Issue 17 - August 2010 - International Forest Industries (IFI)

OPERATION FOCUSISSUE 17AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2010SUBSCRIPTIONSTel: +44 (0)1442 877 583emma@internationalforestindustries.comAnnual SubscriptionUK and Europe £160, €230Rest of the world US$270EDITOR’S COMMENTAre markets hotting up?EDITORIALT: +44 (0)1442 877 583F: +44 (0)1442 870 617www.internationalforestindustries.com2 Claridge Court, Lower Kings RoadBerkhamsted, Herts. HP4 2AF, UKEditorial DirectorJohn Chadwickjohn@internationalforestindustries.comEditorChris Cannchris@internationalforestindustries.comEditorial BoardDr Patrick Moore – Chairman and ChiefScientist of Greenspirit (Canada)Darren Oldham – Managing DirectorSöderhamn Eriksson (UK)Allan Hansard – Chief Executive of theNational Association of Forest Industries(Australia)Professor Piotr Paschalis-Jakubowicz –Warsaw Agricultural University (Poland)Andre de FreitasForest Stewardship CouncilHead of OperationsEduardo MoralesSouth American Forestry ConsultantADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONSLansdowne Media Services LtdAdvertising ManagerPhil Playlephil@internationalforestindustries.comGroup Advertising ManagerDavid Lansdownedavid@internationalforestindustries.com+44 (0)1442 87 77 77Design & ProductionCSDA – csims@nildram.co.ukPublishing ConsultantRobin Peachrobin@internationalforestindustries.comAdvertising Production EnquiriesEmma Smithemma@internationalforestindustries.comInternational Forest Industries is publishedby International Forest Industries Ltd,2 Claridge Court, Lower Kings RoadBerkhamsted, Herts. HP4 2AF, UKPrinted by Broglia Press, Dorset, UK© International Forest Industries Ltd 2007ISSN 1755-6732IFI uses, as preference, SI units throughout.All dollars are US unless otherwise stated.The beads of sweat congregating on mycolleague’s bald head told the story. Itwas hot. Somewhere near 34 degrees, orso he kept telling me and “what I wouldn’t dofor a cool breeze”.Such sweltering conditions at apredominantly outdoor exhibition such asInterforst in Germany can put a dampener onthe mood but, much to the contrary, moralamongst exhibitors and suppliers alike washigh.It may have been that the hot weatherprovided an adequate excuse to lean on thebeer taps an hour earlier that had put a smileon the face of attendees. Or, it could have beenthat the long balmy evenings had encouragedthe local frauleins to dress down.No, apparently not, I was told. The morepeople my sweaty colleague and I spoke to themore we were led to believe that a recovery wasunder way. This flies in the face of recentmarket corrections and talk of a double-diprecession, but you can’t argue with machinesales and harvesting contracts.It was particularly pleasing to hear fromcompanies that overlap into the sawmillingsector – most would agree worse hit than theharvesting sector – that were surprisinglyupbeat about the future. The difference inattitude between the first major Europeanforestry show of this year and any of the showslast year was striking.I’ll stop well short of calling an end to toughtimes. There are too many bleak economicfactors reported on a regular basis for the roadout of recession to be anything less thanbumpy. But I will say is that it was refreshing tosee a look of genuine optimism in the faces ofthe industry and hear stories of machine salesrather than just hope.The next stop on our Summer tour is Swedenlater this month, where International ForestIndustries will take in all that the bi-annual Traand Teknik (Wood Products and Technology)exhibition in Gothenburg has to offer. At thissawmill focused event, we will get a betterindication of the atmosphere within thatmarket. Thankfully, this is an indoor event somy partner in crime can be assured of airconditioning and carpeted flooring. Next on theagenda is one of the world’s largest outdoorforestry exhibitions, FinnMetko, in Finland.That will take us to the end of our exhibitionseason and by that point I would disappointedif we weren’t able to gauge an accurate readingon the state of both the harvesting andsawmilling markets. If the trend started atWorld Bioenergy 2010 (May) and Interforst(July) continues then we will no doubt be verypleased with our findings.As for this edition of IFI: it should haveplenty for everyone. We’ve continued toincrease our focus on biomass in line with thegreater industry and have included a sevenpagesection devoted to wood as an alternativefuel. In addition, our Harvester Heads featureincludes the latest from head suppliers acrossthe globe that, unsurprisingly, have chosen tohighlight their credentials as experts in energywood harvesting machines.For the sawmillers, our 2010 review of thelatest Scanning & Optimisation technology hitsthe pages, which promises to challengewhether you have the right complement ofmachinery in your mill.I hope you enjoy this August-Septemberedition of IFI and look forward to running intoas many of you as possible over the next coupleof months in Scandinavia!EnjoyChris CannEDITOR2 International Forest Industries | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2010