Interzum

Exhibition Review Exhibition Review

interzum guangzhou 2006:

Excellence in

Woodworking

T

he third edition of interzum guangzhou was held together with CIFF, the China International Furniture Fair. The latest show was held in conjunction with the CIFF Office Furniture Exhibition and CIFF Hometextile China. The colocation of interzum with CIFF meant that interzum exhibitors could also benefit from and gain added perspectives on the domestic furniture design and production trends, giving an excellent feel of the Chinese furniture industry. interzum guangzhou has also satisfied the criteria for becoming an Eumabois-approved event. This recognition means more than just

support for the exhibiting companies: As an Eumabois trade fair, interzum’s benefits include being recommended by all Eumabois publications and information events throughout Europe.

This generated even stronger visitor interest this year for the 2006 trade fair.

There were also joint stands from the United States, Italy and Germany. interzum guangzhou 2005 attracted 16,032 international trade visitors from around 80 countries which meant a clear increase in visitor figures compared to the previous event. With total exhibition space of 22,000 m² (this corresponds to an increase of between 30 and 40 percent) and its occupation of three halls, the event has met with a significant

interzum guangzhou has become a seminal event in the woodworking industry.

Goh Tz’en Long reports.

increase. A total of 381 exhibitors from over 20 countries and regions participated at the event, including more than 120 international exhibitors.

This year the number of exhibitors totalled 543 exhibitors from over 20 countries. A total exhibition space of 30,000 sq m was utilised, inclusive of special canopies for tooling and materials exhibits which were necessitated by the overwhelming response. Internationally renowned companies such as Homag, Altendorf, Weinig, Biesse and SCM all made their presence felt at the show with impressive displays. A wide variety of exhibits were on display ranging from edgebanding tape to wood processing centres and furniture and fittings.

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Exhibition Review

Metallica T h e A l p h a - Ta p e t h e r m o p l a s t i c edgebanding tape from MKT is available in thicknesses ranging from 0.4 to 4.0 mm thickness and widths from 12mm to 400mm. The use of real metal makes Alpha-Tape Metallica a superior product.

It is available in aluminium, stainless steel, matt or brushed finishes. In addition to the accentuated ‘cool’ aluminium and stainless steel surfaces, the ‘cosy’ gold and brass tones are also in great demand.

Franziska Hofmann, Moderne Kunststoff-Technik

MKT’s digital prototyping system is a levelled process based on the production requirements of MKT to develop colour combining, production simulated proofs.

The software for the gravure printing colouring system is optimally configured for the production of digital, productionidentical proofs exactly according to original plate samples.

Chamfer milling is adjustable to the edge thicknesses through PC-controlled horizontal milling motor positioning.

Makor has assembled a team of experts to support customers with alternative solutions to solventbased products. New systems for the application of UV and water based paints are available from Makor as the environmental friendly response. Andrea Santi, Managing Director, Makor Asia was on hand to explain the finer points of finishing.

Novimat CONCEPT from IMA

Even Spraying

IMA’s quick-lock system is an economical solution for the optimised use of glue colours and types. The glue applicator can be replaced within seconds. The pneumatically controlled quick connect joint offers a user-friendly and safe interface between the glue applicator and the gearbox. An advanced PC-controller, Icos open, with integrated PLC and electronic line control, allows easy use, programming, control and monitoring of machine functions.

Finishing In Style Makor Profile offers a complete range of machines for sanding, painting, drying, and handling. Makor Picture Frame

Sunmi, General Manager, Richfruits (HK)

Modular Concept The Novimat CONCEPT from IMA has a modular system of processing units for customer driven equipped machines.

The Novimat’s MFAs (Multi-Function Units) offer fast and flexible edge processing with length wise as well as for the second pass with contour trimming. Horizontal and vertical motion of the unit is carried out by servo-drives.

The IMA MFA 08.348 allows automatic set-up of four different edging profiles (3 radii and 1 chamfer) using a multi profile tool designed to reduce set-up times.

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Automatic spraying machines from Richfruits (HK) are suitable for large scale continuous painting of panel workpieces, such as panel furniture, timber door, cabinet door and décor board. High performance spraying is achieved using the original German Wa500 Walther Pilot 1.0 mm spraying gun. Each spray gun can be controlled separately and spray volume and angle can be pre-adjusted.

Andrea Santi, Managing Director, Makor Asia (right).

‘Quadrum’ offers all kind of finishing machines and systems for picture frames.

Makor Panel is specialised in finishing machines and equipments for shaped panels. Tecnolegno is a partner for the processing of edges, including sanding, shaping and UV vacuum coating.

The reciprocating spray gun control ensures even painting of different workpiece configurations. Automatic feeding and detection provides accurate control of the spray gun, giving even painting which results in higher efficiency and reduced wastage. Continuous spraying is achieved via the steel conveyor belt which ensures that a uniform mist of spray paint is dispersed over workpieces. A user-friendly touch panel display with PLC control systems gives FLASH simulations and accurately depicts the machine running state.

Exhibition Review

Paper Impregnation & Edgebandings

Honeycomb Panel Processing

Tece (Turkey) operates quality paper impregnation and printing lines providing services such as paper impregnation and printing and also supplies a wide range of melamine and PVC edgebandings of popular designs such as beech and cherry as well as special custom designs. It also has a wide range of hot melt products.

Homag China Golden Field supplies an extensive range of woodworking machinery including leading names under the Homag banner such as Homag, Holzma and Ligmatech. At interzum 2006, Homag displayed 30 machines over 750 sq m of exhibition space. On display were Homag’s leading edge products which included the Optimat KAL series, Optimat FPL 226/5/25 series, honeycomb panel producing machines, CNC wood processing centres, edgebanding, planing, grinding and boring machines.

Other interesting developments during the show included an on-site demonstration with Schuler Company, the business consultation arm of Homag to simulate furniture manufacturing using Homag machines.

Tayfur Coskunüzer (centre) and Abdullah Coskunüzer (left), Tece Dekor

It also offers pre-glued edgebandings operating three gluing production lines with a capacity of 400,000 sq m/month.

Tece can supply custom pre-glued edgebanding widths according to custom requirements (such as 16, 18, 22, or 38 mm).

North American Hardwood

High Speed Veneer Splicing The new Kuper FL/Rapid is ideal for the all-veneer shop or any business looking for a fast, solid glue line veneer splicer. The FL/Rapid is a perfect solution for pre-glued veneers – from small face panels to sophisticated doors. The Kuper FL/Rapid is easy

The Shannon Group continues to be one of the most the innovative suppliers of North American hardwood products.

With three locations of J T Shannon Lumber Company, Shannon International and Shamrock Wood Industries, it offers buyers one of the widest arrays of hardwood products available from a single North American supplier.

Canadian Lumber

Ted Murray (left) and Marilyn Haines (right), Murray Lumber

Murray Brothers uses selective cutting methods to manufacture diversified wood products. Murray Brothers sells lumber throughout Canada, the United States, Europe, and the Pacific Rim countries. State-of-the-art dry kilns use conventional steam. These modern facilities, overseen by experienced kiln operators, assure quality drying of over 2,000,000 board feet per month processed according to customer specifications. Murray Brothers supplies major species such as White Pine, White Spruce, Hard Maple, Birch, Red Oak, Beech, Basswood and Aspen.

Hot & Cold Pressing Horst Seiter, Heinrich KUPER

(l-r) Frank C Owens, Jack T Shannon, III, Gary Xu and Vivian Ding

not run until both pieces are in prefect alignment, therefore eliminating stair stepping. In addition to the 115 ft. /min feed speed, the Kuper FL/Rapid is quiet and virtually maintenance free. What’s more, the FL/Rapid’s practical, efficient design easily adjusts to any slicing requirements and is the only machine that can insert veneer inlays during the splicing operation.

to operate, and has a small footprint, which makes it simple to integrate with existing equipment. The control panel is positioned up front, which allows easy access for the operator. With its simple infeed system, the veneer will

Tongan Woodworking Machinery is a leading Chinese machinery manufacturer which produces a wide range of woodworking machinery including clamp carriers and composers, hydraulic hot and cold presses, fingerjointing machines, glue spreaders, mortisers, short cycle lamination presses amongst other equipment.

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Exhibition Review

Udo Traeger, Vice President, Furniture, Interior Design and Textiles, Koelnmesse GmbH shares with Goh Tz’en Long about interzum guangzhou and the growing importance of the China market for European manufacturers.

Great Expectations

How do you feel about this year’s interzum guangzhou?

I think both organisers of interzum guangzhou are quite satisfied with the outcome of the show. We extended our exhibitors by more than 20 percent and the exhibition grounds have also been extended by 30 percent. Looking at the first day and visitor flow, we can be very satisfied because it seems to be that we are in the second phase of the CIFF, we are getting more visitors to come compared to last year.

How do you feel about the trend in terms of exhibitor displays?

The Chinese manufacturers are improving their quality and design.

Of course there is some difference still between the European and the Chinese manufacturers, but they are picking up more and more. From the decors and the design, they try to

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follow the style they see in Europe as well. In general, you can say that step-by-step they are increasing their quality.

Do you feel there is sufficient representation from German manufacturers in this show?

Well, actually not only from Germany, because there are exhibitors from more than 10 countries, including the German, Italian and US pavilions.

We are thinking that we are on the right track to getting more internationalised on the exhibitor side in this show, which was also our aim when we got together with CFT (China Foreign Trade Guangzhou Exhibition Corporation), so I think Koelnmesse fulfilled its strategy.

F o r t h e f u r n i t u r e i n d u s t r y, do you see more growth for foreign suppliers?

China is not only a producer that is getting stronger and stronger, but especially from the European side it is being focused on as an up and coming market, because more and more people want to have quality furniture and of course quality furniture needs quality supply. So for the Chinese manufacturers to upgrade their quality, style and also technology, they need of course suppliers who are providing this kind of quality. So I think China is getting more and more interesting as a market for us.

Between Eastern Europe and China, which do you see as having greater potential?

Well, I think it is a difficult question to answer because China, of course is a totally different market. They do have different kind of sizes of companies compared to Eastern Europe. I think

Exhibition Review

Con'td from page 57 Eastern Europe is in the midst of a transformation. If you look especially at Russia, they do not have that way of Chinese manufacturing that is here. They try to establish it, but they need to have more time. Even now, we have interzum in Moscow as well, so we get our enquiries

getting nearer. We have a lot of examples where we know that European manufacturers are still strong in the market and can keep being strong in the market. The only problem which remains is with copying, so of course the European manufacturers are very much concerned about that and one

We are thinking that we are on the right track to getting more internationalised on the exhibitor side in this show, which was also our aim when we got together with China Foreign Trade Guangzhou Exhibition Corporation, so I think Koelnmesse fulfilled its strategy. from Chinese companies in Russia, because Russian companies in furniture supply still have to establish themselves, so China is far ahead in these terms.

Chinese companies used to export to countries such as Russia but are now exporting machines to Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe with lower cost machines. Do you feel that this will be a threat to some of the European manufacturers?

It depends. I think European manufacturers have still high quality. They have exquisite and sophisticated technology. They have superb software skills. So there is still a gap between the European manufacturers and Chinese manufacturers.

It turns out that the Europeans still have at least an advantage in innovation, so the Chinese shouldn’t be a big threat. But if you turn down your innovation, of course china is

has to do a lot against these patent infringements.

This is changing as I just read this morning in an article in China Daily where the government is imposing on each of the exhibiting companies that they have to have an information booth which is connected to patent infringements so every organizer has to provide a lawyer and consultancy for this kind of patent infringements to every exhibitor in China. So I think there is a new thinking brought up from the policy in China that it is not good to copy.

The pressure on China is getting stronger and stronger, because of course for every company that is investing a lot in research and development, it is a loss of money to engage patent attorneys. So this is an issue and here in this show, we have a big booth on intellectual property rights movements. This is a service we provide. FDM

Simon Ruan, Executive Director, Tongan (left) and brother.

Industrial Wood Coatings Treffert provides industrial wood coatings solutions for wood flooring, indirect print laminates (IPL) and door applications. IPL are typically applied as multi-layer systems by roller coating, and cured by thermal or ultra-violet energy.

The surface layers are either microand/or nano-particle modified polymers, which yield extreme hardness resulting in high mechanical resistance to scratch, impact and abrasion. Depending on the degree of mechanical, chemical and thermal resistance required, IPL are most suitable for the wood flooring, door and panel industries.

The Treffert team.

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