Panels & Furniture Asia March/April 2018

MICA (P) No: 138/05/2017 • ISSN: 0219-5704 • KDN: PPS 1453/11/2012(022879) • www.panelsfurnitureasia.com • MARCH/APRIL 2018

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CONTENTS
18
44
36
4 EDITOR’S NOTE: The way we live now
PANEL MANUFACTURING
18 25 years in the business
22 Russia’s OSB production to triple to
3.9 million cbm by 2020
FURNITURE MANUFACTURING
30 Downsizing: Space-saving furniture for
modern living
34 Star chaser: A designer chases dreams in SEA
IN PERSON
36 Let wood be wood
MARKET REPORT
40 The unexpected surge
42 American hardwood lumber exports to Asia
surge 17% in 2017
MATERIALS
44 Red oak: Still America’s
best-kept secret
48 Hardwood Market Report
50 timura: Thermally modified and
pressed wood
STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS
52 American white oak glulam for Lord’s Cricket Ground
56 SHOW PREVIEWS
62 SHOW REVIEWS
COLUMNISTS
64 Wood Clinic
66 The Malaysian MDF Manufacturers Association Newsletter
70 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
72 ADVERTISERS INDEX
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

4
Singapore MICA (P) No. 138/05/2017
panelsfurnitureasia.com
Editor | Lee Zhuomin
zhuominlee@pabloasia.com
Assistant Editor | Pang Yanrong
yanrong@pabloasia.com
Assistant Editor | Sarah Si
sarahsi@pabloasia.com
THE
WAY
WE
LIVE
NOW
Lee Zhuomin | Editor
ONCE upon a time, people made—and bought—
furniture purely for practical reasons. A desk to work
at, a bed for rest. Fast forward to 2018 today, it is
clear we have now moved on to buying things that
satisfy some area of psychological or emotional need.
If you live in Singapore, Hong Kong or Tokyo, you
would know how expensive it is to afford a shoebox
in the sky. Most apartments are tiny! Still, being
proud home owners, we want to furnish it with nice
things because it is uplifting, inspiring and makes us
feel, well, at home. Some companies, like Ewins, are
offering multi-purpose, space-saving furniture to help
home owners cope with the urban squeeze (p. 30).
In the past, furniture was mostly the work of a
wood craftsman. In fact, almost everything—from
chicken coops to cabinets—was made of wood,
Malaysian architect Azman Md Nor recalls. He grew
up in a traditional Malay kampong, which informed
and inspired many projects in the later part of his
career (p. 36).
It may also surprise you that a well-known figure in the panels industry spent a good
amount of time in Southeast Asia when he was a boy. Henning Gloede, Managing Director
of Siempelkamp Singapore, grew up in Jakarta. By the time he went back to Europe for
further studies, his Bahasa was perfect. On p. 18, he shares his life’s work and wisdom on
the current and future state of Southeast Asia’s wood-based panel industry.
Trading and manufacturing activity in Southeast Asia continues to climb. Just when you
thought Vietnam’s potential had peaked, the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association
of HCMC announced that the country’s wood products export turnover is expected to
jump 13 per cent to US$9 billion by the end of this year (p. 56).
Vietnam’s demand for American hardwoods rose 18 per cent to 444,862m 3 in 2017,
according to the American Hardwood Export Council (p. 42). It is now the second largest
market after China and the top market in Southeast Asia. Overall, 2017 business was good
for the American hardwood industry.
2018 has just begun, but with these expectations, it looks like it could be another
good year.
LET'S CONNECT!
Contributing Editor (Surface & Design)
Kenn Busch | kenn@kennbusch.com
Deputy Executive Editor
(Chinese Edition) | Wendy Wei
pabloshanghai@163.net
Graphic Designer | Edwin De Souza
edwin@pabloasia.com
Admin & Circulation Manager | Shu Ai Ling
circulation@pabloasia.com
General Manager,
Pablo Beijing & Shanghai | Ellen Gao
pablobeijing@163.com
Associate Publisher | Pamela Buckley
pamela@pabloasia.com
Publisher | William Pang
williampang@pabloasia.com
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March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

6 NEWS
DYNAMIC CHANGES IN AUSTRALIA’S PB
SECTOR—IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA?
By Mihai Daian, Margules Groome
AUSTRALIA’S wood-based panel sector
has continued on its dynamic changes
that began in 2016. First, Borg Panels
announced its intention to invest in
new particleboard (PB) capacity in
Oberon, New South Wales; OneFortyOne
Plantations unveiled plans to establish
new PB capacity in the Green Triangle
region.
Fig. 1: Australian domestic PB market dynamics
Other major announcements
in 2017 include Thai manufacturer
MetroPly’s acquisition of Alphine MDF
from Sumitomo Corporation, as well as
Borg Panels’ intention to acquire CHH’s
PB plants in Mt. Gambier and Oberon.
The PB market outlook remains
positive. However, the newly-planned
capacities and change in ownership for
some plants will alter the Australian PB
sector structure and market dynamics.
With an average demand growth
of 1.9 per cent for the next 2 – 3 years,
incremental production capacity planned
to come online in 2018 – 2019, assuming
both investments proceed, will create a
20 – 30 per cent production surplus (see
Fig. 1). Consequently, local producers will
have to find new export markets. This
will achieve the right balance between
product specifications versus production
cost in order to be regionally competitive.
The above scenario does not take
potential capacity consolidation or
rationalisation into account. The latter
may occur if Borg Panels’ proposed
acquisition of CHH’s Mt. Gambier and
Oberon facilities materialises.
How the current players will
respond to change, and how new
market entrants will compete against
its more established regional counterparts
remains to be seen. We may see a
“survival-of-the-fittest” situation or
perhaps a continuation of the status
quo. ℗
Product
Highlight
ELECTRONIC WOOD SYSTEMS ROLLS OUT NEW
INTEGRATED X-RAY SYSTEMS FOR PANEL PRODUCTION
ELECTRONIC WOOD SYSTEMS EWS
from Germany offers a complete range
of quality inspection systems featuring
high precision, system integration and
low maintenance.
The measuring tasks in panel
production are versatile and challenging,
and reliable inline measuring and control
Mass measurement and
foreign body detection
located after forming and
before March the / hot April press. 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA
systems are a key factor for Industry 4.0
in panel production.
Process control devices must take
into account environmental, material and
process conditions.
EWS has developed individual X-ray
scanners suited to particular tasks in panel
production. MultiEnergy Technology – a
core feature of the latest EWS X-ray
devices – enables variable measuring
parameters.
Electronic Wood Systems’ new
EcoScan NEO for mat inspection in
the forming line was developed in
cooperation with Siempelkamp and
offers one system with independent X-ray
devices for individual tasks.
These comprise:
- High-precision area weight
measurement by self-adjusting highspeed
flying measuring heads and
- Intelligent foreign body detection
across the board by self-learning
algorithm.
The plant of the future will be fullyautomated,
with minimal operator
interaction.
Hence EWS’ X-ray measuring systems
are self-adjusting, based on recipe
information, to provide consistently
high measuring precision over a wide
production range.
The new systems have been proven
already. They have been installed in OSB
and particleboard lines in Germany and
the USA. Because the new system attracts
attention in the market, Siempelkamp
recently ordered additional systems for
integration into their new production
lines to keep them up-to-date. ℗

NEWS 7
RUSHIL DECOR ORDERS COMPLETE MDF
PLANT FROM SIEMPELKAMP
INDIAN wood-based materials
manufacturer Rushil Décor has
commissioned Siempelkamp to build
an MDF plant in Atchutapuram, Andhra
Pradesh province, India.
The order includes the wood and
fibre preparation system, the resin
blending and application system, the
fibre dryer and sifter, the forming line, an
8ft x 28.8m ContiRoll press, the cooling
and stacking line, the intermediate
storage, the sanding line, and the cut-tosize
line. The equipment will be partially
supplied by Siempelkamp’s production
locations in Qingdao and Wuxi.
The press line will be equipped with
the mat preheater ContiBooster. By
preheating the mat before it enters the
press it can be heated quicker inside the
ContiRoll press resulting in productivity
of up to 20 per cent.
The new plant will expand Rushil
Décor’s production capacities beyond
its current 3.5 million cbm. It will
produce MDF from eucalyptus grown
in plantations and from over mature
mango trees.
Rushil Decor Limited, founded in
Gujarat in 1993, is one of the largest
Indian manufacturers of wood-based
panels. Under the brand names
VIR Laminates, VIR MDF and Signor
Decorative Laminates, Rushil Décor
offers high quality products primarily
to the Indian market. It also exports to
36 countries.
Delivery is scheduled for the last
quarter of 2018 and start-up, in the
fourth quarter of 2019. ℗
Representatives from Siempelkamp and Rushil Décor
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

8 NEWS
'2018 WILL BE ONE OF THE BUSIEST’: DIEFFENBACHER
Greenply’s 56-metre-long CPS is currently the longest continuous
press in Asia
ONLY a few months into the year,
Dieffenbacher says it anticipates 2018 to
be one of its busiest and most significant
years, based on the completion of a few
major projects.
In Grayling, Michigan, USA, Arauco
will start production on the largest
particleboard press in North America,
and one of the largest in the world. At
10 feet wide and 52.5 metres long, the
CPS+ continuous press will be at the
centre of the plant.
Roseburg will also begin assembling
its new LVL plant in Chester, South
Carolina, USA. With a daily output of
800m³, the CPS will be the world's
largest continuous LVL press in terms of
production capacity, while the upstream
600 kW Dieffenbacher Microwave will
be one of the most powerful preheating
systems of its type in LVL production.
In Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, India,
Greenply will commission the longest
continuous press in Asia. The 56-metrelong
CPS is designed to produce 1,400m³
of high-quality MDF per day.
This year also marks the first
continuous press supplied to North
Africa. Dieffenbacher’s CPS+ will be part
of a complete MDF plant ordered by
BIGSTAR subsidiary Panneaux d‘Algérie
for its site in El Tarf, Algeria.
Italian wood-based panel producer
Fantoni would also have concluded a
full year of operations on its 65-metrelong
CPS—the longest continuous press
Dieffenbacher has ever built. Fantoni
commissioned its new MDF plant in
Osoppo in May 2017.
Dieffenbacher has also seen success
in the form of 14 new orders for woodbased
panel plants and numerous
modernisation projects in the past year.
Adding to this, five plants with the CPS+
are already operating in three shifts. ℗
ROBUST SALES IN 4Q/2017 WILL LEAD TO
PROMISING 2018: ACIMALL
PRELIMINARY figures from Acimall,
the association which represents Italy’s
woodworking machinery manufacturers,
suggest that 2017 was a good year for
the industry.
Production value reached EUR2.29
billion, up 11.6 per cent on the previous
year while exports topped EUR1.6
billion, a 7.1 per cent increase compared
to 2016.
The top 10 export markets include
the United States at number one, which
accounted for EUR165.5 million of total
sales. Germany, Poland and France
follow.
Imports also rose 10 per cent
year-on-year to EUR199 million while
domestic market growth continued
on the back of government initiatives,
which drove investment up in the recent
years.
Domestic buyers spent a total of
EUR894 million in 2017 compared
to EUR743 million in 2016. This year,
domestic sales could cross the EUR1
billion mark, a new record since 2001’s
EUR900 million.
4Q/2017 RESULTS
The industry closed 4Q/2017 with a
36.8 per cent order increase
compared to the same quarter in 2016.
(Growth rate during the July-August
term was 42.9 per cent higher compared
to the same period of the previous
year.)
Robust sales were mostly driven
by increased orders from abroad.
The figures were up by 35.2 per cent
(51.5 per cent in Q3/2017). Demand
from the Italian market achieved
49.5 per cent growth over the
October-December 2016 period.
(It was just 19.7 per cent in the second
quarter.)
“Italian users are clearly going
through a period of greater confidence
which, combined with state incentives,
is generating strong demand, exceeding
even the most optimistic expectations,”
said Dario Corbetta, Acimall director.
“Such results are not just satisfactory
for technology vendors, they also
anticipate increasing competition within
the system.”
In the past few years, Italy’s wood
and furniture industry experienced
a tough season, which saw cuts in
investments.
Corbetta added that upgrading
machinery will enable factories to
leverage on technology and enterprise
management systems to regain their
competitive advantage.
Acimall members’ order books have
mostly been filled up to 3.6 months
(versus 3.4 in the previous quarter),
the association noted—an indication of
how 2018 will begin following a positive
Q4/2017.
Prices as of January 1 show
substantial stability, with a 1.1 per cent
increase, the same trend recorded
during the July-September period.
Most association members surveyed
said employment will remain more or
less the same. ℗
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

10 NEWS
VIETNAM’S FORESTRY PRODUCTS TRADE
CONTINUE ON GROWTH TRAJECTORY,
TO REACH US$9 BN IN 2018
VIETNAM’S wood and wood products
industry will remain strong this year with
export turnover expected to hit US$9
billion, a 13 per cent increase, according
to the Handicraft and Wood Industry
Association of HCMC (HAWA).
The industry has been on a growth
trajectory in recent years, achieving an
annual average growth rate of 12.9 per
cent in the last seven years. It is forecast
to accelerate in the next three years, said
HAWA Chairman Nguyen Quoc Khanh.
Last year, the industry posted
export earnings of US$8 billion, up from
US$7.3 billion in 2016 and exceeding
the US$7.5 billion target set by the
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development. The unprecedented target
was expected to be met only in 2020,
Khanh added.
The country is the fifth largest
furniture exporter in the world, claiming
a global market share of six per cent. It
is the largest exporter in Southeast Asia
and ranks second in Asia, behind China.
Much of this furniture goes to the
U.S., which accounted for 39 per cent of
Vietnam’s total export volume in 2017.
Other major importing countries are
Japan, the EU, China and South Korea.
“[The U.S.] will continue to be the
most promising market this year thanks
to its GDP growth,” Huynh Van Hanh,
standing deputy chairman of HAWA, said.
Furthermore, with a population
of over 90 million and a booming real
estate sector, the domestic market
will also demand furniture, offering
further opportunities for growth, Hanh
added.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural
Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong also
hailed the sector’s achievements at an
event honouring export firms for their
business achievements. Wood and
wood-based products rank sixth in the
list of the country’s largest export items.
However, to achieve the export
target this year, firms must invest
more in technology and business
management to raise productivity and
meet consumers’ demand for quality
and design. They should also source
timber from a variety of suppliers to
mitigate the risk of high prices and avoid
buying from dubious sources.
For instance, companies can consider
enterprise resource planning (ERP)
solutions to optimise their resources and
improve their efficiency, Phi Anh Tuan,
deputy chairman of the HCMC Computer
Association and CEO of PAT Consulting,
said at a Business Automation seminar
organised by HAWA.
ERP allows managers to access data
at their fingertips, expediting planning,
productivity and production, and
ultimately, competitiveness.
If they streamline their management,
Vietnamese businesses can save up
to 76 per cent of administrative costs,
according to Tuan.
“The market is good but competition
is fierce. Enterprises have to invest
in management systems and specific
machinery to manage orders,” Nguyen
Chanh Phuong, director of Danh Moc
Co Ltd, said.
With global demand for furniture
rising on the back of a recovering
economy, there is plenty of room for
Vietnamese firms to increase their
market share.
Phuong added, “To capture this
potential, Vietnamese manufacturers
must also seek new markets and exploit
opportunities in niche products.” ℗
Source: Edited from VN News
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

NEWS 11
PINE – THE MATERIAL OF
THE FUTURE?
PINE appears to be the material of the
future.
It is a species that can be expressed
in many ways thanks to modern surface
treatments and new technology.
To demonstrate the possibilities,
Swedish Wood partnered with Swedish
design studio Halleroed for a showcase
at the Trend Exhibition at the Stockholm
Furniture & Light Fair from February
6 – 10.
The Exhibition explores the themes
of real, fake and craftsmanship. Pine logs
were used to represent real materials,
but they also symbolised the process of
producing future materials for interior
design.
“It seemed obvious for us to have
pine in the Trend Exhibition. Wood is
a material we always like to use when
creating our furniture and interiors. Pine
is also an inspiring wood species to use
when creating modern environments,
plus it ages beautifully,” Christian
Halleröd said.
Pine is versatile and has a surface
easy to treat. It can be sanded and
brushed to create different textures,
stained or painted. They can lend a warm
and modern feel to interiors. The latest
technology and new surface treatments
make Swedish pine paneling ideal for
creating interiors with a wide array of
looks and styles.
“The fact that Christian Halleröd’s
design team chose pine in the Trend
Exhibition proves what a solid place
this material has, not just in furniture
production but more widely, in modern
interiors. The wooden wall panels that
Materialbiblioteket has put on display
are also fascinating products for future
Swedish pine can be treated in different ways, as demonstrated at
the Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair in February.
interior design,” commented Charlotte
Dedye Apelgren, director of Interior and
Design at Swedish Wood.
Swedish pine comes from the wellmanaged
forests of Sweden, where more
trees are grown than harvested. ℗
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

12 NEWS
U.S. SOUTHERN PINE LUMBER EXPORTS
REACH RECORD US$312 MN IN 2017
EXPORTS of Southern pine lumber
reached a record US$312 million in 2017.
Of this volume, exports of pressuretreated
lumber also hit an all-time high
of US$175 million, a 28 per cent increase
from the previous year, according to the
Southern Forest Products Association.
“Rising demand for Southern pine
lumber is undeniably linked to the
industry’s efforts to introduce this
species to buyers worldwide,” said
Jerry Hingle, Southern Pine Council’s
international consultant.
Exports have jumped sharply
in regions targeted by the SPC’s
international market development
efforts.
Record sales were achieved in China
and emerging markets in Southeast Asia,
Central America and South America. ℗
HEAVY INDUSTRIES TO PAY FOR WASTE
DISCHARGE UNDER CHINA’S NEW
ENVIRONMENT LAW
By Lydia Chen, Canada Wood
Stock image by
veeterzy on Unsplash
CHINA’S first environment protection
tax law kicked in on January 1 this year,
replacing a pollutant discharge fee
system which, for decades, had been in
place but lacked teeth.
Under the new law, companies will
have to pay levies for waste discharged
into the environment—such as sulphur
dioxide and sewage. They will also be
taxed for noise pollution.
The tax rates range from 1.2 – 12
yuan per unit of atmospheric pollution;
1.4 – 14 yuan per unit of water pollution;
five yuan per tonne of coal waste; and
1,000 yuan per tonne of hazardous
waste. They are determined based on
each company’s operations. For example,
a furniture manufacturer that earns
50 million yuan per year may report
an overall tax rate of 300,000 –
700,000 yuan, or up to a two per
cent increase on the factory price of
its products, according to industry
analysts.
The new law is intended to discourage
heavy-polluting industries, many of
which have flocked to the country
to take advantage of low operating
costs and weak environmental
regulations.
China has imposed a “pollutant
discharge fee” since 1979. However,
loopholes in the system have seen
companies evading taxes, especially
the bigger ones that contribute to the
local economy. Now any tax reduction
or exemption request must undergo
strict approval procedures and be
documented.
Tackling pollution was listed as one
of “three tough battles” China aims to
win in the next three years, according to
the Central Economic Work Conference
that concluded in December.
“The launch of the environmental
tax is more serious than the pollutant
discharge fee system and marks
China’s first real effort to use financial
mechanisms to curb pollution,” Liang
Yinlei, a partner at Ernst & Young
Greater China, said in an interview with
Jiefang Daily. “Some manufacturers
may buy more environmentally-friendly
equipment to reduce its sewage waste
in order to pay less tax.”
Between January and November
last year, China investigated over 35,600
cases of environmental violation, a 102
per cent year-on-year increase from
2016. ℗
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

14 NEWS
SOUTH KOREA RAISES GDP FORECAST TO
3%, BUT WOOD DEMAND TO REMAIN LOW AS
FEWER HOUSING STARTS EXPECTED
By Tai Jeong, Canada Wood Korea
- Domestic consumption forecast to rise 0.1 percentage point
- Fewer housing starts and building permits issued in first 11 months of 2017
- Lower lumber demand expected as cooling measures on housing market to
continue into 2018
THE Bank of Korea has raised South
Korea’s GDP growth forecast for 2018 to
three per cent on the back of domestic
consumption recovery and robust
export growth.
With minimum wages raised by 16
per cent to 7,530 Won (US$6.60)—the
biggest jump in about two decades—
starting this year, consumer prices are
expected to rise by 1.7 per cent.
February’s Winter Olympics will
also boost private consumption by 0.1
percentage point in the first quarter of
this year.
The Korean Won fell to a threeyear
low of 1,061.2 Won against the
U.S. Dollar on January 2. Analysts say
this will further fall below 1,000 Won
if the geopolitical risk on the Korean
Peninsula eases.
2017 trade
Exports soared to an all-time high of
US$573.9 billion in 2017, a 16 per cent
increase thanks to recovery in the global
economy.
Trade volume exceeded US$1
trillion, as imports expanded 17.7 per
cent to US$478.1 billion.
Consumer prices grew 1.9 per cent
in 2017 from a year earlier, marking the
steepest gain in five years since 2012, on
the back of a strong industrial goods and
financial services sector.
Unemployment stood at 3.3 per cent
in December, up 0.1 percentage point from
a year earlier.
Housing Construcon
Cooling measures on South Korea’s
housing market have seen fewer
starts and building permits, especially in
the new apartment market in Seoul.
Housing starts fell 14.6 per cent
to 90,497 while the number of units
significantly decreased 23.2 per cent to
440,382 units in Nov last year.
Housing permits during this period
also dropped 10.2 per cent and 13.2 per
cent respectively to 107,308 and 552,558
from a year earlier.
While the overall residential
construction sector is struggling, the
number of wood building permits issued
in the 11 months of 2017 increased 1.7 per
cent to 15,841 buildings from a year earlier.
Wood building starts, however, fell 6.5 per
cent to 12,954 buildings during this period.
The total floor area of wood building
permits for the same period in 2017
increased 5.8 per cent to 1,451,320m 2
but that of wood building starts slightly
decreased 3.8 per cent to 1,198,515m 2
from a year earlier.
Lumber Shipments
B.C. softwood lumber exports to South
Korea for the first 11 months of 2017
fell 5.7 per cent to 238,184m 3 compared
to 252,651m 3 during the same period in
2016.
This is mainly due to the government’s
efforts in limiting the supply of new homes
(from August 2016), especially apartments
in Seoul to keep household debt and rising
home prices in check.
However, the export value for the
same period rose a slight 2.8 per cent to
US$54.6 million (CAD$68.678 Mn) for the
same period in 2016.
Lumber prices in Canada have trended
upward for almost two years and reached
13-year highs in July, 2016. On the other
hand, Nordic lumber prices have been
depressed in U.S. Dollar terms, resulting
their current price levels to be the lowest
they have been in eight years. ℗
INDONESIA TARGETS FURNITURE EXPORT
REVENUES OF US$3 BILLION FOR 2018
INDONESIA’S furniture and handicraft
exports in 2018 could top US$3 billion, up
over 15 per cent on 2017, said Secretary
General of the Indonesian Furniture and
Handicraft Association (HIMKI), Abdul
Sobur.
Bank loans to furniture
manufacturers reached Rp860 billion
(US$63 million) in 2017, up almost
15 per cent, according to Bank Indonesia.
However, export revenues this year
are unlikely to achieve 2016’s figures
due to problems with productivity and
competition from low cost manufacturers
in the region. Some foreign companies
have also relocated from Java to Vietnam.
The industry will need to address
raw material supply issues, improve
productivity and designs in order to
achieve sector targets, Sobur said.
With the help of the government,
companies in the association plan
to participate in furniture and craft
exhibitions in Germany, U.S. and China.
Still, Sobur is confident that by 2019
export earnings will reach US$5 billion. ℗
Source: ITTO
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

16 NEWS
STEINERT ANNOUNCES SECOND
TECHNOLOGY DAY IN BANGKOK
The second Technology Day on May 17 will focus on surface technology.
The fi rst Steinert Technology Day on April 28, 2017
THE Steinert PUR line STM-FL 1300 will be on display to
demonstrate the advantages and flexibility of flat lamination
in combination with Steinert’s ADINO® PUR hotmelt adhesive.
It is not only furniture panels that can be laminated with
acrylic sheets and foils. With the right press options, doors and
honeycomb panels can be produced in through-feed with the
water and heat-resistant PUR adhesive.
Besides the lamination line, a Venjakob spray machine will
be on display, as well as various AES CNC machines and the
Houfek sander Buldog B 7 for solid wood and veneer sanding.
There will also be demonstrations of the ADINO® hotmelt range
on various Turanlar edgebanding machines.
Experts from Europe will be around to answer questions
during one-on-one sessions, sharing their knowledge of
the best machines and consumable selections. Expect too,
specialists in the field of laminates, adhesives, edgebanding
material, tools and paint. The Steinert Technical Sales Team
from all of its Southeast Asian offices will also be around to
serve their customers.
The event will close with a social gathering over a
traditional Beer-and-BBQ dinner under the stars. ℗
FIREPROOF WOODEN PILLAR COULD
DRIVE THE ADVENT OF MORE WOODEN
HIGH-RISES IN FUTURE
A Japanese construction company
has developed a wooden pillar
capable of withstanding fire for
three hours without burning down.
Shelter Co.’s invention will allow
future wooden buildings to be
larger-scaled, scoring one for highrise
wood construction.
“Japan has a tradition of
wooden buildings, such as Shinto
shrines and Buddhist temples,
that are unparalleled in the world,”
Shelter President Kazuyoshi Kimura
said in an interview with the Asahi
Shimbun. “We would also be able
to pursue urban planning with
wooden buildings even when it
comes to modern architecture,
where fi re resistance and safety
are required.”
The pillar is a three-ply
structure made of plasterboards
covered with a rectangular wooden
pillar. The plasterboards, in turn,
A rendering of the pillar, where a rectangular
wooden pillar is covered with plasterboards,
which are, in turn, wrapped in yet
another layer of wood.
Image credit: Shelter Co.
are wrapped with yet another layer
of wood.
When tested in a furnace, the
wooden cover as well as wet plaster
kept the interior rectangular pillar
safe. There were no burn marks
on it even after being exposed to
temperatures up to 1,000 degrees
Celsius for 12 hours.
Shelter originally patented
their invention in 2009, and
produced wooden products that
could be used as pillars, walls or
other building components capable
of resisting fire for an hour in 2013,
followed by more products that
could withstand flames for two
hours in 2015.
The company has attained
approval from the Ministry of
Land, Infrastructure, Transport and
Tourism to apply the technology
in structures reaching over 15
storeys. ℗
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

NEWS 17
WOOD, THE HIGH-
PERFORMANCE
MATERIAL, JUST
LEVELED UP – IT IS
NOW BULLET-PROOF
THE rise of wood’s renown in bridges and buildings is proof of its
strength and durability.
Now, a simple, affordable treatment can convert the humble
lumber into a material stronger than steel, and even some hightech
titanium alloys, a new research reveals.
Besides scoring one for construction, the improved material
can also be used in bullet-proof armour.
The study, published in the February 7 issue of Nature, reports
the simple two-step process: Wood is first boiled in a solution of
sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium sulfite (Na2SO3), a chemical
treatment similar to making wood pulp for paper. This partially
removes lignin and hemicellulose (natural polymers that stiffen a
plant’s cell walls)—but it largely leaves the wood’s cellulose intact.
The wood is compressed until its cell walls collapse, then
maintaining that compression as it is gently heated. The pressure
and heat encourage the formation of chemical bonds between
large numbers of hydrogen atoms and neighbouring atoms
in adjacent nanofibres of cellulose, greatly strengthening the
material.
The results show that the wood is three times as dense as the
untreated substance, over 10 times more resistant to being ripped
apart, 50 times more resistant to compression and almost 20 times
as stiff. It is also harder, more scratch-, impact- and moistureresistant,
yet can still be easily moulded into almost any shape.
Researchers have long tried to enhance wood’s strength,
especially by compressing and “densifying” it but densified wood
tends to weaken and spring back toward its original size and shape,
especially in humidity, says Liangbing Hu, from the University of
Maryland, one of the study’s researchers.
In one experiment, five layers of treated wood stopped
simulated bullets fired into the material, a result which could lead
to low-cost armour.
The new material could also open the door to a new class of
lightweight materials, with the possibility of applying it in vehicle
manufacturing, says Ping Liu, a materials chemist at the University
of California, San Diego, unaffiliated with the Nature study.
Densified wood also does not require expensive adhesives
compared to carbon-fibre composites. It can also be easily
recycled.
However the research team noted that the widespread use
of densified wood will depend on engineers’ ability to scale up
and accelerate the process. (Hu and his team spent several hours
making each slab of densified wood used for testing.)
Still, there is potential for the process to be sped up or used
to make larger components, Hu contends. ℗
Source: Scientific American, Nature
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

18 PANEL MANUFACTURING
Henning Gloede traces his story in the history of Siempelkamp
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

PANEL MANUFACTURING 19
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

20 PANEL MANUFACTURING
"
It may surprise you
but enquiries for new
lines are still coming
in today, especially for
parcleboard.
"
Henning Gloede,
Managing Director,
Siempelkamp
Singapore.

PANEL MANUFACTURING 21
All things considered, Henning Gloede had a very exciting
life. He is German by birth, but only spent eight of his
53 years in Germany. He grew up in Jakarta in the 1960s
when his family moved there for his father’s job. By the time he
returned to Europe for further studies, his Bahasa was perfect.
When school was over, the next phase of his life—31 years
and counting—went to Siempelkamp. He wanted to do a good
apprenticeship with a global company in the hopes that one
day he could return to Southeast Asia.
“I just… like it,” Mr Gloede says of his childhood home.
“I feel at home here and people are really friendly.”
At a time when national borders were less porous,
Siempelkamp already had sales representatives and offices in
the U.S., Italy, France, Spain and China. The company was then
positioning itself as the market leader for wood-based panel
machinery in Southeast Asia.
Mr Gloede eventually got his wish in 1992, moving from the
Krefeld headquarters to Singapore to support sales operations.
By the time he arrived in September that year, Siempelkamp
had delivered its first continuous press to Southeast Asia, to a
company called Rimba Particle in Semarang, Indonesia.
The rest, as they say, is history. Mr Gloede would later be
integral to Siempelkamp’s growth in the region and be part of
the evolution of the wood-based panel board industry. In April
2001, he was made managing director, a title he holds till today.
YESTERDAY
In the late 1970s when Siempelkamp successfully concluded
the first order to the Philippines and Thailand, it was clear that
the market would grow in the next few decades. In April 1979,
a Singapore company was incorporated under Germapore
Machine Manufacturer Private Limited. Siempelkamp held a
50 per cent stake in this company. With the economic boom
of the 1980s, the demand for board products accelerated,
leading to the conclusion of four more contracts in the five
years that followed.
By then it was clear that the projected market outlook was
coming to pass. Siempelkamp acquired Germapore in 1982
and subsequently incorporated the company as Siempelkamp
Singapore in February 1989.
Southeast Asia had real appeal because of its vast natural
forests and hevea brasiliensis (or rubberwood) plantations.
Combined, it was home to one of the world’s largest tropical
timber resources. Utilising rubberwood back then was almost
unheard of, but Siempelkamp broke through in its pioneering
work on MDF, setting new standards in the industry.
“The intense R&D work and experience we gained from
the first lines with this raw material secured our front row
seat in the board industry here. We have since sold more than
45 lines to-date,” Mr Gloede shares.
Soon, the Siempelkamp ContiRoll came along, setting
another gold standard for continuous board production.
To-date, 33 ContiRoll presses have been sold in the region.
(This excludes the Kuesters presses Siempelkamp took over
in 2007.)
TODAY
Today, Mr Gloede continues to head the Singapore and Kuala
Lumpur offices, which mainly oversee sales, acquisitions,
spare parts and service support for Siempelkamp, Metso and
Kuesters press lines in ASEAN. It also manages installation
supervision services for all new Siempelkamp lines.
“I have great memories of the region, its cultures and
people,” Mr Gloede reflects. “I appreciate that there is always
a way around things. Here, people have positive attitudes, the
glass is always half full.”
He manages 29 staff in both offices and likes them to be
open and honest with him about problems: “Address it together,
so we can do something about it, learn and become better!”
The business has also evolved to include servicing plants. It
was one of the reasons the KL office was opened in 2007—to
have staff dedicated to spare parts supply and after sales service
in addition to installation supervision. It is supported by the
global spare parts and logistics centre, which is close to Frankfurt
airport, meaning parts can be delivered in 24 hours.
“Malaysia is a good place for this office because it is
strategically located. It has a good pool of skilled engineers that
speak so many different languages. Since the installed base
has grown, maintenance needs have also increased… so have
expectations!”
Siempelkamp also improves existing lines by solving
bottlenecks in production. Some machinery are upgraded with
the latest technology launched at LIGNA 2017, such as the new
EcoDrive system and improved EcoFormer.
TOMORROW
So what is the plan for tomorrow? “Sell a lot of lines!” Mr Gloede
laughs. “It may surprise you but the number of enquiries for new
lines is still coming in today, especially for particleboard. A lot of
the finished product goes to China, which lack wood material
ever since forest harvesting was severely reduced.”
Some new projects currently underway are FSC Vietnam, a
brand new MDF and particleboard line for Vanachai, and Green
River, which will feature a 50.4m ContiRoll Generation 9 and
hold the record for SEA’s longest continuous press.
A few countries in Southeast Asia have not a single line, yet
have ample raw materials to sustain one or two. Mr Gloede
expects the first line to pop up in one of these places, especially
as the furniture market shifts from predominantly solid wood
to wood-based products.
Over the years, factories have grown larger and more
sophisticated; presses are longer and capacity, bigger. The big
manufacturers, he says, will get bigger by acquiring smaller lines.
To maintain their market position, the actual people
managing these lines must be more skilled. They not only need
advanced engineering degrees, they also need more training on
the specifics of the machines.
As a result, the demands on Siempelkamp as a complete
plant supplier have also increased. “It is a very competitive
landscape and survival is dependent on innovation. This market
force drives us to develop efficient and sophisticated production
lines in the panel industry.”
EPILOGUE
With Southeast Asia set to grow exponentially in the long run,
work is getting busier. Mr Gloede still spends most of the year—
up to 180 days—on the road visiting clients. The nomadic lifestyle
makes finding the right work-life balance very challenging.
Yet he credits the ability to manage this well to a very
understanding wife who looks after the family: “[She] has been
a very important part of my professional life over the past
25 years here in Asia.”
31 years and counting still, Mr Gloede is not done with his
story. He has more to write about the future. ℗
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

22 PANEL MANUFACTURING
By Marina Khaibulina and Philip Chebyshev, Lesnaya Industriya Journal
Russia will likely see six new
Oriented Strand Board (OSB) lines
operating by 2020 which, at their
full capacity, will triple total output from
1.34 million cbm at present to 3.935
million cbm. These six lines are currently
in various stages of construction:
One of them is DOK Kalevala’s
second line, a planned investment
worth 3.2 billion rubles. At full capacity
of 300,000cbm annually, the new line
will double the company’s production
capacity to 600,000cbm. It will be
delivered by Siempelkamp and scheduled
to begin operations at the end of 2018.
Turkish company Kastamonu
initially planned to commission its
OSB plant—with an annual capacity of
575,000cbm—in 2007 but postponed
it to 2018-2019. Ali Kılıç, CEO of the
plant in Russia, is observing the market
closely. He plans to relaunch the project
in 2018. He said, “This is a strategically
important project for us. We will focus
on the Russian market but also plan to
market OSB in other countries too."
- Oversupply “unlikely”
as robust housing
market and exports will
absorb most boards
- Increased production
will reduce dependence
on imports
Kronoshpan Bashkortostan (part of
Kronospan) bought over a line from Oris,
which previously planned to build an
OSB and large-format plywood plant in
the Perm region. Now, Kronoshpan will
launch this new OSB line in Ufa this year,
with an annual capacity of 500, 000cbm.
Two other companies that plan
to start production before 2020 are
SibayPlitProm and Ugra-Plit with
annual capacities of 570,000cbm
and 250,000cbm respectively. While
SibayPlitProm has already finished the
plant’s design phase in the Republic
of Bashkortostan, Ugra-Plit is still
looking for investors and other means
of financing.
Valery Puchkov, CEO of DOK Kalevala,
says oversupply is unlikely as not all
announced projects will be implemented
until 2020. He also has confidence in
the market’s growth as Russia’s wooden
house construction and the packaging
sector develop—two main consumers
of OSB.
“The Ministry of Industry and Trade
has proposed that 30 per cent of all
houses in Russia should be made of
wood. This will help the development
of the market. In addition, exports will
also continue to grow, balancing out
domestic demand,” he said.
LEADING EXPORTERS AND
BUYERS
In fact, there appears to be a shortage of
domestic OSB. In 2016, OSB production
was estimated at 730, 000cbm. Only
large manufacturers could increase
production then, compared to 2015.
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

PANEL MANUFACTURING 23
Company Year estb. Planned investment value Annual capacity
(in RUB)
(in ‘000 cbm)
Real-Invest Company - 12 Bn 400
DOK Kalevala End 2018 3.2 Bn 300
Kastamonu 2018 – 2019 - 575
Kronoshpan 2018 - 500
Bashkortostan
(part of Kronospan)
SibayPlitProm 2017 - 570
Ugra-Plit - - 250
Fig. 1: Six new OBS lines and their planned investment value and annual capacity
Company Year estb. Annual capacity (in ‘000 cbm)
Hillman 2012 30
Novovyatsky Lyzhny Kombinat 2012 100
(Novovyatsky Ski Factory)
DOK Kalevala 2013 300
Kronoshpan Yegoryevsk 2014 350
(part of Kronospan)
OSB Kurgan (SP Nevzorov) 2015 60
Taleon Arbor 2017 500
(owned by Vnesheconombank)
Fig. 2: Six main producers of OSB in Russia
Some planned projects were suspended
due to the difficult economy while others
stopped production all together.
That year, OSB imports rose 34.6
per cent to 595,500cbm. Products
were mainly from Belarus, which made
up 75.4 per cent of total shipments.
China's share climbed from 12 to
13 per cent to 79,100cbm; German
imports were up five to seven per cent,
reaching 39,900cbm. On the other hand,
Romania reduced exports to Russia by
58.5 per cent to 8,100cbm.
Also, in 2016, Kronospan, through
supplies from the Belarusian plant,
increased OSB sales to Russia by 4.66
per cent to 460,610cbm. Chinese
company Linyi Consmos increased
exports to Russia by almost 29.5 times
to 70,800cbm. Glunz AG from Germany
also returned to the Russian market,
selling a total of 36,700cbm
In 2016, Moscow region was the
top importer in Russia, with total OSB
sales rising 30.5 per cent to 109,200cbm
in volume terms. The region's share of
total OSB imports increased by four
percentage points to 22 per cent. The
greatest increase was observed in the
Republic of Crimea: almost 20.5 times, to
75,800cbm; the region's share also grew
by 15 percentage points to 16 per cent.
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

24 PANEL MANUFACTURING
May and August. The highest average
price per cubic metre was recorded in
October at $227, mainly due to the end
of the construction season in the Central
Federal District during the period. The
lowest average price was $84 per cubic
metre, in May, due to the May holidays,
affecting sales.
The highest average price recorded
was for Linyi Consmos' OSB at $517 per
cubic metre; Glunz sold boards for $315
per cubic metre; Egger, $213; the Krono
Group, $190; Kronospan, $181. The
lowest import price was on Belarusian
boards at $154 per cubic metre. ℗
Fig. 3: Russian imports of OSB (in ‘000 cbm)
Year
PRICES
Average OSB board prices increased
by 5.7 per cent, to 13,365 rubles per
cubic metre in 2016. Throughout the
year, prices climbed gradually until
the end of the third quarter, and then
rapidly declined with a smooth rebound
towards the end of December. Prices
peaked in September 2016—17,905
rubles per cubic metre—due to a highly
active construction market before the
end of the season.
In 2016, the average price for
imported OSB increased by 15.1 per
cent to $179 per cubic metre (2015:
$155). Throughout the year, the price
for imported OSB was growing, although
there were sharp price declines in
Fig. 4: Main exporters
of OSB in 2016
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

26 PANEL MANUFACTURING
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT
Products preferred
all over the world
carry the signature of
Kastamonu Entegre
Kastamonu Entegre, a Turkish panel
producer, today, has become
a major manufacturer with 18
production facilities in the country and
abroad since its first particleboard plant in
1971. It manufactures raw and melaminecoated
MDF and particleboard (which
are also fire- and moisture-resistant),
laminate flooring, painted panels, honeycomb
decorative panels, glossy panels, as
well as worktop and door panels. They
are exported to the furniture, decoration
and construction sectors in almost 100
different countries.
FLOORPAN: INDISPENSABLE
IN CLASSIC AND MODERN
INTERIORS
The Floorpan brand laminate flooring
carries wood’s natural texture and beauty
to the work and living space. It has an
easy locking system, is silent, static
electric-proof, easy-to-clean, stain-proof,
scratch-proof, and has heat retention and
anti-bacterial properties. It also comes
in a wide range of patterns and surface
alternatives for different tastes—Stone,
Deluxe, Elit, Natural, Register, Boutique,
Urban, Classic, Sun and Nova.
DOORPAN: OPENING
KASTAMONU ENTEGRE TO
THE WORLD
Doorpan door panels provide a modern
and elegant look to your living space
while its quality means it can be used for
many years. The Doorlam range, which
are MDF panels coated with decorative
paper, come in five different colours. They
are immediately usable after pressing.
Doorlam door panels do not require any
additional treatment such as polishing or
painting, saving cost and time.
REFLECTION: BRINGING
NATURE INTO THE HOME
The Reflection series was developed
for melamine-coated products. It has
five different surface textures (stone,
geometric, golf, paint and veneer),
catering to those who want the positive
energy and endless patterns of nature in
their living spaces.
PRODUCTS THAT SET THE
STANDARD
The Technotop and Neotop brands
are used in kitchen and bathroom
countertops, as well as offices,
restaurants, cafeteria tables and counters.
They are humidity-proof thanks to a top
protective layer on the surface’s decorative
laminate, and special paper on the bottom
surface. It is also water resistant and can
withstand vapours, heat, stains, scratches
and impact. Since it is also easy to clean,
it is also the top choice in areas where
hygiene plays an important role.
STEPPING INTO THE DIGITAL
WORLD
Kastamonu Entegre is also one of the first
in the world to digitalise all its products.
The “IDS 3D (Interior Design Studio
3D)” mobile application makes choosing
flooring, countertop, board and door
surfaces convenient anytime, anywhere.
Users can select from numerous
colours and textures in the 3D chart
section. The products can be projected on
the screen in the desired dimensions. They
can be rotated 360 degrees and viewed
from multiple angles.
The mobile app also acts as a virtual
showroom where different furniture,
surfaces and floors can be explored in
different combinations, allowing users to
envision their dream home. ℗
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

28 PANEL MANUFACTURING
Flash tube dryer
Dieffenbacher’s drum and flash tube dryers are recognised for their efficiency,
reliability and ability to meet high safety standards. In total, Dieffenbacher
(together with former Metso/Sunds and Schenkmann Piel Engineering) has
sold 85 drum dryers and 196 flash tube dryers over the last 40 years.
Energy systems from Dieffenbacher with capacities of up to 120 MW thermal
capacity can use a wide range of biomass fuels to generate hot gas for the dryer, or
produce steam or hot thermal oil for various heat consumers. Together with former
Teaford, Dieffenbacher has sold 36 energy systems around the world.
Drum dryer
DRUM DRYERS
Dieffenbacher recently sold two drum dryers with 100 t/h mechanical throughput
on a dry basis. These drum dryers are the ideal solution for drying wood fibre for
particleboard, strands for OSB production, disintegrated seasonal annual crops
and other biomass. The dryer internals are designed according to the material’s
characteristics for high thermal efficiency, low moisture fluctuation and low
emissions.
FLASH TUBE DRYERS
Flash tube dryers from Dieffenbacher
should be the first choice for efficiently
drying wood fibres for the production
of MDF, HDF and THDF. Dryers with
a dry fibre throughput of more than
60 t/h have been operating for many
years. In addition to single-stage dryers,
Dieffenbacher also offers two-stage
dryers and single-stage dryers with
air recycling system, offering energy
cost savings of up to 15 per cent and
a significant reduction in the exhaust
gas flow. Additional benefits can be
achieved by adding the EVOjet M and
SGF or Z-sifter to the dryer and energy
system package.
ENERGY SYSTEMS
With their robust design and
low maintenance requirements,
Dieffenbacher energy systems allow
long operation periods without forced
shutdown. This provides high availability
and reliable operation.
The firing system consists of an
air-cooled reciprocating grate using the
coarse biomass fractions of the wood
panel production process (eg: bark,
wood chips, coarse trimmings) as fuel.
The system can be equipped with various
injection nozzles for the combustion
of dust and granulate fractions from
screening, sawing and sanding as well
as additional gas burners. Generating
hot thermal oil and providing hot gas
to the dryer system can be controlled
independently of each other in order
to meet individual peak load demands.
Recirculating hot gas from downstream
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

PANEL MANUFACTURING 29
minimises ash carry-over, thus reducing wear of the
dryer cyclones and RTO ceramics.
Integrated into the panel line control infrastructure,
fully automated operation controls minimise the
number of operators, further reducing operating
costs. The interconnected mechanical and process
design reduces interfaces, and the system’s fast and
effective adaptation to changing loads supports plant
efficiency. ℗
Energy system
of the thermal oil heater optimises the
combustion process and operational
flexibility of the energy system.
INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS
The perfect integration and compact
design of the energy system and dryer
help to reduce operating costs and
create additional value for customers—
from the planning phase through the
complete lifecycle. The hot gas cyclone
connecting the energy system and dryer
Integrated solutions
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

30 FURNITURE MANUFACTURING
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

FURNITURE MANUFACTURING 31
Cities may be expanding but our living spaces are now a fraction of
what they used to be. Ewins is going big on this trend by going small.
It is hard to say how the world will look like in 2030. Going by
current indicators, cities will burgeon alongside the middle
class demographic. Consumption will increase, as will waste
and global temperatures.
Oxford Economics predicts that 750 cities around the world
will receive an influx of 410 million more people, exerting
further pressure on the urban space crunch. By 2030, an
additional 150 million will join the ranks of above 65s with new
demands on dignified living (or dying) and healthcare facilities.
Governments in Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo have
been dealing with these issues for decades, and will need to
address them now, soon.
These days, we live fast, but don’t die young. Our
apartments are higher, but they don’t accommodate enough.
Our parents want to enjoy life with their grandchildren but we
want privacy. How can we have it all?
Apparently we can, says Mark Yong, marketing director
of Ewins. “Singapore is used to being small and compact. But
what makes us different here is that we are house proud, we
still want comfort and we like to invite friends over to show
off,” he says.
Ewins offers multi-functional furniture ranging from
extendable tables to beds that double up as study desks. These
products, marketed under the Roomier brand, exploit the
tiniest corner and basically free up more areas for lounging.
They can be designed, customised and installed at one go.
Arguably, space-saving furniture are not new. Some
years back, Swedish furniture giant Ikea launched a 100m 2
‘apartment home’ at both showrooms in Singapore. Other
players such as Spaceman, Space-Saving Furniture Systems
and HWB also provide similar furniture for increasingly dense
and impermanent living quarters.
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

FURNITURE MANUFACTURING 33
Addressing market competition, Mark
says, “We offer a competitive price range,
we can build furniture to fit any room and
we can do it fast. Our components last too.
“Being agile is important. I believe this
is something the major retailers can’t do.”
GOING BIG, GOING SMALL
Ewins is 51 years old this year. It is as
old as Singapore and like its home city,
has been reinventing itself to keep up
with modern times. The first generation
owners were mainly distributors of
hardware—taps, handles, fittings, slides
and so on. Subsequently, the company
moved on to big-ticket items such as
furniture because “we are likely to lose
our competitive edge if we just stick to
the distribution business,” Mark says.
In 2011 Ewins opened a new
showroom in Sin Ming Lane, inviting
home owners to explore its range of
custom furniture solutions. Architects
and designers are also often invited for
product launches and talks. Ewins also
worked with designers to develop its own
range of materials such as anti-bacterial,
low formaldehyde panel tops. Where
it used to participate in trade shows,
Ewins has now moved into a new era
of branding, preferring to target global
design showcases where collaborations
with trend gurus can take them to new
markets.
The team later identified three
mega trends that could also take their
business forward—small apartments,
dignified ageing and smart homes. The
Roomier range was a product of this
research, targeting shoebox apartment
owners.
Having received positive reception
from the market, Ewins is now exploring
solutions for the elderly to live better.
In fact, the materials developed for
Roomier can also be applied to hospital
furnishing. For instance, hypoallergenic,
breathable foam pads for bedding and
seating can help reduce the risk of
infection. They are also lighter, making
it easier for caregivers to change the
sheets.
“Basically, small tweaks can solve big
problems in our daily lives,” Mark says.
“Overall, you help patients get better, and
caregivers are less miserable.”
Mark, who is also the president of the
Singapore Furniture Industries Council
(SFIC), says his company's strategies
are just some ways the local furniture
industry can adopt to remain relevant
in today’s ephemeral tech-inspired
globalised environment.
“You won’t last very long if you just
depend purely on manufacturing as a
business because the region will always
be cheaper,” he says.
Collaboration is key, he adds.
"Working with the right partner can help
you communicate your niche to the right
audience.” He also advocates travel and
learning from others.
By seeing what is out there, what is
clear too, is that a bed is not just for rest,
but a piece of furniture reminiscent of the
times we live in now. ℗
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

34 FURNITURE MANUFACTURING
Vietnamese designer
Nguyen Hoa realised his
teenage dream of seeing
his sketches come to
life but that, he says,
is not enough for him.
Exactly five years ago, Nguyen Hoa
decided he wanted to design furniture
for a living. Today, this goal is realised with him
finding his place at Kim Do Company, a Vietnamese furniture
manufacturer in Ho Chi Minh City.
“When I was a student, I dreamed of going professional with
all the sketches I made on paper,” the 26-year-old recalled. “I loved
wood, materials, colours and chairs so I started teaching myself how
to combine these elements together to make furniture.”
Growing up, Nguyen read widely on design history, on how the
minds behind the masterpieces thought and how the hands that made
them worked.
He later went on to study industrial design at Ton Duc Thang
University and dabbled with various styles before settling for three
practical characteristics that would inform each piece of art today:
minimalism, function and commercial viability.
He said, “Designing furniture is considered a new
profession in Vietnam but I believe it will develop rapidly in the
next five years.”
One of his most frustrating projects was building the
Marita rocking chair, a product that took countless
hours of study and conceptualisation. Simple
and functional, the most distinctive feature
of the chair is its intersection of lines,
inspired by Man’s connection with
one another in society. It is
made of wood, a basic
material found in all
his designs.
The Marita rocking
chair is inspired by
Man’s connection with
one another in society.

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS
Nguyen also often uses metal, rattan and fabric, as
well as unique materials and contemporary colours
such as solid surfaces and rusty metal. His boldness
and inspiration stem from the desire to establish a
reputation in Vietnam’s budding furniture design
scene.
“As a young designer, I have so much to learn.
So I always set a target for myself and try to improve
continuously, confront challenges and look for new
ideas,” he reflected.
Keeping an open mind and learning new things,
he added, opens up a lot more new opportunities
for him as well.
Yet his biggest challenge is not so much ‘feeling
small’ or competing with his more established
peers. Instead, it is figuring out how to connect
designs with manufacturers, the market and how
to make customers accept his work.
“Designer furniture is not necessarily expensive.
The value of a product is based on many factors. It
is not just about creativity but also skill and quality.
Product lines designed for mass manufacturing may
be new here in Vietnam but it is very affordable,”
Nguyen said.
“ There are many young
people like me with the
same desire. I hope there
will be more support for us.”
Furthermore, the modern-day consumer is
fi ckle. And they want everything: personalised,
trendy, smart home furnishing. Nguyen’s style on
the other hand, is still very much centred on the
simplicity and beauty in traditional furniture. He
admits that in future he will incorporate technology
in the final product and handle difficult designs.
Nguyen may have just achieved far more
than he imagined: He was one of the designers
selected for the Design Stars showcase at this year’s
International Furniture Fair Singapore.
“There are many young people like me with
the same desire. I hope there will be more support
for us,” he said.
Having reached the foothills of success, he will
continue to study, sketch and chase the dream. ℗
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

36 IN PERSON
Malaysian architect Azman Md Nor is a huge fan of wood. He is
quietly championing this material in his country, but the lack of
skilled craftsmen and quality timber, he says, is hindering progress.
The curved wall structure is “one of the most
interesting design elements of the house,
providing structural stability that speaks volumes
of what could be done with timber,” according to
the jury of the Malaysian Wood Awards.
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

IN PERSON 37
Azman Md Nor
designs with wood and has his
own practice, Arkitek Azman Zainal.
Wood for window frames
and grilles are common in
tropical homes
Timber is experiencing a renaissance
in Southeast Asia as local architects
return to their roots, drawing
inspiration from the traditional kampong
houses of their youth. Or at least, this is
what Azman Md Nor feels is driving the
timber revolution in the region.
The 55-year-old architect and
part-time lecturer grew up in such an
environment—a kampong (or village
in Malay) in Port Dickson where most
household items such as toys and
furniture were made of wood.
“We used wood to make whatever
we needed, even the chicken coop. It’s
convenient and easy to work with,”
Azman says. At Deakin University where
he read architecture, he was inspired
by the late Professor Kevin Borland
who took the class to visit the timber
houses he designed, further fanning the
flames for wood appreciation. However,
it was only in 2006 that the father of
four began actively pursuing projects
in timber at his own practice, Arkitek
Azman Zainal.
Azman’s style can be described as
avant-garde, bold and unique, a “like it
or hate it” kind of vibe. He personally
feels it is humanistic, raw and natural,
drawing richly from local culture.
“Using wood for the interior is like
bringing in all the attributes of the forest
into the hearth. Wood has many health
benefi ts,” he says, confi rming several
studies that a wood-clad interior calms
the nerves and reduces stress levels.
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

38 IN PERSON
This philosophy is evident in Anjung
Kelana, the home and office he built
for himself. The building brings out
the honesty and raw beauty of timber,
and for that, bagged second prize at
the inaugural Malaysian Wood Awards
last year. According to the jury, the
curved wall structure is “one of the
most interesting design elements of the
house, providing structural stability that
speaks volumes of what could be done
with timber.”
“Let wood be wood,” he says.
Like many of his peers, Azman agrees
that wood is easy to work with: It can be
carved or crafted using light handheld
tools; it generates minimal waste as the
off-cuts, wood chips and sawdust can be
fashioned into other products; damage
can be easily repaired; old timber works
can be reclaimed and recycled for other
purposes.
However, external applications of
wood pose a great challenge in Asia’s
tropical climate. The material must battle
oxidation due to prolonged exposure to
the sun’s ultraviolet rays. In a couple of
years, it will weather into a silvery grey
colour which is not a structural problem
but can be an aesthetic concern for some.
The wooden building in the tropics
must be well-ventilated to preserve the
timber. “Those who appreciate timber
and want to use it are mainly worried
about decay, termites, affordability and
maintenance. But these can be easily
addressed. For example, decay occurs
because of dampness which can be due
to poor detailing, poor ventilation and
maintenance,” Azman advises.
Having a well-lit and airy indoor space
also improves occupants’ well-being,
he adds.
Anjung Kelana by Mr Azman. The project bagged second prize at the inaugural Malaysian Wood Awards in 2017.
OBSTACLES IN THE WAY
However, there is still a long way to go
before wood becomes a choice material
in design and architecture.
In Malaysia the industry struggles
with labour shortage. Dependence on a
transient population of foreign workers
means few can be trained or retained as
skilled craftsmen. It is also increasingly
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

IN PERSON 39
difficult to have designs built well due to the lack of
quality timber supply—one of the biggest barriers to
building a timber construction culture.
Azman stresses that timber delivered to the
construction site should be ready, meaning that it
should not be deformed, green or juvenile. Yet over the
years, people have lost confidence in timber because
“we don’t know what kind of quality we are getting
at the construction site. Subjecting it to testing at the
last minute is disruptive to the construction schedule.”
Other obstacles include low awareness and poor
perception of timber’s structural strength—a myth
perpetuated by poor timber quality at the work site.
Most architects want to see their designs come to
fruition but in reality, Azman remarks, this is often
hindered by changes and volatile temperaments
“pulling you in all sorts of directions."
He says, "You have approvals that come in so late
that by then, the project has lost its feasibility.
“Then you also have impatient clients who want
to get the design to the ground even though it is
incomplete. This puts a lot of pressure on us.”
In the past 20 years, government authorities
have also been fond of the design-and-build
approach, estranging the architect and his design
team away from the end user, Azman adds. Clients
sometimes employ project managers, adding an
unnecessary layer to the building procurement
system which makes it increasingly challenging
for the architect to communicate values that the enduser
actually wants or needs.
But at the root of the practice, architecture is
about creative problem solving, Azman says. “We can
organise ourselves so that we have more control of our
intellectual property. I am now looking at a designermaker
approach and seeing where this path leads to.”
Also, if the timber supply chain can provide
quality timber and be backed up by a systematic
delivery system, the design and building sector can be
more confident in coming up with bold, quality and
innovative designs.
Finally, the industry must stop perceiving timber
as a commodity: Drop the consumerist behaviour, stop
and enjoy the material, and experience the design.
This will perhaps give Malaysian timber research
and design its long overdue recognition in the
international arena of wood architecture. ℗
Over time, wood will weather into a silvery grey, which
can be an aesthetic concern for some.
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

40 MARKET REPORT
By Roberta Mutti and Franz Rivoira, ICON - Italian Consulting Pte Ltd
The furniture market is picking up as the world
economy shows signs of recovery.
By the end of 2017, global GDP
reached 3.5 per cent, with both
developed and developing
economies showing positive signs of
growth. Among the BRIC countries, Brazil
and Russia are emerging from recession;
China has had a higher-than-expected
growth in 2017; India is expected to
expand over seven per cent until 2020.
The outlook is positive for the next
three years, with emerging countries
growing at a rate of more than four per
cent. Developed countries however,
will inch up just under two per cent
on average. Among the high-income
economies, the U.S. will continue on its
growth trajectory while Europe is likely to
slow down to an average of 2.2 per cent.
Thanks to this positive rebound,
world trade in manufactured goods also
rose by 4.9 per cent. In 2018 growth is
expected to remain above four per cent.
Country Market share (%)
China 35
Germany 8
Italy 7
Poland 7
Vietnam 6
The top fi ve furniture exporters account for 63
per cent of the world's furniture exports.
Country Market share (%)
China 29
United States 20
India 5
Japan 3
UK 3
France 3
Canada 2
Italy 2
These countries account for 75 per cent of the
world’s total furniture consumption.
THE WORLD’S FURNITURE
MARKET
The global furniture market, valued at
US$425 billion in 2017, is expected to
jump by 3.5 per cent in 2018. The global
furniture trade in 2017 also increased by
three per cent compared to 2016.
This year, the international furniture
trade is expected to rise by about four per
cent, with the main bulk of this growth
concentrated mainly in Asia Pacific.
China is still the largest furniture
exporter, accounting for 35 per cent of
the global total. Its market share is still
increasing. This is followed by Germany,
Italy, Poland and Vietnam. Together, these
top five exporting countries account
for 63 per cent of the world's furniture
exports.
APAC AND THE FURNITURE
INDUSTRY
Considering that over half of the world’s
furniture is produced in Asia Pacific, and
that about 40 per cent of trade takes
place here, the market is of great interest
to major players.
Malaysia and Vietnam are among the
world’s top 10 exporters, taking 8 th and
5 th place respectively. Both producing
countries dominate the low-end and
wood furniture segment. Vietnam’s leap
forward is mainly due to lower labour
cost compared to neighbouring countries.
Between 2004 and 2010, the number
of furniture manufacturers in China
doubled. There are currently about 5,500
Country Market share (%)
United States 28
Germany 10
United Kingdom 6
France 5
Canada 4
The top fi ve furniture importers account for 53
per cent of the world's furniture imports.
Growth forecast for the furniture market in 2018 – 2019.
Source: CSIIL.
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

MARKET REPORT 41
furniture manufacturers
in China, employing about
1.2 million people.
In 2016, the
production value of
China’s furniture industry
was over RMB855 billion
(US$124 billion). China
continues to invest in
this sector. In 2016, an
estimated RMB306 billion
(US$48.7 billion) was
poured into technology
to boost output. From
2013, the domestic
market began to grow and today, this
market absorbs a huge proportion of locallyproduced
goods.
Wood furniture accounts for 64 per cent
of total furniture production, followed by
metal (19%), bamboo, rattan and plastic.
In the past five years, rattan and bamboo
furnishings have seen an increase of 43 per
cent; wood gained 20 per cent; plastic, 11
per cent; and metal, nine per cent. Overall,
Chinese exports grew steadily from 2004
The main players in the world furniture market account for
75 per cent of global consumption. Source: CSIIL.
to 2015, reaching US$53 billion in 2015.
(However it later fell to about US$50
billion in 2016 and 2017.)
THE FUTURE
The demand for designer and luxury
products will increase. The luxury
furniture market will reach US$5.4 billion
by 2020 according to a recent report by
ApacMarket.com.
Increased disposable income,
improved consumer
lifestyles and GDP growth
will support market
growth in the Asia Pacific
region. The furniture
market will also depend
on how well the real
estate sector develops.
The expansion of the
luxury furniture segment
will also lead to more
variety of materials used
in manufacturing. Wood
currently accounts for
24 per cent of total
production, followed by metal, leather,
plastic and glass.
Asian furniture industries must make an
effort to develop better quality products,
invest in product design, and marketing
and communication strategies to serve the
consumers of the future. ℗
This article was first published
on FurnitureAndFurnishing.com.
Reprinted with permission.
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

42 MARKET REPORT
Source: American Hardwood Export Council - SEA & Greater China
The full year of 2017 saw the
largest exports ever on record
for American hardwoods, with
an increase of 17 per cent by value for
lumber over 2016, according to new
data from the American Hardwood
Export Council (AHEC). That gives the
American hardwood sawmilling industry
a grand total of US$2.64 billion of lumber
shipments sent all over the world in
2017.
China’s appetite for American
hardwoods continues to grow. U.S.
producers saw a massive 26 per cent
increase in lumber exports by value and
20 per cent by volume, bringing China’s
total import to over US$1.5 billion last
year. That means 57 per cent of all
lumber shipped by value was headed
to China.
Worldwide log exports are up three
per cent by volume and 18 per cent
by value on the year, but a shift in
consumption has led China to purchase
a larger share of this figure than in
previous years. Red oak log exports to
China effectively doubled from 2016
to 2017.
Vietnam, now the second largest
export market for American hardwood
lumber outside North America, has
continued on its growth trajectory.
Lumber exports were up 22 per cent
by value and 18 per cent by volume in
2017. Shipments of lumber amounted
to 444,862m 3 with tulipwood (yellow
poplar) registering 27 per cent gain in
volume accounting for 258,586m 3 or 58
per cent of Vietnam’s import of American
hardwood lumber. White oak was the
second species followed by red oak
showing its best performance yet – up
22 per cent albeit from a small base.
Both cherry and maple lumber recovered
some of their previous import levels.
A breakdown of American hardwood species shipped to Southeast Asia in 2017
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

MARKET REPORT 43
SEA Countries
Top 3 Lumber Species
US$ in million (YoY% change)
Yellow Poplar ($81.6 million, 26%);
White Oak ($46.1 million, 12%);
Vietnam Red Oak ($16.8 million, 35%)
White Oak ($10.8 million, 28%);
Walnut ($4.1 million, 37%);
Malaysia Yellow Poplar ($3.2 million, 31%)
White Oak ($12.9 million, 14%);
Walnut ($4.2 million, 43%);
Indonesia Red Oak ($1.5 million, 2%)
White Oak ($7.9 million, 14%);
Yellow Poplar ($4.1 million, 4%);
Thailand Ash ($2.8 million, -16%)
Yellow Poplar ($0.36 million, 252%);
White Oak ($0.28 million, 35%)
Philippines Walnut ($0.13 million, -51%)
White Oak ($0.18 million, 1%)
Red Oak ($0.067 million, -14%);
Singapore Ash ($0.051 million, -16%)
Import volumes by Malaysia
recovered by 11 per cent with white oak,
walnut and tulipwood most popular.
Thailand maintained its consumption
with white oak and tulipwood also
leading. Indonesia eased slightly by three
per cent in volume and the Philippines
grew by 62 per cent but remains a very
small importer of American hardwood
lumber. Overall Southeast Asia imported
over US$0.26 billion in value – largely
attributed to Vietnam. Log exports to
the region accounted for US$49 million,
up six per cent.
John Chan, AHEC’s regional director,
said, “This is a most satisfactory result and
underpins our determination to support
the markets in China and Southeast Asia
with continued promotion. In the case
of the latter we would like to see an
increase in consumption of red oak as
one of the most available hardwoods in
the USA and highly suitable species for
furniture.” ℗
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

44 MATERIALS
About 40 per cent
of the U.S. national
hardwood resource
is oak, of which
red oak accounts
for about three
quarters, but it is still
under-utilised.
Red oak machines
to high precision for
furniture
By Michael Buckley,
World Hardwoods,
Singapore
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

MATERIALS 45
There is much discussion as to why red
oak is named as it is. Some say because
the leaves turn red in the fall, rather
than brown as in white oak. Others
suggest that the wood has a reddish
tinge, although that is often not the
case. Lincoln* describes red oak as
ranging from biscuit coloured to pink.
What is absolutely sure is that its name
has nothing to do with red wine - for
only white oak is suitable for barrelmaking!
But American red oak is highly
suitable for a whole range of other
applications, particularly furniture,
cabinets and every type of joinery from
doors to decorative panels. But many
of today’s furniture makers and interior
joinery manufacturers, especially in Asia,
remain unfamiliar with this oak, one of
the most sustainable and available of all
temperate hardwoods.
American red oak is a true Quercus,
mainly Quercus rubra Northern red oak
and Quercus falcata Southern red oak,
but there are many other sub species of
red oak in North America such as Spanish
oak, cherrybark oak and shummard oak.
They all exhibit much the same technical
and working properties but, as with
most U.S. hardwoods, they can vary in
colour and grain from region to region.
The percentage of heartwood in
red oak is relatively large particularly
in northern grown material. Northern
and southern is not differentiated
by merchants. So as usual when
specifying American hardwoods it is
best to research your source, if physical
properties are more important than
visual aesthetics. Most hardwood
importers and distributors are well
versed in their different characteristics.
Red oak works well for cabinets
Red oak represents about 30 per cent of
the total American hardwood standing
timber although the sawn lumber
imported into Southeast Asia does not
reflect this, and hence the new promotion
of red oak by the American Hardwood
Export Council (AHEC). Currently in all
Southeast Asian countries the import of
red oak falls well below the volumes of
other American species. Nevertheless
the USA exports around one million cubic
metres of red oak annually because it is
so suitable for interior uses.
Red oak makes excellent lumber
but is also particularly easy to slice and
peel for veneer and plywood and is very
readily available from U.S. exporters.
The trees grow large and tall giving
much better specifi cations of lengths
than most other types of oak. As a
result it is widely used for doors and
panelling where its individual character
offers decorative options for interiors
designers.
The seed of the American red oak is
resistant to fire and is a pioneer species
after others have been destroyed by
fires, often started by lightning. In
Pennsylvania, after devastating natural
fires in the early 1900s, it was red oak
that came back to regenerate the forest
naturally. It has been cut continuously
for widespread use since the European
settlers first arrived 400 years ago and
yet it increases its growing volume by
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

46 MATERIALS
AMERICAN RED OAK IN A NUTSHELL
Durability
Rated slightly non-resistant to heartwood decay,
moderately easy to treat with preservatives.
Working Properties
Red oak machines well; nailing and screwing is good
although pre-boring is recommended, and it can be
stained and polished to a very good finish. It performs
best when dried slowly, reducing the opportunity for
degrade such as splits and warp. It has a high shrinkage
and can be susceptible to movement in performance
under variable moisture conditions.
Main Uses
Construction, furniture, flooring, architectural interiors,
internal joinery, stairs and mouldings, doors, kitchen
cabinets, panelling and coffins. Not suitable for tight
cooperage. Red oak can vary in colour, texture,
characteristics and properties according to the growing
region. It is therefore recommended that users and
specifiers work closely with their suppliers to make sure
the wood they order is suited to their specific needs.
Physical and mechanical properties
Quercus rubra Quercus falcata
(Northern) (Southern)
Specific gravity
(12% MC) 0.63 0.68
Average weight
(12% MC) 705 Kg/m 3 753 Kg/m 3
Average volumetric
shrinkage
(Green to 6% MC) 6.6% NA
Modulus of Rupture 98.599 MPa 75.156 MPa
Modulus of Elasticity 12,549 MPa 10,274 MPa
Compressive
strength
(parallel to grain) 46.610 MPa 41.991 MPa
Hardness 5738 N 4715 N
Red oak table
by Matteo Thun
showing characteristic grain
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

MATERIALS 47
sound management and natural regeneration – always a true measure of
sustainability. Interactive maps of all American commercial hardwoods
newly launched show that annual growth exceeds annual harvest and
mortality.
Lincoln* describes American red oak as “weighing around 770 kg/m 3
with medium bending properties and very good bending with steam.”
It has “high crushing strength” and is mostly straight grained.
American red oak is classified as non-durable although the
sapwood is permeable and easily treated with preservative, whereas
the heartwood is moderately easy to treat. More recently test projects
have revealed red oak as most suitable for thermal modification – so
TMT red oak is now available for applications such as exterior furniture.
Other properties lead to the harder wood needing pre-boring for nails,
but it machines well and also glues and stains well to a fine finish.
The decorative properties of red oak are derived from its strong grain
patterns and generally warm colour.
Given the sustainability of red oak, specifiers can rest assured that
its use threatens no forests but provides a material with characteristics
that can spell both ‘contemporary’ and ‘heritage’. ℗
Footnotes:
* “World woods in colour” William A. Lincoln ISBN 0 85442 028 2
Michael Buckley at World Hardwoods holds an MPhil for hardwood
research and is a fellow of the Institute of Wood Science in the UK. He
writes widely on hardwood subjects.
Red oak flooring showing typical grain and colour
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

48 MATERIALS
HARDWOOD MARKET REPORT
By Judd Johnson, Hardwood Market Report
Figure 1: Consumption of U.S. hardwood lumber by major market groups
Figure 2: U.S. exports of hardwood logs (in cubic metres)
Demand for U.S. hardwood grade
lumber increased last year. Much
of the growth was anticipated
based on positive performance by key
indicators leading up to the start of 2017.
The economy, residential construction,
manufacturing sentiment, and consumer
spending are among the measures
commonly used to assess business
direction. Evaluated data include the U.S.,
China, and other international markets
that have influence on U.S. hardwood
demand. U.S. consumption of grade
hardwood lumber increased four per cent
in 2017. U.S. exports of grade hardwood
lumber increased 13 per cent to 4.5 million
M 3 . China and Vietnam accounted for more
than 2.4 million M 3 (54%) and 448,000 M 3
(10%) of US exports, respectively.
Consumption of U.S. industrial
hardwood products decreased in 2017
from 2016, though by Q3, demand had
begun to rebound. Compared to the HMR
Executive® mid-year market analysis (July
2017), U.S. consumption of industrial
hardwood lumber ended last year 295,000
M 3 higher than was projected by January
to June data. The timing of the upturn
in demand for industrial products was
not anticipated. The short-term impact
contributed to supply strains. However,
the longer-term effect from improved
industrial markets can help strengthen U.S.
hardwood supplies (see Fig. 1).
The same key performance indicators
used to project 2017 results were still
trending upward at the start of 2018.
When considering this information along
with current market trends, it is reasonable
to expect demand for U.S. hardwood
lumber to increase over last year. That
is the mindset of U.S. hardwood lumber
producers. As such, it is reasonable to
expect U.S. hardwood lumber production
to increase.
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

MATERIALS 49
HARDWOOD MARKET REPORT
Notably, U.S. hardwood lumber
suppliers have had the desire to increase
production in each of the previous two years.
However, unforeseen events prohibited
sawmills from following through with their
goals. Inadequate markets for byproducts
were a limiting factor, especially in 2016.
Additionally, weather patterns in both
2016 and 2017 were abnormally wet and
restricted timber harvesting at critical times.
Compounding the problems from poor
logging conditions are increased exports
of hardwood logs (see Fig. 2). As a result,
Eastern U.S. hardwood sawmills were
unable to build log inventories enough to
sustain higher production. In fact, Eastern
U.S. hardwood lumber production has not
fundamentally changed since 2014 (see
Fig. 3). Usually, the opportunity for timber
harvesting to increase in most hardwood
producing areas of the U.S. doesn’t begin
until about the middle of the year. In the
meantime, growing demand could strain
U.S. hardwood lumber and log supplies all
the more. ℗
Figure 3: Eastern U.S. hardwood sawmill production
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

50 MATERIALS
Thermally
modified and
pressed, timura’s
products are
more than just
practical
By thermally processing and pressing ecologically
grown native wood, timura Holzmanufaktur offers
wood in the same durability class as tropical wood.
The wood before being heated,
compressed and modified
timura’s thermo
wood technology
"
mura’s modified wood is as
durable as the endangered and
coveted tropical wood.
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA
"
Renowned for their philosophy in design and
innovation as much as their commitment to
preserving the world’s tropical forests, timura
Holzmanufaktur GmbH, a wood manufacturer based in
Südharz, Germany, is dedicated to improving the lives of
those around them in an ecologically sound way.
Certified by both the Forest Stewardship Council
(FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest
Certification (PEFC) Schemes, one of timura’s most unique
aspects is that they offer modified wood that is as durable
as the endangered and coveted tropical wood – but made
of sustainably sourced German wood.
“The initial idea was to save the tropical rainforests
here in Southeast Asia, which we can do as we have
enough resources in Europe, and especially Germany
where our forests have been sustainable for 300 years and
still growing,” Christian Pongratz, senior sales manager of
timura, explained. “We use ash, spruce, pine and beech
for our products, and do not add chemicals to improve
their lifespan.”
THERMAL TECHNOLOGY
timura uses the vacuum press drying procedure to
press the wood flooring with a force of over 70 tonnes,
improving the heat transfer in the chamber and slightly
compressing the wood. Moreover, the vacuum encourages
the expulsion of volatile accessories while also keeping the
process gentle and precisely controlled.
Additionally, the thermal modification ensures that
on top of eliminating internal cracks, thus enhancing its
dimensional stability, timura’s products are homogenous
and each batch can be exactly replicated in terms of their
dryness and quality.

MATERIALS 51
RESTRICTIONS
As the wood has been heated, compressed and modified, its water content brought down,
and rate of water absorption reduced, it comes with limitations for load-bearing, something
timura has overcome with the use of SenoFix.
“We don’t use screws on our wood, so we use the SenoFix especially in flooring where
there is high traffic,” Pongratz expounded. “SenoFix was specially developed for our thermos
wood.”
However, another disadvantage is that the wood does not come with light-fastness,
with constant exposure to sunlight leading to a greying effect, which can be combated with
maintenance or by applying a protective coating.
“Although the wood does not need to be oiled to extend its lifetime, if it is not maintained,
the wood will just turn slightly grey – much like teak,” Pongratz elaborated. “In essence, it
will take on the appearance of aged wood after about six months, giving it character.” ℗
All images are credited to
timura Holzmanufaktur
“When the wood is pressed and
thermally modified, its expansion and
contraction is also greatly reduced,
and one benefit is that it will not bend
or warp on you,” Pongratz added. “So
there is no need to iron out the wood
every few years.”
BENEFITS
Because the wood has been
compressed, the weight and density
of the wood is not only reduced,
but crack formation tendencies are
lowered as well. The lower density,
in turn, leads to a decreased thermal
conductivity, resulting in improved
insulation as well.
Its water absorption and waterbinding
properties also mean that the
durability and lifespan of the wood
flooring is enhanced, thus making it
suitable for all weathers as well as
interior and exterior decking.
“Mould normally grows on the
wood if the moisture is over 20
per cent, but we thermally modify
the wood and bring the moisture
down to around eight to nine per
cent,” Pongratz said. “Because the
moisture is halved in comparison to
'normal' wood, mould cannot grow on
the wood, its durability is also
enhanced.”
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

52 STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS 53
“This large-scale commercial application of white oak glulam
should really open architects’ eyes to this alternative option
for their structural materials portfolio…”
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

54 STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS
An engineering marvel made of American white oak features
in the redevelopment of the Warner Stand at Lord’s Cricket
Ground in London. The primary structure of the roof is
formed from 11 cantilever glue-laminated (glulam) beams, up to
23 metres long, the first time the species has been employed in
this format on this scale.
Architects Populous wanted to create a building that had the
impression of lightness—hence the canopy comprising fabric
rather than glass, and the 13-metre cantilevered section that
makes it seem to float over the crowd.
“We wanted to capture cricket’s summer character and the
ambience of a local club marquee,” said Philip Johnson, senior
principal and project lead at Populous.
The new four-storey stand has 2,656 seats with improved
sightlines, a new match control suite and better facilities.
Sustainability is also at the forefront of the design thinking, with
solar thermal and photovoltaic roof panels to generate power. It
replaces a 1950s structure and is part of an ongoing masterplan to
improve visitor experience and boost the international reputation
of Lord’s.
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS 55
Part of the brief was also to have its own visual identity,
while sitting sympathetically alongside Lord’s other buildings.
“Lord’s comprises individual stand styles rather than one
stadium design; it’s an architectural campus, described as
‘pavilions around a village green’, so we made design nods to
the other stands, notably the tent-like fabric roof of the Mound
Stand,” Johnson added.
American white oak came on the scene through discussions
between Arup and the American Hardwood Export Council,
which also provided technical advice and helped source the
timber.
“The imagination of the architects, the inspiration of the
engineers and the skill and tenacity of the fabricators have
produced a landmark structure, which is a pivotal moment in
the evolution of timber construction. This is also an exciting
moment for us (AHEC), turning our vision of what might be
possible structurally with our hardwoods, into a reality,” said
David Venables, AHEC European Director.
The American white oak beams were
manufactured by German timber specialist
Hess Timber. Each beam measures 900mm x
350mm at the deepest point. The longest
glulam beam weighs approximately four tonnes and
measures 23.4 metres in length. The AHEC Grown
in Seconds sustainability calculator showed that the
100m 3 of American white oak lumber used to fabricate
the beams would take only 160 seconds to be replaced
in the American forest.
“An advantage of American white oak’s stiffness
and uniformity was that we could predict deflection
levels and camber very precisely,” said Markus Golinski,
head of Sales, Hess Timber.
The beams also extend back using the same roof
fabric, but double-skinned with a mid-layer of Aerogel
insulation. “So we have the same translucency, but,
combined with double glazing and renewables,
including ground source heating, it enables the building
to be used for hospitality all year round. Then on
summer match days the wide windows can be thrown
open, creating one space that engages spectators with
the game,” said Johnson.
Lord’s new stand marks another milestone in
American hardwoods’ difficult journey to get to this point
in structural uses, but this project, Venables said, “should
really open architects’ eyes to this alternative option for their
structural materials portfolio at a time when they’re looking
to build more with wood worldwide.” ℗
Project Details
Client
: Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)
Location
: London, United Kingdom
Completion : June 2017
Architects
: Populous
Engineers
: Arup
Engineered wood manufacturer : Hess Timber
White oak supplier
: Robinson Lumber
Photography
: Jon Cardwell
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

56 SHOW PREVIEW
Just when you thought Vietnam’s impressive export turnover could
rise no further, it is once again set to climb, reaching a whopping
US$9 billion in 2018. Wood and wood-based products will account for
US$8.5-8.7 billion of this figure, according to the Handicraft and Wood Industry
Association of HCMC (HAWA).
The country’s claim to fame as the world’s next production powerhouse
has been unprecedented, yet for the past seven years, revenues have been
rising 12.3 per cent annually. In 2017, wood-based products exports jumped
10.2 per cent to US$8 billion, a goal expected only in 2020. The industry is
forecast to continue on this growth trajectory for the next three years, said
HAWA Chairman Nguyen Quoc Khanh.
Today, Vietnam is the fifth largest furniture exporter in the world, claiming
a global market share of six per cent. It ranks second in Asia, behind China, and
is the largest exporter in Southeast Asia.
Its appeal as a manufacturing base lies in lower labour costs compared to
neighbouring countries.
Much of this furniture goes to the U.S., Japan, EU, China and South Korea.
With housing starts on an upward trend on the back of a recovering global
economy, we can expect furniture demand to climb further.
In the first 11 months of 2017, Vietnam was also the second largest importer
of American hardwood logs, lumber and veneer after China, according to the
American Hardwood Export Council.
Given the high growth potential of this market, VIFA Woodmac will provide
you access to more than 1,500 exporting companies in need of new technology
to expand capacity. The show is located in Binh Duong province, Vietnam’s
furniture and wood processing hub. It is near the provinces of Long An and
Dong Nai, and Ho Chi Minh City where 60 per cent of the country’s factories
are located.
You can also expect to reach a majority of Vietnam’s 4,000 over wood
processing and furniture companies at two pre-event technical seminar series
in May and July. Many of these visitors will need new machinery, software and
materials to boost output.
Join us on a journey to explore new business opportunities in the production
powerhouse of the future!
- Export turnover to reach US$9Bn
in 2018
- Vietnam’s growth trajectory to
continue for the next three years
Date: Oct 24 – 27, 2018
Venue: Expo Binh Duong, Binh Duong Province, Vietnam
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

58 SHOW PREVIEW
2018
As one the most interesting events in the international wood
market, Sylva Wood is returning for its fourth edition to
become the one-stop destination for bringing furniture and
flooring manufacturers, as well as traders and importers
together to strategise, and exchange ideas and insights.
The countdown is on for the annual Sylva Wood. Now in its fourth year, the only specialised wood materials show in Asia,
with no machinery or finished products, has built a solid reputation in the region and set to be even greater.
Once again taking place in June, Sylva Wood remains the ideal place for industry players to meet while leveraging on the
opportunity to tap into the Chinese market.
“We are overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response. Sylva Wood has expanded its footprint over the years, and in this fourth
edition, we are looking at the interplay of big and small companies to bring the best in the industry to visitors,” said William
Pang, director of Shanghai Pablo Exhibition.
The show continues to be endorsed by the American Hardwood Export Council, American Softwoods, Canada
Wood, French Timber and Softwood Export Council. This year, it has also received the support from the Thai
Timber Association, Malaysian Timber Council and National Hardwood Lumber Association.
Visitors can also look out for the Russian Pavilion as it returns again for the second time along
with the Dongguan Veneer Alliance.
Sylva Wood 2018 will take
place in Shanghai from
June 25 to 27
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

SHOW PREVIEW 59
The Russian Pavilion will return again for the second time along with the Dongguan Veneer Alliance
“The show has been improving. It focuses on wood
materials and is very useful for our members. We’ve got
a pretty good number of visitors visiting and they are
professional timber trade people. The members are very
happy so I believe this is a quality show that is valuable for
us,” said John Chan, AHEC’s regional director.
EXPLORING CHINA’S POTENTIAL
According to RISI, a company specialising in providing
information and data for the global forest products
industry, China’s imports of softwood and hardwood logs
have jumped by 42 per cent in the last five years, while
imports of lumber soared by 81 per cent.
The country is the world’s largest importer of wood
fibre, and largest exporter of plywood, flooring, wooden
furniture and other related products. While rising labour
costs and other factors have been potential drags on
growth, 2017 still saw record-high imports of logs and
lumber.
In addition, despite the central government’s move
to aggressively reduce financial risk and pollution in the
country, the wood content of China’s primary forest
products imports will increase from an estimated 194
million cubic metres in 2015 to 254 million cubic metres
by 2025, reported RISI.
The country’s timber and forest products imports are expected
to increase by 60 million cubic metres by 2025, and will eventually
account for 12 to 13 per cent of global timber harvest.
As the only premier platform for the wood materials sector,
visitors and exhibitors can expect opportunities to explore and
enhance productivity and competitiveness at this dedicated
business-to-business event.
The world-class show will take place in Shanghai from June
25 to 27 and a full programme of workshops and seminars will
be held over the three days – with more details to be provided in
the following months.
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

60 SHOW PREVIEW
“ We had a very successful time at the show this year.
So many professional visitors came along to find out
more about veneer. We had time to explain some of
its applications and manufacture, which is one of
the better points of this show: since most of them
are industry people, it doesn’t take a lot for them to
understand the product. This show is great for those
who need to shop for a variety of wood products.
”
Guo Yongbing,
General Manager,
Dongguan City International Wood
“ We visit Sylva Wood every year but this is the first
time we have a booth here. The show has grown a lot
since the first edition. Visitor numbers have also gone
up. More importantly, visitors are always professional.
We had a fruitful time meeting old and new customers.
Sylva Wood is already well-established; I think it
is good to continue keeping it cosy and focused.
”
Guo Xianfeng,
Chief Representative in China,
Bingaman Lumber
Sylva Wood 2018
Dates : June 25 - 27
Venue : 99 Xing Yi Road
Shanghai 200336
For more
details : www.sylvawoodexpo.com
“ I first joined Sylva Wood in
2016. When I was here last year,
I did not have much expectations.
But after attending the fair in
these two years, my perception
has completely changed. The
show is very specialised and is
professionally done. Every visitor
here is a potential buyer and
is the right target audience for
our company. It also looks like
there are more exhibitors this
year – from Malaysia, France and
Russia. With more exhibitors, it
will attract more visitors and
keep them coming back, which
will benefit our company. Sylva
Wood has definitely exceeded
my expectations and I’m really
pleased with the results. I believe
I will be back again next year.
”
Noah Li,
Director,
Quebec Wood Export Bureau
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

2018
by Panels & Furniture Group
4 th Edition
25 – 27 June 2018
Shanghai, China
ASIA’S SPECIALISED WOOD MATERIALS
WOOD PRODUCTS TRADE SHOW
ORGANISER
CO-ORGANISER
ENDORSED BY
Shanghai Pablo
Exhibition Co., Ltd.
Shanghai
Timber Trade
Association
French
Timber
American
Hardwood
Export Council
American
Softwoods
Softwood
Export Council
Canada Wood
www.sylvawoodexpo.com
Thai Timber
Association
Malaysian
Timber
Council
National
Hardwood
Lumber
Association

62 SHOW REVIEW
Amagnificent building material like
timber should not be reduced
to secondary functions and
Malaysian architects as well as structural
engineers need to relook the use of
timber in architecture. As the world
moves towards changing building code
regulations to accommodate timber
high-rises, Malaysia should consider
revisiting its building tradition with this
material.
This was the message conveyed by
the distinguished panel of speakers at
the Malaysian Timber Council’s (MTC)
International Conference on Wood
Architecture held Nov 9 in Kuala Lumpur.
The panel included world-renowned
The Malaysian Timber
Council’s International
Conference on Wood
Architecture highlights
why timber is the star
building material of the
21 st century.
or manufactured off-site to improve
productivity and reduce on-site
construction waste. The use of IBS
components with a minimum score of
70 per cent in government projects will
be made mandatory. IBS is also expected
to improve productivity by 2.5 times,”
he added.
In the recent Budget 2018, Malaysia’s
prime minister announced various
initiatives to strengthen small-andmedium
enterprises (SMEs) as well as
enhance automation and Bumiputera
entrepreneurship.
“Sensational timber structures have
been developed primarily in European
countries and this is something which
Conference participants (from left): Kevin Hill, PAM President Ezumi Harzani, Norihide Imagawa, Almaz Salma Abdul Rahim, MTC Deputy CEO Richard Yu,
JKR Civil and Structural Engineering Branch Director Ir Muhammad Azman Jamrus, Azman Md Nor, Boris Iskra and Andrew Waugh.
architects and engineers Andrew
Waugh, Norihide Imagawa, Kevin Hill and
Boris Iskra. Malaysian architects
Almaz Salma Abdul Rahim and
Azman Md Nor, first and second prize
winners, respectively, of MTC’s inaugural
Malaysian Wood Awards 2017, spoke on
their winning designs as well as on their
other wood-based structures.
The conference promotes the use
of timber and highlights the need
to change the mindsets of those in
the construction industry. About 300
delegates attended.
Deputy Minister of the Plantation
Industries and Commodities YB Datuk
Datu Nasrun Datu Mansur officiated the
opening ceremony on behalf of Minister
YB Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong. Also
present was MTC Chief Executive Officer
Datuk Dr Abdul Rahim Nik.
Players in the construction industry
will find themselves in a transition period
and will have to employ a different
attitude which would be a more nurturing
one when they build with timber as the
government institutes various initiatives
such as the Industrialised Building
System or IBS, said Nasrun, delivering a
speech on behalf of Minister Mah.
“Under the IBS, components such
as timber frames will be prefabricated
we can emulate. Building regulations
are also being revised, reflecting the
successes accomplished in countries
which have constructed tall timber
structures. Malaysia should embrace the
advancements that timber architecture
is offering,” Abdul Rahim said.
A mini exhibition was also held
in conjunction with the conference
to showcase products such as doors,
flooring, decking, panel products,
mouldings and glulam. These enabled
specifiers and users to know what is
available in the market. ℗
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

24-27 October 2018
2 nd Edition
THE WOODWORKING
SHOW IN THE HEART
OF VIETNAM'S
FURNITURE CLUSTER
BINH DUONG
BINH DUONG — THE RIGHT LOCATION
Jointly organised by
HAWA CORPORATION
PANELS & FURNITURE Group
Enquiries For International Exhibitors
Pablo Publishing Pte Ltd
3 Ang Mo Kio Street 62 #01-23 Link@AMK
Singapore 569139
Tel: (65) 6266 5512
Email: williampang@pabloasia.com
Venue: Expo Binh Duong
Binh Duong Province, Vietnam.
www.vifawoodmacvietnam.com

64 WOOD CLINIC
Mr Shim (Shen Yuxin)
Dear Mr Shim,
We are trying to make interior fi t-outs, mostly furniture and
cabinets. They are usually pre-fabricated in the factory
according to the customised designs. However, we always
encounter problems; we can’t seem to communicate the
drawings with the craftsmen. There are also complaints that
the thin basswood veneer doesn’t stick well on the MDF. Can
you advise on the above?
Yours sincerely,
Mr Wu
COMMUNICATE BETTER
WITH THE CRAFTSMEN
There are many reasons for
communication failure between the
craftsmen and designer. In general,
the design blueprint shows how the
completed interior space looks like—
replete with decorations and furnishings,
the way you would see it as if looking
through the pinhole of a camera.
If you only communicate this
perspective with the factory craftsmen,
there will be difficulties with material
prep, furniture specifications, structure
and cost calculation. Talk to the chief
interior designer or the person who
came up with the blueprint. From there,
draft out detailed construction drawings
and use professional jargon to be more
specific. This enables the craftsmen to
carry out the work plan accordingly, thus
meeting the designer’s requirements
and completing the project on time.
Some suggestions for specifying
construction drawings:
based on the size of the interior area
and furniture. For larger sized
furniture such as cabinets or
ceilings, the imperial scale of 1/8 "=
1 ' 0", 1/4 "= 1"-0 "or 3/8" = 1 "-0"
and the metric scale of 1:100, 1:60,
1:50 are often applied. For smaller
furniture such as dressers, tables
and chairs, larger imperial scales, for
example 1 "= 1 ' 0", 1.5 "= 1"-0 ", 3"
= 1 '-0 ", and the metric scale of
1:10, 1:4 are applied. With the use
of 1:1 or 1:2, detailed sketches can
be understood more clearly,
enabling workers to cut materials
directly to the scale of 1:1.
Heigth
2. Drawings should be made
according to the principle of
projection, mainly: plans, front
views, profiles, cutaway views,
detailed sketches. When necessary,
they should also contain local
isometric drawings.
- Plan: This is the overview of the
furniture, drawn according to the
principle of horizontal orthographic
projection. For example, Fig. I
indicates the length and width of a
television cabinet.
- Front view: This is drawn according
to the length of the television
cabinet with its height and legs
Fig. I: Diagram of the television cabinet plan indicating length and width.
Length
(I) Making construcon drawings
1. Construction drawings should be
drawn to scale. The scale is generally
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA

WOOD CLINIC 65
indicated (see Fig. II).
- Profile: The profile is drawn
according to the orthographic
projection of the television cabinet
side. The width (depth) of the
cabinet profile can be determined
according to the width of the plan,
as shown in Fig. III.
- Cutaway view: Cut across a line in
any direction of the front view and
draw a cutaway view according to
the position of the cutting line. This
will enable the craftsmen to see the
internal structure clearly, as shown
in Fig. IV.
Heigth
- Detailed sketch: Furniture can
be complex and some have special
requirements for their structure. In
general the structure can be
magnified to scale with the size of
the important parts indicated so that
the craftsmen can see clearly and
ensure construction is accurate. For
example, Fig. V shows a detailed
sketch of the TV cabinet requiring
installation of slide rails.
3. Other notes: The language and
graphics of the drawing provide all
the necessary information
on materials and structure. This is
sometimes indicated in the margin of
the drawing to confirm the
construction is correct.
4. Size indication: Although the
drawing is drawn to scale, for the
convenience of the craftsmen, the
actual size also needs to be indicated
for accuracy.
(II)Staff training: Since workers’
carpentry knowledge and skills
vary, intensive training courses
should be provided on a regular
basis. This will enable them to
understand construction drawings,
improve carpentry knowledge,
operate machines and know-how to
exercise quality control.
Communicating in a common
language will also ensure that the
work is carried out smoothly and of
satisfactory quality.
Heigth
Fig. II: Front view of the television cabinet drawn according to the length of the plan with the
cabinet’s height and legs indicated.
Fig. III: The television cabinet profi le drawn
according to the orthographic projection of the
cabinet’s side.
Fig. IV: Draw a cutting line in any direction
of the front view and draw a cutaway view
according to the position of the cutting line.
(III) Why thin basswood veneer doesn’t
sck well on MDF
- The MDF is unstable: Poor MDF
quality may lead to uneven pressure
due to the too large thickness
tolerance, thus affecting the
adhesive strength of the basswood
veneer. The surface may also contain
wax, which can cause the adhesive
strength of the basswood veneer to
fail. Use a wide belt sanding machine
for equal thickness interference with
a 100-abrasive belt before joining
the MDF and basswood veneer. It is
best to remove the wax on the
board’s surface to be coated with
glue with a 150-180 abrasive belt to
improve the adhesive strength.
- Treatment of the basswood veneer:
As basswood has larger pores and
its cell wall is thinner, water-based
adhesive membrane absorbs more,
leading to poor adhesive strength.
Use the wide belt sanding machine
to sand the surface of the basswood
veneer to be coated with glue, to
destroy the inner wall of the cell
and strengthen the contact between
the cell wall and the adhesive
through the sanding principle. This
will increase the bonding surface and
improve adhesion.
I hope the above analysis helps.
Fig. V: A detailed sketch of the television cabinet shows slide rail installation.
PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA • Issue 2 • March / April 2018

66
NEWSLETTER
MARCH/APRIL 2018
THE
THE MALAYSIAN MDF MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (MMMA)
BUZZ
The New Year 2018 and the
Lunar Calendar Year of the
Dog were heralded with great
fanfare and proclamations of
the virtues of the wood and
timber industry with headlines
such as: Timber Exports Continue
Uptrend, Furniture Market Poised
for Growth, Plywood Prices Sky
Rocketing, U.S. Lumber Outlook
Very Positive, Further Increase In
Timber Prices, GST Bears Fruit in
Indian Growth for Timber Products,
Second Largest Post-war Economic
Expansion in Japan, The Dragon
Soars – Chinese Furniture Market,
Bright Prospects for Wood Products
Export, The World Prefers Wood
Products… I could go on but I think
you get the picture.
These headlines are genuine
and by and large backed up by
statistics and data. For the timber
industry as a whole, this has been
very welcome news. However if we
look more closely, in particular, to the
particleboard and Medium Density
Fibreboard businesses in South East
Asia, the news is not as positive. Basic
economics comes into play and the
industry finds itself once again with a
huge imbalance between supply and
demand.
Over the past five years and for
the next three years, an average
of four new particleboard and MDF
lines have either started or will start
annually within South East Asia.
The majority of this investment has
been made in Thailand, Vietnam
and Indonesia. The main drivers for
this growth have been the demand
for wood panel products required
for the automated mass production
of furniture. The other important
factor is the availability of a relatively
cheap, sustainable raw material
– Rubberwood. These two factors
joined together have made South East
Asia the most competitive producing
region for MDF and particleboard in
the world today.
What lies ahead?
So what does all this mean for the
MDF and particleboard market in
Asia for 2018? Unfortunately it is not
looking very good at all. As supply
raced ahead of demand, we saw a
dramatic softening of particleboard
prices at the end of 2017 and a similar
oversupply situation developing for
MDF at the beginning of 2018. This
does not bode well for the industry
and could result in dire consequences
unless manufacturers act responsibly
and with maturity. The situation is
even more critical for Malaysian
manufacturers as costs increase due
to a strengthening currency and higher
labour cost.
Assuming that the global economy
continues to grow robustly and the
demand for furniture and panel
products remains strong the industry
will still face risks and challenges:
1. Investments in new plant and
capacity remains in place for at least
the next three years. The new lines
‘promoted’ by the big European
machine manufacturers are far larger
than previous models, with installed
capacities of up to 2,000m 3 per
day. Capacity increases are ‘step’
increases and not linear, so when a
new line enters the market it has a
disproportionate impact on supply.
2. Demand projections are based
on robust global growth and strong
demand from both traditional and
emerging markets. Key demand
drivers will be the U.S., China and
India, any setbacks in these markets
will adversely affect demand. Some
MDF manufacturers are overly
dependent on risky Middle Eastern
markets; if these markets are
disrupted, there will be a very large
surplus supply volume potentially
entering other markets.
3. Cost is relentlessly moving up
as other raw materials (especially
related to oil) and labour is gradually
moving into an inflationary phase
from a previous deflationary scenario.
The U.S. Dollar has, by and large
depreciated against major Asian
currencies which has negatively
affected business particularly in
Malaysia.
4. The fi nal critical factor is the
availability of a sustainable and
relatively cheap wood-based raw
material. In Malaysia we realised
many years ago that the ‘Rubberwood
Era’ was fast coming to an end
and this could be seen by the
relatively small investments made
in Malaysia over the past few years.
Malaysian Rubberwood is now the
most expensive in SE Asia and is
also in critical decline with regards
to availability. Thailand on the other
hand has, by far the largest planted
areas of Rubberwood in SE Asia,
which has resulted in huge ongoing
investments and a phenomenal
increase in installed capacity. Thai
MDF and particleboard is probably
the most competitive in the world
today. Investments in Vietnam have
been large and successful but they
will quickly reach a situation where
Rubberwood will be in short supply
and prices will increase. Indonesia
has the second largest availability of

THE MALAYSIAN MDF MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (MMMA)
Rubberwood but investment has been
slower due to other problems such as
infrastructure and logistics.
A silver lining?
The positives are that due to the
imbalance of supply and demand
prices remain extremely competitive.
This continues to be good news
for furniture manufacturers as their
increasing costs are by and large
being absorbed by the lower prices of
particleboard and MDF. This will act as
a catalyst to further stimulate demand.
We will see that more and more
producers of MDF and particleboard
will move ‘down-stream’ and start to
add value by producing semi-finished
materials or even venturing into
furniture production. Vietnam has the
largest furniture industry followed by
Malaysia in SE Asia, and one can
foresee mergers and acquisitions
across industries.
In summary, Thailand has
become, and will remain the most
competitive producer of MDF and
particleboard within South East Asia.
This will continue for the foreseeable
future as it takes advantage of its
available Rubberwood resources. It
will be interesting to see if furniture
production in Thailand increases as a
result because currently the industry
is relatively small compared to its
neighbours. Thai manufacturers are
mostly big corporations that are able
to utilise the latest technology and
can afford substantial investments.
To this end, manufacturers in
Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam will
struggle to compete. The Thai panel
manufacturers will drive the market
whilst the rest of us will only be able
to follow, if we can keep up!
NEWSLETTER
MARCH/APRIL 2018
About the Author
Peter Fitch is the founder of
Segamat Panel Boards (Malaysia)
and is currently the Chairman of
the Malaysian MDF Manufacturers
Association (MMMA) and Executive
Committee Member of the Malaysian
Panel Manufacturers Association
(MPMA). Prior to working in Malaysia
he worked for Plantation Timber
Products (China) and Takeuchi MDF
(Malaysia). Peter has been based in
Asia for more than 25 years and has
been in the wood panel business for
more than 20 years.

70
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2018
MARCH
7 – 10 Vietnam Int’l Furniture &
| Home Accessories Fair | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | www.vifafair.com
8 – 11 | Malaysian Int’l Furniture Fair | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | www.2018.miff.com.my
8 – 11 | IFFS | Singapore | www.iffs.com.sg
8 – 12 | India Wood | Bangalore, India | www.indiawood.com
9 – 12 | Export Furniture Exhibition | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | www.efe.my
11 – 14 | Indonesia Int’l Furniture Expo | Jakarta, Indonesia | www.ifexindonesia.com
12 – 14 | Dubai Woodshow | Dubai, UAE | www.dubaiwoodshow.com
18 – 21 | CIFF | Guangzhou, China | www.ciff-gz.com
20 – 23 | Domotex Asia/ China Floor | Shanghai, China | www.domotexasiachinafloor.com
28 – 31 | CIFM/ interzum guangzhou | Guangzhou, China | www.interzum-guangzhou.com
APRIL
2 – 5 | Wood Taiwan | Taipei, Taiwan | www.woodtaiwan.com
17 – 22 | Salone de Mobile Milano | Milan, Italy | www.salonemilano.it
MAY
25 – 28 | Qingdao Int’l Furniture Fair | Qingdao, China | www.qiff.net
30 – 1 Jun | Carrefour Int’l du bois | Nantes, France | www.timbershow.com
JUNE
20 – 22 | AHEC Annual Convention | Xi'An, China | www.americanhardwood.org
20 – 22 | Gabon Woodshow | Libreville, Gabon | www.gabonwoodshow.com
25 – 27 | Sylva Wood 2018 | Shanghai, China | www.sylvawoodexpo.com
SEPTEMBER
11 – 14 | China International Furniture Fair | Shanghai, China | www.ciff-sh.com
11 – 14 | FMC 2018 | Shanghai, China | www.fmcchina.com.cn
26 – 29 | IFMAC & WOODMAC 2018 | Jakarta, Indonesia | www.ifmac.net
OCTOBER
2 – 4 | NHLA Convention | Toronto, Canada | www.nhla.com
11 – 13 | Manufacturing World Technology | Manila, The Philippines | www.globallinkmp.com/mtw
25 – 27 | VIFA Woodmac Vietnam 2018 | Binh Duong, Vietnam | www.vifawoodmacvietnam.com
NOVEMBER
1 – 4 | MyanmarWood 2018 | Yangon, Myanmar | www.myanmar-expo.com/MyanmarWood
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA
Calendar is accurate at time of print. Subject to change.

ADVERTISERS’
INDEX
March / April 2018 • Issue 2 • PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA
COMPANY
PAGE
AHEC
IBC
Anderson-Tully 43
Argos Solutions 49
Baillie Lumber Co 7
Dieffenbacher GmbH 9
Extend Light Machinery Co Ltd 35
Hardwood Market Report 67
Hoon Hsiang Ind Co Ltd 33
IMAL SRL
FC, IFC
IMEAS spa 11
Jiangsu Baolong Electromechanical Mfg Co Ltd 57
Jowat 47
Kastamonu 27
Kuang Yung Machinery Co Ltd 51
Lesnaya Industriya Journal 69
Malaysian Timber Council 5
MyanmarWood 2018 68
Northwest Hardwoods 15
Plytec Oy 41
Sandvik S E A Pte Ltd 1
Scheuch GmbH
OBC
Shanghai Woodbased Panel Machinery Co Ltd 25
Siempelkamp Maschinen-und Anlagenbau GmbH 3
Softwood Export Council 13
Steinert Co Ltd 17
Sylva Wood 2018 61
Technik Associates, Inc 71
Tong Fong Cutters Co Ltd 72
VIFA WOODMAC Vietnam 2018 63
Wilhelm Altendorf GmbH & Co KG 29
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