEOPLE, BURNED NEARLY 4,000 ACRES, AND DESTROYED 118 STRUCTURES.

Don’t Let Warped Cabinets

RUIN YOUR PROJECT

BY JASON WRIGHT

Nothing is worse than designing and installing a whole kitchen only to find the cabinet doors ruined by warping.

Suddenly you think about all you put into your project: the loss of your time and money investment is enough to shed a tear. But what about the emotional investment? Sure, they may have only been for a client of yours, but you loved those Hunter Club Forest Green cabinets. You even took a picture to post on social. Already had a caption and everything.

Now what? Do you scrap the whole thing?

Well, hopefully, you have created a system for preventing this before the damage gets done because you certainly have things you can do to prevent this kind of devastation.

Knowing how to properly care for your wood before, during, and after installation is crucial.

Why do cabinet doors warp?

Moisture is the culprit.

Even one warped cabinet door—caused by moisture imbalance— can make the whole finished project look horrible.

If one door doesn’t shut right, your eye will be drawn to it. And if it stands out to you, you can bet it’ll catch the eye of a mother-in-law.

But why is this moisture even an issue?

Wood is obsessed with the moisture in the air and always wants to fit in with it. In fact, wood’s infatuation with water makes it hygroscopic, which means wood likes to absorb or release moisture in the air until it reaches EMC.

EMC, or equilibrium moisture content, happens when wood stops absorbing or releasing moisture. When wood absorbs

ABOVE: GOOD-FITTING CABINET DOORS DON’T JUST HAPPEN — ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION TO MOISTURE BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER INSTALLATION.

moisture, it expands. When it releases moisture, it shrinks. These changes are what cause most issues in wood projects, including warping.

Only when the wood reaches its stable EMC is it ready to be used, installed, or finished.

If you jump ahead in the process and install or finish the wood before EMC, your cabinets are way more likely to have warping issues.

So, what do you do? How do you satisfy the wood’s EMC?

Easily: Let it acclimate.

Wood needs to acclimate to its surroundings before installation. And even before that, it’s preferred to store wood in an environment similar to its end location. But regardless of where it was stored, it’s always recommended to allow enough time for the wood to acclimate to its end environment.

If you rush to install the wood before then, it won’t save you time. In fact, that practice alone will likely ruin a project.

LEFT: FOR YOUR CABINET PROJECT TO TURN OUT EXACTLY AS YOU ENVISION, YOU MUST ALLOW AMPLE TIME FOR THE WOOD TO ACCLIMATE PROPERLY TO THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT.

But where does all this moisture come from, anyway? Everywhere.

Vague, but true. Moisture is everywhere.

If you live in a humid environment, moisture is in the air. And if you’ve ever gone running outside in many parts of the country, you’ve had a firsthand experience with that moisture.

Moisture could also come from specific areas in a home. If the cabinets are in the bathroom, hot showers could contribute to the problem. The mirror isn’t the only place moisture goes, it’s just the most immediately visible.

Or if the cabinets are in the kitchen or laundry room, think about all the water associated with those rooms. Even if you’re careful, cabinets get splashed all the time.

Okay, maybe just sprinkled, but you get it. Moisture is in everything, and it’s pretty unavoidable. But that doesn’t mean it should ruin your beautiful bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room cabinets.

No. There’s something you can do. There’s one, specific tool that can help you fight back.

Do I really need a wood moisture meter?

Absolutely. Yes. 100%.

If you want your project to be a success, no doubt about it, you need a wood moisture meter.

Why? Well, off the top of your head, do you know what the proper EMC is for your end environment? Do you know your wood’s current moisture content (MC)? Can just one look at your wood tell you if it’s acclimated?

Wouldn’t that be a dream come true...

But no, you need moisture measurement tools for that information!

If you don’t measure for moisture in the wood, you’re at risk for the wood to warp or experience other problems. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

But what would happen if you used an accurate and reliable wood moisture meter?

No more …

• Guessing about EMC

• Eyeballing the acclimation process

• Headaches about ruined projects

• Unhappy customers or mother-in-laws

Can you picture a life like that? That’s what moisture meters can do for you.

What do I do with wood moisture meter readings?

Sure, there’s more to the project than simply acquiring the tool and getting the reading. Once you know the MC of the wood, you’ll need to react.

Reactions vary, but they could look like this:

• Drying the wood

• Moving the wood to an environment with the same end-use EMC

• Allowing more time for the acclimation process

• Installing the wood

That’s right, installation could be your next step. But how could you know without a moisture meter?

Now that you know just how much of a huge help a moisture meter could be, it’s time to consider investing in one for yourself. After all, you just don’t have it in you to let another project be ruined. Time is money, and you need not waste either. S P

JASON WRIGHT serves as the Business Development Specialist for New Products for Wagner Meters. Joining the company in 2019, Wright has more than 35 years of experience from starting new companies to supporting the flooring industry within the wholesale and retail sectors. Many in the flooring industry have come to rely upon Jason's extensive experience. Contact him by email at jwright@wagnermeters.com.

Wood needs to acclimate to its surroundings before installation. And even before that, it’s preferred to store wood in an environment similar to its end location.

ABOVE: THE USE OF A WOOD MOISTURE METER IS ESSENTIAL FOR ENSURING THAT THE WOOD HAS REACHED EQUILIBRIUM MOISTURE CONTENT AND

The Smartshop2 Elite is equipped with industry leading FANUC controls and servos. The FANUC name is synonymous with quality and reliability. With HSD spindles up to 12HP, these numbers yield faster feed rates, better edge quality, and higher performance than any other machine in it’s price category. lagunatools.com

Tackling the Future of Surfacing’s Biggest Threats

BY AMY GATH

While design choices and material preferences may continually evolve, one thing is sure – as long as we’re creating buildings, we’ll need surfaces for them. It’s never been more obvious than the past few years that construction demand can significantly fluctuate across both commercial and residential settings, but overall, our industry feels largely confident in the long-term health of our sector. People will always need surfaces.

However, the future health of our industry is more complex than a simple supply-anddemand equation. The long-term success of our businesses depends on proactively acting on opportunities and threats.

ABOVE: EMPLOYEES ENSURE THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS RUNS SMOOTHLY AT FORMICA. PHOTO COURTESY OF FORMICA

Amy Gath serves as the Vice President of Marketing at Formica Corporation

SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN

It’s a simple fact that the supply of surfacing materials will continue to have a major impact on our industry, both when it comes to availability of materials and also consumer preferences. No matter the type of materials your company utilizes, now is the time to find solutions for the future, from more efficient material usage to end-product recycling programs to proactively searching for renewable, sustainable material substitutes that will set your business up for success. Considering the finite nonrenewable resources our Earth provides, we need to innovate across the industry for more sustainable supply chain solutions.

MINDFUL EMISSIONS

We all know reducing our carbon footprint is the right thing to do for the planet and our people, but beyond that, it’s also smart business sense. Consumer interest in eco-friendly materials in their homes continues to grow, and businesses increasingly look to build more eco-friendly facilities to cater to investors, employees and regulators.

As we look to the future, we should expect governments around the world to continue to raise their standards for eco-friendly manufacturing and building design. For the sake of our own operations as well as equipping our customers for success, it’s in our best interest to begin investing in cleaner, more efficient operations now to make these inevitable transitions all the more seamless.

SKILLED SURFACING WORKFORCE

While many conversations about the world’s future workforce revolve around automation and artificial intelligence, most fields aren’t going away any time soon, including those at every stage of the surfacing process. From designers and architects to skilled craftspeople across manufacturing and installation, a shortage of talent at any stage of this process endangers the health of our industry.

We should all be doing our part to build and support the pipeline of future talent that will ensure our continued success. That can take shape in many ways, be it through time investment, such as mentoring students studying in the field, or financial investments, such as creating scholarships at local colleges or trades programs to make entering their chosen field more accessible for young people. At Formica, we created a student furniture design competition with financial support and industry networking opportunities for the top three winners, and it has become one of our associates’ favorite initiatives to support.

The future of surfacing is bright and it’s on us as an industry to ensure we get there. Sustainability — from materials to our workforce — should be in every company’s strategic plan for the business and industry’s success s p

“Sustainability — from materials to our workforce — should be in every company’s strategic

plan for the business and industry’s success.”

TOP: WALNUT BUTCHERBLOK FROM FORMICA’S 2022 LIVING IMPRESSIONS COLLECTION CAN BE USED IN A VARIETY OF SETTINGS AND IN HIGH-TRAFFIC SPACES.

BOTTOM: PAWD, A PET-FRIENDLY DESIGN BY CHRISTINA VOGIATZIS, WON SECOND PLACE IN FORMICA’S FORM 2022 STUDENT INNOVATION COMPETITION.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FORMICA

MEGAN ITE N ATURE SERIES

FO UR NEW COLORS FOR 2023 CAPTURE THE WONDERS O F NATURE

Upgrade your space with our new nature-inspired colors: Mont Blanc, Soft Statuario, Himalaya and Crater Lake. Bring the beauty of of the great outdoors, indoors with Meganite Solid

Surface

With four new colors inspired by the great outdoors, Meganite Solid Surface brings the beauty of the wilderness indoors. This 100% acrylic solid surface is not only gorgeous and durable, but also easy to clean and maintain. Its non-porous surface resists bacteria and mold growth, making it hygienic as well as great looking.

Meganite is tough enough to withstand heavy use and installs without seams so there are no crevices to trap dirt. And if that weren’t enough, it’s also versatile – it can be thermoformed, trimmed and routed in just about any way you need it.

TERRAZZO AND MARBLE DECORATIVE HARDWARE

THE PERFECT MARRIAGE OF FORM AND FUNCTION

We’ve taken the timeless appeal of terrazzo and natural marble and crafted them into styles you’ll fall in love with. Make a statement with breathtaking pulls and knobs that epitomize beauty and ingenuity. The collection features square knobs and linear pulls that can be mixed and matched for a spectacular effect.

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All About Relationships

BY KEVIN GAMMONLEY

For many of the distributors in our channel, decorative surfaces make up an important product category within an overall product mix that also includes wood panels, cabinet and closet hardware, stains and finishes and a variety of woodworking and kitchen/bath supplies. More specifically, commercial interiors make up a large part of the booming decorative surfaces market handled by these distributors.

This unique market requires dedicated focus, resources and expertise in order to successfully capitalize, but there are big payoffs for distributors who are successful in serving these markets. Commercial interiors includes segments for the workplace, healthcare, education, hospitality, retail, public space and government.

Breaking into the commercial interiors marketplace is all about relationships. Distributors and their manufacturer partners must get to know their local designers and architects personally and grasp a keen understanding of how they work and their everyday challenges. This takes a

long-term commitment and specialized staff who are dedicated to serving as the liaisons between the distributorship and this dynamic community. Much of this work falls to the specifications representative employed by the distributor whose role is to develop and maintain strong relationships with architects, designers and all key players in the construction process including general contractors.

Spec reps have a unique and important role to play if a distributor is going to win business within the competitive commercial design market. These individuals work closely with architects & designers on specifications and approval of specific products. They also serve as technical consultants to ensure customer satisfaction, conduct project targeting and tracking as well as actively participate in the associations and industry events that are important to the A&D community.

This community puts a lot of trust in their distributors and the materials they choose. The final choices come down to how well the distributor can sell the benefits of the product for a project. Communication and education are a distributor’s

KEVIN GAMMONLEY has served as the Executive Vice President of the North American Building Material Distribution Association (NBMDA) for more than 30 years. www.nbmda.org

most important deliverables for winning business. Other factors that come into play include responsiveness, integrity and mutually understood expectations. Strong partnerships can have many facets and no two are exactly alike, but these core behaviors and commitments create the foundation for the healthiest relationships.

So how does one distributor set themselves apart from the others? In addition to the expected support, distributors of choice for the A&D community also go above and beyond to deliver:

• Honesty around their products and their availability; every project is not the best fit for a distributor and their focus needs to be around developing a deep level of trust and credibility for the long-term relationship.

• In-depth probing to learn about the unique aspects of the project in order to grasp what the architect or designer really need.

• Problem-solving; first choice products are not always available so back-plans need to be ready

• Staying abreast of trends so that a distributor can offer ideas and services before they are requested; they need to be proactive solution-providers.

• Investment in technology that help to support the A&D community; documentation of the preferences of designers and architects in their past projects will help a distributor stand-out when future opportunities arise.

When a distributor has the resources available to help the A&D community understand and use their products, they have the potential to become their most trusted supplier who can give them the information needed to ensure a seamless design. This goes beyond the personal relationships and education to also include readily available online resources such as installation instructions and videos as well as sales tools to pitch their products to building owners.

Growth-oriented distributors will be highly visible at important industry events such as Neocon in Chicago and the AWFS Fair in Vegas this summer. These distributors are strengthening their relationships with their manufacturer partners and are learning about new products so they can ultimately share their knowledge and ideas with the commercial design community. s p

Communication and education are a distributor’s most important deliverables for winning business.

BY JAMES OLSEN

The Important First Call O

ur first call to a potential customer has more to do with how much business we will do with them than any other call. Can we dig out of the hole of a poor first call? Yes. I did it for years. But it takes a lot more time to overcome a bad first call. This is why when Master Sellers lose a big account they still have great years. Master Sellers know how to make a great first call that impresses potential customers.

Many sellers are so nervous and disorganized on their first call that they do the opposite. They turn off potential new customers. In addition, because the first call goes poorly and the proper information is not gathered, the second call is usually a re-prospect call, aggravating the buyer, or the seller offers something on the second call that the customer doesn’t use, which also leaves a negative impression.

Qualification — Not a Sales Call

Prospect calls are not sales calls. Most customers aren’t going to buy from us on a first call. It is a bit more common for distribution sellers because they can sell smaller quantities to local customers, but for sellers of truckload quantities to customers in regions all

over the country, it is highly unlikely. The purpose of our first call is to qualify the account. Do they buy what we sell, do they buy it the way we sell it and do they buy enough?

For example, if we sell wood products, we need to be asking:

1 What are the main three items you bring in?

2 | What grade(s) do you buy that in?

3 | What species?

4 Mill preference: Are there any mills you can’t use/prefer?

5 | Quantity per month?

This is the minimum number of questions because there will often be follow up/nuances to the answers — for example, if they use SPF: “Can they use Eastern/Western/Euro/SPF-S?”

This is why it is important to ask a narrowing question (“What are your main three items you buy in truckload quantities?”). Most customers will give us three to five minutes, so we must be clear and concise with our questions.

If, after we have qualified the customer thoroughly we want to ask, “Is there anything you are looking for today?” it is OK but don’t let that be the first question you ask.

What’s Your Price On...?

If the customer asks this question before we’ve qualified them, we say, “Susan, I’d love to sell you something today, but that really isn’t the purpose of my call. I’m calling to find out a little bit more about you and your company to see if we will be a good fit going forward. After we find out the main items you’re bringing in, if you want to give me an inquiry, I’ll be glad to work up a professional quote for you.” Then continue qualifying the account.

WSIBFU? Moments

On every prospect call there will be a “Why Should I Buy From You?” moment. Customers will rarely ask this question directly, but in other ways:

• “Where are you calling me from?”

• “I buy direct.”

• “I’m happy with my current supplier.”

• “Your company burned me in the past.”

This is where we need to be prepared to tell our potential customer why they should do business with you. Most sellers wing it. And it sounds like it. I tell my students, “You’re smart enough to wing it and your customers are smart enough to know you are winging it!”

Many students will say, “I don’t want to sound scripted.” I tell them, “Your favorite singer, actor, comedian and athlete are all scripted. It’s called professional preparation.”

Master Sellers have planned for and are ready to impress their potential customers with their answer. “We are a 35-person sales team. We move 50 million bd. ft. of lumber every month to the most competitive accounts in the nation. In addition, we are the largest importer of XYZ product. Because we move so much volume and because of the contracts we have in place, we get highly competitive pricing that we pass on to customers just like you.” S P

JAMES OLSEN

is principal

of Reality

Sales Training, Portland, Oregon. Call him at (503) 544-3572 or email james@ realitysalestraining.com

Improving Employee Engagement and Retention

BY PAIGE MCALLISTER

Employees stay at companies where they feel valued and safe. Employees leave companies where they feel discounted, taken advantage of, or disconnected from managers and co-workers. Increasing the engagement and retention of good employees can propel a company’s success, allowing leaders to focus on proactive strategies instead of reactively putting out fires.

While some more immediate actions can create short-term engagement, long-term commitment requires leaders to examine and redefine how things are done by the company as a whole and how employees are developed and nurtured.

Organizational Culture

To help employees connect with the company, ensure that every aspect the see reflects the goals, vision, and philosophy of its leadership. Policies, practices, communication, decisions, clients, etc., all need to connect back to the same message so employees know who the company is and can gauge their actions accordingly.

Stating one thing but letting managers and employees do something different sends mixed messages and makes employees doubt the integrity of the company they work for.

• Create purpose and commitment by fostering formal and informal connections between leadership and employees, between departments, and between co-workers. Institute ways for employees to interact with leadership, such as panels, lunches and “meet-andgreets,” and reasons for employees to work with others across the company such as initiatives, committees, and affinity groups.

• Improve communication and transparency to offer regular insights into the company’s goals, financials, wins, and challenges. Schedule quarterly or monthly meetings and/or send regular newsletters or impromptu communication so employees hear what is going on directly from leadership. Hold managers accountable to timely pass along important information to all of their employees.

• Review your organization as a whole, starting at the top and extending through every level and job. Update your policies, practices, and

culture to eliminate any toxicity, harassment, or discrimination and to create the consistency of acceptance and equality throughout. Engage an outside consultant to assess your practices and recommend initiatives from an objective perspective.

• Make all employees feel welcome and valued regardless of their background. Prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives (including race, gender, LGBTQ+, religion, national origin, age, education, etc.) to benefit from the diversity in thought and experiences that comes from a varied group of people.

• Update your technology, infrastructure, and resources to give your employees the best tools to do their jobs. Find ways to make employees’ jobs easier.

• Stop making decisions “because that’s how we’ve always done it” and allow employees to feel comfortable and empowered enough to offer their thoughts and insights. Welcome brainstorming new ideas and teamwork to improve results.

• Extend your focus on excellent customer service to include your internal client — your employees. Make sure your employees feel valued and respected and ensure you are meeting their needs just as you expect them to do with your external customers.

Employee Development

Recognize that most employees do not “live to work,” but they do want to dedicate their time and talent to a company that appreciates them. Today’s workforce is not composed entirely of people on the “traditional” career path. Employees have different needs, priorities, goals, lifestyles, backgrounds, and challenges, often changing many times during their tenure. By helping employees succeed with their personal and professional goals, you will enhance their commitment to the company, increase their productivity and inspire their innovation. Meeting employees where they are in life may require individualized, out-of-the-box thinking, and implementing new policies and procedures can produce remarkable results.

• Instead of the necessitating “promotion by changing jobs,” work with employees to determine how they can follow their desired career paths while staying at the company and keeping their institutional knowledge in-house. Are they looking to be promoted? Explain those expectations and give them the chance to learn those skills. Do they want to keep doing what they are doing? Help them refine and improve those skills so they can do them even better. Do they want to try a different job? Find opportunities for employees to work in different departments to find their best fit. Do they want or need to take a step back? Work with them to find schedules and job duties that allow them to balance their demands.

• Change your focus from attendance and punctuality to availability and performance. Recognize that working in the office 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday does not work for a significant portion of the workforce, including employees who still have a lot to offer. Instead, explore flexible work arrangements, such as remote work, reduced schedules, partial year, hybrid arrangements, and job sharing, to allow good employees to better integrate their work responsibilities into the rest of their lives.

• Expand employees’ responsibilities to allow them to develop new skills such as supervising others, controlling an aspect of finances, or understanding how their role coordinates with another through cross-training. Don’t require employees to

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take on more work or stress with no benefit, but rather give them opportunities they value and compensate them appropriately for their added effort.

• Demonstrate your trust in experienced employees by giving them more autonomy and flexibility in how they do their jobs. Many managers succeed in positions similar to those they supervise so feel they know the “best and only way” to accomplish a task. However, allowing employees to experiment and find what works best for them gives them buy-in and could result in a more efficient and productive process.

• Provide regular job-skills training so employees know the latest expectations and work methods. Assist employees to develop job-related skills even if they are not traditionally associated with the position, such as learning a new language. Pay for employees’

licensing, certifications, professional development, and continuing education, asking them to share some of what they learn with others to multiply the return on investment.

• Develop objective performance management tools to have employees set SMART goals, document job expectations, and track their performance. Reward high-achievers with increases, promotions, and empowerment. Assist employees with potential by giving them more frequent communication and training. Remove low-performers to eliminate the stress, burden, and toxicity that they can cause.

Q. We allow employees to personalize their work areas. However, we have one employee who has so many pictures, plaques, sayings and other trinkets on their desk that there is little space left to work. Can we make them take some of it down?

A. Allowing an employee to make their workspace “their own” is a good idea. It helps them connect to the workplace and feel more comfortable where they spend several hours each day.

However, you should make it clear in policy and practice that the workspace is the property of the company and therefore employees are not entitled to full control or privacy over it:

• Consider creating guidelines for what is acceptable

• Restrict what or how much can be hung on walls or in cubicles

• Limit the number of pictures or plaques that can be displayed, focusing on mostly professional or companyrelated items such as diplomas or recognition awards

• Require a certain amount of workspace be available for actual work

• Prohibit anything that is unacceptable or could be offensive to other employees

Be consistent in enforcing these policies regardless of who they are or where their workspace is located. Hopefully you can find a balance between completely impersonal and excessive work areas.

Making institutional changes takes a lot of work and is a long-term commitment which may involve disruptive decisions such as ending established practices or letting go of employees who do not fit the vision. Taking deliberate action to include all employees in the company’s journey will make them feel valued leading to higher engagement, productivity, and retention and will make your company more attractive to prospective employees, allowing you to develop a strong, successful workforce to represent and grow to your company now and in the future. S P

PAIGE

is vice president for compliance with Affinity HR Group. Reach her at (877) 660-6400 or contact@ affinityhrgroup.com.

MCALLISTER, SPHR, SHRM-SCP,

Recognize that working in the office 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Monday through Friday does not work for a significant portion of the workforce, including employees who still have a lot to offer.

TRADITIONAL & MODERN

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Not Your Mother’s Laminate

NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND MACHINERY ARE TAKING LAMINATE PRODUCTION AND DESIGN TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Laminate products are widely used in various industries and applications. With their durability, versatility and affordability, they have become increasingly popular in the surfaced panel industry.

And with new technology and techniques in laminate machinery and materials, these highly customizable product possibilities suit a wide variety of tastes and preferences, limited only by the imagination.

Laminate products traditionally are made by stacking decorative sheets atop layers of structural materials such as plastic, resin, fiberboard, and particleboard. The decorative and structural layers are joined together using heat and compression, and protective top layers are often added to help protect the final product from wear from water, wear and weather.

To produce high-quality laminate products, manufacturers are using advanced laminate machinery and equipment that can handle various types of adhesives, films, and substrates — along with machines that make the whole process just a little (or a lot) easier.

One helpful machine is the Flipper, a machine designed by Diffenbacher to automate manual labor. It separates laminates from a stack with random orientation and flips them on demand to

build a new stack of laminates in a selected orientation. The fully automated process includes separation of the laminates, detection of their orientation, transfer of the laminate directly to the new stack or flipping it if required and finally building up an aligned stack. Visit dieffenbacher.com/en/ for more information.

TAKE IT UP A NOTCH

A major recent advancement in creating truly customized laminate panels is printing custom designs onto the overlay to replicate everything from wood and natural materials to a favorite cartoon character or pattern—not only in looks but also in texture.

Hymmen showed off its award-winning Digital Lacquer Embossing (DLE) Technology at the recent LIGNA 2023 show in Hannover, showcasing how they are delivering highly realistic optics and haptics by printing a transparent liquid medium into a layer of structure lacquer.

This technology grants all commercial and technical benefits of digital single pass printing like flexibility, faster set-up times and individualization, and company officials say its most important feature is the creation of structures that are embossed-in-register

ABOVE: INDUSTRIAL DIGITAL PRINTING LINES FROM HYMMEN LET YOU PRINT YOUR OWN INDIVIDUAL WEB AND PANEL MATERIAL SURFACES – IN BRILLIANT QUALITY AND ON AN INDUSTRIAL SCALE.

(EIR) to the decor of the surface – regardless whether they are printed digitally or with an analog method. This also allows for more rapid responses to market demands and trends while reducing material waste.

Dr. René Pankoke, managing partner of Hymmen, says he is certain that digital printing will increasingly replace analog printing in the industry as well. "[It is a] trend that can no longer be reversed," he says.

Increased automation and the emergence of cloud-based monitoring and analysis to optimize production is the wave of the future, says Pankoke. "The positive feedback from our customers and the market's demand for significantly higher automation and efficiency has now prompted us to expand our commitment in this market area," he adds. Visit hymmen.com for more information.

MULTI-TASKING MACHINES

Manufacturers today are also looking to commercial and industrial laminating equipment that can perform various laminating processes with speed and precision. These “all-in-one” machines offer features such as double belt presses, heated platen, high/ low pressure vacuum press, roller/nip roll, multiple workstations, durometer capabilities, top/bottom temperature adjustments, heated shoe laminators, radiant heat laminators, no touch lamination systems, and specialty adhesives. These machines can handle different materials and thicknesses and produce consistent and uniform results.

Union Tool offers a Veneer/Vinyl Laminating System which contains a Union Hot Melt Roller Coater, Union Powered Lay-up Conveyor and Union Rotary Laminator to laminate several different core materials to a variety of different veneers and vinyl materials. The laminating system is designed to boost productivity and product quality, producing a panel with a maximum size of 60 inches wide x 120 inches long and a maximum thickness up to four inches. Visit uniontoolcorp.com for more information.

And the Panel Express Laminating System from Black Bros. is designed to produce 240 ready-tocut panels in an eight-hour shift, combining a heatassisted rotary press designed to laminate all types of HPL to particleboard or MDF panels with fast-tack PVA adhesive. This in-line Panel Express Laminating System requires no additional curing or press time. Visit www.blackbros.com for more information.

Manufacturers today are also looking to commercial and industrial laminating equipment that can perform various laminating processes with speed and precision.

LAMINATE BY DESIGN

Laminate product design software that can help designers and customers create custom laminate products that match their vision and needs. These software programs allow users to choose from a variety of colors, patterns, textures, and finishes for their laminate products. They also enable users to preview how their laminate products will look in different settings and lighting conditions. These software programs can help users create unique and personalized laminate products that suit their style and budget.

VectorLam 3.0, the latest edition of Vectorply’s proprietary laminate analysis software, provides a cloud-based, multiplatform compatible approach to classical laminate theory and provides a suite of services across diversified market segments.

VectorLam helps achieve goals of stiffness, strength, weight and cost by allowing users to design the perfect laminate for their application. Whether it is comparing materials, resin, or even manufacturing processes, VectorLam offers the best solution and reports it in clear, concise language. It has never been easier for users to build, review, and adjust their laminates to meet their specific requirements. Visit vectorply.com for more information.

TOP LEFT: THE FLIPPER, A MACHINE DESIGNED BY DIFFENBACHER, SEPARATES LAMINATES FROM A STACK WITH RANDOM ORIENTATION AND FLIPS THEM ON DEMAND TO BUILD A NEW STACK OF LAMINATES IN A SELECTED ORIENTATION.

TOP RIGHT: BOOST PRODUCTIVITY AND PRODUCT QUALITY WITH THE UNION VENEER/VINYL LAMINATING SYSTEM.

BOTTOM: THE PANEL EXPRESS LAMINATING SYSTEM FROM BLACK BROS. IS DESIGNED TO PRODUCE 240 READY-TO-CUT PANELS IN AN EIGHTHOUR SHIFT, COMBINING A HEAT-ASSISTED ROTARY PRESS DESIGNED TO LAMINATE ALL TYPES OF HPL TO PARTICLEBOARD OR MDF PANELS WITH FAST-TACK PVA ADHESIVE.

Laminate machinery and materials are constantly evolving to meet the changing demands and expectations of customers and markets. By using the latest in these materials, software and machines, manufacturers can continue to produce highquality laminate products that are durable, versatile, affordable, and attractive while keeping up with industry trends. S P

Optimizing the Industrial Metaverse

Innovation is a cornerstone in manufacturing of any kind, and the recent worldwide pandemic forced manufacturers in all industries to innovate quickly or fall behind. Many savvy companies used the disruption as a chance to move forward with automation or escalate their digital investments, including new software that helps streamline the manufacturing processes.

The latest machining and production software is still evolving to meet the ever-changing needs and expectations of customers and markets. From artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to the Internet of things (IoT) and cloud computing, much has changed in the past decade, but manufacturers are taking this “industrial metaverse” and optimizing the way their machinery, equipment, factories and businesses operate.

AI and ML enable machines to learn from data and perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. AI and ML can

help machining and production software analyze large amounts of data, identify patterns and trends, make predictions and recommendations, optimize processes and outcomes, detect anomalies and errors, and provide feedback and guidance. As an example, AI and ML can help companies optimize production schedules, adjust parameters based on real-time conditions, monitor quality and performance, prevent failures and downtime, and improve customer satisfaction.

IoT and cloud computing basically enable devices to connect to the internet and share data with each other. This can help companies collect and store data from various sources, including sensors, machines, tools, materials, products, customers, suppliers…the list goes on. These technologies also allow access to data from anywhere, anytime, on any device. For example, IoT and cloud computing can help machining and production software monitor

HOW MACHINING AND PRODUCTION SOFTWARE IS EVOLVING THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

ABOVE: WITH ITS POWERFUL SET OF PLUG-IN TOOLS AND COMMANDS, INTERIORCAD SOFTWARE RUNS ON VECTORWORKS, AND TAPS INTO THE STRONG 3D BIM FOUNDATION OF THE PLATFORM TO ENHANCE DESIGN WORKFLOW. PHOTO COURTESY OF INTERIORCAD

equipment status and performance, track inventory levels and locations, control machines remotely, collaborate with stakeholders, and scale production up or down as needed.

Many companies already use some form of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in designing realistic products and spaces to review before starting any actual production — saving time, money and resources. Product design software is part of the AR/VR world, helping to design and customize products according to customer needs and preferences by overlaying digital information onto the physical world or creating a simulated environment to enhance the design and visualization of products. These realistic product models can then be viewed from different angles, perspectives, and settings — and tested in various scenarios through simulating potential problems.

Examples of these new technologies can be found in all kinds of software and add-ons. KCD Software’s Cabinet/Closet Professional builds on the company’s designer level software and helps streamline workflow and increase the profitability of a custom design business. By adding essential whole systems, the software increases efficiency with features including an automated pricing system and access to KCD Software’s Cabinotch libraries for direct-order outsourcing of custom cabinet parts. Setting up and automating your business’s pricing takes the guesswork out of estimating each job individually. Visit kcdsoftware.com for more information.

With its powerful set of plug-in tools and commands, interiorcad runs on Vectorworks, and taps into the strong 3D BIM foundation of the platform to enhance design workflow. The interiorcad software takes care of object associations and texture mapping, tracks materials and costs and creates automatic schematic drawings with ready-to-CNC parts. Flexibility is where interiorcad really shines, with the freedom to design combined with unprecedented ease-ofuse. Visit extragroup.com for more information.

LEFT: KCD SOFTWARE’S CABINET/ CLOSET PROFESSIONAL BUILDS ON THE COMPANY’S DESIGNER LEVEL SOFTWARE AND HELPS STREAMLINE WORKFLOW AND INCREASE THE PROFITABILITY OF A CUSTOM DESIGN BUSINESS. PHOTO COURTESY OF KCD SOFTWARE

BELOW: PROBLEMATIC AREAS ARE EASIER TO DESIGN IN THEORY BEFORE PUTTING INTO PRACTICE WITH CABINET PRO SOFTWARE, WHICH ALLOWS FLEXIBILITY IN THE CREATION OF ANGLED CABINETS TO FIT UNDER A SLANTED CEILING. PHOTO COURTESY OF CABINET PRO

And problematic areas are easier to design in theory before putting into practice with Cabinet Pro Software, which allows flexibility in the creation of angled cabinets to fit under a slanted ceiling. Some options include having the cabinet top elongated and angled to connect the two unfinished ends, extending the back and/or adding a front to cover the cavity created by the raised ends, adding a frame rail to trim the slanted top, and more. Visit cabinetpro.com for more information.

These are just a few of the latest innovations in machining and production software that can help designers and manufacturers alike improve their competitiveness, efficiency, quality, profitability and customer satisfaction, helping them to overcome challenges and continue to adapt and grow. S P

Many companies already use some form of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in designing realistic products and spaces to review before starting any actual production — saving time, money and resources.

MASTERS: MATERIALS

ULTRAPAN PET AND ACRYLIC PANELS

Ultrapan is a U.S. manufacturer of superior, customizable Ultra-HighGloss and Ultra-Matte laminated panels. Our radiant finishes are perfectly suited for the contemporary lifestyle that embodies clean yet stylish looks for kitchens, furniture, displays, and myriad other residential, commercial and institutional applications.

Ultrapan PET and acrylic laminates feature highly durable decorative surfaces with excellent resistance to stains, scratches and harmful UV rays. These eco-friendly products are also easy to clean and maintain.

ULTRAPAN PANELS MADE YOUR WAY

• The Ultrapan collection features more than 60 surface options including solid and woodgrain designs; pearlescent and metallic finishes; and deep emboss textures.

• Our wide selection of in-stock panel options includes cores made from particleboard, standard MDF, lite MDF, fire-retardant MDF, moisture-resistant NAF MDF, exteriorgrade MDF, and hardwood plywood. We offer panels from ¼" to 1½" thick in 4x8 or 4x10 sizes.

• Matching edge-banding, including 15/16" and 1-3/4" widths, are available in stock for most of our designs. Custom widths can be produced by special order in gloss or super matte.

• Anti-fingerprint (AFP) coatings are standard on all Ultra-Matte surfaces.

• Our expanded metallics collection is available on 4x10 as well as 4x8 panels.

• Our quick-ship program features the same color laminated on both sides of ¾" 4x8 MDF panels.

• We inventory a variety of substrate types and sizes to support our ready-for-production program.

• Special orders don’t upset us. Contact us to discuss your requirements.

Check out our website—ultrapan.net—to learn how Ultrapan modern finishes can add a superior elegance to your home, office or storefront.

Contact us about our Distributor Network at up@glosspanels.com

The Evolution and Revolution OF CNC MACHINES

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines have revolutionized the surface & panel industry by not only offering automated precision, but also by increasing production output while reducing waste.

And while the industry continues to face challenges including everchanging customer needs, costs, environmental considerations, and quality standards, the ever-evolving capabilities of CNC machines are keeping pace, helping the companies that use them gain a competitive edge over their competition.

“Manufacturing has moved on from simple cutting tools,” says Russell Riddiford, President of ANCA Americas. “It’s now about the end-to-end process, from sourcing the best materials to providing the best customer experience, and it relies on networked machines and devices. As expectations for cutting tools have changed, so has the equipment you use to stay competitive. The types of CNC machines you use can make or break your position in your toolmaking niche.”

From cutting and drilling to milling and turning on various types of

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materials, including composite, plastic and even metal, these computerized machines can produce high-quality and precise surfaces and panels to quickly meet industry needs and requirements. And having your machines “talk” to each other adds another level of efficiency and control.

Having the right software is vital in having different types of CNC machines work together, says Riddiford. “In the past,

Finished kitchen was designed, machined & built using KCD Software with Cabinotch™ Solutions.

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machines using different protocols, or from different manufacturers, might not have been able to interact with systems inside the factory,” he explains. “Software on the machines allows them to send data to a central location, where it can be distributed in a form every machine — and person — can understand.”

Riddiford says that 95% of CNC machines in use today are 10 years old or less, which is good news for manufacturers. “[You are] still capable of moving to the latest software and adding on accessories that can be used in automation,” he says. Features including laser

measurement, automated processes and operating systems can be updated and/or retrofit, he says. “[Which means] you can avoid replacing your machines wholesale. Updating them one-by-one will allow you to keep your factory running with minimal downtime and cost so your customer engagement is not disrupted.”

The latest CNC machines offer many benefits, including:

• Improving quality and efficiency: CNC machines can operate faster and more accurately than manual machines, reducing errors and waste. CNC machines can also create complex and intricate patterns and designs on surfaces and panels that would be difficult or impossible to achieve with manual machines.

• Increasing productivity and flexibility: CNC machines can handle diverse shapes and designs that can suit different tastes

and preferences. CNC machines can also switch between different tasks and tools easily, enabling them to produce a variety of products with minimal setup time.

• Reducing costs and environmental impact: CNC machines can optimize material usage and minimize scrap by cutting the exact amount of material needed for each product. CNC machines can also reduce energy consumption and emissions by running more efficiently and using significantly less power than manual machines.

• Enhancing design and innovation: CNC machines can help realistic product models using software such as CAD/CAM. CNC machines can also help them preview how their products will look in different settings and lighting conditions using technologies such as Augmented Reality (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR). CNC machines can also help them test their products in various scenarios and simulate potential problems using technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML).

CNC machines are revolutionizing the surface & panel industry by providing high-quality and customized products that meet customer specifications and standards. These powerful tools can help improve a company’s competitiveness, efficiency, quality, profitability, customer satisfaction, and environmental sustainability. And by updating CNC machines through new software or accessories or replacing them with the latest models, says Riddiford, you are investing in a future that is efficient, connected and ultimately, more profitable S P

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Back with a Bang

INTERZUM 2023 PROVES THAT IN-PERSON TRADE FAIRS ARE ALIVE AND WELL

At interzum 2023, the global supplier industry once again came together to jointly design solutions for current and future challenges. The event, held May 9-12 at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany, presented a wide variety of ideas, inspirations and innovations.

As the leading trade fair for suppliers to the global furniture and interior design industry, interzum forms the central communication point for the design of our living and working worlds of tomorrow — and has proven to be the perfect place to give new impetus to the entire furniture world. interzum stands for innovative concepts and fresh approaches.

This year’s organizers say interzum 2023 came back with renewed enthusiasm after an extended hiatus. With approximately 62,000 trade visitors from some 150 countries, the leading international trade fair for suppliers tothe furniture and interior design industry exceeded all expectations and inspired all present at the stands and numerous special event areas.

The roughly 1,600 exhibitors and trade visitors alike were thrilled to have the chance to make full use of this global platform for communication and commerce once more, having not met in person in four years. The exhibiting companies unveiled their innovative solutions and newest products at the event and made their mark.

“The trade fair could barely have showcased its importance for the industry any better,” said a delighted Oliver Frese, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse. For him, the event’s success is a clear sign “that first-rate flagship events such as interzum are more vital than ever.”

The importance of interzum for the industry was also underlined by the high number of international trade visitors. The countries with the largest number of visitors were Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland. Organizers say the number of Turkish visitors was very encouraging, having increased by 16 percent compared to the 2019 fair. Likewise, the number of trade visitors from India increased. Organizers say that considering the current situation

with regard to the issuance of visas, the number of Chinese visitors was satisfactory, too. Exhibitors also praised the high level of expertise among visitors from all countries.

Organizers were pleased with the number of foreign exhibitors and visitors alike, with foreign exhibitors accounting for 84 percent while foreign trade visitors accounting for approximately 76 percent of those in attendance.

The “trend fair and ordering platform” continued its reach with an online platform the following week, designed to reach those who were not able to make the trip to Germany. Using interzum@home for a hybrid event approach, the trade fair offered players in the furniture industry and interior design the ideal environment to present newly conceived solutions to an international audience. The hybrid approach and its attractive digital offerings supplemented the in-person event — and provided an all-round unique trade fair experience.

UPCOMING EVENTS

INTERZUM: MAY 20-23, 2025

INTERZUM GUANGZHOU: MARCH 28-31, 2024

INTERZUM BOGOTÁ:

MAY 14-17, 2024

VISIT WWW.INTERZUM.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER FOR UPCOMING EVENTS.

FOCUSING ON SUSTAINABILITY

interzum 2023 BY-THE-NUMBERS

GROSS EXHIBITION SPACE COVERING SQUARE METERS COMPANIES FROM 59 COUNTRIES

EXHIBITORS FROM GERMANY

NEW EXHIBITORS

FOREIGN EXHIBITORS

186,000 1,600 255 140 1,345 62,000

TRADE VISITORS FROM 150 COUNTRIES

With its focus on the overarching concept of neo-ecology, interzum brought sustainability, climate protection, resource efficiency and forward-looking planning to the fore before the trade fair even began. It became clear just how much interzum struck a chord with the industry at the trade fair’s stands, where nearly all the exhibiting companies recognized the increasing importance of environmental issues. Aspects such as resource efficiency, smart materials, renewable energies or recycling and upcycling were key to many of the innovations exhibited.

The fair’s varied events also explored these themes — with great success. The three interzum Trend Forums, the interzum Product Stage and the interzum Trend Stage, where renowned industry experts discussed the most important developments, trends and emerging topics in the worlds of furniture, materials and furnishings, generated a lot of interest among the international trade audience.

INTERZUM GOES GREEN

The products, services and special events were not the only things that focused on environmental issues. Many of the exhibition stands were also designed with sustainability and resource efficiency in mind. What’s more, the trade fair itself accepts its responsibility and is making active efforts to protect the climate. In the run-up to the event, interzum launched an initiative to make the world’s biggest industry event for furniture production and interior construction more sustainable in the future. Drawing on the experiences gathered this year, the trade fair will explore how it can further integrate sustainability into future events. S P

EVERY DOOR OPENS...

THE DIFFERENCE IS IN THE CLOSE

Open and close. These are simple concepts, but at Grass, it is our business and our passion. Grass believes that every open door deserves a proper closure. This purity of purpose remains our diligent endeavor: to provide your cabinetry with precise movement and an unmatched feel in every application. TIOMOS is built to achieve repeated performance with extreme precision and confidence. With a variety of opening angles, an integrated adjustable Soft-close system, and 3D adjustability, TIOMOS goes beyond “Open and Close.”

What to Expect from NeoCon 2023

With nearly 1 million square feet of exhibition space, NeoCon 2023, to be held June 12-14 in Chicago, will feature game-changing products and services from hundreds of leading companies and emerging players — providing unparalleled access to the latest and most innovative solutions in commercial design.

NeoCon serves as the hub for the commercial design community, uniting its designers, architects, end-users, manufacturers, dealers, service providers, associations, educators, students and media each year. The NeoCon community remains connected year-round online and onsite with more than 600 exhibitors displaying their products and services at THE MART in the Windy City.

As a launch pad for innovation, NeoCon offers ideas and introductions that shape the built environment today and into the future. And in today’s rapidly changing world, there is certainly much to discuss, evaluate, and learn. NeoCon offers a compelling series of highly topical and educational programs presented by top A&D professionals and thought leaders.

NeoCon is known as the world’s leading platform and the commercial design industry’s most important event of the year.

The annual event has showcased the latest products, technologies, and trends in the market, as well as offered educational and inspirational programs presented by top A&D professionals and thought leaders since 1969.

The show will also offer a variety of networking opportunities for attendees, including several events before during and after regular hours to bring together industry professionals. The BIFMA Annual Business Meeting and Breakfast will be held Wednesday, June 14 at 7 a.m. and will feature the presentation, The Sustainable Competitive Advantage. Engaging installations and experiences will be activated throughout the floors of THE MART during throughout the show.

New this year, NeoCon will host a live podcast studio, in partnership with SURROUND, a podcast network from SANDOW Design Group, featuring the best architecture and interior designdriven shows. A lineup of shows will be recorded on the first floor of THE MART for all attendees to see throughout the three days of NeoCon.

A hallmark of NeoCon since 1990, Best of NeoCon is the official awards program honoring outstanding new products from exhibiting companies across a wide range of verticals. Best of NeoCon 2023 will feature entrants in 56 product categories evaluated onsite by

a diverse jury of leading architects, designers, specifiers and facility managers with expertise spanning commercial, healthcare, education and hospitality sectors.

In addition to the Best of NeoCon awards, other coveted industry awards will be presented during the show. The 19th annual IIDA Showroom and Booth Design Competition, which honors original interior design and the visual impact of permanent NeoCon showrooms, temporary booths, and pop-up exhibitors with an emphasis on the innovative use of product, materials, space, color, texture, and environmental graphics. And Interior Design’s 10th annual HiP Awards will recognize and honor commercial industry pioneers and innovative product design. And the viral awards program MetropolisLikes returns, with Metropolis editors awarding the top designs of NeoCon 2023 S P

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Affordable: Despite its high-end features, the Model 43 is priced affordably and offers unbeatable value for money.

Versatile: Whether you work with plastic sheets, custom cabinets, furniture, MDF doors/drawer fronts, or non-ferrous metals, the Model 43 can handle it all.

High-quality: Made from fully stress-relieved structured steel, the Model 43 boasts topof-the-line features such as Siemens drives, THK rails, and three-dimensional volumetric position compensation.

Expandable: Designed for ease of use and expandability, the Model 43 can grow with your business and adapt to your changing needs.

Three varieties: The Model 43 comes in three varieties - the Multi-Purpose 43, Cut Ready 43, and the CabinetShop 43 - so you can choose the perfect fit for your needs and budget.

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Get Ready for AWFS Fair 2023!

The Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers (AWFS) is the largest national trade association in the U.S. representing the interests of the broad woodworking and furnishings industry. Every two years, AWFS hosts the AWFS Fair, the industry’s innovation marketplace, which brings together the entire home and commercial furnishings industry, including manufacturers and distributors of machinery, hardware, plastics, lumber, construction materials and other suppliers to the furniture, cabinet manufacturers and customer woodworkers. Thousands of woodworking manufacturing professionals are expected to gather to discover the latest products, technologies, and trends in the market.

The 2023 AWFS Fair will take place from July 25 to 28 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The show will feature more than 600 exhibitors showcasing their products and services across 300,000 square feet of exhibit space. This year’s show is all about delivering the relevant education you need to navigate your business through evolving times, offering a variety of educational and networking opportunities for attendees, including:

• The College of Woodworking Knowledge (CWWK) , a comprehensive education program seminar program that provides in-depth coverage of the issues that are of concern now, and

offers a workable roadmap of real solutions and best practices for solid business advancement.

• The Visionary New Product Showcase and Awards, a display of innovative products and technologies that are new to the market or have been introduced since the last AWFS Fair. The showcase will be located in the main lobby in front of the West Hall and has proven to be one of the Fair’s most popular features. Products go head-to-head in the following categories: components; software; industry 4.0; raw materials; plastic machinery/supplies; tooling; machinery under 50K; machinery over 50K; power tools and hardware. Winners are selected by a panel of third-party judges.

• The Fresh Wood Student Competition and Exhibition, which recognizes outstanding construction and design achievements by students from high school and post-secondary woodworking programs in North America. Finalists will be prominently displayed at the show, and winners will be announced at an Award Ceremony at the Fresh Wood Display.

• The AWFS Fair Live, a stage area that features live demonstrations, interviews, presentations, and discussions on various topics related to woodworking and furnishings. This year’s programming includes the popular WEDTalks, the Rapid Fire presentations, the keynote “encore” and the student competition award ceremony.

The 2023 AWFS Fair will take place from July 25 to 28 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The show will feature more than 600 exhibitors showcasing their products and services across 300,000 square feet of exhibit space.

Registration for the fair is ongoing. Visit www.awfsfair.org to register or to learn more about the event.

• The Tool Tour, a showcase of exhibitors who specialize in handheld and power tools, with interactive displays and demonstrations. This year’s Tool Tour features a western theme and offers a collector’s t-shirt for those who complete the tour. The Maverick Award is the headline award and will honor excellence in marketing strategy and execution for Tool Tour participation at AWFS Fair 2023.

The 2023 AWFS Fair is expected to attract more than 15,000 attendees from all segments of the woodworking and furnishings industry, including cabinet manufacturers, furniture makers, architectural woodworkers, millwork producers, store fixture manufacturers, countertop fabricators, flooring manufacturers, and more. The show is also open to educators, students, hobbyists, media representatives, and other industry professionals.

The AWFS Fair is an important event for anyone who wants to stay ahead of the curve in the woodworking and furnishings industry. It is an opportunity to see the latest innovations, learn from experts, network with peers, and grow your business. Don’t miss this chance to be part of the industry’s innovation marketplace! S P

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WITH Keith Christman

PRESIDENT OF DECORATIVE HARDWOODS ASSOCIATION

Q. What are the most popular trends in the industry today?

A rising trend in decorative hardwoods is prefinished options that save in fabrication time and labor cost while delivering consistent results.

End-users and fabricators alike value the stylistic variation afforded by gloss levels. Lower gloss/matte finishes (which highlight natural wood grain) are rising in demand, while higher gloss options (which give a more polished look) are still holding strong.

Another important trend particularly in government and commercial markets is sustainability and climate responsibility.

Real American hardwood plywood and hardwood veneers are the climate responsible choice. As wood grows, it removes CO 2 from the atmosphere and stores it in the tree. After harvest, this carbon continues to be stored for all the years the hardwood plywood and veneer is in use. And because growth exceeds harvest and loss in U.S. forests, young trees will replace those harvested and continue to remove carbon from the atmosphere for years to come. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has documented these facts for U.S. wood products.

Q. What do you see as the biggest determining factors driving these trends/product selection by both consumers and companies in the industry today?

The shift in demand towards a more natural look comes from the long-term trend of “bringing the outdoors in,” which only got stronger during COVID. People have opted for the authentic beauty and value of real materials and the unique look and feel they deliver.

Those who choose matte finish are saying they desire authenticity over engineered looks. In addition, sustainability and

climate responsibility has been strongly reinforced with dramatic increases in federal funding in the Inflation Reduction Act which allocates billions of dollars into purchasing low carbon building materials. This funding will increase the focus on low-carbon building materials like wood for years to come.

Q. Wh at do you consider to be the greatest challenges in your industry today and how can companies best address these issues?

Lack of material availability and supply-chain disruptions continue to frustrate the customer base and suppliers alike. We know we can deliver the beauty and value of real North American hardwood faces on a range of core options, but the sustained level of high demand has put a real strain on responsible sources.

DHA members refuse to compromise on the rules of proper forestry practices, sustainability and material safety. For this reason, turnaround times may be longer than we are all used to seeing.

Regarding climate change, we can choose to use real wood products like hardwood plywood and veneer that will continue to store carbon removed from the atmosphere for years to come. s p

Keith Christman is President of the Decorative Hardwoods Association (DHA), which represents North American manufacturers of hardwood plywood, hardwood veneer and engineered wood floors. DHA advocates for these members and promotes real North American hardwood products. In addition, DHA is the developer of standards for these industries. Prior to DHA, Keith was Managing Director of Plastics Markets at the American Chemistry Council, where he led promotion and defense of plastic products before all levels of government and in the media. Keith has been leading associations for over 30 years and has a Masters of Science in Economics from the University of Delaware.

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