Timber Design & Technology Middle East - February 2013

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A N A L Y S I S | I N T E R V I E W S | D E S I G N | S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y | T E C H N O L O G Y

Issue 06 | February 2013

Wood: The Tasmanian Way

ABALON Hardwood: An American style sawmill in Europe

GCC timber imports on the rise

Sustainable and innovative forest products are key to the future of forests

Outlook 2013: Sustainability trends in the timber market

PLUS Timber industry news, new products, exhibition previews and listings and more

3February 2013 | www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

FROM THE EDITOR

Editor’scomment

Issue 06 | FeBRuARY 2013

Timber Design & Technology Magazine

DirectorAndy [email protected]+971 55 9199 783

Marketing Directoreric [email protected]+971 4 455 8400

International sales DirectorJames [email protected]

editorTony [email protected]

International RepresentativesRabia AlgaAntexpo Org. | Turkey+90 216 541 [email protected]

elias AggelopoulosMed expo | Greece+30 210 [email protected]

Timber Design & Technology is published 6 times a year

by Citrus Media Group (powered by WillyMac Associates FZ LLC)Level 14, Boulevard Plaza - Tower One, emaar Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, PO Box 334155, Dubai, uAe

and is printed by Masar Printing Press Great care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the contents of Timber Design & Technology but the publishers accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. All contents are © 2013 Citrus Media Group and may not be reproduced in any form without prior consent.

Letters and readers’ contributions may be edited at our discretion.

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A N A L Y S I S | I N T E R V I E W S | D E S I G N | S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y | T E C H N O L O G Y

Issue 06 | February 2013

Wood: The Tasmanian Way



Sustainable and innovative forest products are key to the future of forests


PLUS Timber industry news, new products,

exhibition previews and listings and more

Cover photo:Cree Buildings

This is the first issue of the magazine for 2013 and I am glad to introduce two new sections - The

Source and Species Focus - in this issue. The former will take an in-depth look at the sources of

supply and companies that produce timber and timber products whilst the latter will focus on

different timber species with a view towards their working properties and applications. Looking at

the year ahead, the EU Timber Regulation is perhaps the single biggest development for the timber

industry. In his column for the magazine, timber sustainability expert and CEO of the non-profit

NEPCon Peter Feilberg talks about the EUTR and offers his bet on key trends during the coming year.

In this issue, we have covered a range of interesting topics including a feature on how Cree

Buildings is pioneering an innovative timber and concrete hybrid technology that enables architects

to design stunning tall wood buildings up to 30 stories. With a vision to bring wood as a primary

building material into cities, the company is creating a new basis for modern, urban architecture

through its LifeCycle Tower (LCT) system. We were also able to speak to Dominic McNeil from Britton

Timbers on Blackwood and Tasmanian Oak, which are providing designers, architects and craftsmen

with exciting new options for flooring and fine cabinetry. Confident of a market for Tasmanian

hardwoods, particularly for flooring, the company is looking to make inroads into the region.

Looking at the developments within the region, this issue features an article from Broadleaf

Consulting on the predicted rise in timber imports to the GCC region in 2013. As construction projects

gather pace across the GCC, demand for timber is reaching new heights with China, Malaysia, Romania,

Germany, Indonesia and the United States emerging as the major suppliers of wood products to the

GCC. Significantly, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have now become key destinations for

many supplier countries and feature among the top ten or even five export trade partners.

As the official GCC Media Partner for the Dubai WoodShow, we are looking ahead to the April issue,

which will be distributed at the show. Our plan for the year is to publish six issues and also expand our

online activity with updated news, features, exhibition information and technology developments. As

always, I would like to encourage you to log on to the website - www.timberdesignandtechnology.com

- for the latest updates and please get in touch if you have any suggestions for subjects we should

consider covering.

Best Wishes

America’s favourite timber.

For more information on your choice of sustainable AmericanSoftwoods, including certified Southern Yellow Pine, WesternRed Cedar, Douglas Fir, Hemlock and Eastern White Pine, visitwww.americansoftwoods.com

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IN THIS ISSUE

CONtENtS

PLUS

p7 Latest News

p45 Showtime

P12

P16

P30

12 SUSTAINABILITYOutlook 2013: Sustainability trends in

the timber marketTimber sustainability expert and CEO of the non-profit

NePCon Peter Feilberg offers his bet on key trends during the coming year

16 MARKET REPORTSustainable and innovative forest

products are key to the future of forestsuNeCe Timber Committee releases market statement

on Forest Products Markets in 2012 and 2013

20 ANALYSISGCC timber imports on the rise

China, Malaysia, Romania, Germany, Indonesia and the united states are major suppliers of wood products

to the GCC

24 THE SOURCEBaillie Lumber expects increased

demand for hardwoods in MENA regionLeading player supplies a comprehensive range of

North American and Tropical hardwoods

27 SPECIES FOCUSAmerican Softwoods

A look at the diverse and wide-ranging applications and working properties of American softwoods

30 DESIGN & DéCORThe new offices of the Botín

Foundation in Madrid Inspired by the building’s historic references, the

architects attempt to retain the spirit of the original industrial character

34 PROFILEABALON Hardwood

An American style sawmill in europe

38 TECHNOLOGYNature with Structure

Cree pioneers innovative timber and concrete hybrid technology that enables architects to design stunning

tall wood buildings up to 30 stories

45 SHOWTIMEPreview of the upcoming exhibitions

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NEWS

NEwSThe most recent data from the United States Department of Agriculture

(USDA) shows that exports of American lumber to the MENA region

reached a value of USD 92.7 million during the January to November

period of 2012. This signals an increase of 22 percent over the same

eleven months of 2011. Of the total, U.S. hardwood lumber exports

accounted for USD 56.8 million, rising by 17 percent over the previous

year and U.S. softwood lumber exports accounted for 35.9 million,

rising by a significant 32 percent. It is anticipated that 2012 will prove

to be a record year for exports of both U.S. hardwood and softwood

lumber to the MENA region, when the December export figures are

released by the USDA in early February.

The UAE, Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were the top destinations

for American hardwood lumber during January to November last year,

taking 13,531 cubic meters (USD 10.8 million), 11,748 cubic meters

(USD 8.5 million), 14,716 cubic meters (USD 7.8 million) and 10,407

cubic meters (USD 7.2 million) respectively during the period. Other

significant markets included Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Qatar. In terms

of species, American hardwood lumber exports to the region were

dominated by red oak, white oak, ash, tulipwood and hickory.

Key markets for American softwood lumber during the eleven-month

period of last year were Pakistan, Libya and Egypt, taking 46,227 cubic

meters (USD 11.0 million), 13,392 cubic meters (USD 5.9 million) and

12,550 cubic meters respectively. Other significant markets included

the UAE, Jordan, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Shipments of U.S.

softwood lumber to the region during the period were dominated by

Strong demand seen for American timbers in the MENA region

Mathis wins first timber project in Qatar

Mathis SA, the European leader in glulam timber construction, has

secured its first laminated project in Qatar. Having completed several

projects in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, such as the extension to King

Khaled Airport, and a 35,000 square meter storage building for

ADNOC, the company has secured the glulam elements of a project

in the military parade zone of the new international airport at Doha.

The 80m x 20m structure, a mixture of timber and steel elements

and a fabric covering, was the obvious and natural choice because of

technical, aesthetic, and ecological reasons.

Mathis has provided all the structural calculations and

drawings, carried out the fabrication of the structure, arranged

the transportation from the factory to the site, and monitored the

erection of the frame. The timber elements were shipped by sea, and

then delivered to site by lorries. Further, the structure was erected

in one week without any difficulty. The contractor responsible for

the erection was pleasantly surprised by the ease of installing the

23-meter long beams.

“Our philosophy is simple: we aid and assist the architects to

realize their projects with our timber structures,” said Alan Dolléans,

International Project Manager at Mathis SA. “Our trump card is to

integrate the engineering design with the digitally controlled CNC

fabrication machinery so that when the elements arrive on site they

can rapidly and accurately be assembled in record time.”

southern yellow pine, with Douglas fir and other pine species making

up the bulk of the remainder.

Roderick Wiles, AHEC Director for Africa, Middle East, India and Oceania

comments: “I am really buoyed by the significant uptake in U.S. hardwood

lumber across the region last year and I anticipate that 2013 will prove to

be even better. The Middle East is fast becoming a key destination for U.S.

hardwood exporters and they are committed to supplying high quality

and sustainable hardwoods for the foreseeable future.”

8 www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | February 2013

NEWS

Australia joins global fight against illegal logging

Tasmania’s first Carbon Flux Tower installed

Australia is stepping up its fight against the illegal logging trade

with the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 having been passed

by the Australian Parliament. The landmark legislation outlaws

the trade of illegally harvested timber in Australia. Illegal logging

costs around $60 billion globally each year and directly threatens

timber jobs and businesses by undercutting the price of legally

logged timber. It is operated by criminal networks and has serious

environmental impacts.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe

Ludwig, said the passage of the legislation reflects Australia’s

commitment to legitimate forestry industries. He added: “The

illegal timber trade is a trade that benefits no one. It risks jobs,

it risks the timber industry, and it risks the environment. The

Gillard Government brought a commitment to the last election

to outlaw the trade of illegally harvested timber. Today we

delivered on it.”

Commenting on the fact that the legislation does not

discriminate against timber or timber products based on country

of origin, Minister Ludwig said: “The Act will make it an offence to

import illegally logged timber into the Australian market and to

process timber that has been illegally harvested here in Australia.

It places requirements on Australian importers and processors -

not on our trading partners or exporters.”

Forestry Tasmania will improve its understanding of the

growth of its forests with the installation of Tasmania’s first

carbon flux tower at the Warra LTER site. The 80 meter tall

tower measures the exchange of carbon and water between

the forest and atmosphere and will provide readings every

30 minutes to enable scientists to monitor carbon movement

in forests. According to Tim Wardlaw, Principal Research

Officer, the tower is set to play a vital role in contributing new

knowledge to understanding how the forest is responding to

climate as well as improving climate knowledge.

“We are able to see if the forest is absorbing carbon or

losing it. It’s really important for understanding how well

our forest is acting as a sink and how quickly they will

change from a sink to a source,” said Wardlaw. “It’s a bit like

taking the pulse of the forest and telling you how the forest

is functioning and how it responds to extreme wet climate

events such as drought and heatwaves. The beauty is we’re

seeing it happen in real time.”

It is the first carbon flux tower to be built in Tasmania

and the 14th in Australia. The flux tower is the most recent

piece of research infrastructure at the Warra site, which

is a key part of Tasmania’s ecological monitoring program.

Interestingly, the tower is located within a proposed reserve

arising from the Tasmanian Forest Agreement 2012. The

Warra LTER site of 15,900 hectares was designated in 1995

to encourage long-term ecological research and monitoring in

wet forests in Tasmania. As of today, the site is supported by

eight LTER site partners from Tasmanian and national research

agencies. Whatever the final tenure outcome, it is important

that the internationally significant monitoring program at

Warra continues to be supported.

“The Australian Government has consulted widely with

importers, processors, industry associations, retailers,

conservation groups and our trading partners to develop this Act.

We will continue to work with each of these stakeholders as we

implement it,” said Minister Ludwig.


NEWS

Laminate flooring industry going from strength to strength with quality and innovation

According to a recent statement by the Association of European

Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF), the outlook for 2013 amongst

EPLF members is quite varied. The stable situation in Germany

is good news. However, looking at foreign markets, the EPLF is

hoping that the situation in southern Europe will improve and

the association has great expectations of the expanding markets

in Turkey and South America. Exports to China, especially in the

premium sector, are also increasing significantly again, showing that

European quality and innovation are in demand the world over. Total

sales by EPLF members in 2012 amounted to approximately 460

million square meters.

“Laminate is and remains a success story. But we view the

individual markets very differently,” says EPLF President Ludger

Schindler with regard to current developments. “The situation in

Germany is stable. Debt crises and economic fluctuations in southern

Europe continue to affect laminate sales. But overall the Euro zone is

slowly recovering. Turkey is the second largest market by volume in

Europe. Exports to South America are showing a positive trend. We

are even selling more to China.”

According to the EPLF, overall economic trends in Germany are being

partly shaped by the middle class who continue to invest in lasting

values, such as their own property. Replacing flooring is at the top

of the list when it comes to medium- and large-scale modernization

work. This is where the EPLF believes the laminate industry has the

solid foothold it needs in order to invest in the long term in further

development of its ranges. Clearly, the German market demands a lot

of the quality and look of products.

“The EPLF members will continue to set standards for the

development of the entire industry,” says Schindler, “as innovations

always produce their own economic cycles. This will also be noticeable

at Domotex.” Examples of the distinct innovation of European

manufacturers are product features such as experimental pine looks,

dyed or altered surfaces, the used look, dark oak decors or particularly

long rustic boards with all-over prints.

Volkmar Halbe, Chairman of the Market and Image Committee

of the EPLF, says: “Laminate’s market share has continued to grow

over other types of flooring for a number of years. This is due to its

unique product characteristics: laminate is durable, easy to care for,

easy to lay and offers infinite design options. It is the last of these

characteristics that many architects are now becoming aware of.”

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NEWS

Researchers to develop high-quality forestry products using Irish timber

Myanmar government plans log export ban

A new research initiative has begun at NUI Galway to develop high-

quality forestry products in Ireland using innovative engineering

technologies. One of the first activities of the EUR 0.5 million project

is the creation of the first database to contain details of all the known

properties of Irish-grown timber. Secondly, the research will attempt

to re-engineer timber to produce products with enhanced strength and

durability.

The demand for increased use of sustainable materials in areas

such as construction has led to a demand for innovative timber

products, which can replace more traditional materials that have poor

environmental performance. Dr Annette Harte, a senior lecturer in Civil

Engineering and member of the Ryan Institute at NUI Galway, will lead

the research into methods for engineering Irish timber to produce high-

performance construction products.

The project will utilize the latest technologies at the University’s

timber research laboratory, which is the primary timber and engineered

wood products testing facility in Ireland. Dr Harte will test the feasibility

of using novel technologies such as cross-lamination and internal

reinforcement of the timber components with fibre-reinforced polymer

rods and plates to manufacture advanced construction products from

Irish timber. The project is funded by the Department of Agriculture,

Fisheries and Marine under the FIRM/RSF/COFORD scheme, and Queens

University Belfast is a collaborating partner in the research, giving the

results all-island impact.

“This funding will help us to develop a world-class competence

to exploit Ireland’s natural resource of wood. We aim to identify the

potential for producing added-value timber products for construction

applications from Irish timber resources. These products will allow Irish

timber to be used in more demanding applications than before, such as

long-span and multi-storey construction,” explains Dr Harte.

Professor Colin Brown, Director of the Ryan Institute at NUI Galway

The Myanmar Ministry of Forestry has announced that it will scale

back logging and ban the export of raw teak and hardwood from

2014 in a bid to increase exports of higher-earning finished products.

Under the project, the timber export is scheduled to reduce year by

year. The government has also expressed readiness to completely stop

exporting wood logs.

“The project is focusing to save the remaining one-fifth of the

country’s total area and also to manufacture high quality wood

products to export,” said Thein Lwin, Secretary of the Parliament’s

Natural Resources and Environment Conservation Committee.

Myanmar’s forest coverage was down to 24 percent in 2008

from 51 percent in 2005, and 57 percent in 1962. The main causes

of deforestation are excessive harvesting of trees, rampant illegal

logging, increasing use of firewood, as well as shifting cultivation

system.

Myanmar produces about 283,000 cubic meters of teak and 1.98

million cubic meters of hardwood annually. In addition, the country

is also a major exporter of teak in the world, taking up 75 percent

of the global market. It ships teak to China, India and other regional

countries. In 2011-2012, the country exported 371,000 metric tonnes

of teak and 1,789,400 metric tonnes of hardwood.

“In the past, we couldn’t export finished products for various

reasons. But now we will try to export finished products and we will

halt logs exports. That’s a serious aim we will carry out in the future,”

said U Win Tun, Minister for Environmental Conservation and Forestry.

added: “In the context of pressures on resources and the environment,

innovation and resource efficiencies can go hand-in-hand with steady

economic growth. Dr Harte’s work is helping to create better conditions

for timber products and services that should have lower impacts across

their life-cycles, and are durable, repairable and recyclable.”

According to Dr Martina Prendergast, Strategic Development Manager

of the Ryan Institute: “As a result of securing the significant grant from

the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine, we are in a much

better position to attract European funding from the EU Horizon 2020

programme to develop high quality forestry products which will be

recognized around the world.”

EU recognizes Indonesian Timber Certification System

NEWS


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The European Union is now

unconditionally accepting

Indonesian timber products that

come with a wood certification

document based on the Timber

Legality Verification System

(SVLK), according to Julian

Wilson, EU Ambassador.

Speaking at the press

conference, Ambassador Wilson

said: “If a product carries the

logo V-legal, it can be ascertained that the product is legal and has

clear origins so that there is no need to impose additional controls.”

Indonesia and the European Union are also working on a

voluntary partnership agreement on law enforcement, management

and trade of forestry goods (FLEGT VPA) that is expected to be

signed in April. The FLEGT VPA will provide unequivocal legal

recognition of Indonesia’s SVLK certification system. Wilson said

that although the partnership is only expected to come into force

later this year, he believed that there would be no hindrance to

the importation of legal timber and wood products from Indonesia.

Wilson also promised to work together with the Indonesian

government and other concerned parties to promote the recognition

of the SVLK among EU consumers.

UNECE, FAO and partners announce plans for European Forest Week 2013

The European Forest Week (December 9-13, 2013) will be

celebrated with events in Rovaniemi Finland at Metsä2013 (the

joint meeting of the UNECE Timber Committee and the FAO

European Forestry Commission), and throughout Europe via a

variety of events. The week will highlight the contribution of

forests and forest products to a green economy and will also

provide a unique communication and outreach opportunity to

raise the visibility of the forest sector and the multiple services

wood contributes to our daily lives. The European Forest

Week will provide an umbrella for forest related celebrations

organized by different public and private organizations

throughout Europe.

Many events will be held on-site, at the Metsä2013 venue

in Northern Finland, while other activities will take place

throughout Europe with countries’ contributions at national and

local levels. Celebrations outside of Metsä2013 may include:

celebrations of forests at the national and local levels; specific

events by private or public organizations; competitions, exhibits,

fairs, school activities; videos and publications. In addition, the

organizers encourage wide participation of government officials

from forestry and non-forest sectors as well as representatives

of international, regional and sub-regional organizations that

deal with forest-related issues in the region, including NGOs, the

private sector, schools and academic institutions.

www.timberdesignandtechnology.com | February 201312

SUSTAINABILITY

Get a green makeover. Or order

a greenwash screening. The

fact that such offerings have

become commonplace testifies to

the significance of sustainability in

today’s business environment.

In these times of economic crisis,

many companies are bolstering

their business through enhanced

corporate responsibility. A wise

choice: trend reports show that

companies which strongly embrace

sustainability are often the most

successful. For example, a recent

analysis showed that the top four

financial performers in France

all belong to a select group of

‘sustainability visionaries’ that use

innovation to go beyond laws and

voluntary schemes.

Responsible timber sourcing becomes mainstreamThe trend spills over into the

timber sector in many ways. Most

significantly, responsible timber

sourcing is on the fast track to

mainstream business, addressing

two interrelated issues: growing

resources scarcity and public

concern over deforestation that

leads to biodiversity loss and climate

change. For example, the already

considerable push for responsible

paper became even stronger in 2012,

when the Disney Group committed

to sustainable sourcing of paper

and packaging, following examples

set by other iconic brands such as

McDonalds, Gucci and LEGO.

Within the timber sector itself,

leading companies are setting

new standards for sustainability.

Spectacular highlights from 2012

include the launch of IKEA’s

ambitious strategy ‘People and Planet

Positive’ and home improvement

retailer Kingfisher’s ‘Net Positive’

Corporate responsibility without greenwash is the future, and third-party verification will further cement its stronghold. Timber sustainability expert and CEO of the non-profit NEPCon Peter Feilberg offers his bet on key trends during the coming year.


An Ernst & Young survey of 272 mainly US-based companies found that 65 percent of CFOs are now involved in sustainability initiatives. One of the underlying reasons given for this trend is the growing scarcity of natural resources


SUSTAINABILITY

approach. Kingfisher’s ambition is

to ‘go beyond neutrality and seek to

make a positive contribution to the

world’s future’. The strategies mark

an emerging trend: timber sourcing

is increasingly recognized as a key

sustainability aspect alongside

water consumption, recycling and

greenhouse gas emissions.

The year 2012 also saw the

inauguration of the world’s first FSC

and PEFC certified olympic stadium

in London and the opening of UK

retailer Marks & Spencer’s giant

Cheshire Oaks Eco-Store, which has

achived full FSC project certification.

These projects exemplify an

ambitious array of eco-innovative

designs and thoughtful procurement

policies. M&S explains their approach

to sustainability, ‘Plan A’, in this way:

“We’re calling it Plan A because we

believe it’s now the only way to do

business. There is no Plan B”.

Natural resources scarcity is a core factorAn Ernst & Young survey of 272

mainly US-based companies found

that 65 percent of CFOs are now

involved in sustainability initiatives.

One of the underlying reasons given

for this trend is the growing scarcity

of natural resources. As many as 76

percent ‘anticipate natural resource

shortages will affect their core

business objectives over the next

3-5 years’. The report also found that

‘66 percent have seen an increase in

inquiries about sustainability-related

issues in the past 12 months from

investors and shareholders’.

In a world of diminishing forests

and steep growth of affluent

populations, timber is set to become

a scarce natural commodity. In order

to stay in business, timber-based

enterprises need to focus strongly on

supply chain management.

Timber certification is part and

parcel of the solution and this is

part of the reason for the steep

growth seen in certification. Between

2010 and 2012, the area of FSC

certified forest grew by over 22

percent, while FSC chain of custody

certification grew by 28.6 percent.

According to the latest FSC Global

Market Survey, 64 percent of FSC

certificate holders are seeking to

increase their certified supplies in

order to meet demands.


SUSTAINABILITY

A diminishing market for forest crimeMarketplaces around the world

are tightening the nuts and bolts

of fences created to exclude illegal

timber. Laws that ban illegal timber

trade are now in place in the EU, the

U.S. and Australia.

The ink is hardly dry on the

Australian legislation and the EU

Timber Regulation will only come into

force in March 2013, so their impact

is yet to be seen; but doubtlessly

these legal frameworks will cause

a ripple effect across the global

trade. They will also spur growth in

timber verification schemes that offer

solutions for companies seeking to

ensure their legal compliance.

At the same time, forest

criminals are facing tougher times.

Together with the United Nations

Environmental Programme (UNEP),

INTERPOL has launched a major

project to crack down on the white-

collar mafias that often orchestrate

illegal logging.

Although the combat against illegal

logging is a long haul, I hope that

2013 will see the emerging contours

of a marketplace without unfair

competition from illegal timber.

Changing with the gamePut together, these developments are

profoundly game-changing. The race

for supplies of legal and sustainable

timber is likely to intensify.

In the future, the gates to

attractive markets will be wide

open for suppliers who have put

their house well in order and

are able to meet demands for

documenting legal or sustainable

origin. Those who fail to deliver the

right assurance are likely to be left

behind. This begs the question of

whether the development favours

the larger and more resourceful

operations. There is a great need

for incentives and special schemes

permitting smaller forest operations

and companies to jump on the

green bandwagon.

About the AuthorAs Executive Director, Peter provides leadership of NEPCon with visionary thinking, drawing on more than fifteen years of active involvement in developing the global forest certification world. His experience and thought-leadership has positioned him as a respected voice within the forest certification arena. He is a frequent speaker at global sustainability events and also contributes behind-the-scenes in numerous ways. Peter is NEPCon’s FSC delegate and a former member of the assurance committee of the ISEAL Alliance, the global association for sustainability standards.

NEPCon is an international, non-profit organization that works to promote the responsible use of natural resources and to safeguard sustainable livelihoods. The organization helps transform business practices and consumer behavior through innovation projects and delivery of certification services. Learn more at www.nepcon.net

Timber certification is part and parcel of the solution and this is part of the reason for the steep growth seen in certification. Between 2010 and 2012, the area of FSC certified forest grew by over 22 percent, while FSC chain of custody certification grew by 28.6 percent.

Image © NEPCon

Image © Marks & Spencer


MARKET REPORT

Sustainable and innovative forest products are key to the future of forestsUNECE Timber Committee releases market statement on Forest Products Markets in 2012 and 2013


MARKET REPORT

According to the market

statement released by the

UNECE Timber Committee on

the forest products market in 2012

and 2013, the movement towards

creating a sustainable economy

represents a bright spot for the

future of forests. The report states

that the trend towards increased use

of wood for construction and other

uses of wood through innovation

of new and improved products,

the potential of wood energy, the

sustainability of wood and its low

carbon footprint are all causes for

optimism. However current market

conditions remain challenging, as

the UNECE region emerges from the

global economic crisis.

The UNECE region is made up of

three sub-regions: Europe, North

America and the Commonwealth of

Independent States (CIS). It stretches

from Canada and the United States of

America in the west through Europe

to the Russian Federation and to the

Caucasus and Central Asian republics

in the east. It covers almost the

entire boreal and temperate forests

of the northern hemisphere - about

1.7 billion hectares - just under half

of the world’s forest area and almost

38 percent of the land area of the

UNECE region.

As part of the annual market

discussions during the annual

meeting of the UNECE Timber

Committee, national delegations

forecast for 2012 a decline in

regional forest product markets,

particularly in Europe, with a slight

uptick in 2013 for each of the

three sub-regions. Other issues of

importance discussed during the

meetings included how the EU Timber

Regulation will help in assuring the

legality and sustainability of forest

products along with the United States

Lacey Act. However, concerns exist

over the cost implications and the

regulatory burden.

The Committee also reviewed

developments in forest products

markets as reported in the Forest

Products Annual Market Review,

2011-2012, as well as experts’

presentations, country market

statements and forecasts for

2012 and 2013. The Committee’s

officially adopted Market Statement

summarizes the latest market

information on forest products market

developments, along with detailed

forecasts of production and trade

for over 30 countries in the UNECE

region in 2012 and 2013. Some of the

key findings are outlined below.

Overview of forest products markets in 2012 and 2013Sustainable forest products have

and will continue to play an

increasingly significant role in the

green economy. Their renewability,

recyclability and versatility make

them a natural choice for a low

carbon future. Further, the future

movement towards a sustainable

economy is a bright spot in the

future of forests, however current

market conditions are challenging as

the UNECE region emerges from the

global economic crisis.

Following the improvements seen

in 2010 and early 2011, recovery

in the UNECE region within forest

products markets stalled. The

exception was the CIS region, where

many markets have improved to

pre-crisis (2007) levels. Consumption

of forest products in 2011 remained

flat in most of the UNECE region -

10 percent lower than before the

global financial crisis. However, in

the Russian Federation, consumption

grew by 9 percent. In spite of

the continuing uncertainty and

the difficult economic conditions,

the consumption of some forest

products showed slight growth in

2011. Forecasts of consumption are

for further weakness in 2012 (-0.9

percent) with a slight uptick in 2013

(0.5 percent), led by North America.

China continues to be an

important forest products market

for the UNECE region. Rising

Chinese domestic demand is

partly responsible, as is increasing

manufacturing and exports back

into the UNECE region. In addition, a

shortage of raw materials amid rising

domestic consumption (increasing

faster than GDP) will continue the

trend of increased imports. North

Africa and the Middle East continue

to remain important consumers of

European wood products, despite

the effects of the ‘Arab Spring’

whilst North America has become an

increasingly important supplier of

wood pellets for Europe. In addition,

South America is producing many

products that directly or indirectly

compete with products from the

UNECE region.

Economic and construction developmentsGlobal economic growth has been

only moderate since economic

recovery started in 2009 with growth

in the European and North American

sub-regions expected to further

weaken in 2012. In the developing

regions, however, growth has

continued, though at variable rates.

Further, a significant turnaround in

the sluggish recoveries in Europe and

North America seems unlikely.

Historically, the construction

sector has been the primary catalyst

for the demand for forest products.

Overall, in Europe and North America,

the housing market has not yet

shown any strong recovery from the

recession. New housing starts and

sales in the U.S. are at their lowest

levels since modern records began

to be kept in 1963 but are showing

signs of recovery. The market in

Canada has seen a much smaller

decline and has improved in 2012 but

a slowdown is anticipated in 2013

as tighter mortgage qualification

standards are introduced.

The Russian Federal State

Statistics Service (2012) reported

that total dwelling floor space

increased from 3,229 million square

meters in 2010 to 3,272 million

square meters in 2011. Further,

the country’s 2011-2015 Housing

Programme projects an increase in

annual construction levels. These

figures are representative of the

considerable potential for wood to

take an increasing market share in

construction. There are signs that

this is already happening in many

countries, particularly in the case of

buildings that have been constructed

primarily out of wood.

North Africa and the Middle East continue to remain important consumers of European wood products, despite the effects of the ‘Arab Spring’ whilst North America has become an increasingly important supplier of wood pellets for Europe


MARKET REPORT

Policy and regulatory framework developmentThe development of policies that

address and promote sustainable

forest management, including

measures to combat illegal logging,

climate- and energy-related policies

continues to gain momentum, in

particular those that promote the

use of renewable energy and ‘green

building’. Most recently, the Russian

Federation has cleared the final

hurdle to becoming a WTO member.

As such, log exports are likely to

increase if, as expected, export

duties fall. Further, import duties

to the Russian Federation are also

expected to fall. Significantly, the

Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA)

between Canada and the U.S. which

regulates sawnwood exports from

Canada to the U.S. was renewed in

January 2012, as both countries saw

value in extending the agreement for

an additional two years.

The biggest development for the

timber industry is the EU Timber

Regulation (EUTR), which will come

into effect from March 3 this year.

Its objective is to prevent illegally

sourced wood and products derived

from such wood from entering the

European market by prohibiting the

placing of such products on the EU

market; requiring ‘due diligence’ by

operators and ‘traceability’ throughout

the supply chain. Monitoring

organizations to assist market

operators meet the new obligations

will also have been recognized

by the European Commission. The

EUTR is part of the EU Forest Law

Enforcement Governance and Trade

(FLEGT) Action Plan, which has several

measures for banning illegal timber

from markets, to advance the supply

of legally sourced wood products

and to increase the demand for

responsibly sourced timber.

In 2011, the Russian Federal

Forestry Agency published the

first version of the State ‘Forestry

Development Programme 2012-

2020’ and drafted a legal text, the

‘State regulation on the movement

of roundwood’, aimed at improving

sustainable forest management,

taking measures against illegal

logging, improving the transparency

and legality of timber trade and

reforestation. This is seen as a

necessary step in the development of

forest law enforcement and to ensure

that Russian forest product exports

are able to comply with the EU

Timber Regulation and the U.S. Lacey

Act. In addition, for the first time

in modern Russian history, a draft

‘National Forest Policy’ has been

formulated by the Federal Forestry

Agency. This policy aims to increase

the emphasis on sustainable forest

management, the strengthening of

the wood-processing sector and the

active participation of citizens in

management of forest resources.

The U.S. Congress proposed

amendments to the Lacey Act in

The development of policies that address and promote sustainable forest management, including measures to combat illegal logging, climate- and energy-related policies continues to gain momentum

MARKET REPORT


About uNeCe/FAo Forestry & timber seCtioN

The UNECE/FAO Forestry & Timber Section has served as a trusted source of information, data and analysis about the forest sector in the UNECE region for more than 60 years. The section is unique in that it is a joint UNECE/FAO secretariat, servicing the UNECE Timber Committee and FAO European Forestry Commission and working closely with other members of the United Nations family and with country stakeholders. It operates to a mandate agreed by the 56 countries, which together comprise the UNECE region, stretching from North America to the Russian Federation and Central Asia.

Working with FAO, the Section plays a pivotal role in the regular assessment of the state of forests in the pan-European region and contributes to the periodic global Forest Resources Assessment. In addition, the section’s work with Forest Europe allows a regular critical assessment of the health and sustainability of Europe’s forests, using criteria and indicators drawn up by the countries active in the Forest Europe process. The results are published in the State of Europe’s Forests report.

The Section is also active in the field of forest policies and institutions, recognized as an integral part of sustainable forest management. These activities include information collection, analysis and dissemination, monitoring of developments, analysis of trends and capacity building. The Section addresses important cross-sectoral aspects of relevance to the forest sector, notably related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, bioenergy, biodiversity, land use, water and agriculture.

The Section’s work compiling market and, to a lesser extent, price data for forest products throughout the region, feeds into the prestigious Forest Products Annual Market Review, which appears every autumn and forms the basis for market discussions during the annual Timber Committee session. As well as providing an overview of the changing state of markets, the review sets out to understand the forces that are shaping the timber market and to examine future directions. Underlying all of this is a comprehensive database that provides a unique historical perspective.

2011, called the ‘Retailers and

Entertainers Lacey Implementation

and Enforcement Fairness Act’. The

amendments provide limitations

on applications, reduced penalties,

changes to reviewing and reporting,

and establish standard certification

processes. Further, North American

timber supply will be affected

by the reductions of the annual

allowable cut foreseen in British

Columbia as a result of the mountain

pine beetle epidemic and in eastern

Canada due to planned harvest

reduction. These effects will be more

visible in the future, as demand

increases and the salvaging of

beetle-killed trees runs its course.

Certified forest products marketsBy May 2012, the global area of

certified forest was 394 million

hectares, which represents a 4

percent increase over May 2011.

Globally, the certified area is not

evenly distributed as more than

half (51 percent) of the certified

forest area is in North America, one

quarter (25 percent) in the EU/EFTA

region and 12 percent is in other

Europe and the CIS. The remaining

13 percent is across the southern

hemisphere. Chain-of-custody (CoC)

certification has continued to grow

but more slowly. China is, by a

significant margin, the largest user

of CoC certificates and the EU Timber

Regulation is likely to expand this.

The continuing development of

green building codes should help

to reinforce wood’s position as the

environmentally sound construction

material of choice, particularly

the March 2012 release of the

International Green Construction

Code (IgCC). Further, key indicators,

including legality, responsible

bioenergy and fuel efficiency are

The continuing development of green building codes should help to reinforce wood’s position as the environmentally sound construction material of choice

examples of areas where government

standards may provide better

tools for ensuring sustainability.

Significantly, it seems likely

that existing timber certification

programmes will be challenged to

define their niche in the light of

the continued development of more

targeted standards that address

specific market issues, such as

climate change policies, illegal-

logging controls, and bio-based

material assurances.


ANALYSIS

China, Malaysia, Romania, Germany, Indonesia and

the United States are major suppliers of wood products

to the GCC

As construction projects gather pace

across the GCC, demand for timber is

reaching new heights. Whether it is

softwood lumber and plywood for concrete

forming and general building works or

hardwood lumber and wood-based panels for

interiors and furniture, the region’s appetite

for wood products is certainly growing. The

GCC, and most particularly, the United Arab

Emirates and Saudi Arabia, have now become

key destinations for many supplier countries

and feature among the top ten or even five

export trade partners.

Not too many years ago, timber exporters

to the GCC were limited to a handful of

pioneering companies from a few countries.

The range of products sold in to the market

was far from expansive and their availability

was sporadic. Today, however, the region

attracts wood product suppliers from

every corner of the globe and just about

every conceivable wood or wood-based

product is represented on the ground and

is readily available. Additionally, numerous

partnerships have been formed between

GCC-based agents and importers and

overseas suppliers. Some of these have since

developed in to large-scale enterprises with

representation across the Middle East and

beyond. Various national wood promotion

and marketing bodies have also now become

very active in the region - some with many

years of representation in the Gulf already

chalked up, such as the Malaysian Timber

Council and the American Hardwood Export

Council. Their recognition of the GCC as

a major and developing destination for

their products has driven them to include

the region as a key part of their global

promotional strategies.

Although reliable complete trade data is


ANALYSIS


Not too many years ago, timber exporters to the GCC were limited to a handful of pioneering companies from a few countries. The range of products sold in to the market was far from expansive and their availability was sporadic.

unavailable, it can be estimated that imports

of all wood products by the six GCC member

states reached a total value of USD 1.7

billion during the first nine months of 2012,

rising by around 16 percent from the same

period in the previous year. The leading

suppliers of wood products were China,

Malaysia, Romania, Germany, Indonesia and

the United States and shipments from these

six nations accounted for around two thirds

of all exports to the GCC. The main product

shipped to the region was softwood lumber,

which accounted for as much as 17 to 20

percent of total imports by value. Hardwood

plywood, medium density fibreboard (MDF)

and other wood-based panels and hardwood

lumber made up the bulk of the remainder,

while other products included flooring, doors

and door sets, semi-finished panels and

components and hardwood veneers.

Just taking figures from the top six

suppliers to the GCC - China, Malaysia,

Romania, Germany, Indonesia and the United

States - wood product imports reached a

total value of USD 1.3 billion during the

January to September period of last year,

rising by 16.2 percent from the same three

quarters of 2011. Saudi Arabia stood out

as the leading destination for exports from

these six supplying countries, with total

shipments reaching USD 574.3 million and

increasing by 18.2 percent from the same

period in the previous year. At the same

time, the UAE’s imports from these six

countries reached USD 496.4 million, rising

from USD 439.9 million during the first nine

months of 2011.

China’s exports of all wood products to

the GCC member states grew by 17.5 percent

year-on-year in January to September of

2012 and reached a total value of USD


ANALYSIS

About the AuthorRoderick Wiles has been analysing the Middle East’s markets for wood products for the past 14 years. He has travelled extensively throughout the MENA region, developing a wealth of contacts and experience and providing consultancy services to a range of government and industry clients on a long term or one-off basis. For more information, see www.broadleafconsulting.com

568.5 million. A significant proportion

was accounted for by hardwood plywood,

but many other items also made up the

product mix. The number two supplier to

the region was Indonesia, with shipments of

all wood products attaining a value of USD

217.3 million during the period and rising

by 18.6 percent on the same nine months

of 2011. Plywood and MDF were the key

products imported from Indonesia, while

these also came from Malaysia, in addition

to large volumes of hardwood lumber. Total

shipments from Malaysia during the first

600,000

550,000

500,000

450,000

400,000

350,000

300,000

250,000

200,000

150,000

100,000

50,000

0

USA

Germany

Romania

Indonesia

Malaysia

China

UAE KSA Qatar Kuwait Bahrain Oman

GCC timber imPorts From toP siX suPPLiers

Jan - Sept 2012 (US$ thousands) Not only has the GCC

become an important destination for wood products, but it has also become a vital trading hub for a wider region. This is particularly true for the UAE, where re-exports of wood products account for as much as 30 percent of total imports. Some of this is intra-GCC trade, but major destination markets also include Iran, Somalia, Rwanda and India.

three quarters of 2012 reached USD 186.6

million, rising by 21.2 percent from the same

period in the previous year.

Not only has the GCC become an important

destination for wood products, but it has

also become a vital trading hub for a wider

region. This is particularly true for the

UAE, where re-exports of wood products

account for as much as 30 percent of total

imports. Some of this is intra-GCC trade, but

major destination markets also include Iran,

Somalia, Rwanda and India.

The construction sector in the GCC looks

set to continue its recovery through this

year from the downturn seen in 2009 and,

as a result, it is widely anticipated that

demand for wood products will continue to

rise across the region. More suppliers from

even more countries will choose the Gulf as

a key destination for their products over the

next twelve months and competition is likely

to be tough. However, with declining wood

consumption in many European markets and

just the beginnings of an uncertain recovery

being seen in the United States, the battle for

market share is likely to be worth the effort.

Source: Broadleaf Consulting

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Index_2013_Generic_Ad_Timber_ME_210x297mm.ai 1 1/22/13 4:55 PM


THE SOURCE

Leading player supplies a comprehensive range of North American and Tropical hardwoods

Baillie Lumber is one of North

America’s largest hardwood

lumber manufacturers,

distributors and exporters. Founded

in 1923, the company has grown from

a regional supplier of North American

hardwoods to an international

hardwood manufacturer that can

ship hardwood lumber to any region

of the world. Today, Baillie is a

leading provider of hardwood logs,

hardwood lumber and proprietary

grade hardwood lumber products with

hardwood manufacturing facilities

that are spread north to south in the

eastern United States. The company

owns and operates several sawmills

and concentration yards, which

are conveniently located near the

principal North American shipping

routes and seaports. In addition, Baillie

also maintains relationships with

Baillie Lumber expects increased demand for hardwoods in MENA region

several partner mills and suppliers

in the U.S. and internationally, which

supplement its own hardwood

manufacturing capabilities thereby

giving the company a breadth of

specie availability unmatched by other

hardwood manufacturers.

Participating in all of the major

markets around the world and

serving customers in various

countries throughout Europe, the

Middle East and Asia, Baillie is able

to offer customers a range of North

American and Tropical hardwoods.

The main species that the company

currently supplies includes white

oak, red oak, hard maple, soft maple,

walnut, cherry, ash, poplar, African

mahogany, genuine mahogany, and

sapele. In addition, the company has

established relationships with local

and regional importers and agents,

which have been driven by its sales

representatives, some of whom have

over 25 years of experience in the

industry. Timber Design & Technology

takes a closer look at Baillie Lumber.

Baillie solutionsAs one of North America’s premier

hardwood lumber suppliers, Baillie is

a full-service lumber supplier involved

in manufacturing, distribution,

importing and exporting of hardwood

logs, lumber or lumber products.

Aiming to offer value-added services,


THE SOURCE

the company provides customers

not only with the lumber strips they

require sorted by length, width, grade

or color but also the option to rip and

surface lumber and strips to their

exact specifications. In addition, Baillie

Lumber’s ‘Custom Lumber Solutions’

program is a no obligation review

of a customers’ existing production

process. The company utilizes a 5-step

evaluation process designed to create

a unique and customized lumber

solution to meet the customers’

specific production needs.

Hardwood Lumber and LogsBaillie is able to supply both domestic

species from the forests across the

U.S. in addition to all the major species

from Africa, Asia and South America.

The company has an international

procurement team that has expertise in

locating and selecting the best hardwoods

from around the world, which are then

available for shipment directly from their

country of origin, or through Baillie’s U.S.

manufacturing and distribution locations.

Baillie also purchases hardwood veneer

logs and saw logs from loggers and

landowners. The company has developed

lumber and log markets throughout the

United States and is able to offer loggers

and landowners the best possible price

for their logs.

Why Baillie?As one of America’s premier hardwood

lumber companies, Baillie aims to

provide hardwood lumber solutions

that help its customers’ business

succeed. The company is able to offer

special width, length, color or grade

sorts; tailored delivery schedules;

and volumes of hardwood lumber in

standard grades. The objective is to

provide solutions that target two goals:

increasing yields and decreasing costs

for customers.

Environmental CredentialsBaillie Lumber is FSC Certified.

Moreover, Baillie conducts its

business in accordance with

sound environmental practices

that emphasize sustainable forest

management. Currently, Baillie and

its partners rely primarily on private

landowners who own 57 percent of

the timberland in the United States to

supply its facilities with raw materials.

Most of these lands are intensively

managed by professional foresters

who practice sustainable forest

management. As such, in all of Baillie’s

hardwood forests, sustainable forest

management has resulted in nearly

twice as much new hardwood growth

than is removed through harvesting.

Baillie’s commitment to sustainable

forest management also means that

harvest levels should not exceed

what the forest grows and should not

degrade future growth capability. Each

of its sawmill locations has a Certified

Forester® as part of its staff who is board

certified by the Society of American

Foresters. In addition, much of Baillie’s

lumber comes from the Appalachian

Hardwood Forest, a region that the U.S.

Forest Service has verified as benefiting

from sustainable forest management.

Baillie also actively supports many

state and national forestry trade

associations, forestry groups, colleges

and universities, and forest landowner

groups dedicated to the advancement of

sustainable forest management.

Baillie in the Middle EastBaillie Lumber has been active in the

MENA marketplace since the 1980’s.

Since first entering the region with

sales to Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, the

company has expanded its operations

to virtually all countries. Confident of

the demand in the region, the company

is actively looking for ways to serve

existing and new potential customers

in the region through their existing

sales teams.

Image © Baillie Lumber

Image © Baillie Lumber

SPECIES FOCUS


American SoftwoodsA

merican softwoods are grown in

the western, southeastern and

northeastern states of the United

States. Renowned for their strength,

flexibility, versatility and beauty, they

have been exported for almost 200 years.

Harvested from sustainably managed

forests in the USA, the success of forest

management and conservation in the USA

means that the area of forested land is

now greater than it was 75 years ago.

Today, the forests occupy an area equal in

size to Germany and France combined and

more than 4.5 million trees are planted or

seeded naturally every day.

America is recognized worldwide as a

sustainable source of top quality timber. This

popularity is based on:

• Standardization of sizes and stress ratings

• Quality control through the enforcement of

a single unified grading system

• Strength and durability

• Suitability for preservative and fire-

retardant treatments

• Construction standardization

and systemization.

The simple cell structure of softwoods’

long, uniformly packed fibres gives them

a high strength-to-weight ratio, making

them flexible and capable of bearing

heavy loads. American softwoods have

the strength to sustain longer spans

for trusses and joists, as well as the

clear, fine-grained timber that is in

demand for joinery applications, such

as panelling, door frames, windows,

flooring and furniture.

ApplicationThe diverse and wide-ranging applications

of American Softwoods fall into three main

categories: Joinery, Structural and Outdoors.

JoineryThe quality grains and textures of American

softwoods have long proved popular for many

internal uses. Finished naturally, stained or

painted, they will enhance the interior of both

traditional and modern homes.

American softwoods are also growing in

demand for furniture manufacture but are

ideal for:

• Bed frames

• Cabinetry

• Fenestration

• Flooring

• Moulding

• Panelling

• Staircases

StructuralStructural timber is graded for its load-bearing

and load-carrying capacity in framing systems

and in heavy construction, light commercial

and residential applications. The dominant

American structural framing species are

Douglas Fir and Southern Yellow Pine.

Typical structural construction applications

include:

• Churches

• Retail developments

• Schools

• Sports venues

• Swimming pools

• Theatres

OutdoorsWhen pressure preservative treated, timber can

provide decades of reliable service exposed to

the harshest of climates. Southern Yellow Pine is

the preferred species when pressure treatment

with wood preservatives is required. The unique

cellular structure of Southern Yellow Pine permits

deep and uniform penetration of preservatives,

rendering the wood useless as a food source for

fungi, termites and micro-organisms.

Common outdoors applications for

preservative treated timber include:

• Boardwalks

• Bridges

• Cladding

• Decks

• Marinas and piers

• Playground equipment

American softwood timber is marketed by

members of the Southern Forest Products

Association (SFPA) and the Softwood Export

Council (SEC), known jointly as American

Softwoods. The various species of softwoods

from southern and western America provide

a wide range of choices, including industrial,

commercial, structural and domestic

applications. Much of the U.S. softwood

exported is for interior applications, such as

doors, windows, picture frames, mouldings,

flooring, panelling, and other millwork - a prime

destination for Southern Yellow Pine, Eastern

white pine and fir species. Further, furniture

components and edge-glued panels are also

key uses for softwood lumber whilst western

species, such as Douglas fir and hemlock in

clear grades, are prized for wood window and

door stock as well as for window frames.

Image © American Softwood


SPECIES FOCUS

28

Ponderosa PinePinus ponderosa

General descriptionPonderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) is light in

color, with large amounts of creamy white to

straw-colored sapwood and minimal amounts

of light reddish-brown heartwood. Along with

Sugar, Idaho White and Lodgepole pine, it

forms a commercially important group called

the Western pines (Pinus spp.).

Main usesPonderosa pine is valued primarily for its

appearance and is suitable for any application

that requires a light to moderately strong,

splinter-free, stable wood, such as jointed

drawers, windows, shutters and stairs.

Distribution and availabilityPonderosa has a range that extends from

Canada to Mexico and from the Pacific Ocean

to South Dakota and is widely available.

Physical and mechanical propertiesPonderosa is light and soft-textured, with a

uniform, close, straight grain that is delicately

figured after dressing. It seasons well, with a

minimum of warping and cupping.

Working properties

DurabilitySlightly durable and moderately easy to treat

with preservative.

Western red cedarthuja plicata

General descriptionWestern Red Cedar is a slow-growing, long-

lived tree, whose aromatic wood is highly

decay-resistant. The sapwood, usually less

than 2.5 centimetres wide is almost pure

white, while the heartwood varies from a dark

reddish brown to light yellow.

Main usesPrimarily used in cladding, shingles and other

exterior applications, such as greenhouses.

Also useful in boatbuilding and marine

structure as well as interior panelling, window

sashes and built-in furniture.

Distribution and availabilityFound in the Pacific Northwest and inland to

the Rocky Mountains in stands totaling 48.7

million cubic metres. Exceptional coastal area

trees reach a height of 60 metres, a diameter

of 4.9 metres and an age of 1,000 years or

more. Readily available.

Physical and mechanical propertiesA coarse-textured softwood, weighing 376 kg

per cubic metre, with a close, uniform, straight

grain and an extreme resistance to decay.

Dimensionally stable, it takes paint, stains or

varnishes easily. When untreated, it weathers

to a silvery-grey.

Working properties

DurabilityVery durable. Difficult to treat with preservative.

General descriptionStraight-grained and moderately heavy, with

limited resin, this is one of the most attractive

and strongest of the Western softwood

species. The wood has a slight rosy cast; the

sapwood generally a light straw color and the

heartwood a deep russet brown.

Main usesIts appearance is prized for joinery, panelling,

cabinets, flooring, windows and cladding. Its

strength, straightness and ease of fabrication

make it the perfect high-performance timber

for structural uses, such as metal plate-

connected trusses, framing, bridges and large

heavy members.

Distribution and availabilityOne of the tallest on the continent, this species

accounts for a fifth of North America’s total

softwood reserves and is grown on 14 million

hectares of forest in the Western Woods

region. Readily available.

Physical and mechanical propertiesMedium texture, with a weight of 540 kg per

cubic metre, and a high density, specific gravity

and strength-to-weight ratio. Very stiff, with high

strength values in bending, tension, horizontal

sheer and compression. High shrinkage when

seasoned from a green state, but minimal

shrinkage and swelling once seasoned.

Working properties

DurabilityModerately durable. Difficult to treat -

incising is recommended for maximum

penetration of preservative.

douglas firPseudotsuga menziesii

Machining

Nailing

Screwing

Gluing

Machining

Nailing

Screwing

Gluing

Machining

Nailing

Screwing

Gluing


SPECIES FOCUS

Western hemlocktsuga heterophylla

southern YelloW PinePinus palustris, Pinus elliotti Pinus echinata and Pinus taeda

General descriptionAmong the harder, stronger western softwoods,

it is marketed and sold separately as well as in

the Hem-fir species combination. Springwood

is whitish to light yellow-brown; summerwood

frequently has a purplish or reddish-brown

tinge; heartwood not distinct. Small black

streaks often appear in the wood.

Main usesIt is used for framing and architectural

members and is a prime species for mouldings,

millwork and panelling.

Distribution and availabilityGrows best in the Pacific Northwest between

sea level and 1850 metres. Readily available.

Physical and mechanical propertiesStraight grain and fine texture with a weight of

465 kg per cubic metre.

Working properties

DurabilitySlightly durable. Difficult to treat with preservative.

General descriptionThe four main species of Southern Yellow Pine

are Longleaf (Pinus palustris), Slash (Pinus

elliotti), Shortleaf (Pinus echinada) and Loblolly

pine (Pinus taeda). The wood has a distinctive

color and grain - its sapwood ranges from

white to yellowish and heartwood from yellow

to reddish-brown. It combines looks, strength,

and extreme ease of treatment with the

highest nail-holding ability.

Main usesMost is used structurally, for floor and roof

trusses, joists, rafters and carcassing. Ease

of treatment makes it particularly good for

decking and outdoor use. Character and

impact resistance make it suitable for flooring,

panelling and joinery.

Distribution and availabilityGrows on 78 million hectares of forest land in

Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana,

Mississippi, North and South Carolina,

Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

Widely available.

Physical and mechanical propertiesMedium texture. Weight ranges from 537 to 626

kg per cubic metre. High density gives it natural

strength, weight, and impact and wearing

resistance. It has a higher specific gravity than

European Redwood and, although easy to work

with, stands up well to rough treatment.

Working properties

DurabilitySlightly durable. Extremely easy to treat

with preservative.

Machining

Nailing

Screwing

Gluing

hem-firtsuga heterophylla and abies spp

General descriptionA species combination of Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) and five of the true firs: California Red fir (Abies magnifica), Grand fir (Abies grandis), White fir (Abies concolor), Noble fir (Abies procera) and Pacific Silver fir (Abies amabilis). Fine-grained and with interchangeable structural performance, these trees are marketed together as an elegant softwood, classified as a White Wood, combining beauty and strength. A very light colour, from creamy white spring wood to a light straw-brown (hemlock) or reddish-brown (firs).

Main usesJoinery that requires precision machining, a pale color and excellent gluing, such as mouldings, exposed ceilings, doors, louvres, windows, furniture, flooring and laminated structural and non-structural products. structural products, such as framing and engineered systems.

Physical and mechanical propertiesStraight grain and fine texture sands to a silky smoothness with virtually no tendency to split. Weight ranges from 537 to 626 kg per cubic metre. Knotty appearance grades for joinery; lower knotty grades for general construction. Good strength and stiffness. Good insulating properties. Holds its original color well.

Working properties

DurabilitySlightly durable. Difficult to treat with preservative.

Machining

Nailing

Screwing

Gluing

Machining Nailing

screwing Gluing


DESIGN & DéCOR

Inspired by the building’s historic references, the architects attempt to retain the spirit of the original industrial character

the new offices of the Botín Foundation in Madrid


DESIGN & DéCOR

The Botín Foundation originated

in Spain in 1964 to ‘mitigate

the needs and promote the

social development’ of Cantabria.

Today, nearly 50 years later the

Foundation continues to contribute

to the development of the society on

all levels, detecting and promoting

creative talent and exploring new

ways to generate cultural, social and

economic wealth.

After a stunning renovation project

executed by MVN Arquitectos, the

Foundation has recently opened its

new offices in Madrid. Originally built

in the 1920s, the building previously

served as a Silversmith workshop

before more recently being taken on as

the Vinçon department store. Project

The direct daylight and plants in the lobby bring a great character to this meeting place. The ceiling is made up of longitudinal solid slats of American red oak and acoustic absorbent felt. The red oak slats have a subtle color variation, which adds great character and warmth to the open space. Further, the ground floor is intended for public activities with a flexible but modular, clear open space.

ProJeCt PArtiCuLArsArchitects: Diego Varela de Ugarte and Emilio Medina García MVN Arquitectos (www.mvn-arquitectos.com)

Client: Fundación Botín

Collaborators: Alfonso García del Rey, Laura Sánchez, María Pascual and Alicia Castilla, arquitectos

Technical Architect: María Lamela Martín

Interior design consultant: Juan Luis Líbano

Consultants: Ingenor, Structural and Service engineers; Luis Vallejo Estudio de Paisajismo, Landscape designer

Project Manager: Santander Global Facilities

Contractor: Ferrovial

Wooden joineryGround floor ceiling: MoinsaFlooring: Parquets Román S.L.Doors and wall panels: Teisa

Final completion date: 2012

Gross floor area: 1.541,95 square meters

Final contract sum: EUR 1.784 million

Photographer: Alfonso Quiroga

Architects Diego Varela de Ugarte and

Emilio Medina García were inspired

by the building’s historic references,

which led to their design attempts

to retain the spirit of the original

industrial character. Exposure of the

original steel and brickwork depicts

the buildings’ past life and effectively

contrasts with the new construction

work whose finishes are mainly oak,

steel and glass.

A key objective was to create an

open plan, warm space allowing

natural light to fill the whole building.

The biggest structural change to the

building and one of the most attractive

features of the development is a

two-storey high atrium for the main

lobby. One of the roof trusses was

Image © Fundación Botín

DESIGN & DéCOR


removed and replaced with a metal

structure, creating an opening for

the skylight over the atrium area.

The direct daylight and plants in the

lobby bring a great character to this

meeting place. The ceiling is made up

of longitudinal solid slats of American

red oak and acoustic absorbent felt.

The red oak slats have a subtle color

variation, which adds great character

and warmth to the open space. Further,

the ground floor is intended for public

activities with a flexible but modular,

clear open space.

MVN Arquitectos’ choice to use

timber for the floor, walls and ceiling

adds warmth to this area. Diego Varela

says “the use of oak has been essential

to emphasize the contrast between

old and new, and the wood looks

great next to the worn brickwork.”

He adds, “After looking at several

species options, we chose oak because

it combines the warm tone and

hardwearing characteristics we were

looking for in this unique project.” All

of the oak in the building has been

treated with colorless oil to show the

grain of the timber without altering its

natural tone.

The first floor is office space for

the senior management team of the

Foundation with a private area for

meetings. The doors and wall paneling

as well have been veneered with

European oak, which is also used for

the flooring throughout.

The Botín Foundation are delighted

with the new office space. The

highlight is without doubt the stunning

lobby with striking tones of red oak

set against the old brickwork of the

Silversmith workshop.



DESIGN & DéCOR


AmeriCAN red oAkThe sapwood of red oak is white to light brown and the heartwood is a pinkish reddish brown. The wood is similar in general appearance to white oak, but with a slightly less pronounced figure. The wood is mostly straight grained, with a coarse texture and is widely available as lumber and veneer in a range of grades and specifications.

The wood is hard and heavy, with medium bending strength and stiffness and high crushing strength. It is very good for steam bending. Red oak also machines well; nailing and screwing is good and it can be stained and polished to a very good finish. This attractive looking oak, that is widely available, is increasingly being chosen by designers and architects for furniture, joinery and flooring in export markets around the world.



PROFILE

The success story that is ABALON

Hardwood today can be traced back to

the year 2004 when an existing sawmill

in south-east Austria was transformed to

follow the set up of the best U.S. hardwood

mills, which comprise of a headrig and resaw

system. Given that markets were excellent,

ABALON reached its capacity within 12

months following the start of production.

Further, as the global appetite for hardwoods

was growing, it became necessary after only

two years of its inauguration to think about

a second production site. Different options

in Slovakia, Hungary and Switzerland were

evaluated. However, the decision was made

for a location in Germany. Interestingly,

Germany is in a region that the Latin author

Tacitus named ‘Buchonia’, which best can be

translated as ‘the land of Beech’.

Today, the company is one of the largest

European hardwood companies with mills in

Schwalmstadt (Germany) and Heiligenkreuz

(Austria). ABALON has an annual cutting

potential of approximately 250,000 cubic

meters and a specialization in European

Beech. One of the key reasons for the success

of the company has been its focus on a high-

quality production process, which follows the

innovative and well-known standards of key

American mills, both in terms of the grading

concept (minimum guaranteed yields for

every board) and in terms of equipment and

processing. In an interview with Timber Design

& Technology, Roland Feit, Sales Director at

ABALON tells us about the company.

According to Feit, in order to become

successful with the single most important

hardwood species produced in Europe - Beech

- ABALON had to set a few fundamental

foundations for their quality. Firstly, an

extremely uniform color is obtained using

combined steaming and kiln-drying chambers

with indirect steaming, from a single

manufacturer (Mühlböck). This uniformity

of the color saves a lot of time during

production at its customers’ factories due to

a massively reduced need to sort and match

the lamellas. In addition, the company also

aims for extremely uniform moisture content

(9±1) throughout the entire thickness of every


Image © ABALON Hardwood


PROFILE

board. Testament to their precision in this

area, some of their customers produce 3-ply

panels from ABALON beech, without having

to recondition the cuttings. This means that

ABALON’s timber can be used right away

when it arrives, which results in a lower

necessary inventory level.

Feit points out that by pre-planning the

majority of the production, which allows for

a precise and integral vision of all defects

and color characteristics of each board,

ABALON is able to take these characteristics

into consideration during the grading and

thereby avoid surprises for the end user. As

a result, the customer receives a calculable,

reliable and consistent raw material.

Moreover, ABALON has also established

precise grading criteria by guaranteeing

fixed and well-defined standards, where

yield forecasting and yield consistency

become important values for each customer.

This allows the customer to select the most

suitable grade based on the final product

and also helps them avoid buying expensive

grades or grades where many by-products

arise during production.

By ensuring that its log supply originates

from sustainable forest sources, which further

guarantees longevity both for the forest

resource and for future log supply, ABALON is

able to provide customers with PEFC-certified

material from the mill in Germany. In addition,

the mill in Austria is FSC-certified. Feit goes

on to explain that for the mill in Austria,

the company sources most of its volume in

Hungary given the proximity to the mill. In

the case of the mill in Germany, ABALON

sources most of its volume from HessenForst,

which is the local state forest authority.

Significantly, given that ABALON is perhaps

the biggest FSC-certified hardwood mill in

Europe, the company is still able to give its

Today, the company is one of the largest European hardwood companies with mills in Schwalmstadt (Germany) and Heiligenkreuz (Austria). ABALON has an annual cutting potential of approximately 250,000 cubic meters and a specialization in European Beech.




PROFILE

customers the usual short-term delivery

possibilities with the same high quality

standards for certified timber as well as for

its non-certified timber.

Feit and the team at ABALON are perfectly

aware that they work with a natural resource

that has a lot of variation. By specializing

in one specie, the company is thereby able

to focus on a higher production volume and

also offer a more extensive product range in

the same specie. According to Feit, whereas

traditional sawmills mostly offer three grades

(A,B,C), ABALON aims to standardize and

industrialize its production and products.

Currently, the company offers 7 thicknesses

in 8 lengths and up to 13 different grades. As

such, the customer is able to buy more specific

grades/products than would be possible if

the company focused on several species.

Given that ABALON puts a lot of attention

on consistent quality in terms of moisture

content, steaming color and most importantly

yield and production cost, Feit is confident of

repeat business from customers. In essence,

Feit believe that ABALON are transforming the

natural resource into a calculable raw material.

Quality control at ABALON starts right

from sourcing through to delivery of the

finished lumber. In order to keep the logs

in excellent quality until the time they are

cut, they are stored in a yard and are being

constantly sprinkled with water. In addition,

the impeccable single-length packaging (per

unit or per full truck), with planed edges

for improved presentation and to display

the true color of the product, ensures that

agents and local importers are easily able to

resell products purchased from ABALON. The

company also maintains a sizeable inventory

of products ready for prompt delivery in an

attempt to offer customers greater buying

flexibility and reduced inventory costs.

With an absolutely transparent sales

strategy and support for their key partners

in distribution, ABALON puts great value and

attention on the partners they work with. As a

result, the company has created a network of

highly respected partners for the worldwide

distribution of their products, thereby ensuring

that their lumber is being sold in more than 50

countries today. More importantly, increased

revenue and market penetration are proving

that the products and the relationships are

both of exceptional quality.

Given ABALON’s production capacity and

the ability to cope with rather short lead

times, the company is positive of catering to

bigger projects in the GCC. Aiming to increase

its presence in the region, ABALON partnered

with INTERHOLCO a few years ago - the

partnership being driven by shared values

and principles between both companies.

Feit is positive that the partnership with

INTERHOLCO has helped open many doors for

ABALON since customers in the region already

trusted the former and were therefore open to

trying products from the latter. Today, the two

are well established in the region - ABALON

for its European Beech and INTERHOLCO for

its African and North American products.

Confident of even more growth in the

region, ABALON will be participating at the

upcoming Dubai WoodShow in conjunction with

INTERHOLCO. When questioned about future

growth, Feit remains positive that there is still a

lot of room for growth with Beech. He concludes

by stating that we will therefore continue to be

‘the Beech boys’ for the time being!

Given ABALON’s production capacity and the ability to cope with rather short lead times, the company is positive of catering to bigger projects in the GCC. Aiming to increase its presence in the region, ABALON partnered with INTERHOLCO a few years ago - the partnership being driven by shared values and principles between both companies.


PASSION FOR HARDWOOD

Meet us on the Dubai

Booth O1, Hall 8

ABALON HARDWOOD Hessen GmbHwww.abalon-hardwood.com

In the GCC we are partnering with:

Please contact Benoit Moreau for all inquiries you may have: +973-39.71.06.30,[email protected]

Inserat Woodshow Dubai _OK.indd 1 01213225 15:20:25 Uhr

Cree pioneers innovative timber and concrete hybrid technology that enables architects to design stunning tall wood buildings up to 30 stories

Nature with Structure

TECHNOLOGY


To take new paths, you have

to rethink. As part of the

internationally renowned

Rhomberg Group, Cree is the logical

outcome of four generations of

experience in construction. Not just

a construction company, Cree is an

innovative company, pioneering tall

timber building architecture, and

new building strategies involving

the sustainable handling of natural

resources. With a vision to bring wood

as a primary building material into

cities, the company is creating a new

basis for modern, urban architecture

by enabling reduced life cycle costs,

higher conservation of building value,

best possible comfort and state-of-the-

art safety requirements through its

LifeCycle Tower (LCT) system.

Borrowing the philosophy and

lifestyle of the North American natives

of the same name, which in its modern

interpretation means Creative Resource

& Energy Efficiency, Cree is also a source

of ideas and initiator of new strategies

of sustainable treatment of and co-

existence with nature and its resources.

Certified ISO 9001 (quality) und ISO

14001 (environment), the company’s

LCT system offers a wealth of benefits

including energy and resource efficiency,

an extremely reduced carbon footprint,

completion time almost halved, low

lifecycle costs and the latest safety

standards, to name but a few.

Why the future is about doing more with lessCree’s building philosophy is based

on the premise that building better

naturally means using more renewable

raw materials. On the one hand,

countless prestigious and architecturally

sophisticated buildings are constructed

all around the world on a daily basis

and this urban development is based

primarily on conventionally produced

prototypes. However, the complex

construction work that this involves

goes hand-in-hand with high building

costs, long construction times and high

planning risks.

A closer look at the facts reveals that

the construction industry’s conventional

construction methods today accounts

for some 40 percent of energy and

resource consumption as well as 40

percent of waste generation and CO2

emissions. The construction industry is

Given that cities today account for over three quarters of world energy consumption, Cree aims to construct large hybrid buildings that are based on a sustainable, natural main component.

the LCt systemA hybrid-timber construction system:- 3 to 30 stories- 90 percent improved CO2-balance- Reduced input of resources

Innovative System building:- Construction period cut by half- Cost certainty- Reduced sources of errors

Best quality of life:- Individual design- Passive house standard (if desired)- Pleasurable atmospheric environment

TECHNOLOGY


also responsible for 60 percent of the

world’s transportation emissions. Given

that over 50 percent of the world’s

current population lives in urban

areas and with this trend increasing,

resources are becoming ever scarcer

and CO2 emissions from the global

construction industry even higher. As

such, it is hardly surprising that the

global debate focuses on sustainability

when considering the future.

Having a deeper understanding

of today’s climate and global living

conditions, Cree’s vision stems from

the realization that new strategies are

imperative. Given that cities today

account for over three quarters of

world energy consumption, Cree aims

to construct large hybrid buildings that

are based on a sustainable, natural

main component. The company’s vision

can be summarized as: We build in

wood - and we do it in a system.

Nature as a role modelAccording to the experts at Cree, if

you want to build economically and

sustainably, you should work with a

system. The fewer the detail solutions

to be implemented, the shorter the

construction period and the less dust,

noise and waste will be generated on

the site. Further, implementation of

complex details, which are hard to

control on site under normal building

conditions, is completely eliminated

by series prefabrication. However,

meticulously planned standard

solutions do not necessarily mean the

end of all individuality. The modular

construction of the LCT system

components - slab, columns, facade

and building services - is fast, efficient

and standardized. This saves resources,

time and money but leaves plenty of

scope for visionary design ideas.

The rationale behind the LCT

system is that an innovative system

can grow better than individual

Image © Cree


TECHNOLOGY

projects. In essence, the LCT system is

‘individual industrialization’. Based on

a sustainable wood-hybrid system for

mid and tall buildings that has been

thought-out down to the last detail,

the LCT can be designed individually

and constructed off-site in short

order, to guarantee the minimal use of

resources and energy over its whole

lifecycle. A LifeCycle Tower can also

be converted to another use at any

time in its lifecycle, and its modular

design makes renovation much easier.

When a building has reached its full

useful life, urban mining of the LCT

system can be employed, extracting

materials to reuse, recycle or convert

into bioenergy, thus protecting landfills

from unnecessary waste.

LCT: The wood-hybrid high-riseThe LCT system can simply be defined

as a hybrid timber construction system

for large buildings that guarantees

minimized use of resources and energy

over its full lifecycle. The result of this

concept of individual industrialization

is the world’s first LifeCycle Tower in

Austria - LCT ONE. Whilst essential

elements of the building services are

already contained in a LifeCycle Tower,

the various system components (core,

slab, façade columns) are prefabricated

on an industrial scale and are therefore

suitable for modular installation. The LCT

system therefore is suitable for a variety

of commercial uses including offices,

hotels, restaurants, and public buildings

(museum, library, town hall, etc).

The LCT building system

uses prefabricated components

manufactured to an architect’s exact

specifications. The wall facades are

made from glue-laminate posts, while

the floor slabs are constructed from

a hybrid of glue-laminate posts and

concrete. While these components are

manufactured off-site, the foundation

of a building is laid and the structural

elevator shaft core is erected. This

core, made out of either steel and

concrete or wood, stiffens the building

and provides a frame from which

the walls and floors can hang. The

slabs and posts are then assembled

by interconnecting the preset pins

and holes of the components. With

this skeleton structure, architects can

design a wide variety of layouts and

exterior skins, to create dramatic and

sustainable buildings.

With no structural dividing walls,

the system is highly flexible and

When a building has reached its full useful life, urban mining of the LCT system can be employed, extracting materials to reuse, recycle or convert into bioenergy, thus protecting landfills from unnecessary waste.

the ceiling. The building services can

be integrated in other places, which

allows for ceilings with a solid visible

timber underside. Through LCR, the

company is positive that living in

harmony with nature and using global

resources responsibly can be achieved

in the city center in future.

The LCR system is compatible with

the LCT system, so that multiple-use

buildings such as apartment and

office towers are possible without any

problems. And the system allows for

much shorter construction periods -

particularly compared with conventional

allows individual division of space. The

building can be converted throughout

its lifecycle - and the materials

installed hold their value significantly

from a deconstruction standpoint,

even viewed over many decades.

Moreover, the LCT system components

can be produced by many different

enterprises and provide excellent

opportunities for regional craftsmen

and the timber industry. Significantly,

in contrast to other timber construction

projects, Cree takes a top-down

approach, whereby all components are

planned in such a way that they can be

easily adapted to the requirements and

regulations of different countries.

LCR: Indoor environment quality that only nature can provideBuilding on the success of the LCT

system, Cree is working on creating

LifeCycle Residential (LCR): a

system specifically adapted to the

requirements of residential and hotel

buildings, which incorporates many

of the well-known advantages found

in every LifeCycle Tower. The main

difference contributing to an even

better indoor environment quality and

comfort is found in the LCR system on

Image © Cree

Image © Cree

Image © Cree


TECHNOLOGY

VisioN beComes reALity: the LCt oNeCree’s first building is its global headquarters in Dornbirn, Austria called the LCT ONE. Built to a passive house standard, the eight-storey pilot project was erected in eight days after the foundation was finished. More importantly, the LCT ONE serves as inspiration to see the bigger picture: as a ‘LifeCycle Hub’ that is open for visitors as a showroom for sustainable solutions. Cree’s vision was of a hybrid wood high-rise building up to 328 feet high and with up to 30 stories. The reality is the LCT ONE with up to 90 percent improved carbon footprint, drastically reduced use of resources, and an exceptionally pleasant indoor climate - thanks to plenty of visible, exposed wood.

The company’s second building is the Illwerke Center Montafon (IZM) building in Montafon, Austria. Currently under construction, this is Cree’s first commissioned project and is set to be one of the largest tall wood commercial buildings in Europe. A hydropower competence center with a staff restaurant and visitors’ center, the IZM will be the first green building of its size in Vorarlberg, as well as a milestone for resource-efficient and sustainable construction. The features that convinced the client to choose the design were primarily the technological, ecological and economic advantages of the LCT system - as well as its proven high fire safety standard.

reinforced concrete and masonry

apartment buildings. As in the case

with the LCT system, individuality does

not have to be sacrificed when using

the LCR system. Flexible division of

space, optional comfort solutions in the

package and variable façade design, and

a much wider variety of configurations

can be achieved than would be

expected with a pre-specified system.

Building a future with woodCree’s innovative timber and concrete

hybrid technology enables architects

to design stunning tall wood buildings

up to 30 stories, that can be erected

as quickly as a storey a day. An

environmentally feasible option, the

innovative LCT system is a slab and post

wood design method that requires up

to 50 percent shorter construction time

compared to reinforced concrete and

steel construction. The LCT system also

requires 39 percent fewer resources, over

the life of a building and takes advantage

of engineered timber products. By

combining wood and concrete together,

the LCT system substantially reduces the

amount of concrete used in the building,

resulting in a lighter structure, with a

smaller foundation and up to 90 percent

lower CO2 emissions.

Some might argue that building

with wood is not sustainable. The

truth is that constructing buildings

with conventional designs requires

resources in abundance - wood

on the other hand grows back.

Nature supplies us with the building

material of the future that offers

all the characteristics demanded by

innovative urban architecture. It is

naturally resistant, of high structural

quality and has indeed the very

best fire prevention properties,

which makes it perfectly suited for

system building and prefabrication

of complete building sections. As a

natural raw material, wood can also be

found in many parts of the world and

has a positive impact on the world’s

carbon footprint. According to Cree,

the wood used as building material in

the LCT system can grow in the world’s

forests, normally within a few hours,

depending on the size of the project.

One major concern is the fact that

wood burns. However, it is important

to note that wood burns safely,

because through science we can

predict how long wood will withstand

the flames. This is in striking contrast

to conventional buildings made of

reinforced concrete where the steel,

can collapse very quickly at certain

temperatures. A number of large-scale

fire tests have been carried out in

Europe for the floor slab elements of

the LCT system. These tests show the

technology is able to withstand up to a

two-hour fire test. Based on the results

of these tests, the Cree components

have been optimized leading to a

reduction in the amount of concrete

used, and the granting of the required

REI 120 certificate.

Another misconception is that wood

is not durable. Wood is extremely

durable if used properly. Wood is not

only durable outside, but inside as

well, where it requires no chemical

protection. Thanks to its natural

resilience, the world is surrounded

by wooden structures that have

stood the test of time. In fact, one

of the oldest wooden buildings in

the world is the five-storey pagoda

at the Horyu-ji Buddhist temple in

Ikaruga, Japan. It is important to

note that even if a timber building is

demolished after several decades of

use, it still produces usable materials

in reclaimed wood and bioenergy.

Image © Cree

Image © Cree

Image © Cree

Image © Cree


FLOORING

Blackwood and Tasmanian Oak from the deep south (42

degrees South to be exact) are providing designers,

architects and craftsmen with exciting new options for

flooring and fine cabinetry

wood: the tasmanian wayT

asmania - Australia’s island State,

has been quietly producing quality

timbers for two centuries and through

Britton Timbers, these iconic species

are now available to the world. There’s

something of an air of mystery surrounding

Tasmania - it is an exotic island that lays at

the edge of the great southern ocean - just

an ice-breaker trip away from Antarctica.

And the timbers that grow there are highly

prized - hence the almost unheard of levels

of protection by world standards. The

timber that is allowed out courtesy of strict

environmental controls and compliance

with international regulatory systems is

simply stunning.

One of Tasmania’s best kept secrets

is Blackwood: Acacia Melanoxylon to be

precise. Also known as Black Wattle, it is, as

the name suggests, a member of the wattle

family and a hardwood. It grows throughout

Tasmania’s native forests from sea level to

about one thousand meters, but it is in the

state’s temperate northwest that it thrives,

and that’s where the Britton Timbers’ story

begins.

Blackwood lies at the heart of the

Britton’s Tasmanian operation and it is from

here that the generally light, golden- brown

timber begins its journey to world markets

via Britton’s international distribution

network. Blackwood is a fine timber for

bespoke flooring where highlights and a

‘designer’ feel is called-for. The timber can

exhibit a reddish tint and occasional black

streaks which add to its individuality.

The grain of the wood also has designers

excited. Whether it’s used for flooring,

high-quality furniture or modern large-scale

commercial fit outs, Blackwood’s distinctive

and sometimes wavy grain provides a

welcome addition to the architect’s and

craftsman’s design palette.

“Blackwood is a very versatile timber,

available in set widths and defect free, easy

to use and with a magnificent grain, color


FLOORING

Blackwood is a fine timber for bespoke flooring where highlights and a ‘designer’ feel is called-for. The timber can exhibit a reddish tint and occasional black streaks which add to its individuality.

Image © Britton Timbers



Image © Britton Timbers Image © Britton Timbers


Blackwood flooring

Blackwood

Blackwood

Tasmanian Oak

Tasmanian Oak


and luster, specifiers will find Tasmanian

Blackwood will make their next project

unique & special,” says Dominic McNeil,

Britton Timbers. “Tasmanian Blackwood is

available in all thicknesses and widths plus

we can supply the matching veneer which

makes this species ideal for any application

especially commercial furniture and joinery

fit outs.”

At the harder edge of things, Tasmanian

Oak: Eucalyptus Obliqua in this case, caught

the attention of European timber workers

early in Tasmania’s settlement, who named

it after the timber they thought it most

resembled, English Oak.

Tasmanian Oak is a warm, dense and

resilient timber that lends itself to a variety

of applications- always with a superb

finish. It’s a lightly colored timber with

variations from straw to reddish brown

with intermediate shades of cream to pink.

It holds stain particularly well which allows

ready matching with other timbers, finishes

or furnishings. In Tasmania, eucalypts may

live for four hundred years and attain a

height of seventy meters; indeed, some

have reached one hundred meters with a

three to four meter girth. Tasmanian oak is

by nature, robust and perfect for flooring,

furniture manufacture and paneling.

“Tasmanian Oak is a hard and very stable

species which makes it ideal for flooring

applications. The blonde color and character

gives any flooring or furniture project a

clean and modern look,” adds McNeil.

Britton Timbers imports and exports

more than fifty special species timbers

internationally and sees itself as partnering

with architects and building and design

professionals to enhance projects across

the spectrum from residential to large-scale

commercial fit-outs. Britton Timbers has

embarked on a significant expansion in its

warehousing and distribution facilities in

Australia with centers in Melbourne, Sydney

and ever-expanding Brisbane, to meet the

rising domestic and international demands

of its customers.

One of the reasons Britton’s Blackwood,

Tasmanian Oak and its range of imported

timbers are increasingly being featured

in major building and design projects,

is the fact that the company takes its

environmental responsibilities very

seriously. Tasmania’s timber supply is

regulated and the highest environmental

standards must be observed - that’s the

way it works in Tasmania.

Britton Timbers sources all of its

Tasmanian timber from the sustainably-

managed and PEFC certified temperate

forests of the north-west region of the

state. Sustainability is also achieved

through compliance with the provisions

of the Forest Practices Code and the

Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement.

From the lush Tasmanian forests to the

Middle East and beyond, Britton Timbers

international export division has been

structured to ensure the timely delivery

of timbers guaranteed to put the stamp

of creativity and individuality into design

projects and major developments.

“Tasmanian Blackwood and Oak are new

to the Middle East and will bring a fresh

feel and look to the timber selection in new

projects. Our dedicated export team has

decades of experience to ensure all orders

are delivered on time anywhere in the

world,” concludes McNeil.

One of the reasons Britton’s Blackwood, Tasmanian Oak and its range of imported timbers are increasingly being featured in major building and design projects, is the fact that the company takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously. Tasmania’s timber supply is regulated and the highest environmental standards must be observed - that’s the way it works in Tasmania.

Image © Britton Timbers Image © Britton Timbers


FLOORING

Blackwood

Blackwood

SHOWTIME

Top IndusTry ExhIbITIons comIng up ThIs sEason

Date: 5 - 8 MarchVenue: Shanghai New International Expo CenterLocation: Shanghai, ChinaexpecteD attenDees: 17,000+WeBsite: www.woodmacchina.net/en/index.asp

Held once every two years, WoodMac China (The International

Forestry & Woodworking Machinery and Supplies Exhibition)

is the leading specialized exhibition in China targeted at

manufacturers and suppliers to the timber industry. As the

only specialist trade show in China that offers a complete

platform for the ‘total woodworking technology sector’, the

event is celebrating its 12th edition this year. Along with

FurniTek China (The International Exhibition of Machinery

and Accessories for Furniture Production, Upholstery

and Furnishings) and WoodBuild China (The International

Exhibition of Timber and Wood Products for Furniture and

Building Industries), the event is an unparalleled showcase of

technology and components for the timber industry in China.

Everything from forestry to logging machines; saws

to wood processing; wood panel and veneer technology;

machinery for furniture, wood flooring, window and door

production; wood products and hardware will be on display.

Apart from machinery, WoodMac also includes a large section

for the suppliers of tools, saw blades, abrasives, routers

and other components used in woodworking machines. As

such, the visitor profile at the event includes architecture

& design institutes; building developers; building & interior

decoration materials trading enterprises; furniture accessories

& components trading enterprises; furniture manufacturers;

wood products manufacturers; wooden building & interior

decoration materials manufacturers; timber processing

machinery trading enterprises; and woodworking machinery &

supplies trading enterprises.

Woodmac chIna 2013

Date: 19 - 22 FebruaryVenue: EurexpoLocation: Lyon, FranceWeBsite: www.eurobois.net

EuroboIs 2013

Eurobois is being organized at the heart of the second

biggest forestry region in France and is the only exhibition

that showcases wood as the basic resource for all activities

in the sector. Held every two years, the show embraces

all stakeholders in this industry, enhances across-the-

board communication for more efficiency and mobilizes

production capacities. Given that the wood processing

industry is still looking to improve production efficiency

and that Europe still remains the leading manufacturer

of wood processing machines (60 percent of worldwide

production), a key priority at the show this year will be

to showcase European machinery performance levels. As

such, 65 percent of the floor space has been dedicated to

wood processing machines and tools.

Other highlights at the exhibition include a Forestry

Conference where more than 400 forest owners will

discuss the theme of forest resource mobilization; a

dedicated area for forest management equipment; an

outdoor demonstration area dedicated to wood fuel;

seminars and workshops on equipment and performance;

a focus on interior design; and a full scale production line

within the show. The product range on display at Eurobois

will include 1st and 2nd stage processing machines;

vacuuming; tooling; sharpening; waste treatment;

production equipment; and equipment and appliances for

wood treatment and finishing.



SHOWTIME

FImma brasIl 2013

Date: 12 - 18 MarchVenue: Parque De Eventos - Bento GonçalvesLocation: Bento Gonçalves, BraziltiMinGs: 10:00 - 18:00 WeBsite: www.fimma.com.br/en

Date: 21 - 23 MarchVenue: Gallagher Convention CenterLocation: Midrand, South AfricaWeBsite: www.woodexforafrica.com

The International Fair of Machines, Raw Materials and

Accessories for the Furniture Industry (FIMMA Brasil) is

the largest trade fair in Latin America for the wood and

furniture production chain and showcases leading edge

technology for this sector. Every two years, in Bento

Gonçalves, in Serra Gaúcha, the entire production chain

comes together to get to know new products and to do

business at one of the world’s six largest trade fairs in

this segment. Having completed twenty years, FIMMA

Brasil has consolidated its position as the only fair

held by and for the furniture sector itself. This unique

feature ensures that the event is committed to the real

needs of the wood and furniture production chain from

Brazil and abroad.

According to the organizers, FIMMA Brasil is being

strategically hosted at the leading national furniture

production center in the country. Data from the

Socioeconomic Overview of Bento Gonçalves revealed

that the turnover of the furniture industry grew by 16.7

percent in 2010. Moreover, the sector is the second

largest in number of companies registered in the city.

There are 300 furniture companies (35.4 percent),

according to the Furniture Industry Association of Bento

Gonçalves (Sindmóveis), which is a further indication of

the strength of the furniture and woodworking segment

in the city.

In addition to exhibiting cutting-edge equipment and

inputs for the furniture sector, FIMMA Brasil hosts projects

that are held concurrently with the fair, bringing those

who sell closer to the buyers. The Buyer’s Project aims to

put importers of machinery, raw materials and accessories

for furniture and Brazilian exporters face-to-face and

negotiate during simultaneous 20-minute meetings. The

Innovation Award encourages manufacturers of machines,

raw materials and accessories for the furniture industry,

exhibiting at FIMMA Brasil, to display their innovations

during the fair. Further, the FIMMA Joiner Project aims to

encourage the participation of small companies in FIMMA

Brasil, promoting the development and the dissemination

of an entrepreneurial culture.

WoodEx For aFrIca

Following the success of the inaugural WoodEX for

Africa Exhibition at Gallagher Convention Center

in Midrand in March last year, WoodEX for Africa

promises to be bigger and better in 2013. The show

is the biggest event in Africa focusing exclusively on

the timber industry and creates the ideal platform

for wood and woodworking enthusiasts to be at

the frontier of the timber industry and to network

with key players in the industry. The show will

feature exhibitors showcasing innovative timber

and woodworking products and services such as

woodworking machinery, decking, flooring, structured

timber, timber treating, saw milling and logging, pulp

and paper manufacturing and wood material and

veneer production.

As the leading event of its kind, the exhibition

offers visitors the opportunity to view a range of

products, technologies and equipment related to the

woodworking industry. The range of exhibits include

- forestry industry and forestry technology; wood

materials, machinery and veneer production; furniture

machinery and production; solid woodworking,

machinery and production; industrial surface

and preservative treatment technologies; timber

construction; wooden arts and crafts; and related

services in the timber industry. WoodEX for Africa

2013 will also feature Timber Talks, a number of

short seminars, which will provide a dynamic and

interactive learning experience enabling visitors to

share knowledge and stay up-to-date with the latest

developments in the industry.


SHOWTIME

Date: 26 - 28 MarchVenue: Shanghai New International Expo (SNIEC)Location: Shanghai, ChinaexpecteD attenDees: 40,000+WeBsite: www.domotexasiachinafloor.com/en

domoTEx asIa/chInaFloor 2013

DOMOTEX Asia/CHINAFLOOR is the largest floor covering

trade show in the Asia Pacific region, and the second

largest in the world. Held every March at the Shanghai New

International Expo Centre, this event attracts 40,000 visitors

from around the world and hosts more than 1,100 Chinese

and international exhibitors. Held since 1999, DOMOTEX

Asia/CHINAFLOOR will be back for its 15th installment

from March 26-28 at the Shanghai New International Expo

(SNIEC) in Shanghai. According to the organizers, around 50

percent of the total show floor in 2013 will be dedicated to

wood and laminates including solid and engineered woods,

laminate, cork and bamboo flooring.

In 2013, for the first time, DOMOTEX Asia/CHINAFLOOR

will add ceramic tiles and stone floorings to the show

focusing on high end products. Asia is the largest consumer

of ceramic in the world and demand for fashion oriented,

innovative products is on the rise. As such DOMOTEX Asia/

CHINAFLOOR gives Western manufacturers an opportunity

to reach that market with the new CER Tiles & Stones venue.

Like other segments, the new ceramic/stone sector broadly

includes ceramic tiles and stones in both finished slabs

and unprocessed natural stone, floor laying materials and

supplies, machinery and tools, cleaning and maintenance

and associations.

With over 80 percent of the show sold out, the organizers

have singled out enthusiasm for the new programs including

forums on heated flooring technology, green building

practices, and building materials distribution; the addition of

a new segment to the show; and recognition that DOMOTEX

Asia/CHINAFLOOR sits at the epicenter of one of the world’s

fastest growing flooring markets as being factors that

have fueled exhibitor bookings this year. In recognition of

the growth potential, the show floor space has also been

increased to 130,000 square meters and based upon early

figures the organizers believe that turnout could increase to

around 45,000 in 2013.

The success of the show can be largely attributed to the

fact that China and the greater Asia Pacific region offers

unparalleled emerging opportunities for the floor covering

industry. The Chinese Government has shifted its focus from

an export led economy to increasing domestic consumption

making China among the fastest growing economies in the

globe and the world’s second largest luxury market. As such

60 percent of China’s citizens are expected to migrate to

urban settings by 2020, generating the largest migration

and the largest demand for new urban construction

the world has ever seen. This booming urban growth is

producing an unprecedented domestic demand for floor

covering with around 1.6 to 1.9 billion square meters of

new floor space due to be built by the end of this decade in

China. The show is perfectly positioned to allow exhibitors a

platform from which to reach these emerging opportunities.

SHOWTIME


cIFm / InTErzum guangzhou

Date: 27 - 30 MarchVenue: China Import and Export Fair Complex (Pazhou Complex)Location: Guangzhou, ChinatiMinGs: 09:30 - 17:30expecteD attenDees: 56,000+WeBsite: www.interzum-guangzhou.com

CIFM / interzum guangzhou is the most comprehensive

trade fair in woodworking machinery, furniture

production and interior design industry in Asia and

the definitive one-stop platform for participants

to meet buyers, manufacturers and suppliers from

all vertical sectors of the furniture manufacturing,

production and design industries. Celebrating its 10th

anniversary this year, the 130,000 square meter

showcase spanning areas B and C of the China Import

and Export Fair Complex (Pazhou Complex) is expected

to host over 1,000 top furniture manufacturers,

8 national pavilions and draw more than 56,000

professional buyers from across the globe.

With a focus on design, raw materials and

components, woodworking process, or manufacturing

and finishing technology, the show, being held

concurrently with the China International Furniture

Fair (CIFF), provides an international avenue of

business opportunities for buyers and manufacturers.

The exhibitor profile includes companies involved

with materials and components for furniture

production; machines, materials and components for

upholstery and bedding; machines, materials and

components for interior works; machines and auxiliary

machines for woodworking and furniture production;

and trade associations.

Located in Area C, the Raw Materials & Components

Zone will be represented by four distinct product

segments with hardware and components as well

as Turkish and Spanish pavilions. The zone will

feature materials and equipment for upholstery and

bedding, wood products and adhesives, materials

and equipment for interior design in addition to

participation from Turkey, Germany, the U.S./Canada,

Italy, Chile and the American Hardwood Export Council

(AHEC). In addition, the Machinery Zone in Area B

will highlight bedding and upholstery machinery,

woodworking machinery, tools and other machinery

and a German pavilion.

According to the organizers, senior executives,

industry veterans and representatives from trade

associations will be sharing new concepts and

trends at themed seminars centering on innovative

technology and furniture materials to be held at the

Piazza on the second and third day of the show. The

‘Original Technology & Innovative Product Forum’

and the ‘Furniture Material Trends & Furniture Design

Forum’ will allow well-known industry players from

China and across the globe to throw the spotlight on

the latest products and technologies as well as on

overseas exports in an attempt to reveal what the

trending furniture materials are.

SHOWTIME

World TEak conFErEncE 2013

Date: 25 - 30 MarchVenue: Centara Grand Bangkok Convention and ExhibitionLocation: Bangkok, ThailandWeBsite: www.worldteak2013.org

Date: 3 - 6 AprilVenue: Kuban Expo Center Location: Krasnodar, RussiatiMinGs: 3 - 5 April (Wednesday - Friday), 10:00 - 17:30 and 6 April (Saturday), 10:00 - 15:00expecteD attenDees: 12,000+WeBsite: www.umids.ru/home.aspx

The World Teak Conference aims to examine the

multiple aspects of teak cultivation and management

in the context of sustainable development with social,

ecological and economic implications. Organized by

The Plant Genetic Conservation Project under the Royal

Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri

Sirindhorn (RSPG), TEAKNET and FAO, the conference

will cover a wide range of topics, including Genetics,

Silviculture and Utilization; Environments & Climate

Change and Carbon Trading; Economic & Investments;

and Rural Development. Besides the participation in

the excellent symposia and discussion sessions which

encourage exchange of ideas and sharing experiences,

the participants will also have the opportunity to meet

high-level industry leaders, academicians, developers

and decision makers from the region and various parts

of the world.

The theme of the conference is - Sharing our Planet:

Teak Model Development towards the Improvement of

Mankind. In addition to the main conference, several

other activities including a teak project site visit,

plantation field trip, exhibition, business/investment

matching session and a ‘Songkran’ - a Thai new year

social event have been planned for delegates. The

conference will host teak growers, traders, researchers

and other players such as investment agencies, bankers

and government officials associated with teak providing

them with a platform to interact and mutually benefit out

of the deliberations. It also serves as a forum to present

innovations, discuss problems and seek solutions,

suggest regulatory changes, make development plans and

above all to develop and strengthen relations.

umIds 2013

UMIDS, the International Exhibition of Equipment,

Technologies and Products for the Woodworking and

Furniture Industries, is one of the biggest exhibitions

for the furniture and woodworking industry in Russia.

The exhibition gathers the leading Russian and foreign

suppliers and producers of industrial equipment,

furniture and components for furniture production,

timber merchants, business owners and representatives

of authorities serving as an effective business platform

to discuss professional issues, conduct negotiations, and

establish new business contacts.

The exhibition is important to the region as it attracts

interest from large Russian and foreign companies,

which further helps to bring advanced equipment and

technologies to woodworking industry in the south of

Russia, to realize investment projects, and to strengthen

new forms of mutually profitable cooperation. As an

internationally established event, the exhibition attracts

exhibitors from Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria,

Germany, Spain, Italy, Kazakhstan, China, Latvia, Malaysia,

the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, the USA, Turkey,

Ukraine, Finland, France, Sweden and Russia. In addition,

a number of seminars and workshops are held on the

sidelines of the exhibition for the furniture business.


SHOWTIME


dubaI WoodshoW

The Dubai WoodShow returns in April as the

foremost exhibition in the Gulf that offers a

chance for the timber industry to meet wood and

woodworking professionals and develop ideas

for increasing the range and quality of business

and learn about new techniques and sources of

supply. According to the organizers, the show

is a prestigious platform for creative ideas and

new technologies, as well as innovative resources

that can initiate new transactions. The show’s

development has mirrored the growth of the UAE

as an important wood processing hub, particularly

Dubai, which has developed a world-class

infrastructure, provides easy access to qualified

manpower, and offers convenient air connections,

making it an extremely well connected and business-

friendly destination.

With 16,000 square meters of space available,

the organizers expect exhibitors from over 40

countries at the show this year, displaying products

such as timber, hardwood, softwood, plywood,

panels, MDF, wood flooring, treatment products,

spraying equipment and raw wood materials for the

Middle East region. In addition, the woodworking

machinery zone will include highlight a range of

wood machinery, such as boring and combining

machines, blades and knives, edgebanders, sanding,

finger jointing equipment, plywood manufacturing

machinery, wood accessories and components and

dust control equipment. As a must-attend event

for a wide range of wood industry players, the

event provides a platform for visitors to meet with

potential business partners and suppliers and learn

from industry leaders at the WoodShow Conference.

Date: 9 - 11 AprilVenue: Dubai International Convention & Exhibition CenterLocation: Dubai, UAEtiMinGs: 10:00 - 18:00expecteD attenDees: 7,000+WeBsite: www.dubaiwoodshow.com

SHOWTIME INTERVIEW


8Th EdITIon oF dubaI WoodshoW sET For aprIl 2013

The 8th edition of the Dubai

WoodShow is set to take place

at the Dubai International

Convention and Exhibition Center

from April 9 - 11 this year. With over

500 exhibitors from more than 40

countries expected to take part, the

show remains the leading exhibition

in the region that offers a chance for

the timber industry to meet wood

and woodworking professionals and

develop ideas for increasing the range

and quality of business and learn

about new techniques and sources of

supply. Timber Design & Technology

talks to Dawood Al Shezawi, CEO of

Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions,

ahead of the show.

1. In retrospect, what were the major achievements of the Dubai WoodShow 2012?The show was able to expand and

bring a diverse range of offerings

for visitors whilst also presenting a

wider range of potential networks

for exhibitors as well. There were

new exhibitors from countries like

Mozambique, Cameroon and Taiwan.

In addition, the exhibitors were

successful in expanding their business

to new markets, such as Pakistan

and Iraq. Another major achievement

was the first edition of the seminar

on timber legality, which opened the

discussion for the growing need for

producers to certify their products.

2. How is this year’s edition positioned?Our focus this year has been on

attracting the latest products from

new markets in an attempt to support

the show’s position as a business

platform and thereby increase the

product range for visitors. We have

also strived to involve more entities

from across the industry by organizing

a conference, which aims to explore

and promote wood solutions in the

design and construction sectors of

the GCC. This underlines the Dubai

WoodShow’s commitment to involve

more construction-related sectors,

thus involving professionals who are

directly involved in projects where the

use of wood, both as a building and

decorative material, can be explored

and maximized.

3. What are the main objectives for this year’s edition?The show will offer a chance for

timber industry professionals to

interact and develop ideas for

increasing the range and quality of

business. The main objective is to

involve more sectors in the show and

increase the range of suppliers and

products being showcased. Evolution,

divergence, and additional growth

opportunities are the objectives set

for this year’s show, with the main

intention being to facilitate the show

in helping this year’s wood machinery

exhibitors meet new contacts and

generate key opportunities in the

Middle East region.

4. Are there any events such as awards, seminars and workshops at this year’s edition?

At this year’s show, we will be

organizing a seminar centered on the

various possibilities of building with

wood. The four main topics that will

be covered are: Wood as a building

material for interiors and exteriors in

the GCC; wood as a design component

of architectural projects; the current

state of wood use in the GCC; and

timber legality. The timber legality

seminar, which is being hosted for

the second year running, will talk

about the need for certification

for timber-producing companies

exporting to Europe and also

highlight the benefits and challenges

of this mandatory certification.

5. How does the Dubai WoodShow aim to be different from other timber industry trade fairs?Dubai WoodShow is a unique and

specialized wood and woodworking

exhibition in Middle East as it

provides a business platform

for buyers and sellers to build

their network and showcase their

products in the region. The show

hosts specialized trade visitors who

are knowledgeable and are serious

buyers from all over the world.

Significantly, exhibitors can forge ties

with new customers and catch up on

SHOWTIME INTERVIEW


the latest trends and technological

developments in the industry.

6. How many visitors and exhibitors are likely to be there at the fair this year? What percentage of them are repeat exhibitors and how many of them are new?The exhibition is being held in

approximately 16,000 square

meters of exhibition space and will

showcase more than 500 brands and

exhibitors from over 40 countries.

To date, around 90 percent are

repeat exhibitors and the remaining

10 percent are new exhibitors from

Latin America and Africa. Last year

the show attracted a little over 7,000

trade visitors and we expect an even

greater turnout this year.

7. Who are some of the new exhibitors making their debut at the show this year?To mention some of them, we have

Accumech Trading Machinery &

Equipment (UAE), Pfeifer Holz GmbH

& Co KG (Austria), Royal Trade Links

Inc.(Canada), Tridel International

Building Materials Trading LLC (UAE),

GiZiR Ahsap Insaat Turizm San Tic

A.S.(Turkey), Starwood Veneers Private

Ltd (India), El Tawheed For Modern

Wood Paint (Egypt)and Fein (Metallic

Building Materials) (UAE).

8. Do you have an idea of the volume of business that might be conducted at the show this year?According to the survey filled

by exhibitors, Dubai WoodShow

2012 reported sales of 100 million

dollars. We anticipate similar

success for our exhibitors if not

more this year.

9. What - in your opinion - are the major trends for the timber market at the moment?The EU Timber Regulation will change

the timber market. In June 2012,

the EU released detailed information

about the requirements of the

EU Timber Regulation. From that

point onwards, importers and their

suppliers located outside of the EU

have been busy adapting to the new

requirements before they come into

effect in March this year. This process

is likely to influence the entire timber

industry and move it in the direction

of enhanced focus on both legal and

sustainable timber.

10. What is the long-term plan for the WoodShow series of exhibitions in the Middle East?The long-term plan is to establish

the Dubai WoodShow as the Middle

East hub for wood products and

wood machinery trading. We aim to

accomplish this with a new formula

for the event, which includes a

conference and business roundtables.

The show should ideally allow

businesses to launch their regional

operation strategy and connect

with the worldwide network in

the wood industry. To address this

objective, as an initial action, the

show will hold a conference to

discuss the use of wood in the GCC.

Architects, engineers, developers

and contractors will also be invited

to the seminar to participate in

the discussion and to look into

UAE projects, which are already

incorporating wood solutions in their

building activities.

Image © Dubai WoodShow




SHOWTIME

LuMBEr ANd BuiLdiNG MAtEriAL ExPO6th - 8th FebruaryJohn B. Hynes Memorial Convention CenterBoston, united states of Americawww.nrla.org/content.aspx?id=3030

EurOBOiS19th - 22nd FebruaryeurexpoLyon, Francewww.eurobois.net

ABCFP FOrEStry CONFErENCE ANd AGM20th - 22nd FebruaryPrince George Civic CenterPrince George, Canadawww.expofor.ca

drEvOStAvBy 201321st - 24th FebruaryIncheba Prague exhibition CenterPrague, Czech Republicwww.idrevostavby.cz

WOOdMAC CHiNA5th - 8th Marchshanghai New International expo Center (sNIeC)shanghai, Chinawww.woodmacchina.net/en/index.asp

HyttE 20137th - 10th MarchNorway Trade FairsLillestrom, Norwaywww.hytte2011.no LAS-ExPO8th - 10th MarchTargi KielceKielce, Polandwww.las-expo.pl

FiMMA BrASiL 201318th - 22nd MarchParque De eventos - Bento GonçalvesBento Gonçalves, Brazilwww.fimma.com.br/en

WOOdEx FOr AFriCA 21st - 23rd MarchGallagher Convention CenterMidrand, south Africawww.woodexforafrica.com

HOLzHAuS21st - 24th MarchVVCMoscow, Russiawww.holzhaus.ru

OutdOOr dESiGN BuiLd & SuPPLy SHOW25th - 27th MarchDubai International Convention & exhibition CenterDubai, uAewww.theoutdoorshow.ae

dOMOtEx ASiA/CHiNAFLOOr 201326th - 28th Marchshanghai New International expo Center (sNIeC)shanghai, Chinawww.domotexasiachinafloor.com/en

WOrLd tEAk CONFErENCE25th - 30th MarchCentara Grand Bangkok Convention and exhibitionBangkok, Thailandwww.worldteak2013.org

CiFM / iNtErzuM GuANGzHOu27th - 30th MarchChina Import and export Fair Complex (Pazhou Complex)Guangzhou, Chinawww.interzum-guangzhou.com

uMidS 20133rd - 6th AprilKuban expo Centre Krasnodar, Russiawww.umids.ru/home.aspx

duBAi WOOdSHOW9th - 11th AprilDubai International Convention & exhibition CenterDubai, uAewww.dubaiwoodshow.com

rESiduE tO rEvENuES 201310th - 11th AprilAuckland, New Zealandwww.woodresiduesevents.com

BWS10th - 13th AprilMessezentrum salzburgsalzburg, Austriawww.bwsmesse.at/en/index.html

drEMA16th - 19th AprilPoznan International FairgroundPoznan, Polandwww.drema.pl

Expo calEndar

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ITG2013_EP_ad_210x297.pdf 1 2012-7-26 17:11:48

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For more information visit:www.americanhardwood.org

Each kilogram of U.S. hardwoodproduct stores the equivalent of 1.835 kilograms of CO2 foras long as it remains in use Follow us on TwitterA

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Timber Design & Technology Middle East - February 2013

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Transcript of Timber Design & Technology Middle East - February 2013