Panels & Furniture Asia July/August 2024

www.panelsfurnitureasia.com 

JULY/AUGUST 2024

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CONTENTS 

Contents 

Issue 4 / Panels & Furniture Asia 

July / August 2024 

7 Editor’s Note 

8 News 

66 Calendar of Events 

68 List of Advertisers 

Market Report 

14 Assessing the outlook for the wood industry in 2024 

16 GTI Report observes weaker performance across GTI 

producing countries for Apr 2024 

Environmental Report 

19 AHEC and the US hardwood industry are developing a system 

for EUDR compliance 

In Person 

22 “I am excited to be a part of Biesse’s change.” 

25 Ducerf Group: Outlook and projects for 2024 

14 

54 

Product Highlight 

27 New hotmelt adhesive for manufacturing decorative panels 

and sandwich elements 

28 Felder Group launches upgraded edgebanders 

30 Sprint 2 manual powder coating unit 

Panel Manufacturing 

32 The technology to recycle waste wood back into 

good-quality panelboards is “already here” 

35 The “accidental” but welcoming discovery of a plant-based 

circular resin 

38 Catching up with Andritz 

40 ColourBrain MFC 4.0 inspection system in Unilin direct 

coating lines 

42 Saving the forest for the trees: Pika ReTech on sustainable 

action 

Furniture Manufacturing 

44 Best practices of batch size one in furniture production 

48 Maestro Lab and Cargo systems: SCM’s new entries to their 

CNC machining centres 

50 Revolutionising carpentry: The journey of United Design & 

Renovation with CABINET VISION 

52 Professional edgebanding on HOMAG CNC machines: New 

technology for better results 

Flooring 

54 New floor roller coating line from Bürkle optimises 

production 

Structural Elements 

57 Chapel to St John Paul II in La Almudena 

Columnists 

60 Unlocking the potential of palm wood for engineered doors 

Show Preview 

62 Explore the best in South East Asian woodworking and 

furniture at TIWF 2024 

44 

Show Review 

64 Innovation and opportunities abound at CIFF and CIFM/ 

interzum guangzhou 

6 PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA | JULY / AUGUST 2024

FROM THE EDITOR 

From the ground 

I had the opportunity to speak to several 

players from the woodworking sector during 

the recent Hanoi Wood Expo exhibition. 

Their responses about the market 

movements of late were quite varied. 

For the furniture market, things are picking 

up. Orders are coming back again, and one 

look at the recent export performance by 

Malaysia and Vietnam is proof. Furniture 

exports are on the rise again, better 

compared to the same period last year. The 

caveat, however, is that this is not felt evenly 

across the region. Rumour has it that there 

are still factory closures in China. 

For the wood materials market, things are 

not doing so well — at least, not for Asia. 

Exports of US hardwoods to South East 

Asia recorded a tick in the first few months, 

but the South East Asia market itself is 

sluggish. From a recent report by the 

International Tropical Timber Organization 

(ITTO), every Global Timber Index (GTI) 

registered country besides China — that 

means Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, for 

countries in South East Asia — observed a 

fall in performance across various criteria. 

Flip to page 16 for reasons in the dip in 

performances. 

Likewise, the market for the wood panel market, 

overall, is either stagnating or performing badly. 

Challenges of raw material and manpower price 

hikes are carried over from last year, and they 

show no signs of abating. While we can wait for 

the market to pick up again — heavily dependent 

on the US and EU — what can the industry do 

to diversify our revenue streams? Tapping into 

alternative raw materials is one way. In this 

issue, our interview with Tomra Recycling not 

only sheds light on how the company’s Wood 

Recycling division has come so far since they 

formally started around three years ago, but 

also how wood recycling in ever so important 

in this era where raw materials are becoming 

pricier and scarcer. Flip to page 32 for insights 

into this by Jose Matas, global wood director 

segment at Tomra. 

We have other interesting interviews in store for 

you as well: Biesse’s newest managing director 

for South East Asia, Casey Ching, steps into 

the woodworking world for the first time and 

introduces himself (p.22); we also interviewed 

Plantics, a company specialising in bio- or nonformaldehyde 

reins for wood panel production 

(p.35). The wood and woodworking industry 

continues to move forward regardless of how 

the market performs, and we hope to continue 

bringing you quality reporting along the way. 

Yap Shi Quan 

EDITOR 

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JULY / AUGUST 2024 | PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA 7

NEWS 

Century Plyboards India produces first 

MDF board with Siempelkamp plant 

Siempelkamp has announced that Century 

Plyboards India (CPIL) has produced their first 

MDF board at its newest facility in Andhra 

Pradesh, India. 

CPIL partnered with Siempelkamp to establish 

its largest MDF facility in Andhra Pradesh. 

This facility has a daily production capacity of 

950m³. 

According to Siempelkamp, CPIL holds 

the distinction of being the “first” ISO 9002 

company in India in the plywood and veneer 

industry. CPIL has a range of products including 

plywood, laminates, veneers, doors, MDF, 

particleboard, fibre cement boards, PVC, and 

exterior grade laminates. 

Siempelkamp has provided various equipment 

for this facility; the company supplied the 

core part of the production line, including a 

Hanoi Wood Expo 

showcases innovations in the 

global woodworking industry 

The inaugural edition of the Hanoi Wood 

Expo opened its doors on 29 May. The event 

brought together international buyers and 

sellers to one of the thriving hubs of furniture 

manufacturing in Vietnam. 

fibre dryer and a sifter system, the forming 

line incorporating the most advanced mat 

area weight control system, and a ContiRoll 

Generation 9 press in the format 8ft x 33.8m. 

A board cooling and stacking line, as well as 

an automatic storage system were part of 

the package. 

The ContiRoll, equipped with a thin board 

and high-density package, produces boards 

with thicknesses ranging from 1.5-37mm. 

These boards can be manufactured 

at speeds as high as 1,800mm/s, with 

densities varying from 650-1,100 kg/m 3 . 

In addition, Siempelkamp’s Prod-IQ 

technology serves the purpose of gathering, 

evaluating, and visualising production data 

from the press and laboratory. By utilising 

this technology, CPIL can monitor and 

analyse the production process, leading to 

the production of higher quality boards. Using 

the data provided by Prod-IQ, the company can 

evaluate the efficiency of its plant. 

From the customer’s point of view, several 

aspects worked well in this project with 

Siempelkamp: “Their proactive approach 

in addressing ongoing tasks, despite 

challenges, is commendable. They have 

shown adaptability and commitment to 

progress, even in situations where work 

fronts were still in progress,” said Ankit 

Banthia, executive assistant to the executive 

director of CPIL. 

“Be it their prompt engagement for critical 

deliveries with their established lines or 

their willingness to expedite timelines and 

work extended hours, it demonstrates their 

commitment to efficiency and customer 

satisfaction.” P 

Visitors had the opportunity to meet more 

than 250 domestic and foreign exhibitors 

from around the world. 

Although the industry is largely focused on 

exports, there is a significant gap in meeting 

the needs of the domestic market. This has 

resulted in business opportunities for wood 

and woodworking companies. 

Hanoi Wood Expo 2024 serves as a 

platform for global suppliers and buyers of 

woodworking machinery and wood-based 

products to trade, network, and exchange 

ideas on how best to expand reach into the 

Vietnam market, one of the biggest players in 

the furniture industry — specifically in Hanoi, 

where the local market thrives. 

“The team has been working hard to bring 

the best to you. We are overwhelmed by the 

enthusiastic response, and everyone is asking 

for this exhibition,” said William Pang, managing 

director of Pablo Publishing. 

Hanoi Wood Expo 2024 ran from 29-31 May at 

the National Exhibition Construction Center 

(NECC). P 


NEWS 

Uwe Kahmann 

steps down as 

managing director 

of Fagus-GreCon 

After 17 years at the helm of Alfeld-based 

company Fagus-GreCon, Uwe Kahmann 

has stepped down as managing director 

on 30 Jun by mutual agreement with the 

shareholders. 

Over the 17 years, Kahmann has contributed 

to the company’s development and almost 

tripled its turnover. Under his leadership, 

the company increased its global presence 

while strengthening its market leadership 

in its core fire prevention and measuring 

technology businesses. 

Uwe Kahmann has 

stepped down as 

managing director 

on 30 Jun 

With his trustworthy and cooperative 

personality, he has played a role in shaping 

Fagus-GreCon’s corporate culture. He 

has driven the introduction of technical 

innovations to international markets in 

recent years and actively supported several 

restructuring measures, putting Fagus- 

GreCon in a position to pursue its growth 

plans. 

“I would like to thank the shareholders for 

the trust and support they have shown me, 

[as well as] the more than 700 employees 

worldwide for their committed, teamorientated 

cooperation,” Kahmann said. “It 

has been an honour and a pleasure to lead 

Fagus-GreCon through challenging but 

mostly aspiring times over the past 17 years.” 

(w): www.baillie.com 

(e): info@baillie.com 

(p): 716-649-2850 

Shareholder Ernst Greten added: “We 

are delighted that we have found an 

arrangement with [Kahmann] where he 

will continue to be available in an advisory 

capacity if required.” 

From 1 Jul, Fagus-GreCon will return to a 

two-person management team of Alexander 

Kuppe and Mario Haas. The expansion of 

the first and second management levels will 

also support strategic expansion, further 

internationalisation, and strengthening of 

other application areas. P 


NEWS 

First board produced at 

PG Bison’s new Mkhondo MDF line 

PG Bison has reached a milestone 

with the production of the first 

board from its newly commissioned 

medium-density fibreboard (MDF) 

line at their Mkhondo manufacturing 

facility, almost a month ahead of 

schedule. Full commercial operation 

is set for 1 Jul. This new line has 

tripled PG Bison’s MDF capacity and 

enabled the company to meet the 

growing demand for MDF in Africa and 

select markets. 

The R1.875bn, 274,000m³ MDF line 

has been a major project for the 

business and has taken three years 

to complete. It features the latest 

technology, a German ContiRoll 

press, which offers the flexibility to 

produce not only MDF, but also lowand 

high-density fibreboard. The 

location of the line at the Mkhondo 

manufacturing facility, which also 

houses a particleboard line, resin 

plant, paper treaters and upgrading 

presses, enhances both the global 

cost-competitiveness of the facility 

and positions it as a hub for woodbased 

panel manufacturing in Africa. 

“We are delighted to announce 

the successful completion of the 

project, within budget, and ahead of 

schedule,” said Gerhard Victor, CEO 

of PG Bison. “We look forward to soon 

providing our existing and prospective 

customers with a seamless, 

consistent supply of premium MDF. 

Our added capacity and capability 

to also produce a low and highdensity 

fibreboard underscores our 

dedication to offer our customers 

unparalleled versatility and quality.” 

The completion of this project 

required close coordination and 

collaboration between various 

stakeholders. Gerhard said: 

“The commissioning of the line 

demonstrates the collective efforts 

of our skilled in-house project team 

and our trusted suppliers, productive 

public-private partnerships, 

particularly with Eskom and the 

Department of Trade, Industry and 

Competition, and the backing of our 

shareholder, KAP Limited.” 

The new line created 1 174 contractor 

jobs during the construction phase, 

and will create a further 150 permanent 

jobs in the Gert Sibande District 

Municipality. It will also promote the 

beneficiation of forestry-related 

products and foster downstream value 

addition throughout the local furniture 

value chain. 

Justin Berry, PG Bison’s marketing 

and strategy development executive, 

explained: “The versatile and premium 

products produced off this line will 

play a pivotal role in reducing imports 

in the wood-based panel and furniture 

industries by offering our customers 

the flexibility to tailor solutions to meet 

their specific design requirements. PG 

Bison is aligned with the South African 

government’s localisation objectives, 

as outlined in the Forestry Sector 

Masterplan and the Masterplan for 

the South African Furniture Industry. 

As a proudly South African company, 

we contribute to local employment 

opportunities and economic 

development through our investments 

and operations.” 

As PG Bison embarks on this growth 

phase, it remain steadfast in its 

purpose to inspire and enable beautiful 

spaces. Its renowned brands, including 

BisonBord, SupaWood, MelaWood, 

SupaGloss, SupaMatt, and Formica 

LifeSeal Worktops, continue to offer 

premium quality and versatility for all 

wood-based decorative panel needs. 

Whether for local projects or exports, 

PG Bison is ready to meet the demands 

of their growing customer base. P 

Image: PG Bison 


NEWS 

Acimall, Acimac, 

Amaplast, and 

Ucima jointly form 

Confindustria 

Macchine 

The members of Acimall have collectively 

decided to form a new association, 

Confindustria Macchine. This has marked the 

first step towards a new project that will enable 

Acimall to offer new services, and most of all, 

present a new vision to its members. 

The Federazione Confindustria Macchine per 

ceramica, legno, plastica e gomma, imballaggio 

e confezionamento, or the Confindustria 

Federation for Ceramic, Wood, Plastic and 

Rubber, Packaging Machines will make way for 

stronger representation within Confindustria 

and Italy’s economic and social landscape. This 

new entity will represent some 1,300 companies, 

70,000 employees, and a total turnover of €19bn, 

of which more than 95% is generated through 

export. 

transition of our companies, and the countless 

new issues that our entrepreneurs must face in 

a world that presents more and more complex 

challenges.” 

Optimizing Rip Saw 

w/ 2D scanner feeding system 

MRS-450M / MRS-610M 

Heavy-duty, suitable for Mass production 

3~4 movable saw blades 

Cutting width: 450 mm / 610 mm 

Cutting 8~10 boards per minutes 

During the assembly, the association 

approved the final balance and 

presented the balance of its operating 

branch Cepra. P 

This association will provide additional 

services, consulting and training to the member 

companies of Acimall, Acimac (technologies 

for ceramics), Amaplast (plastic machines) 

and Ucima (packaging technology), the four 

Confindustria associations that have joined the 

project so far. 

“It’s time to make new choices that help the 

manufacturers of instrumental goods face 

a more and more competitive market with 

smarter tools,” said Acimall president Enrico 

Aureli, one of the first supporters of this project. 

Envision a 

GREENER Future 

Reducing material waste 

Labor-saving, Energy-saving 

MRS-340M 

For High-Mix Low-Volume Manufacturing, 

suitable for wood preparation in medium 

/ small factories 

2~3 movable saw blades 

Cutting width: 340 mm 

Cutting 4~5 boards per minutes 

“The partnership with Acimac, Amaplast and 

Ucima -- which we are confident will be joined by 

other associations of the Federmacchine galaxy 

we will continue to collaborate with -- will help 

us represent our positions even more effectively 

in an increasingly global scenario, where the 

challenge from China and other emerging 

countries must be faced with equal rules 

for everyone. Together, we will give broader 

responses to the challenging topic of the green 


NEWS 

Indonesia pumps investment 

to boost local wood 

processing industry 

The Ministry of Industry has allocated 

IDR7.5bn for a programme to assist 

in the upgrading of machinery and 

equipment in the wood and furniture 

processing industries. 

The Ministry of Industry aims to 

assist at least 10 companies needing 

production equipment upgrading. 

Putu Juli Ardika, Director General 

of Agro-Industry at the Ministry 

of Industry, explained that the 

programme aims to strengthen the 

value chain for processed wood and 

furniture by optimising technological 

aspects. 

He added: “In addition, this can 

enhance the competitiveness and 

efficiency of wood processing and 

furniture production.” 

Since 2022, 24 wood and furniture 

processing companies have 

participated in this programme 

and recipient companies say the 

programme increased company 

efficiency by 10-30%, product 

quality by 10-30% and company 

productivity by 20-30% according to 

the ministry. P 

Source: ITTO 

Kronospan 

acquires new 

particleboard facility 

Wood panel producer Kronospan has 

announced the acquisition of Woodgrain’s 

particleboard facility in Island City, 

Oregon, US. 

The addition of the Island City plant will 

strengthen Kronospan’s position in the 

North American wood panel market. 

“The addition of the Island City plant and 

its talented team will further enhance our 

ability to serve our customers and provide 

long-term benefit to our stakeholders,” 

said Hans Obermaier, CEO of Kronospan’s 

North American operations. 

Kelly Dame, president and CEO of 

Woodgrain, stated: “It was important for 

us to find a buyer that is a good fit for 

our 124 team members, and one that will 

continue to invest in the plant and its 

people.” 

Kronospan has expressed its intent to 

invest in the modernisation of the Island 

City plant upon completion of the postacquisition 

period. P 


NEWS 

Norra Timber invests 400 million 

krona in advanced x-ray technology 

New X-ray technology at Norra 

Timber’s sawmills in Sävar and Kåge 

will be able to identify the internal 

properties of logs, such as knots and 

other imperfections. 

“Our investment amounts to a 

substantial total of 400m krona,” said 

Norra Timber’s industry manager, 

Henrik Jönsson. 

The sawmill in Sävar bought its first 

x-ray equipment back in 2017, which 

led to an increase in production of 

6,000 cubic metres of timber planks 

a year, equivalent to 100 fully-loaded 

truck trailers. Thereafter, Norra 

Timber has more equipment in 

hope that it will lead to an additional 

increase in profits. 

In addition to providing information 

on how the logs should be turned 

to produce more planks, the new 

equipment utilises AI to provide 

information on the quality of the log 

and the type of products that different 

parts of the log are most suited for. 

“The equipment produces magnetic 

x-ray just like in a hospital. The 

difference is that scanning is faster. 

Each log only takes two seconds to 

process,” said Henrik Jönsson. 

Norra Timber has invested a total of 

400 million krona in the new equipment 

being installed at its sawmills in Sävar 

and Kåge in northern Sweden. The 

new x-ray technology, which should be 

completely operational by the autumn 

of 2025, will be utilised at the beginning 

of the production process. As trucks 

arrive with the logs, each log will be 

scanned to calculate dimensions and 

provide an overview of the log’s internal 

properties. 

“By scanning the logs from the outset 

we can sort them according to their 

quality and unique internal properties. 

If a customer wants high-quality 

planks for furniture without knots 

that are suitable for undergoing the 

special drying process required, we 

can identify which logs would be best 

before we even start sawing them,” said 

Jönsson. 

“Thanks to the x-rays we can also 

calculate the optimal number of 

planks we can generate from each 

log, which reduces wastage. We can 

therefore extract the maximum value 

from each log. A log with a large branch 

can be turned with the help of the x-ray 

machine so that the branch only ends up 

on one plank and the next plank is free 

of imperfections. Logs account for 75% 

of our costs, so we want to get as much 

value from them as possible.” 

The primary purpose of the investment 

is to be able to assign production data 

to each individual log. In the future each 

log can also be marked with a unique ID 

number as a log fingerprint. 

“The ability to trace our products and get 

data about the timber’s environmental 

impact will give us a competitive 

advantage. It will also be a driving force in 

how we can improve our environmental 

credentials,” said Jönsson. “By mapping 

each plank we can easily go back and see 

if something has gone wrong during the 

production process. We can also see how 

much energy was used for each product, 

which gives us much better control over 

costs and our environmental impact.” 

This latest investment will ensure Norra 

Timber’s sawmills continue to be at the 

technological forefront of its industry 

and remain competitive in the years to 

come. P 

Image: Victor Lundberg 

and Microtec 


MARKET REPORT 

Assessing the outlook for 

the wood industry in 2024 

By Per Friis Knudsen, director of Global Timber Asia 

It is my optimistic yet realistic belief that 

we will return to a more normal market 

situation as in the pre-pandemic period 

at the end of Q3 or early/middle Q4 2024. 

While the market has improved in 2024, 

sales are still fluctuating on a monthly 

basis. Though there are still some 

challenges and setbacks to be expected, 

the industry’s general development will 

become more stable. At the same time, I 

do not foresee any major developments 

concerning timber/lumber prices in 2024. 

Current prices are high across the board, 

as is the case for several months already. 

There is thus no indication that they will 

increase; the same, too, can be said about 

the likelihood for decreasing prices. 

Balancing optimism with realism 

Growing supply in the industry has been 

accompanied by returning demand. 

Orders are being placed again and 

-- although they might be smaller 

and frequent -- their numbers have 

stabilised. With both supply and demand 

coming along nicely, I do not suspect 

prices to change much for the rest of 

the year. 

In April, I visited both the US and 

Europe and met with optimistic, happy, 

and reasonably enthusiastic people 

everywhere I went. Deals were made 

and good relations were maintained, 

and I left the region with goods to offer 

customers in South East Asia. 

In Asia, however, I was met with caution 

and concern as my customers were 

waiting for incoming orders to be used in 

long-term productions. The uncertainty 

over how many orders will arrive has led 

many customers to be worried. 

A shipment of walnut 

to Thailand in May 

2024 


MARKET REPORT 

The main driver of the industry is still 

oak when it comes to flooring, door 

production, and furniture segments. 

While the focus previously had 

been on white oak, more and more 

customers are expressing an 

interest in red oak. 

Red oak has many of the same 

properties as white oak in terms of 

appearance and smell. However, as 

it is also in great abundance, this 

has naturally also influenced its 

price. European red oak is one of the 

finest red oak for customers on the 

market, but in terms of volume, one 

must look to the US. With endless 

possibilities here, my advice would 

be to present red oak at the next 

buyers’ meeting so as to offer a good 

range of oak furniture for an even 

better price and supply. 

Furniture trade shows and 

exhibitions have also been off to 

a great start in 2024, especially 

in contrast to 2022 and 2023. In 

past years, while I was informed 

that there would be thousands of 

attendees to these trade events, I 

did not perceive that the exhibitions 

were well-visited. The same went for 

the wood material and machinery 

exhibitions. Nevertheless, I expect a 

lot more visitors to be present at key 

exhibitions this year, which started 

with Hanoi Wood in May. Hopefully, 

this will be a positive indicator for 

the remaining exhibitions to follow 

in the coming months, as Global 

Timber will be present at both TIWF 

in Bangkok and IFMAC in Jakarta. 

winters, with warmer than normal 

temperatures in the summer. This is 

not a positive development for the 

wood industry. Trees and forests need 

frosty weather with subzero degrees 

(Celsius) as the cold temperatures 

kill most harmful insects and keep 

infestations low. With the current 

weather changes, bark beetles and 

other pests have severely damaged 

trees in the last few winters, leading 

to the logging of damaged timber. 

In Northern Germany, for example, 

oak forests have faced pinholes 

due to bug infestations. It is more 

difficult now to find oak in these 

areas without a minimum number 

of pinholes allowed in the sapwood. 

These wet winters and dry summers 

have thus caused much disruption to 

the industry, together with wildfires, 

storms, and hurricanes. 

Should these weather patterns be 

caused by climate change, then not all 

hope is lost, as global CO2 emissions 

are projected to peak around 2025 

and then fall again with many 

countries committing to net-zero 

policies. 

However, I believe that many 

industrial countries cannot commit 

to such standards as they have 

developing economies, which 

depend heavily on developing the 

heavier industries. Consider how our 

clothes, cars, and phones are most 

likely not produced in a net-zero 

emission committed country -- this 

does not in any way prevent us from 

importing them every time we need 

them. 

Stay positive: A bright future ahead 

for the wood industry 

All in all, I think the wood industry 

is moving in a healthy direction and 

it will continue for years to come. 

Prices will remain stable for 2024 

and hopefully find a level where 

buyers and sellers can find common 

ground. Trends will continue to 

be centred around oak. And while 

I would personally love to see a 

species such as cherry find another 

chance in the furniture industry, its 

chances of doing so are quite slim. 

Nevertheless, I am optimistic in 

general for the wood industry, and 

will continue to do so in the near 

future. P 

Navigating the climate’s impact on 

wood supply 

The accuracy of my predictions 

could be skewed heavily by one 

factor: the climate. There have been 

frequent and intense weather events 

including heatwaves, floods, and 

droughts in the past five to eight 

years. 

Most recently, Northern Europe 

and the northern parts of the 

US experienced its wettest 

Per Friis Knudsen is the director of Global Timber Asia 


MARKET REPORT 

GTI Report observes 

weaker performance 

across GTI producing 

countries for Apr 2024 

planned to engage in diplomacy by presenting 

comprehensive forest cover data and 

scientific methodologies to respond to the 

EUDR. Environment and Forestry Minister Siti 

Nurbaya said the country has a detailed forest 

database with Simontana. 

Image: Malleux/ITTO 

The Global Timber Index (GTI) Report for Apr 

2024 revealed that the overall performance of 

global timber market was relatively sluggish 

this month, with the indexes for Brazil, 

Indonesia, Thailand, Mexico, the Republic 

of the Congo (RCO), Gabon, and Malaysia all 

below the critical value of 50%, registering 

49.3%, 48.8%, 44.7%, 42.0%, 41.6%, 38.4%, 

and 31.1% respectively. However, China stood 

out with an index of 52.3%, surpassing the 

critical value of 50%. 

Despite the overall weaker performance of 

timber sectors in GTI producing countries, 

there had been some positive changes. In 

Brazil and Thailand, the volume of export 

orders increased significantly compared to 

the previous month; in Malaysia and RCO, 

the sub-index for existing orders recorded 

a rise, indicating an improvement in these 

orders. Likewise, for timber harvesting and 

production in the supply side, Indonesia’s 

timber sector showed a gradual increase 

in the volumes of both harvesting and 

production, and Gabon’s downward trend in 

harvesting and production eased. 

GTI-INDONESIA 

Data released by Statistics Indonesia 

(BPS) showed that in Mar 2024, Indonesia 

recorded a surplus of US$4.47bn in its 

trade ($2.02bn in Jan and $0.87bn in Feb), 

marking the country’s 47th consecutive 

monthly surplus. According to data from the 

country’s Environment and Forestry Ministry, 

Indonesia’s forest product exports reached 

$3.5bn in the first three months of 2024, with 

pulp products contributing $798.05m, paper 

$1.1bn, and wooden panels $582.7m to the 

total figure. 

In 2023, Indonesia’s total exports of forest 

products were recorded at $13.16bn. For this 

year, the Environment and Forestry Ministry 

had set a moderate export target of $10bn. 

Recently, the Indonesian government had 

In Apr, the GTI-Indonesia index registered 

48.8%, an increase of 11.7% from the previous 

month, was below the critical value of 50% 

for nine consecutive months, indicating that 

the business prosperity of the superior timber 

enterprises represented by the GTI-Indonesia 

index shrank from last month. This month, the 

volumes of timber harvesting and production 

in the country both gradually increased; 

however, a decline was observed in the 

number of new orders, and export orders in 

particular. 

As for the 11 sub-indexes, the indexes for 

harvesting, production, inventory of finished 

products, and purchase price were above 

the critical value of 50%, the indexes for 

existing orders and purchase quantity were 

equal to the critical value, while the remaining 

five indexes — new orders, export orders, 

inventory of main raw materials, employees, 

and delivery time — were all below the critical 

value. Compared to the previous month, the 

indexes for production, inventory of finished 

products, purchase quantity, purchase price, 

inventory of main raw materials, and delivery 

time increased by 3.8-42.5%. And the indexes 

for harvesting, new orders, export orders, 

existing orders, and employees declined by 

1.1-14.3%. 

Overall, in Apr 2024, there was a decline 

in log production from natural forest 

concessions and plantation forest 


MARKET REPORT 

concessions for state forests when 

compared to Mar 2024, log production 

from natural forests decreased by 14.54%, 

and log production from plantation forests 

decreased by 40%. When compared on a 

year-to-year basis with Apr 2023, there 

was also a decrease in log production from 

natural and plantation forests, although 

the amount of decline was smaller, from 

natural forests decreased by 14.14% and 

from plantation forests decreased by 

6.36%. 

The condition of the decline in log 

production in Apr 2024 was caused by 

several factors. The first factor that was 

quite dominant was the continued sluggish 

market for processed wood products in 

the global market and in the domestic 

market which had an impact on the reduced 

demand for logs and log prices that tended 

to remain low. This condition caused forest 

concession companies, especially natural 

forests, to make several adjustments, such 

as reducing production levels adjusted to 

the number of orders received. The second 

was the extreme weather conditions that 

occurred in several regions in Indonesia. 

In some areas, heavy rains continued to 

fall, hampering operational activities in the 

field and the transportation of logs. In other 

areas, the dry season has resulted in low 

river water levels and cannot be used for log 

transportation. To prevent log stocks from 

accumulating, the concession companies 

reduced their production levels. 

GTI-MALAYSIA 

Malaysia’s total trade expanded 7.1% to 

RM690.59bn year-on-year in Q1 2024, 

with a trade surplus of RM34.22bn, 

according to the Investment, Trade and 

Industry Ministry. The country’s GDP was 

estimated to expand 3.9% in Q1, data from 

the Department of Statistics Malaysia 

(DOSM) showed on 19 Apr. Specifically, 

the agriculture sector grew by 1.3%, while 

forestry and logging and some other subsectors 

displayed negative growth in this 

quarter. 

The construction sector registered 

a strong growth of 9.8%, which was 

supported by sub-sectors including civil 

engineering, specialised construction 

activities and residential buildings. 

Recently, the chairman of Malaysian Panel 

Products Manufacturers’ Association 

(MPMA) said the scarcity of raw materials, 

especially timber from natural forest 

sources, had hindered factory production, 

affecting key products such as plywood, 

MDF and particleboard. He added the 

industry was also looking into alternative 

raw materials such as oil palm trunks and 

coconut trunks, so as to ensure sufficient 

supply for the industry. 

Statistical data showed in 2023, the 

country’s exports of timber and timber 

products fell by 13.2% to RM21.9bn, 

and the major timber-based products 

exported from Malaysia were wooden 

furniture, plywood, sawn timber, fiberboard 

and Builders’ Joinery & Carpentry (BJC). 

Port Klang, a major export port for timber 

in Malaysia, planned to increase its annual 

capacity from 14 million twenty-foot 

equivalent units (TEUs) — a standard 

measure for container volume — to 27 million 

TEUs, with operator Westports Holdings 

investing US$8.34bn over the coming 

decades. 

In Apr, the GTI-Malaysia index registered 

31.1%, an increase of 5.4 percentage points 

from the previous month, was below the 

critical value for 18 consecutive months. This 

indicated that the business prosperity of the 

superior timber enterprises represented by 

the GTI-Malaysia shrank from last month. 

As for the 11 sub-indexes, only the inventory 

index of finished products was above the 

critical value of 50%, while the purchase 

price index was equal to the critical value 

and the remaining nine indexes were all 

below the critical value. Compared to the 

previous month, the indexes for production, 

existing orders, inventory of finished 

products, inventory of main raw materials, 

employees, and delivery time increased by 

5.5-11.1%. The indexes for new orders, and 

purchase quantity were unchanged from 

the previous month. And the indexes for 

harvesting, export orders, and purchase 

price declined by 5.6-25%. 

In Apr 2024, there were several types of 

logs that experienced a slight increase and 

decrease in price, but overall, the price of 

logs from natural forests remained low. 

Meanwhile, the price of logs from plantation 

forests remained relatively stable, especially 

those used as raw materials for the pulp and 

paper industry. 

For exports of processed wood products 

in Apr 2024 compared to Mar 2024, there 

were variations in the conditions of several 

processed wood products. Products 

that have increased export values were: 

prefabricated buildings, pulp, and paper. 

Meanwhile, products that experienced a 

decrease in export value were: chipwood, 

wood furniture, crafts, panels, veneer, and 

woodworking. 

Wood flooring manufacturing in China (Image: Ramon Carrillo/ITTO) 


MARKET REPORT 

GTI-THAILAND 

Thailand’s exports in Mar contracted 

by 10.9% year-on-year with the 

value of $24.96bn, according to the 

Trade Policy and Strategy Office 

(TPSO), Ministry of Commerce. 

However, during the same period, 

exports of wood and wood products 

increased by 3.9%. Among them, 

sawn rubberwood exported to China 

reached 492,500m 3 , an increase of 

32%. On 9 Apr, Thailand’s Cabinet 

approved a series of measures to 

boost the country’s real-estate 

sector, including providing tax 

breaks for individuals who build their 

own homes, extending a reduction 

in mortgage fees, and more, which 

may stimulate the recovery of 

timber market demand. 

In Apr, the GTI-Thailand registered 

44.7%, a decrease of 10.1% from 

the previous month, falling below. 

The critical value of 50% after one 

month. This indicates that the 

business prosperity of the superior 

timber enterprises represented by 

the GTI-Thailand shrank from last 

month. In Thailand, both timber 

harvesting and production saw 

a significant contraction in Jun. 

The export orders showed a sharp 

increase, however due to a decrease 

in domestic orders, the overall 

performance in terms of orders was 

relatively stable compared to the 

previous month. 

As for the 11 sub-indexes, only the 

export orders index was above 

the critical value of 50%. New 

orders index, existing orders 

index, and employees index were 

equal to the critical value, and 

the remaining seven indexes 

were all below the critical value. 

Compared to the previous month, 

the index of inventory of finished 

products increased by 10.8%, and 

three indexes — existing orders, 

inventory of main raw materials, 

and employees — were unchanged 

from the previous month, while the 

remaining seven indexes declined by 

6.3-31.7%. 

GTI-CHINA 

On 6 Apr, China released Ecological 

Protection Compensation 

Regulations, which will come into 

effect on 1 Jun 2024. The regulations 

give full play to the role of market 

mechanisms, and encourage social 

forces and local governments to 

engage in ecological protection 

compensation by purchasing 

ecological products and services 

in accordance with market rules. 

As per the regulations, the country 

will establish and improve trading 

mechanisms for carbon emission 

rights, pollution emission rights, 

water rights, and carbon sink rights, 

promote the construction of trading 

markets, and improve trading 

rules. In addition, the country will 

encourage and guide social capital 

to establish market-oriented 

ecological protection compensation 

funds and to engage in ecological 

protection compensation in an 

orderly manner. 

On 12 Apr, the Action Plan for 

Promoting the Trade-ins of 

Consumer Goods was jointly 

released by the Ministry of 

Commerce and 13 other government 

departments. The action plan 

encourages localities to support the 

renovation of old houses, the partial 

upgrade and renovation for areas 

such as kitchens and bathrooms, 

and the improvements for seniorfriendly 

home environments, which 

will further unleash the potential 

of household consumption. On 26 

Apr, China passed the Tariff Law, 

which will take effect from 1 Dec 

2024. For the collection of customs 

duties, the law recognises the 

mode that separates the release of 

goods from the customs authorities’ 

determination of tax amount. 

Data from China’s General 

Administration of Customs showed 

China’s exports of furniture and 

furniture parts in Q1 2024 reaching 

$17.47bn, representing a year-onyear 

increase of 19.6%. During the 

same period, China’s total timber 

imports were approximately $3bn, 

marking a year-on-year decrease 

of 3.05%. Of this, the total imports 

of logs reached 8.85 million cubic 

metres, accounting for 56.88% of 

the total timber imports, and log 

species with increased imports 

included eucalyptus, oak, and more. 

In this period, the imports of sawn 

timber stood at 6.7 million cubic 

metres, of which furniture materials 

such as merbau and sapelli saw 

growth. 

In Apr, the GTI-China registered 

52.3%, a decrease of 14.5% from 

the previous month, was above the 

critical value for two consecutive 

months, indicating that the business 

prosperity of the superior timber 

enterprises represented by the 

GTI-China index expanded from last 

month. However, due to the decline 

in international demand for timber, 

the expansion had slowed down. 

According to feedback from the 

sample enterprises, some home 

furnishing companies in China 

were actively seeking to strengthen 

investment cooperation with 

developing countries where the 

market demand was strong. 

As for the 11 sub-indexes, three 

indexes (export orders, existing 

orders, and inventory of main raw 

materials) were below the critical 

value of 50%, and the remaining 

eight indexes were all above the 

critical value. Compared to the 

previous month, the indexes for 

purchase price, inventory of main 

raw materials, and delivery time 

increased by 0.2-2.4%,, while the 

remaining eight indexes declined by 

3.5-24.6%. 

This article takes excerpts from the 

GTI Report in Apr. The GTI monthly 

report was prepared by GGSC, 

with support of ITTO and IPIM, and 

Focal Points of Indonesia, Malaysia, 

Thailand, Gabon, Republic of Congo, 

Brazil, Mexico and China. The full 

report is available for reading at 

ITTO’s website. P 


ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT 

AHEC and the US 

hardwood industry 

are developing a system 

for EUDR compliance 

The next phase of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) 

response mechanism for US hardwoods is underway, according 

to the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC). 

AHEC is working with the US hardwood 

industry to develop a system that will 

facilitate EUDR compliance, which will 

allow American hardwood exporters 

to reassure concerned buyers that 

a system is being developed that 

will potentially enable all containers 

of US hardwood arriving in the EU 

from 31 Dec 2024 to be accompanied 

by the documentation required to 

demonstrate legal and deforestationfree 

origin, including geolocation data. 

The framework being developed 

comprises four components: 

First, a regularly updated database 

differentiating US hardwood harvest 

geolocations which are “deforestationfree” 

from those which are not. Second, 

an online application to make this 

data freely accessible to US hardwood 

mills and other operators engaged in 

the export trade. Third, independent 

third-party assessments of the risk of 

illegal harvesting in the US hardwood 

producing states. Lastly, a chain-ofcustody 

(CoC) standard for hardwood 

mills and downstream distributors, 

exporters, and manufacturers 

to ensure that the legal and 

deforestation-free claim is applied only 

to verified US hardwoods. 

The database of US hardwood harvest 

geolocations will be prepared and 

maintained by a technical consultancy 

commissioned by AHEC that will 



combine satellite imagery with digital 

cadastral — property — data. By monitoring 

these datasets at least every quarter, and 

through the development of algorithms, 

use of AI, and ground truthing as required, 

the technical consultancy will categorise 

all hardwood forest disturbances into those 

where there is evidence of deforestation and 

those where there is evidence of selection 

harvesting or continuous cover operations not 

leading to deforestation, which are thereby 

"deforestation-free". The database will 

allow for regularly updated quantification of 

deforestation risk in the US hardwood sector 

at national, state and more localised levels. 

“Following an extensive bidding process AHEC 

have selected a specialist data company that 

has experience of building data operating 

systems to monitor land changes. They have 

been commissioned to pilot a simulation of 

this system for a single hardwood-producing 

state. This pilot will clarify how satellite data 

can identify canopy changes that signify 

hardwood harvests and those which are 

deforestation-free, and the level of resolution 

and frequency of forest assessment required 

to satisfy the law. It will also provide an 

opportunity to present a working model to the 

European Commission’s (EC) EUDR working 

group and to EU regulators before it is rolled 

out across all hardwood producing states,” 

said Roderick Wiles, AHEC regional director. 

US state legality risk assessments aligned 

with EUDR requirements are now being 

prepared for the 33 states identified as 

significant producers of hardwoods. The 

assessments were commissioned by AHEC 

from Dovetail Partners in Nov 2023 and are 

due for completion by June this year. They are 

being undertaken according to the Framework 

for Jurisdictional Risk Assessment of Legal 

Compliance of Hardwood Production in 

the USA developed by AHEC’s Sustainable 

Hardwood Coalition (SHC) initiative. This 

functions as a standard for consistent 

evaluation of the risk of sourcing illegally 

harvested hardwood within each state 

jurisdiction and covers all aspects of legal 

harvesting and trade required of EUDR. 

For the assessment, Dovetail Partners has 

put together a team of forestry and natural 

resource professionals with extensive 

experience in applied forest management, 

sustainability assurance and risk assessment. 

The risk assessment process involves review 

of publicly available information as well as 

interviews with experts and stakeholders, 

including staff at state agencies, 

university extension, industry or landowner 

associations, NGOs, and other groups. 

Each completed assessment is subject to 

additional scrutiny by an independent expert 

before publication as an SHC-endorsed risk 

assessment. 

The EU Observatory was launched in Dec 2023 

by the Joint Research Council of the EC under 

the terms of the EUDR to provide supporting 

information for risk analysis and impact 

monitoring including world-wide analysis 

of deforestation and degradation based on 

satellite data and of trade flows of regulated 

commodities. At first sight, the data provided 

is encouraging for all US wood suppliers as it 

shows that deforestation in the US, according 

to EUDR definitions, is zero. This, at the 

very least, implies that the US will likely be 

identified as a "low-risk" country and subject 

only to "simplified" due diligence under the 

terms of EUDR. 

However, this will not exempt US hardwood 

products from the geolocation obligation 

which applies irrespective of the level of risk. 

The remote sensing data currently provided 

by the EU Observatory, which is based on 

existing publicly available datasets, is also 

of such low resolution that it will be very 

much up to the private sector to provide data 

solutions suitable for compliance purposes. 

This places new cost burdens on European 

industries and those placing wood products 

on the EU market. 

The Information System pilot study is 

currently being carried out involving around 

100 companies and organisations. AHEC are 

not aware at this stage if any are from the 

wood sector. This pilot is to ascertain how 

the EC’s information system will operate in 

its role to receive and disseminate the vast 

amount of data that will be generated across 

a range of agricultural commodities including 

forest products. All operators will need to 

enter data on this platform which will include 

geolocations and due diligence statements 

for every consignment first placed on and 

exported from the EU single market. 

The data system that AHEC is commissioning will be able to provide geolocation data for deforestationand 

degradation-free plots of land from which the material in any given container could have come from 

Responding to current geolocation requests, 

AHEC is aware that US hardwood exporters 

are already receiving requests for geolocation 

data not just from EU hardwood importers but 

also importers outside the EU selling products 

into the single market. These requests are 

partly driven by ignorance of the timing and 

requirements of the law and partly by genuine 

concern that it is material being processed 

in 2024 that will be placed on the market in 

2025, after the law comes into force. At this 

point in time without a data system in place to 



provide and analyse geolocations to show they 

are deforestation-free, most exporters will be 

unable to comply. 

This does not mean that when the law 

comes into place the industry will be at a 

disadvantage. The data system that AHEC 

is commissioning will be able to provide 

geolocation data for deforestation- and 

degradation-free plots of land from which 

the material in any given container could 

have come from — now understood to be an 

approach the EC will accept. The analysis of 

satellite data being commissioned by AHEC 

will identify all harvest geolocations across 

the US hardwood producing region, and their 

period of harvest since 31 Dec 2020, the cutoff 

date for EUDR. 

AHEC is confident that they will confirm 

there is a negligible risk of deforestation or 

degradation in line with the EUDR definitions, 

and that all harvest geolocations supplied 

through the platform will be deforestationfree. 

The procedures for compiling the most 

relevant geolocation data for individual 

consignments delivered from 31 Dec 2024 

when enforcement of EUDR is scheduled to 

begin, have yet to be worked out. However, 

this will be a priority when developing the 

CoC standard and procedures, a process that 

started in Feb 2024. 

“While we are extremely optimistic a 

workable solution can be developed in the 

time frame there are still many hurdles to 

overcome and much to learn as the system 

evolves. Our first priority is to implement 

a set of procedures that will enable US 

The EUDR aims 

to combat global 

deforestation by 

targeting the forestry 

supply chain 

hardwood suppliers to address the EUDR 

requirements, including investigating and 

providing an independent determination of 

the risk of illegal harvesting in accordance 

with the EUDR definitions. Establishing 

a funding stream and obtaining support 

in principle from the EC will be essential 

elements to ensure we can succeed. We 

will continue to provide regular updates and 

advise immediately if the situation changes,” 

concluded Wiles. P 

Images: Petr Krejci 


IN PERSON 

“I am excited to be 

a part of Biesse’s change.” 

From metal machining to hydraulics, Casey Ching, Biesse’s newest 

managing director for the South East Asian region, has a diverse 

work history well-suited to Biesse’s emphasis on multi-materiality in 

their new branding. Hear from him on why he is attracted to join the 

company, and what he hopes to achieve in his term. 

By Yap Shi Quan 

which I transitioned in my last role as 

the general manager was Uniflex- 

Hydraulik Asia-Pacific. This company 

dealt with hydraulics, specifically in 

hose assembly. 

Now, as the managing director of 

Biesse in South East Asia, I am in 

charge of this region, a region with 

its set of diverse peculiarities. 

Inside Biesse in Kuala 

Lumpur, Malaysia 

Tell us more about yourself: What 

is your work history prior to joining 

Biesse? 

Casey Ching: I am Singaporean. 

My career spans across various 

different industries, having worked 

both in government and commercial 

sectors. I worked in the Singapore 

military first, spending about 12 

years there. I was in different roles, 

from training to command and also 

staffing in the Ministry of Defense. 

After which, I transitioned to the 

commercial sector, working for a 

precision engineering company. So, I 

am quite familiar with CNC machining 

technology, just specific to the 

industry of machining metals. 

When I was in that company, I was 

stationed in Vietnam for about 10 

years, running the country office 

there. During that period of time, I 

was responsible for supporting our 

local customers in Vietnam, and 

to also provide cheaper machined 

parts to Singapore. After that, the 

precision engineering company to 

Biesse in Asia used to focus on 

the whole of Asia. However, the 

management realised that Asia itself 

is a very complex region, comprising 

different cultures with different 

target markets. For example, Japan 

and Korea is a specific target market 

with advanced technologies and 

materials. Then there is China, a 

market that is very big and has its 

unique culture. So, we identified it as 

a central market, while South East 

Asia represents another very unique 

market with different demands. 

What attracted you to join Biesse? 

Ching: Firstly, for a more personal 

reason, I get to play with materials 

like wood, glass, stone and 

composite materials, other than 

metal. Secondly, Biesse is now 

trying to change current customers’ 

mindsets that we are purely about 

wood, when in fact, we are multimaterial. 

The company is undergoing 

a big transformation, and joining 

them provides me an opportunity to 


IN PERSON 

participate in the evolution of the company. 

I am excited to be a part of Biesse’s change, 

to be in this journey myself. 

What are some key learnings you will 

take with you from your past working 

experience in supporting your new, current 

role? 

Ching: From my leadership experience, I 

would say planning and processes are very 

important, especially during a period of 

transformation. When you are undergoing 

change, having no guidelines and plans can 

make things more difficult. But once you put 

your foot down and set a plan, the processes 

will naturally start coming in to execute the 

plan. And this makes the transformation 

journey easier. 

My cultural experience is another helpful 

experience. Having stationed in Vietnam 

for 10 years and running the Asia-Pacific 

region with Uniflex, it has made me more 

sensitive in handling customers from various 

countries and different cultural backgrounds. 

Everybody does business in very different 

ways here, and I believe my cultural 

sensitivities will allow me to tailor new 

business approaches suited for the diversity 

of the region. 

What are your immediate concerns and 

goals as the new managing director, and 

what do you hope to achieve in the next 

three to five years? 

Ching: My immediate goal is to build the 

correct team to handle the various markets 

and materials because, as I have said, South 

East Asia is a unique market for its different 

cultures and different businesses. Having 

the right people on the job will allow Biesse 

to properly target the markets and identify 

important trends and insights — with the 

end result of Biesse making a difference to 

our customers. 

Then, within the next three to five years, 

I hope to create a brand experience for 

customers in South East Asia on what we 

term as multi-materiality. That means 

solutions capable of machining any kind 

of material. When manufacturers think of 

Biesse, we want them to think of us as a 

solution provider for wood, glass, stone, 

plastic, composites and other advanced 

materials. If a furniture manufacturer 

Biesse aims for their 

solutions to be as 

multi-material as 

possible, not just purely 

machining wood 

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IN PERSON 

decides to, for example, expand 

their production to include other 

materials besides wood, we hope 

to be part of their journey and grow 

with them. I also want to bring our 

after-sales service up a notch , so 

that our customer’s entire journey 

is well taken care of. Ultimately, 

if at any point of time a potential 

customer is looking for something 

new, we want Biesse to be the first 

brand they think of. 

It has been a month since you 

joined Biesse. From your first 

impression, what are Biesse’s 

strengths, and what do you think 

can be improved? 

Ching: At first glance, Biesse’s 

strength would 

definitely be their 

products. They 

can complete 

various material 

tasks — hence the 

multi-materiality. 

They have a range of 

machine offerings 

for wood, glass, 

stone and advanced 

materials. It is not 

only beneficial 

to the furniture 

industry, but also opens up many 

possibilities in other industries, like 

in automotive or aerospace. 

I would not say what can be 

improved at Biesse. That is 

because we are currently evolving, 

and that would mean necessary 

changes internally for how our 

business operates, and changes 

to our brand image. For example, 

if you noticed, our new Biesse 

logo has a different imagery with 

a unique colour compared to the 

past logo. This is deliberate: When 

customers look at this colour, 

they will instantly be reminded of 

Biesse. It forms an impression in 

their minds. Additionally, if you 

watch the various machine videos 

on our Youtube channel, we have 

begun the process of unifying our 

various machinery brandings. For 

example, our Intermac machines 

are now rebranded to BiesseGlass 

or BiesseStone. All these serve to 

create brand recognition of Biesse’s 

name in the whole multi-materiality 

industry. We also have a new slogan: 

“We simplify your manufacturing 

process to make the potential of any 

material shine”. 

How do you plan on expanding 

Biesse’s presence in South East 

Asia, and what kinds of challenges 

do you foresee in achieving this, 

especially in light of the economy 

downturn? 

Ching: The furniture market might 

be down, but that potentially opens 

up possibilities in other materials. 

[Biesse] is undergoing a big 

transformation, and joining them 

provides me an opportunity to 

participate in the evolution of the 

company. 

Casey Ching 

Managing director, Biesse in South East Asia 

The industry’s mindset is still very 

much on wood. But if you look 

at the materials that we are able 

to process, then we can open up 

other markets, even just within 

the furniture industry. Instead of 

looking at cookie-cutter wood 

panels and wood furniture, we can 

look at more high-end furniture 

making which could appeal to 

overseas markets, such as in the 

Middle East or in Europe itself. 

Currently, a lot of finished furniture 

products is exported to the US 

and to Europe itself, but if we dive 

deeper, high-end furniture still has 

a market. Not everyone is looking 

at trying to earn money from mass 

production. Niche, customised 

furniture still has a market, and this 

is where multi-materiality comes in. 

As for expanding our presence, it 

would not be an issue if we carefully 

target our markets. We have 

physical offices now in Singapore, 

Malaysia and Indonesia, and we 

have the necessary personnel 

based in countries where we do 

not have an office, like in Thailand, 

Vietnam or the Philippines. We 

are definitely looking to set up 

offices in the whole region, taking 

into consideration their projected 

growth of related industries, like 

furniture, constructions and other 

industries, such as automotive and 

aerospace. 

In any case, we are still maintaining 

our presence in the three countries 

we have offices in. As for countries 

that we currently do not have a 

substantial presence, we hope to set 

up an office in Thailand and Vietnam 

respectively. In the near future, we 

will have our most important event 

in Malaysia, which is planned for Jul 

or Aug -- the dates are not fixed yet. 

We would like to invite all readers 

and customers from near and far 

over, to see what is new with Biesse. 

I hope everyone will keep a lookout 

for Biesse, because we are indeed 

making a lot of changes. P 

Casey Ching 

Managing director, 

Biesse in South East Asia 


IN PERSON 

Ducerf Group: 

Outlook and projects for 2024 

Edouard Ducerf, CEO of Ducerf Group, shares how the group 

performed in 2023, and what the wood industry can look forward 

to this year from Ducerf. 

challenges ahead, particularly with a 

cogeneration project currently under 

study. Reducing our energy consumption 

will also involve setting up working groups 

at each of our production sites. We 

want to involve all our employees in this 

process. 

At the same time, we are committed to 

continuing to attract, develop and retain 

our employees through an ambitious 

employer brand. “The Great Place To 

Work” initiative, launched in 2022, has 

enabled us to put in place a precise action 

plan following feedback from the group’s 

employees, and we hope to obtain this 

label in 2025. 

Can you share with us the main 

objectives you have set for Ducerf 

Group in 2024? 

Edouard Ducerf: We have affirmed our 

commitment to reasoned and sustainable 

growth. In terms of performance, we aim 

to achieve a level of sales similar to that 

of 2023. Major industrial investments 

that have been planned for a long time 

will see the light of day. We will also have 

to validate initiatives aimed at increasing 

our efficiency while respecting forest 

resources and enhancing the value of this 

noble material that we are lucky enough 

to work with. 

We are also planning to go further 

into the processing of products to 

add more value to our production 

chain, a subject at the heart of our 

development thinking. We will have to 

position ourselves to meet the energy 

One thing is certain: Responsiveness and adaptability 

are still the watchwords for 2024. 

Edouard Ducerf 

CEO of the Ducerf Group 

What major innovations will you be 

introducing in 2024? 

Ducerf: As far as innovation is concerned, 

there is a project that will be coming on 

stream, namely the commissioning of a 

new high-frequency press, with the aim 

of manufacturing new products to expand 

our range. This line, which has already 

been installed at our les Bois Profilés 

site, will enable us to design up to three 

products: glue-laminated panels and 

solid panels, which will be available in new 

dimensions, as well as glue-laminated 

scantlings and door frames. This tool 

will also give us the possibility of gluing 

for structural applications. This will 


IN PERSON 

1 2 

enable us to adapt more effectively 

to the changing needs of the market. 

Our production tool must be flexible 

and offer more possibilities to our 

customers. 

There is also a major project coming up 

at the sawmill, involving investments 

in the logyard and the overhaul of 

the debarking equipment. We plan to 

install more modern machines and 

reorganise the flows between the park 

and the production workshop. This 

project will start at the end of Jul, with 

the new line scheduled to come on 

stream in Dec. 

This year will also see the launch of the 

Bois Croisés de Bourgogne with other 

partners. The aim of this partnership is 

to manufacture a new product, an oak 

cross-laminated timber (CLT) panel for 

the construction market. These panels 

will be used for walls or floors, with the 

advantage that they have a finished 

look and can therefore be left exposed. 

The French 2020 Environmental 

Regulations offer us great prospects in 

this market. Production should start in 

H2 2024. 

How are you going to keep in touch 

with customers and specifiers this 

year? 

Ducerf: Our sales department and 

teams are working hard to support our 

customers in all their wood projects. 

Our design office is available to 

propose solutions that are relevant 

from a technical, regulatory and 

economic point of view. 

We will also be out and about, 

whether at regional prescription 

meetings or larger events such as 

the FENSTERBAU joinery trade fair 

in Munich, Germany in Mar or the 

Carrefour International du Bois in 

Nantes, France in May. Outside of 

Europe, we will be participating at 

FMC Shanghai, Thailand International 

Woodworking & Furniture Exhibition, 

and IFMAC in Jakarta, Indonesia — all 

of them in Sep. We need to be more 

aggressive in the face of strong 

competitive pressure. 

Can you share the actions linked 

to the Ducerf Group’s social and 

environmental responsibility in your 

strategic plan ? 

Ducerf: These issues are central to 

our plans. We believe in reasoned 

growth, not doing more but doing 

better, in particular by controlling our 

production processes and offering 

more processed products. The 

overhaul of our debarking facilities 

and upcoming projects to make 

better use of the secondary qualities 

of oak are concrete examples of 

our commitment. We have also 

incorporated the production of 

green energy into our vision, with 

a structuring cogeneration project 

aimed at making better use of our 

related products. 

In terms of social responsibility, we 

are implementing initiatives such 

as continuous improvement in the 

quality of life at work, training and 

skills development for our staff. 

We are also committed to 

participating in local community life; 

this territorial anchoring is important 

to us. In fact, the group has set up 

around 10 partnerships in 2023. 

All these issues are crucial to 

strengthening our place in the 

industry while respecting our values 

and making a positive contribution to 

our community. Despite economic, 

geopolitical, energy and climate 

uncertainties, we continue to 

move forward with our values and 

ambitions. One thing is certain: 

Responsiveness and adaptability are 

still the watchwords for 2024. P 

This article was first published on Ducerf 

Group’s website and is reproduced here with 

permission. 

Edouard Ducerf 

CEO of the Ducerf Group 

LEGEND 

1 Ducerf Group 

continues to 

participate in 

trade fairs to 

tackle strong 

competitive 

pressure 

2 Ducerf will be 

overhauling 

their debarking 

equipment as well 

as invest in new 

equipment in their 

logyards 


PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT 

New hotmelt adhesive 

for manufacturing 

decorative panels and 

sandwich elements 

At low as well as at high temperatures, Jowat’s new Jowatherm- 

Reaktant 609.60 aims to set new standards for bonding 

technologies in terms of efficiency and quality. 

Adhesive manufacturer Jowat has 

expanded its portfolio for flat lamination 

with a new powerful yet processorfriendly 

PUR hotmelt adhesive. 

Jowatherm-Reaktant 609.60 is the 

ideal for manufacturing decorative 

panels and sandwich elements, from 

door leaves and furniture fronts to 

countertops and flooring. It is also 

optimal in combination with stubborn 

veneers or high-pressure laminate 

(HPL) due to its high-quality bonding 

strength. 

Although the new PUR adhesive 

Jowatherm-Reaktant 609.60 for flat 

lamination has what is said to be 

“aggressive” bonding strength, it 

also comes with gentle processing 

characteristics. 

According to Jowat, the 

Jowatherm-Reaktant 609.60 not 

only tackles substrates with high 

restoring forces but also excels in 

complex, time-intensive joining 

procedures, thus providing a 

solution for elaborate bonding 

processes. One key advantage 

of Jowatherm-Reaktant 609.60 

is its long open time. It provides 

maximum flexibility in processes, 

even when more time is needed 

between adhesive application and 

pressing. 

In addition, the hotmelt adhesive is 

characterised by low stringing during 

application and easy processing with 

all established roller applicators. 

“Jowatherm-Reaktant 609.60 

successfully unites opposites and is 

thereby breaking old boundaries. The 

mix of performance, flexibility and 

processor-friendly handling makes it 

an extremely attractive adhesive for 

modern flat lamination applications,” 

said Florian Fischer, global product 

manager at Jowat. P 

Jowatherm-Reaktant 

609.60 is the ideal 

for manufacturing 

decorative panels and 

sandwich elements, 

from door leaves 

and furniture fronts 

to countertops and 

flooring 



Felder Group launches 

upgraded edgebanders 

The new Felder edgebanders G 363, G 363R and G 383 version aim 

to impress with their performance, flexibility and ease of use at the 

best possible price-performance ratio. 

Felder edgebanders G 363, G 363R and G 

383, the new editions of the Felder G 300 

edgebanders, come with new and modern 

looks and are now more efficient with the 

changeable gluepot. 1 

The G 383 model is suited for the complete 

processing of workpieces in the standard 

configuration, with corner rounding unit 

and free spaces for up to three additional 

finishing units. G 363R is the economy model 

for the complete processing of workpieces 

in the standard configuration, trimming unit 

with radius processing, or corner rounding, 

and free spaces for up to three additional 

finishing units. As the compact-class, entrylevel 

model, the installation length for G 383 

is 3,600mm, and for G 363R and G 363 is 

3,100mm. 

According to Felder Group, it now takes a 

few simple steps to adjust the machine to 

different materials or edge thicknesses 

between 0.4-5mm. All the operator needs to 

do is start the processing units, regulate glue 

temperature, and receive feedback on the 

current machine status via the 7-inch touch 

screen. The workpiece height can range from 

10-50mm. 

With the new changeable gluepot, the 

flexibility and productivity of larger 

edgebanders can also be achieved. The quick 

and easy change to other adhesive colours 

and the use of PUR glue allows for productive 

procedures and optimal edges for all areas of 

application. Two counter rotating, activationcontrolled 

pre-millers with diamond tipped 

spiral cutters, along with robust chain 

conveyors, ensure high-quality and reportedly 

splinter-free edges to which the material is to 

be applied. The touch screen comes with glue 

temperature settings, operating and standby 

temperature, the odometer, the maintenance 

interval display, and more. 

The new models can also be individually 

configured to meet manufacturers’ needs 

with the Felder modular system — from the 

Teflon-coated interchangeable glue pot 

to spraying units for cleaning and release 


agents. Up to three finishing units can be 

installed to get clean results. The radius 

scraper unit removes minor cutting traces 

from the edgeband material and ensures 

smooth edge radii. The optionally available 

surface scraper removes any glue residue 

from the workpiece before the buffing unit 

finishes the edge to a high gloss. P 


WM_Advert_Malaysia_234X91_PR_C.pdf 1 2024/05/23 08:44 




References 

1. Felder Group. Felder G363 Edgebander. https://www. 

felder-group.com/en-in/news-exhibitions-events#modal- 

6641aaa53f437-2995933 

Felder edgebanders 

G 363, G 363R and G 383 

C 

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M 

C 

M 

Y 

M 

Y 

CM 

Y 

CM 

MY 

CM 

MY 

CY 

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CMY 

CY 

CMY 

CK 

CMY 

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CMY 

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Sprint 2 

manual powder 

coating unit 

Global supplier of industrial surface finishing systems J. Wagner has 

launched a new generation of its Sprint 2 manual powder coating unit. 

The update combines elements from the previous product family with 

new, innovative components and assistance functions that offer even 

more options for manual applications. 

Available since mid-May 2024, Wagner’s Sprint 2 

manual unit has improved both its design and function. 

In addition to a trolley, the WACON Sprint 2 XE control 

unit, successor to the previous gun control module 

EPG Sprint XE, is now fitted with a new digital surface 

optimiser (DSO) assistance function which can reduce 

overcharge effects such as orange peel, edge build-up 

and similar. 

This is relevant for decorative coatings on complex 

workpiece geometries or with challenging powder 

coatings. The DSO function supports the coater 

for an even more homogeneous surface finish. The 

controls and even clearer arrangement of the operating 

elements make day-to-day work easier: the coater has 

all important parameters at a glance and can make 

all adjustments, including recipe selection, quickly 

and easily using a central rotary knob. Furthermore, 

Wagner’s air flow control (AFC) technology constantly 

measures and regulates the air volume during the 

coating process, creating a uniform powder cloud for 

high-quality coating results. 

TIME SAVINGS DURING CLEANING AND COLOUR CHANGE 

With the coupling of the new Quick-Link injector, all 

powder and air hoses can be detached with one hand, 

according to Wagner. The integrated scraper ring in 

the Sprint 2 manual unit’s swivel arm wipes the powder 

off the outside of the lance without the need for an 

additional work step, which also speeds up the cleaning 

and colour change process. As the injector and suction 

lance are firmly screwed together, fewer interfaces 

need to be cleaned manually. 



EFFICIENT SPRAY GUN 

The Sprint 2 is equipped with a 

PEM-X1 manual gun. There are three 

characteristic curves to choose from, 

enabling optimum electrostatic powder 

charging even with different powder 

properties. As a lightweight powder gun, 

it is also robust and therefore ideal for 

time-intensive coating work. The coater 

can quickly adjust the powder quantity 

using integrated buttons and change the 

recipe with a double-click on the trigger. 

TWO VARIANTS FOR VARIOUS 

APPLICATIONS 

The Sprint 2 manual unit is available in 

two versions: One for powder feeding 

directly from the original box, the 

other from a 60L hopper. Conversions 

between the two versions are possible. 

1 

LEGEND 

1 The integrated scraper ring in the Sprint 2 

manual unit’s swivel arm wipes the powder 

off the outside of the lance without the need 

for an additional work step 

2 The Sprint 2 CG manual unit set 

3 The WACON Sprint 2 XE control unit 

2 

The practical cup gun case set, or the 

Sprint 2 CG manual unit, is suitable 

for individual parts and very small 

quantities, as well as for laboratory and 

development purposes. Fast colour 

changes are possible with the cup 

change concept. The set is reportedly 

easy to set up anywhere and can be 

operated directly from the case. 

Another combination is the 3L table 

set, also known as the Sprint 2 T manual 

unit. In addition to the control unit 

and manual gun, it includes a compact 

vibrating table with a 3L hopper 

attachment, a Hi-Coat injector and 

9mm hose. In laboratory environments 

or for small parts with high surface 

quality requirements, extremely fine 

coatings are achieved with this setup, as 

claimed by Wagner. It also finds practical 

application in crack testing or wheel 

finishing. 

3 

The manual unit can also be adapted to 

individual requirements with a range 

of accessories. These include various 

nozzles, nozzle extensions, a one-litre 

cup extension, the CoronaStar for 

smoother surfaces and the Hi-Coat 

injector for higher demands on the 

surface finish. In addition, the manual 

unit can be expanded into a double 

system using a separate swivel arm with 

injector, gun and control unit. P 


PANEL MANUFACTURING 

The technology 

to recycle waste wood 

back into good-quality 

panelboards is “already here” 

Jose Matas, global director wood segment of Tomra Recycling, 

reflects on how far Tomra’s wood recycling segment has come, and 

how the wood recycling has changed over the last few years. 


Tomra Recycling’s formal entry into 

the wood panel industry around 

three years ago arguably marked the 

start of a new era for the industry. 

Specialists in AI-based waste sorting 

technology for various materials, 

Tomra introduced deep learning to 

wood recycling, which made waste 

wood sorting and cleaning more 

precise, efficient, and effective at 

removing impurities. 

But their journey in introducing 

intelligent waste wood sorting has 

not been without its challenges. To 

date, Matas believes that the biggest 

challenge for panel manufacturers 

to tap into wood recycling is the 

mindset itself, that panelboards 

made with recycled wood is of 

poorer quality than fresh wood 

panelboards -- something which 

could not be further from the truth. 

And yet, the perception still persists 

today. 

1 

REMOVING ALL IMPURITIES 

Recycled wood, if available in 

large supply, can be cheaper than 

fresh wood itself since the waste 

wood already comes dry, unlike 

fresh wood. Furthermore, as fresh 

wood becomes more expensive 



and scarce, waste wood grows in 

abundance from construction or 

furniture waste, especially for OSB 

and particleboards. Factoring in 

the sustainability benefits, there is 

no reason to not tap into recycled 

wood. 

However, some panel manufacturers 

are used to using 100% solid or 

natural wood. Even if they are 

interested in using waste wood, they 

have no idea how to use or maximise 

their potential. The resistance to 

recycled wood is the same, from 

Europe to Asia. But specific to some 

parts of Asia, the infrastructure to 

collect waste wood, together with 

softer legislation on using recycled 

wood, have been impeding panel 

manufacturers to produce and use 

more recycled wood. 

2 

“Our customers in Asia are just as 

concerned about sustainability as 

our European customers. To me, 

the biggest difference between 

Asia and Europe is that European 

countries have stricter legislation 

promoting the use of recycled wood, 

while in Asia, there is little legislative 

pressure on the industry.” said 

Matas. 

There might be some truth to how 

recycled wood might be of poorer 

quality compared to fresh wood, 

but only if the recycled wood is not 

cleaned properly. And the fact is, 

Matas pointed out confidently, that 

the technology to sort waste wood 

and clean them properly, to their 

highest purity, is “already here”. 

“The key is to be able to remove all 

impurities, and be able to sort out 

the different types of materials,” he 

elaborated. “It all boils down to the 

cleaning process of the recycled 

wood. You have to, for example, 

remove all the stones, the glass, the 

ferrous and non-ferrous metals, all 

the residues from the waste wood. 

High-quality waste wood can be 

achieved with cleaned, pure waste 

wood.” 

That was where Tomra’s deep 

learning technology came in. “It 

changed the game completely,” 

Matas said. “Instead of simply 

cleaning the material, we introduced 

intelligent sorting, we introduced 

Wood A versus Wood B sorting, 

also known as natural wood versus 

processed wood sorting.” 

Tomra’s interest and participation 

in the wood panel industry actually 

began back in 2012, but they only 

started the wood segment years 

later when they saw the market 

was ready, that the customers 

were eager for their technology. 

“Customers were quite receptive 

to our technology, but they still 

had the mindset for very basic 

applications. That meant most 

of them were not using recycled 

wood, or were just starting to use 

it, and so their main concern was 

to simply clean this recycled wood 

and have something feasible for 

production,” Matas said, reflecting 

on how the market has changed 

3 

LEGEND 

1 Tomra’s GAINnext 

not only separates 

wood A from wood 

B but also excels at 

MDF recovery 

2 Tomra’s GAINnext 

technology 

identifies objects 

like waste wood by 

their shape, size, 

and other visual 

characteristic 

3 The use of recycled 

wood offers many 

advantages, from 

local accessibility to 

economical benefits 



over the years. Once they began, 

they focused on Europe first, and 

now they have clients from around 

the world, from the Middle East to 

Asia. 

THE PURSUIT FOR GROWTH 

CONTINUES 

Customers now are a lot more 

receptive to using recycled wood, as 

well as to Tomra’s technology. More 

and more panel manufacturers have 

become more aware of advanced 

wood sorting solutions -- they 

learned how to remove impurities 

within waste wood fibres and how 

to clean them; they have also been 

requesting for improvements 

towards the performance of the 

sorting technology as well as to 

achieve higher purities of the 

recycled wood. 

Currently, wood recycling 

technology has evolved to recycle 

OSBs and particleboards into 

new ones, rather than burning 

them simply for fuel. MDF is still 

considered an impurity, to be 

removed from waste wood in 

order to recycle them. However, 

Tomra has been looking to improve 

their deep learning technology 

to include MDF recovery, also 

known as fibreboard-to-fibreboard 

technology. They are researching 

and experimenting with 

Dieffenbacher and EcoReFibre, an 

EU project that explores “enhanced 

sorting equipment and smart 

technologies, ultimately increasing 

available wood resources in Europe 

through recycling”, thus further 

contributing to a circular economy. 1 

Since taking up the position 

of global director for the wood 

segment, Matas learnt how the 

recycling industry works in general 

-- not just for wood, but for other 

waste materials like textile, plastics, 

and more. 

“I learnt about the collection 

systems, the recycling, and the 

production of recyclable materials 

itself. And thanks to all I have learnt, 

I can see the potential in recycling; 

I understood the necessity even 

before joining Tomra, but it was 

only after that I was aware of all the 

possibilities, that I learnt the big, 

global problem we have with limited 

resources,” he said. 

He continued: “Ever since Tomra 

expanded more globally for our wood 

segment, having a global overview 

has helped me to understand the 

different trends and approaches 

across various countries and regions. 

It helped that we worked with local 

wood recycling associations, for 

example, the German Waste Wood 

Association (BAV) in Germany. And 

now, I am able to translate these 

trends from one region to the other. I 

can see similar patterns and trends; 

I am able to anticipate what will 

happen, or share with my clients 

how other countries have solved 

similar problems. All these will help 

the industry to develop faster, and 

ultimately, help the planet.” 

If a manufacturer hopes to tap into 

using recycled wood but is unsure 

how to, Matas suggested looking for 

professional consultations first, or 

finding other companies who have 

successfully used recycled wood. 

“A lot of successful companies can 

help interested manufacturers 

to anticipate the potential 

hardware struggles, and thus avoid 

unnecessary problems,” he said. 

“Tomra can help manufacturers as 

well, even if we primarily develop and 

sell machines. We can help to build 

their concepts, give advice, allow 

them access into our test centres 

where they can bring and test 

their materials, and so forth. This 

way, they do not have to start from 

scratch; they can start with support, 

and they will know the results they 

get.” P 

Images: Tomra 

REFERENCES 

1. EcoReFibre. About. 

Jose Matas, global director wood 

segment, Tomra Recycling 

Tomra can help [interested 

manufacturers to tap into 

wood recycling], even if 

we primarily develop and 

sell machines… This way, 

they do not have to start 

from scratch; they can 

start with support, and 

they will know the results 

they get.” 

Jose Matas, global director wood segment, 

Tomra Recycling 



The “accidental” but 

welcoming discovery of a 

plant-based circular resin 

Achieving safe and sustainable wood panel production is evermore 

possible now as more and more companies develop bio- and nonformaldehyde 

resins. Plantics, one such company, has invented 

a 100% plant-based thermoset resin that can be reactivated and 

reused, and the CEO Wridzer Bakker shares more about it with 

Panels & Furniture Asia. 


further developed and used for several 

applications such as binder in wood 

and hemp panels and composites, 

coating for moulded paper and as 

base material for insultation foams. 

This resulted in a group of safe, 100% 

plant-based circular thermoset resins 

and the world’s first 100% plantbased 

thermoset materials. Together 

with partners, Plantics develops 

and commercialises these new 

applications. 

Plantics Panels 

How exactly did Plantics come 

about, and how did the company 

“accidentally” invent the current 

bio-resin? 

Wridzer Bakker: The story of Plantics 

begins at the University of Amsterdam, 

at the laboratory of professor Dr 

Gadi Rothenberg at the Van’t Hoff 

Institute for Molecular Sciences. He 

and his colleague Dr Albert Alberts 

searched for biofuel for airplanes. They 

accidentally made a “sticky stuff“ that 

stuck to everything. It was definitely 

not what they were looking for, but they 

did see potential. Polymer experts did 

not believe this could be true, they saw 

properties in the polymer they could 

not explain. 

After experimenting a lot more, they 

decided to patent the thermoset 

resin and some applications later 

the company Plantics was founded. 

Within Plantics the bio-resins were 

The bio-resin and its potential 

sustainable application was the 

inspiration for founding Plantics. The 

ingredients of the resin are completely 

made from agri-based plant waste 

and non-toxic. Because the demand 

for alternatives for currently used 

toxic fossil-based plastics and resins 

is growing, it is logical to focus on 

applications that are completely safe, 

reusable and biodegradable when they 

enter the environment. 

One of the first applications was 

the hemp-chair which Plantics 

developed together with partner 

VEPA, a Dutch sustainable furniture 

manufacturer. Hemp mats are treated 

with the bio-resins and cured via hot 

pressing in a 3D mould. It took a lot 

of testing and refining to get the best 



form for the tub of the chair which 

could fulfil all strength and durability 

requirements. But the result is great. 

It is a comfortable and durable chair 

with a negative CO2 footprint and at the 

end of life, it can be completely reused. 

Amazingly, the curing is also reversible, 

through a technique they call process 

X. This means that the chair can be 

disassembled into its constituent 

elements. The glue and hemp can be 

fully reused to make a new chair or other 

applications. 

Can you share with us what the 

research process was like when 

developing the bio-resin? 

Bakker: At Plantics the original 

formulation is further developed and 

improved. Some of the key components 

of the resin are made via a fermentation 

process of molasses. The molasses is an 

agri-waste stream from sugar production 

using sugar beets or sugar cane. 

How do wood panels such as MDF, OSB 

or particleboards made with Plantics 

resin perform in durability, strength 

and sustainability compared to 

formaldehyde-made panels? 

Bakker: The panels can be made in 

such a way that they fulfil regular 

requirements for wood panels for 

interior or exterior use. The latter 

is unique as no bio-based binders 

are available for exterior use panels. 

Moreover, the resins are also colourless 

and odourless. 

Furthermore, Plantics Panels are 

completely circular, non-toxic and 

100% plant-based. The natural fibres of 

wood or hemp are combined with the 

Plantics bio-resins. They form a strong, 

water-resistant panel for external use 

applications, while also storing CO2. 

The panels can be processed in most 

wood panels factories. Pressing times 

are still longer than with conventional 

fossil-based resins. The binder does 

not contain any toxic components such 

as formaldehyde. The plant-based raw 

materials are reusable many times 

because the binder can be reactivated 

resulting that both the resin and the 

fibres can be completely reclaimed 

and used again, for panelling or other 

applications. This is a unique feature as 

normally thermoset binders cannot be 

re-activated or reused. 

Plantics Panels can be made for 

interior or exterior applications. 

The exterior-use panels are water 

resistant. They have been extensively 

tested in a demonstration house in the 

Netherlands, which is completely made 

of different types of Plantics Panels, 

both inside and outside. The hemp 

panels are also used for traffic signs by 

the largest traffic manufacturer of the 

Netherlands. The exterior-use panels 

can withstand the Dutch rainy weather. 

At this moment we can produce 

chipboard (P2-P5, EN-312), chipboard 

with wood and hemp veneer, birch 

plywood and hemp panels. We are also 

working on other panels and panel 

applications. 

Can you elaborate on this statement: 

“bio-materials replacing conventional 

plastics used to be far more expensive 

than conventional plastic”; and in your 

opinion, will making bio-resins cheaper 

convince manufacturers to pivot to 

more sustainable raw materials? 

Bakker: Manufacturing our biomaterials 

is still costlier than traditional plastic 

materials and panels. This is mainly 

because traditional plastics and panels 

are produced on a much larger scale and 

thus have scale-cost benefits. Moreover, 

some adaptations have to be made in 

the production plants. Also, investments 

2 

1 

LEGEND 

1 Exterior-use 

Plantics Panels 

are water 

resistant 

2 Hemp chairs 

made with 

Plantics’ bioresins 

3 The colourless 

Plantics resin and 

natural fibres 



will give them product, production and 

commercial support. So Plantics produces 

the bio-resins and intermediate materials 

and provides services. In return, our partners 

pay a license fee on the products they 

manufacture. 

in the development and innovation of 

biomaterials add to higher production costs. 

The raw materials for the bio-resin are 

however abundantly available and costeffective, 

which means when our materials 

are produced in large quantities, the materials 

and panels will become cost-competitive with 

existing materials and panels. 

But using Plantics materials is not only a 

matter of cost, it is also a matter of ecology 

and public health. Do we want to keep using 

materials that are toxic, meaning containing 

formaldehyde, and fossil-based, meaning 

large CO2 emissions, and that cannot be 

reused when there are high-quality, safe and 

sustainable alternatives available? 

Manufacturers will need time to be convinced 

these materials are a sustainable and safe 

alternative for the materials they are working 

right now. But we are sure this is only a matter 

of time and supported by governments with 

new regulations to support sustainable biomaterials. 

3 

In your opinion, what roles do manufacturers 

like Plantics have in contributing to more 

sustainable furniture and construction 

industries? 

Bakker: Plantics is recognised as one of the 

most promising biomaterial companies and 

their materials have been elected to be the 

renewable material of the year in a global 

competition organised by the German Nova 

institute. We are a team of specialists driven 

by the ambition to contribute to a better and 

more sustainable world. We want to be a 

gamechanger. We are making the circular and 

safe biomaterials of the future. 

We will manufacture applications ourselves. 

We develop bio-resins and new materials. 

And together with our partners, we develop 

high-quality, circular and CO2 negative 

products. So, we co-develop new products and 

production processes. Together with these 

manufacturers we produce new products 

on pilot scale. When production is ready to 

upscale, the partners will take care of mass 

production and commercialisation. And we 

What is Plantics currently working on now, 

and does the company have any plans to 

improve your bio-resins? 

Bakker: Plantics and their partners 

keep working on improving resins, 

current applications and developing new 

applications. For example, we will expand 

the types of Plantics Panels and the 

production facilities. But together with our 

partners we are also working on composites, 

foams, coatings of moulded paper and 3D 

printing with the help of our resins. So, 

we work in partnerships in developing and 

producing new applications. These partners 

manufacture these products and bring them 

to the market. 

We already support a range of products, 

from paper plant pots coated with Plantics to 

natural traffic signs and from biodegradable 

coffins to Plantics kitchens. And we look 

forward to welcoming new partners for new 

circular products especially hemp, wood, and 

flax composites and panels. P 

Do we want to keep using materials that are toxic, meaning 

containing formaldehyde, and fossil-based, meaning large 

CO2 emissions, and that cannot be reused when there are 

high-quality, safe and sustainable alternatives available? 

Wridzer Bakker, CEO of Plantics 

Wridzer Bakker, CEO of Plantics 



Catching up with Andritz 

Michael Rupp, vice-president sales and application 

panelboard at Andritz, shares the latest updates and 

developments at the company, as well as his insights into the 

current trends of the wood panel industry. 


Lelin 

While the majority of the wood and 

woodworking industry plunges into the 

deep end with the economic downturn, 

Andritz, a developer and supplier of 

turnkey solutions for various industries, 

has managed to tide things through 

with several huge projects, according 

to Rupp. 

A brief look at the company’s recent 

projects sheds light on Rupp’s remark: 

a complete MDF line for North Americabased 

Roseburg Forest Products; the 

installation of a pressurised refining 

system for India-based Greenply 

Industries; a repeat order for a second 

pressurised refining system from 

Wisewoods, Thailand; and another 

pressurised refining system signed for 

Germany-based Sonae Arauco. 

“Of course, we are facing issues on the 

sourcing of raw materials, a challenge 

everybody is also facing,” Rupp clarified 

when asked about Andritz’s current 

situation. “From raw materials prices to 

manpower, the price for everything has 

increased -- this is something we now 

have to cover.” 

Andritz’s latest report for their Q1 2024 

corroborated his statement, and Rupp 

added that while a quick recovery of the 

markets is not anticipated, the company 

is prepared to navigate the challenging 

economic environment with resilience. 

But what kept Andritz afloat in such 

volatile conditions, especially when 

competing against other giants within 

the wood panel industry? 

For the longest time, Andritz has held 

their own ground by specialising in pulp, 

paper, and MDF technology. While the 

panelboard experts located in Vienna, 

Austria has long focused on designing 

and manufacturing both single machines 



and complete front-end packages for the 

MDF industry, they have recently expanded 

into providing eco-friendly insulation board 

solutions. 

Andritz’s main markets for their MDF 

technology are concentrated in Asia, 

specifically in Thailand, Vietnam, and India. 

Rupp shared that they received most of 

the orders for new lines over the last year 

in Thailand, compounding to the six in 

India installed within the past three years. 

In China, Andritz also completed in 2022 

what was said to be the “largest pressurised 

refining system in the world” for Guangxi 

Chongzuo Lelin Forestry Development 

Company. 

In addition to their MDF technology, 

Andritz’s insulation board solutions gained 

traction in North America, as well as in 

Europe, such as Germany, Poland, Norway, 

and France. Over the past two years, Rupp 

said they managed to secure around four 

big insulation board projects, including one 

at naturheld, a German-based company, 

where Andritz supplied two pressurised 

refining systems and an entire chip handling 

line. 

“All these show that the market trusts us,” 

Rupp elaborated. “What we have done is 

build up on our strengths, listened to our 

customers’ feedback, and improved what 

we have to work on. Effectively, we learn 

from our customers and try to implement 

new systems. As a result, we are growing 

steadily.” 

The company also supports their customers 

with upgrades and new features that can be 

easily retrofitted to existing equipment in 

order to optimise their plants and increase 

its production efficiency. 

An industry pioneer 

Rupp also referred to Andritz as 

a “pioneer” willing to take on new 

technology, paving the way for the rest of 

the industry adopt them. Sustainability, 

for one, has always been an integral part 

of Andritz strategy, and the company 

has focused on technology that 

reduces thermal and electrical energy 

consumption through monitoring trends 

and market movements. 

Refiner S2074M 

For instance, Andritz has made significant 

advancements in refining and successfully 

integrated them into customer lines; with 

the Andritz steam recovery system, it is now 

possible to recover steam generated during 

the refining process — an industry trend 

which has become increasingly prevalent. 

Andritz has also offered retrofit solutions 

with very short downtimes, assisting MDF 

producers in conserving thermal energy. 

Moreover, the company has developed 

processes which can recycle and reuse MDF 

boards instead of throwing them away or 

burning them for energy production. 

Likewise, the company is also working on 

processing other types of raw materials 

besides wood. As natural wood has become 

more expensive, Andritz is conducting 

research on the capabilities needed to 

machine alternative materials which have 

seen an increase in demand. At present, 

the company possesses the knowledge to 

process date palm fronds as well as other 

annual plants to fashion MDF or HDF. 

Rupp added: “Another major topic at the 

moment is autonomous plant operation, 

enhanced data flow and digitalisation. So, we 

are seeing a certain trend towards Internet 

of Things (IoT) and systems for better quality 

checks and fewer rejects; we are working on 

adjusting processes depending on the feed 

material, where factors such as moisture 

and fibre quality can vary drastically. We 

aim to optimise the plants to be in their best 

condition, and to produce high outputs of the 

final board while saving energy and resources.” 

With these promising projects in the pipeline 

and others lined up ahead, Rupp concluded 

with optimism that these developments 

are “attributed not only to Andritz’s global 

reputation for reliability and innovation but 

also to our proactive sales force, dedicated to 

maintaining existing client relationships and 

exploring new opportunities.” P 

Michael Rupp 

Vice-president at Andritz 



ColourBrain MFC 4.0 

inspection system 

in Unilin direct coating lines 

Baumer Inspection looks back on two direct coating lines 

they installed for one of their long-standing customers, 

Unilin Panels, for their Wielsbeke, Belgium plant. 

By Detlef Schröder, product manager, Baumer Inspection 

For more than 20 years, Unilin 

has been relying on Baumer 

inspection systems in its flooring 

lines in Belgium and the US. In 2019 

and 2021, Unilin invested in the 

inspection of two direct coating 

lines. 

Specifically, Unilin invested in 

Baumer’s ColourBrain MFC 4.0 

system, designed for the optical 

inspection of melamine paper 

coated fibreboards after pressing 

and edge trimming in longitudinal 

pass. The boards, be it chipboard, 

HDF or MFC, are inspected on both 

decor sides for decor and surface 

defects. A distinction is made 

between process-related defects or 

sporadic individual defects. 

After three years of fully automatic 

inspection, Unilin is happy to 

report their results from using 

the ColourBrain MFC 4.0. With the 

introduction of quality assurance 

through inspection in its coating 

lines, Unilin managed to reduce the 

complaint rate. Defects previously 

overlooked by their manpower 

during the final inspection are 

now reliably detected, alerted and 

ejected by the MFC 4.0 systems. 

ColourBrain MFC 

4.0 system at 

Unilin Panels in the 

Wielsbeke plant 

As the Baumer systems can detect 

more defects than humans, the 

reject rate initially increased. 

However, by consistently analysing 

the causes of errors and with the 

timely intervention of the production 

team to minimise sources of defects, 

Unilin reduced the number of rejects in 

the long term. 



The Baumer quality management 

system Q-Live and the alarming of 

serial defects and reject panels by 

the inspection systems were helpful 

in analysing the causes. By using 

additional operating terminals, the 

production team was informed at 

various points on the coating line, in 

front of the press during paper laying 

and at the inspection system between 

the edge scraper and cooling turner, 

about reject defects such as paper 

inclusions, paper laying defects, 

damage, pressure marks, thus allowing 

them to react quickly. 

After initial scepticism, the two 

Baumer systems were fully accepted 

by the Unilin production team following 

extensive training. With increasing 

knowledge, the benefits and helpful 

support provided by the inspection 

systems were appreciated by the 

team. And after about six months of 

introduction and testing, Unilin was 

able to save one person per shift and 

line by relying on the Baumer systems, 

thus saving on manpower costs. 

The fully automatic communication 

between Baumer’s ColourBrain MFC 

4.0 system and the Unilin line control 

ensures a smooth process with 

product data transfer from Unilin and 

detailed result transfer to Unilin and 

the Baumer database system Q-Live 

for later detailed data analysis. 

In summary, Unilin has saved on 

the following by using Baumer 

inspection systems: costs for 

complaints, personnel, avoidable 

rejects. Tim Gobert, project manager 

at Unilin Panels, who introduced 

the ColourBrain MFC 4.0 system to 

the Wielsbeke plant, expressed his 

satisfaction: “For Unilin Panels, the 

Baumer inspection system has been 

a helpful tool to improve our quality 

towards the customer. Now, we deliver 

more consistent and better quality, all 

with fewer people at the line.” P 

The Baumer quality management system Q-Live and the alarming of 

serial defects and reject panels by the inspection systems analyse 

causes for rejection 



Saving the forest for the 

trees: Pika ReTech on 

sustainable action 

Formaldehyde and VOC emissions used in 

wood-based panel production also harm both 

the environment and human health. 

The use of old conventional technologies 

and the lack of investment in innovative 

and sustainable technologies do not reduce 

the use of raw materials, increase energy 

efficiency, or increase the sustainability 

of production processes. Additionally, 

the lack of sufficient R&D activities to 

develop sustainable production techniques 

and materials prevents the increase of 

sustainability in the sector. 

The importance of sustainability 

Sustainability from a market perspective is 

essential today for many reasons. 

With environmental awareness increasing 

with consumer demand, consumers and 

manufacturers prefer companies with 

environmentally friendly products and 

sustainable production processes. 

Sustainable products thus appeal to a 

broader customer base, which increases 

brand loyalty. Consumers place greater 

trust in brands whose production 

processes are transparent and whose 

environmental impacts are minimised. 

In this sense, sustainability has become 

important in enhancing one’s brand image. 

Increasing green and sustainable products 

provides a competitive advantage in the 

emerging sustainable product market. 

These products create significant 

opportunities for manufacturers in existing 

and new markets. Since sustainability 

also encourages innovation, it enables 

companies like us to think about this issue 

and develop technology to offer innovative 

solutions. This offers opportunities for 

market leadership and differentiation. 

Sustainability in the market is therefore 

important today for many reasons, such as 

consumer demands, competitive advantage, 

legal compliance, investor interest, corporate 

social responsibility, and technological 

innovations. Pika ReTech’s efforts and 

solutions on sustainability not only fulfil its 

environmental and social responsibilities but 

also provide significant advantages in market 

competition. 

The challenge at hand 

Excessive logging for wood-based panels 

destroys forest ecosystems and reduces 

biodiversity. Where sustainability is not 

government policy, the lack of such forestry 

practices results in a demand for raw 

materials that exceeds forests’ regenerative 

capacity. 

Fossil fuel addiction, lack of energy 

efficiency, excessive water consumption, 

water pollution, and the mixing of chemicals 

and waste into water resources are the 

adverse effects that continue this process. 

At a glance, deforestation, high energy 

and water consumption, use of harmful 

chemicals, inadequate waste management, 

lack of cost-saving, and innovative 

technologies are the main factors that make 

it difficult for the wood-based panel industry 

to achieve its sustainability goals. 

With that in mind, the industry must thus 

improve in various areas to become more 

sustainable. 

A way out of the woods 

Sustainability at Pika ReTech looks like 

this: integrating long-term success with 

environmental stewardship across all facets 

of our operations. 

At Pika ReTech, we prioritise minimising 

environmental impacts through efficient 

resource management and responsible 

raw material sourcing in the production of 

wood-based panels. Emphasising waste 

reduction and recycling, alongside proper 

disposal of harmful waste underscores our 

commitment to sustainable practices. And 

by harnessing energy-efficient technologies 

and advocating for renewable energy 

integration, we generate lower carbon 

footprints. 



Ensuring employee health and safety through 

reduced chemical exposure and safe working 

conditions is integral to our sustainability 

ethos. By promoting sustainable practices 

through training and awareness, we not only 

achieve long-term cost savings but also meet 

rising consumer demand for eco-friendly 

products, bolstering our competitiveness in 

the market. 

A comprehensive approach that includes 

environmental, social and economic 

sustainability is thus necessary to enact 

actionable and positive change. 

Clear and measurable targets should be 

determined, long-term plans should be 

made, corporate policies should be chosen 

accordingly, and R&D studies should be 

carried out uninterruptedly. The main 

goal should be to move from discourse to 

action, and companies should work on this 

continuously and obsessively. 

environment. It also contributes to resource 

conservation regarding waste reduction and 

energy efficiency. 

At Pika ReTech, we believe innovative 

solutions such as resin-saving machines 

and nano paraffin technology allows for 

a more sustainable production process. 

Continuously developing new technologies 

and improving existing technologies can 

improve sustainability in the industry. 

The journey of a thousand acres 

To leave a lasting sustainable impact on 

our environment, the wood-based panel 

industry needs to improve in areas such as 

raw material management, energy and water 

use, chemical use reduction, worker health 

and safety, and technological innovations. 

Resin-saving machines and nano paraffin 

technology are some of the ways to 

realise these aspirations. These solutions 

increase energy and resource efficiency, 

reduce environmental impacts and provide 

a more sustainable production process. 

Wood-based panel manufacturers must 

begin their sustainability journey with a 

comprehensive strategy and concrete 

actions that are implemented step by 

step. The technological solutions offered 

by Pika ReTech can contribute to this 

process and help manufacturers achieve 

their sustainability goals. Together, for our 

world, humanity, and ourselves, we can 

make a difference. P 

LEGEND 

1 The Pika ReJIT 

2 The Pika ReFogger 

Of course, in-house training and cooperation 

with business partners to whom you will 

provide this service are essential to success. 

For Pika Retech, sustainability is a 

holistic directive which brings together 

environmental responsibility, energy 

efficiency, innovation, worker health and 

safety, and economic sustainability. This 

approach positively contributes to the 

environment and society while increasing our 

customers’ long-term success and market 

competitiveness with our technology. 

1 

Here, Pika ReTech can play a critical role in 

implementing these improvements. 

With the ReFogger resin saving machine, 

using fewer raw materials, reducing 

emissions to the atmosphere by using low 

VOC Glues or zero VOC emission glues, 

and generating less waste contribute to 

protecting both petroleum-based glue wax 

and forest resources. 

Our nano-paraffin emulsion technology 

significantly benefits the environment and 

humans by reducing paraffin, a petroleumbased 

raw material, by using fewer raw 

materials. Providing high performance with 

a smaller amount of paraffin reduces the use 

of chemicals and causes less harm to the 

2 


FURNITURE MANUFACTURING 

Best practices of 

batch size one in 

furniture production 

Batch size one refers to a 

production methodology where 

items are processed individually 

rather than in groups or batches. 

In the furniture industry, 

implementing batch-size-one 

production involves customising 

and producing individual furniture 

pieces according to end-customer 

specifications, rather than 

manufacturing them in large, 

standardised batches. 

Batch size one can be implemented in 

every step of the production process 

of the finished panel from cutting and 

edgebanding to stacking, with fully 

automated manipulation and logistics 

in between. This article showcases 

several examples how furniture 

manufacturers harvest the potential 

of batch size one in their production, 

with individualised solutions 

developed and implemented by IMA 

Schelling. 

KITCHEN FRONTS AND CABINETS 

An European kitchen manufacturer 

commissioned IMA Schelling to 

produce a fully interlinked and 

automated batch-size-one plant for the 

production of fronts and cabinet items, 

which also had to fulfil two specific 

requirements: It had to be connected 

to the existing assembly line in a narrow 

space and had to achieve a capacity of 

at least 1,300-1,400 components per 

shift. 

Fig. 1: A vertical 

parts buffer is 

connected between 

the formatting and 

edgebanding machine 

to compensate for 

differences in output 



At the heart of the concept lies IMA 

Schelling’s Performance.cut batchsize-one 

cutting and machining 

plant. Equipped with milling units, not 

only could it cut boards to size but it 

could also carry out additional tasks 

such as grooving and drilling, as well 

as rabbeting and diagonal cutting. 

To further increase the machine’s 

capacity, IMA Schelling equipped it with 

two main spindles. As a space-saving 

solution, this allowed the producer 

to achieve the required panel output 

with only one machine, while keeping 

operating costs such as suction 

systems and manpower low. 

Another IMA Schelling solution was the 

Combima automatic formatting and 

edge processing machine on which 

the boards could be edgebanded using 

glue or a laser, as required. A vertical 

parts buffer was connected between 

the two machines to compensate 

for differences in output and stable 

production line operation (Fig. 1). 

Efficient and customised transport 

solutions connected the entire 

production all the way until the existing 

units for further processing. 

For the sorting itself, IMA Schelling 

developed two highly efficient sorting 

cells, each with a Robot.sort robot 

and four sorting shelves. Together 

these managed the cut-to-size parts 

from one shift. The entire plant was 

controlled via the IPC.Net control 

system from IMA Schelling — this meant 

the manufacturer received everything 

from a single source, minimalising 

interface problems. 

For another kitchen furniture 

manufacturer, this time specifically 

from Switzerland, they had specific 

requirements regarding operation 

and setup needed to be matched as 

manpower costs are high, leading 

to an unusual layout. To meet the 

output requirements, the plant had 

to be designed with two interlinked 

edgebanding machines: two Combima 

machines with laser edging from IMA 

Schelling were selected. Connected 

by handling equipment and fitted with 

a return line, they were to carry out 

four-sided edgebanding in two passes. 

The unique requirement here was that 

the operation of the two machines, 

arranged one behind the other 

lengthwise, was to stay on the same 

side. In total, this setup resulted in a 

70m-long machine (Fig. 2). 

Usually, workpieces are moved from 

the first machine to the second by 

diagonal rollers, but to keep the 

operation side and reference line the 

same, a double turning station was 

installed so workpieces are not turned 

by 90°, but instead 180°. The customer’s 

target was to operate both lines with 

only one line supervisor at full capacity. 

Additionally, when production stops on 

one of the two interlinked machines, 

production should continue on the 

other. To achieve this, the turning 

station was mounted on guide rails 

and could be moved manually with one 

hand. This allowed both machines to be 

run individually at a reduced capacity, 

should one of the two machines 

malfunction. 

The addition of specific grooving 

and rebating units for producing 

superimposed and milled-in handle 

strip fronts was realised by IMA 

Schelling, where several grooving units 

worked in combination. The precision 

of this interaction and the quality of 

the machining impacted subsequent 

production steps and minimised the 

setup time of the in-house kitchen 

fitters. The Swiss manufacturer further 

improved its production by installing 

a camera system to ensure quality 

control, and later on added a digitalised 

Combi.cut cutting centre to further 

improve reliability, productivity and 

competitiveness. 

DOOR PRODUCTION 

A German door manufacturer invested 

in a fully automatic batch-size-one 

system for the variable production of 

high-quality doors. The centrepiece of 

the new processing machine for sizing 

and edging doors was IMA Schelling’s 

1.5-sided Combima door processing 

machine with a diode laser and an 

edgebanding unit for two adhesive 

colours and types, which are used in 

automatic change. 

The 1.5-sided machine was 

characterised by one long, fixed 

and one short, movable machine 

side. The double-sided area of 

Fig. 2: The 

edgebanding line with 

its two IMA Schelling 

Combima machines 

measures 70m long 



the system, where the door top and foot 

sides were machined at the same time, 

automatically adjusted to the length of the 

door. Longitudinal passes were carried out 

completely independent of width only on the 

long side of the machine. This was a crucial 

prerequisite for the efficient production 

of this customer’s door mix, according 

to IMA Schelling. The door blanks could 

be fed directly into the machine without 

any additional pre-machining such as 

formatting and reference milling. This was 

made possible by a special alignment and 

infeed system that IMA Schelling designed 

specifically for door processing machines. 

The machine was equipped with a 24-fold 

edge magazine, including an edge milling 

unit for reducing the edging tape height in 

the infeeding area before applying adhesive 

(Fig. 3). Furthermore, an edge scoring unit for 

thick plastic edges was placed in this area. 

The milling unit enabled the use of standard 

edging heights for different contours. The 

scoring unit with automatic adjustment 

was used to weaken the edge material at 

the bending points in the edge feeding area, 

depending on the rebate dimension. 

Other units on the machine included the 

automatic edge fine finishing unit for different 

edging materials and profile executions, 

lower door stop and rebate end trimming 

units for fine finishing of the upper corners of 

the door as well as additional contour milling 

and corner rounding devices for processing 

thick plastic edges. The machine achieved a 

speed of five cycles per minute under real-life 

conditions, and could handle edge thicknesses 

of up to 2mm even in double rebated doors. 

In combination with laser edgebanding, the 

doors achieved the premium look of a painted 

door all while being more economical to 

produce and giving superior durability. 

KITCHEN TOPS 

IMA Schelling supplied to a German kitchen 

manufacturer a batch-size-one system for 

processing an entire range of worktops, 

including all the different thicknesses of up 

to maximum dimensions of 5,300 x 1,200mm. 

Two manual CNC machines were replaced 

by one BIMA Px80, a high-performance 

gantry-type machine which could produce 

workpieces of varying complexity in parallel 

on two worktables. The processing centre was 

equipped with two milling spindles, each with 

Fig. 3: IMA Schelling 

equipped the system with 

a 24x edge magazine 

including an edge milling 

unit for reducing the 

edging height in the edge 

feeding area 

Fig. 4: Worktops are fed to 

the feeding and stacking 

gantry of the BIMA Px80 

via the infeed area 

two 18-station tool changers and a VT 100/100 

edgebanding unit with automated angle 

adjustment up to 45°, which could process 

edges up to a height of 104mm. There was also 

a fully automated AEK fine finishing unit for 

flush milling, profile drawing and flat scraping 

with up to three profiles in one unit. 

The BIMA Px80 could perform the entire 

edgebanding process on the components in 

both the longitudinal and transverse directions 

as well as moulded part processing. It could 

also process all variants of kitchen worktops 

and plastic worktops and hotplate covers 

with respect to their shapes and designs. The 

onsite system consisted of an area storage 

system, which automatically brought the 

sheets to a cut-off saw where the worktop 

was cut lengthwise and crosswise. The 

worktops were transported manually via 

conveyors to IMA Schelling’s CNC workstation 

and then stored temporarily or conveyed 

straight to the BIMA Px80 infeed. Worktops 

were automatically placed on the machine 

by a separate loading gantry (Fig. 4). After 

processing, this gantry removed the finished 

worktops from the BIMA Px80 and placed them 

on trolleys. The buffering, feeding and processing 

of components, including finishing and stacking 

heavy worktops, were fully automated for batchsize-one 

productions. 

CONCLUSION 

These examples show that batch size one is a 

well-proven manufacturing strategy to overcome 

production limitations, especially in relation 

to manpower restrictions, productivity and 

flexibility. As technology continues to advance and 

consumer expectations evolve, the importance 

of batch-size-one production will only continue 

to grow; Asian middle class affluency is growing 

and personal tastes need to be catered for. 

Manufacturers who embrace this approach stand 

to gain a competitive edge in the marketplace, 

offering end-customers customisation while 

gaining production efficiency. 

Images: IMA Schelling Group 



Maestro Lab and 

Cargo systems: 

SCM’s new entries to their 

CNC machining centres 

During the grand opening of SCM’s new Technology Centre in Rimini, 

Italy, they launched additions to their CNC machining centres: 

Maestro lab, the new CAD/CAM programming software; and Cargo, an 

automatic system for the loading and unloading of doors and panels. 

1 

SCM’s new Maestro Lab and Cargo 

systems for CNC machining centres 

aim to increase productivity by making 

the most common operations as simple 

as possible. 

CARGO 

Cargo aims to maximise productivity 

by offering pendulum processing in the 

loading and unloading doors and panels 

of various sizes — a capability said to be 

“exclusive” to SCM in the market. 

The system’s flexible arm allows 

continuous loading and unloading while 

the machine handles the operations. 

Although showcased on a morbidelli 

m200 CNC machining centre during 

the Technology Centre opening, Cargo 

is already available on both accord 500 

and accord 600 CNC solutions for solid 

wood machining. 

The solution is fully automated, 

transforming the machining centre into 

an autonomous cell and minimising 

the need for continuous operator 

supervision. It excels in precision 

positioning with a pre-alignment 

system that aligns panels precisely 

in both X and Y axes, even against 

mechanical stops on the worktable. 

Accessibility is another advantage, as 

both loading and unloading of the stack 

can be easily and safely accomplished 

with a forklift or pallet jack, guided 

by light signals indicating proper 

positioning. 

Furthermore, Cargo can be 

integrated with the machining 

centre, with programming 

managed entirely through the 

Maestro active HMI software. Users 

can activate the machining centre 

without the automatic loading and 

unloading system with a simple 

click. 

MAESTRO LAB 

Maestro Lab is a CAD/CAM software 

for both office and machine use. It 

offers a homepage that guides the 

operator even before starting the 

programme. This space aims to 

give the manufacturer a clear view 

of the system and the best user 

experience. 



2 

Legend 

1 Cargo attached to SCM’s morbidelli m200 

CNC machining centre 

2 Close up of Cargo 

3 Cargo can be integrated with the machining 

centre, with programming managed entirely 

through the Maestro active HMI software 

4 Cargo automatically loads and unloads 

doors and panels 

SCM emphasised the function of 

importing and managing layers 

in the Maestro Lab software, 

especially since manufacturers 

typically use external CAD 

software to draw. There is also 

a new geometry tree, helpful for 

individuals who work with a large 

number of geometries. The tree 

reportedly simplifies the process 

of identifying and selecting a 

geometry, while also setting 

aside a dedicated space for each 

element inserted into the project. 

Another feature is the preview 

and multi-project view. It is now 

possible to open multiple projects 

simultaneously, allowing for 

more seamless element copying 

between programs. This saves 

time by previewing pieces when 

selecting a program, reducing 

programming time. There is now 

a dark mode viewing mode for the 

Maestro Lab software too. 

The machine environment looks 

different too. Equipping the 

machine worktable is faster now. 

It is not important to know the 

exact name of the suction cup of 

the clamp needed, but how it looks 

like will be more than enough, 

according to SCM. P 

3 

4 



Revolutionising carpentry: 

The journey of United 

Design & Renovation with 

CABINET VISION 

In the bustling city of Johor Bahru, Malaysia, a traditional carpentry 

company has made remarkable strides towards modernisation by 

integrating the latest technology into its operations. 

were inefficient and inconsistent, 

especially when compared to the 

precision and professionalism he was 

accustomed to in industrial settings. 

This thus sparked his interest in 

finding an automated solution to 

streamline their processes. 

1 

Despite being founded by two directors, 

Michael and Alice, who had no 

background in cabinet making, United 

Design & Renovation navigated the 

challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic 

and emerged stronger thanks in part to 

CABINET VISION. 

The story of United Design & 

Renovation began just before the 

pandemic, when Michael and Alice 

recognised a gap in the market and 

decided to venture into cabinet 

making. Despite a lack of experience, 

they wanted to offer quality and 

competitively-priced cabinets primarily 

to customers in nearby Singapore. 

The geographical proximity and lower 

costs compared to Singaporean 

cabinet makers gave them a strategic 

advantage. 

Michael, who also managed a heavy 

industry machine repair business, 

quickly realised that the traditional 

methods employed by their carpenters 

The search for automation 

Michael embarked on a long research 

journey, exploring various software 

solutions that could enhance their 

workflow. Initial attempts were 

frustrating as many of the software 

options available were not user 

friendly or suitable for their specific 

needs. It was during this search that 

he discovered CABINET VISION, a 

design-to-manufacturing software 

created for the cabinet making 

industry. 

The breakthrough came with the 

support of Smart Connected Solutions 

SEA, a regional provider that offered 

comprehensive training, consultation, 

and technical support across Malaysia, 

Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the 

Philippines, Indonesia, and Myanmar. 

Their expertise in modernising 

traditional cabinet making businesses 

would soon prove valuable. 



Legend 

1 Michael, one of the 

founders of United 

Design & Renovation, 

swiftly discovered that 

traditional cabinet 

making methods 

were inefficient and 

inconsistent 

2 During the pandemic, 

CABINET VISION’s 

software allowed less 

experienced workers 

to produce quality 

work with accuracy 

2 

The implementation of CABINET VISION not 

only improved efficiency but also elevated 

the overall quality of their products. Michael 

and Alice’s decision to leverage technology 

rather than relying solely on human expertise 

proved to be transformative. United Design & 

Renovation could now meet the demands of 

their clients with greater speed and reliability. 

Leading the community 

The success story of United Design & 

Renovation spreaded throughout Johor 

Bahru’s community of carpenters and cabinet 

makers. Many companies were curious about 

how these two newcomers managed to 

transform their business and operate without 

relying on traditional sifu expertise. Their 

curiosity led to numerous visits to United 

Design & Renovation, where Michael and Alice 

openly shared their experiences and insights. 

Their willingness to make friends and share 

knowledge has had a ripple effect. Inspired 

by United Design & Renovation’s example, 

many carpentry businesses in Johor Bahru 

have since adopted CABINET VISION and CNC 

machines. This shift has thus transformed the 

local industry by promoting greater efficiency 

and elevating the quality of craftsmanship 

across the region. 

Navigating the pandemic 

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic 

brought unprecedented challenges. The 

Malaysian government imposed several 

Movement Control Orders (MCOs) from 

2020 to 2021, forcing many manufacturers 

to shut down due to labour shortages and 

operational restrictions. United Design & 

Renovation was no exception. The situation 

was exacerbated when their carpenters 

requested for higher wages to continue 

working amidst the crisis. 

However, the pre-pandemic purchase of 

CABINET VISION turned out to be a strategic 

decision. Although the factory had to pause 

operations during the MCO, this downtime 

provided Michael with an opportunity to 

delve deeply into the software. He applied 

himself to understanding CABINET VISION, 

changing what could have been a period of 

stagnation into one of learning and growth. 

Embracing technology 

When the factory reopened, Michael and 

Alice integrated CABINET VISION into their 

operations, starting with generating files 

for their CNC machine. This transition 

marked a significant shift in their 

manufacturing process. The reliance on 

the traditional sifu (master craftsmen) was 

reduced, as the software enabled even less 

experienced workers to produce quality 

work with consistent accuracy. 

A new era for Johor Bahru’s cabinet makers 

Today, United Design & Renovation stands 

as a compelling example of how innovation 

can improve and enhance traditional 

industries. By embracing CABINET VISION, 

the company has overcome the pandemic 

and positioned themselves for future growth. 

Their story hence serves as an inspiration to 

other traditional businesses facing similar 

challenges, demonstrating that with the right 

tools and a willingness to adapt, modernisation 

is within reach. 

Michael and Alice continue to push the 

boundaries of what is possible in cabinet 

making, driven by a commitment to high 

standards and a forward-thinking approach. 

Their journey highlights the importance of 

resilience and innovation in navigating the 

ever-evolving landscape of manufacturing. 

With their success, they are spearheading 

change among Johor Bahru’s cabinet makers, 

proving that the future of carpentry lies 

in embracing technology and continuous 

improvement. P 



Professional edgebanding on 

HOMAG CNC machines: 

New technology for 

better results 

1 

2 

Why is edgebanding on CNC machines a 

unique offering? CNC processing centres 

with adhesive capability are designed to 

shape and edgeband panels on a single 

machine. Edgebanding on CNC machines 

is crucial for odd shape and bezel edges. 

With HOMAG CENTATEQ E-310 and E-510, 

HOMAG Group takes a new step forward in 

the adhesive technology of CNC machines, 

offering high-quality edgebanding on CNC 

machines. 

POWEREDGE PRO DUO EDGEBANDING UNIT 

HOMAG CENTATEQ E-310 and E-510 are 

ideal industrial solutions when it comes 

to edgebanding: formatting, profiling and 

drilling are supplemented with shaped 

edgebanding, with optimal joints and edge 

finish. The machine is equipped with the 

powerEdge Pro Duo edgebanding unit — one 

unit for all requirements. 

Optimised handling and simplified 

programming combined with innovations 

in unit technology and control allow 

powerEdge Pro Duo users to master 

current and future requirements. 

Tapping into HOMAG’s experience in unit 

construction for shaped edgebanding, the 

powerEdge Pro Duo can achieve zero joint 

edges with HOMAG’s hot air system, which 

lowers running costs than the larger, 

higher-volume laser edging machines. 

Customers can thus obtain the same highquality 

end product but at a lower cost. 

With the airTec hot air unit, an optical zero 

joint is achieved by heating or reactivating 

the functional layer on the edgeband with 

a hot air nozzle. In the hot-air unit, the 

intelligent control system for the hot air 

activates the nozzle, provides optimum 

performance for difficult inside and outside 

radii, and ensures a constant temperature 

at the joint. The pressure roller applies 

the edge to the workpiece with a precise 

amount of force. This, in conjunction 

with a defined temperature, ensures 

ideal workpieces without a complicated 

programming procedure. A rotary heater 

is installed in the gluing unit to generate 

the hot air. Its housing contains a metallic 

core, which the air passes through. The 

core is heated to and regulated at a 

constant temperature by means of heating 

cartridges. The air quantity is adjusted 

automatically. 



5 

3 

LEGEND 

1 HOMAG CNC processing center CENTATEQ E-310 

2 The CENTATEQ E-510 reproduces wavy edges simply and as often as required 

3 With the airTec hot air unit, an optical zero joint is achieved by heating or 

reactivating the functional layer on the edgeband with a hot air nozzle 

4 The powerEdge Pro Duo edgebanding unit 

5 The powerEdge Pro Duo allows the operator to switch from conventional gluing 

edgebanding to zero joint process with zero setting time 

4 

Gluing internal contour units can also be 

used to glue cut-outs and inner circles. 

Zero joint technology and accurate tracing 

ensure ideal results for 360° gluing, even for 

the smallest components. The powerEdge 

Pro Duo allows the operator to switch from 

conventional gluing edgebanding to zero 

joint process with zero setting time. 

The hot air system improves the 

edgebanding result even with the standard 

gluing application. 

On top of these, HOMAG CENTATEQ 

E-310 and E-510 come with all HOMAG’s 

usual features such as their main spindle 

technology, tool changer and units and its 

woodWOP software. When manufacturers 

decide on a HOMAG machine, they will 

receive a powerful processing centre for a 

range of tasks. Each machine is a complete 

system that aims to ensure maximum 

performance and efficiency in individual 

production tasks. 

A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE IN CNC PROCESSING 

Exactly 50 years ago, HOMAG Group 

developed its first CNC machine. 

Subsequently they integrated Weeke, a 

specialist in boring, milling and assembly 

technology, in 1986 to expand its offerings, 

and in 1989, their first processing centre 

for shaped parts was developed. To push 

their solution further, HOMAG introduced 

woodWOP CNC programming system, which 

has approximately 100,000 people worldwide 

using the software in 36 different languages, 

since 1992. 

Today, HOMAG Group’s CNC processing centres 

offer optimal technology and equipment for 

the highly efficient production of furniture, 

interior fittings, construction elements, and 

millwork, for panel processing, plastics and 

solid wood processing. This includes CNC 

machines with edgebanding capabilities, 

of which they have more than 30 years of 

experience with gluing technology on CNC 

processing centres — since BAZ 10, an older 

model in 1989, to today’s powerEdge Pro Duo. 

As more and more people place value on 

handicraft, HOMAG CNC processing centres 

are also exactly at where the trend is heading: 

classic craftsmanship implemented with 

advanced technology. CENTATEQ E-510 

reproduces wavy edges simply and as often as 

required. P 


FLOORING 

New floor roller 

coating line 

from Bürkle optimises 

production 

Decospan, a European processor of veneer wood, relies on 

technology from the Black Forest, Germany-based Bürkle. 

manufacturer of press and coating 

technologies planned and built the 

first large veneer press lines for 

Decospan as early as 1993. In recent 

years, several new machines have 

been purchased or replaced. 

“Due to the many years of very 

successful cooperation, it was of 

course easier for us to respond to 

the customer’s wishes with the new 

system, because everyone knows what 

makes the other party tick and what is 

important. This is exactly when great 

things can happen, as is the case with 

the floor roller coating system, built 

in an L-shape to match Decospan’s 

premises and has an impressive length 

of 202m,” reported Philipp Jauch, head 

of project planning at Bürkle. 

Belgian veneer wood processor 

Decospan is now in its third 

generation in the market. Today, 

the supplier, which also sees itself 

as a market-oriented lifestyle 

company, is active at a total of 

nine production sites worldwide, 

employing around 900 people and 

generating an annual turnover of 

around €200m. 

More than a year ago, the supplier 

commissioned a new floor roller 

coating line from Bürkle. Having 

worked with Bürkle for over 30 

years, Decospan appreciates and 

places their trust in the company’s 

high-quality and reliable systems. 

Likewise, Bürkle testifies that 

Decospan developed into an 

A-customer over the years; the 

The system, which was installed last 

year, is now used to coat veneered floor 

panels. The coating is designed as a 

roller coating system and consists of 

water-based and UV-curing lacquers. 

The coating system is equipped with 

the latest technologies in the field of 

water-based drying and UV curing. 

THIRTY METRES PER MINUTE 

Designed for three-shift operation, the 

system can achieve a production speed 

of 30m/min. The first layout of the 

plant was created in the beginning of 

2021, the final concept in Apr 2021, and 

the contract finally signed in Jul 2021. 


FLOORING 

Decospan’s main objectives for the 

new production line were a throughput 

speed of 30m at the highest possible 

coating quality, coupled with 

maximum productivity and reliability. 

Other technical highlights of the line 

include high-quality roller coating 

machines for optimum coating results 

and the handling concept developed 

by Bürkle. The UV systems are 

characterised by high performance 

and having a long lamp life. In 

addition, all systems are equipped 

with energy-efficient motors and are 

designed to be easy to operate and 

maintain, said Bürkle. The integration 

of third-party components and the 

system integration by Bürkle project 

management were crowned with 

success. 

DRYING AND CURING 

The throughput of the system begins 

with a complex handling concept 

developed by Bürkle, supplemented 

Two filler application machines with temperature control unit for water and downstream UV system; behind them is the second 

sanding machine, and further roller coaters with downstream UV systems follow behind the second sanding machine 


FLOORING 

by fully automatic feeding and 

stacking, including automatic 

thickness. The workpiece blanks are 

then sanded on a wide belt sanding 

machine integrated into the control 

system, including the cleaning 

of the panels after the sanding 

process. This is followed by the 

application of a water-based stain, 

which is brushed into the surface 

with spreader brushes to colour the 

veneers. The boards are then further 

primed with a multi-stage waterbased 

and UV lacquer. The final top 

coat is applied using several roller 

coating machines. Curing takes 

place in a downstream UV system, 

optionally with conventional UV 

technology. 

CONTROL CONCEPT AT THE HEART OF 

THE SYSTEM 

According to Bürkle, the central 

system control is the intelligent 

heart of the system. It coordinates 

the individual processing stations, 

manages the parameters required 

for production and records the 

machine data. Furthermore, 

extensive status and fault messages 

are provided for the effective 

operation of the system. 

The system is also equipped with the 

Bürkle Remote Service System. This 

system ensures access to all relevant 

system elements for fault diagnosis 

and troubleshooting, whereby the 

Bürkle technicians in Freudenstadt 

have direct access to the system 

control and the operating terminals 

via a remote desktop. The control 

system has been specifically adapted 

to Decospan’s requirements to 

ensure smooth data exchange with 

Decospan’s higher-level IT systems. 

FULLY AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT OF 

MACHINE PARAMETERS 

During the project preparation 

phase, there was continuous and 

intensive cooperation between the 

customer, the paint supplier and 

Bürkle. The Bürkle specialists were 

able to carry out preliminary tests 

and various samples of customer 

parts at the Technology Center 

in Freudenstadt in advance, and 

provide the manufacturer with the 

appropriate material. The engineering 

was carried out as complete 3D 

planning using the latest digitisation 

tools and simulation models, as well 

as the use of digital twins to support 

planning and programming. 

The central control system is equipped 

with recipe management for various 

products. Among other things, it also 

enables the fully automatic adjustment 

of machine parameters during 

operation. Up to three employees 

are scheduled per shift to ensure the 

operation of the system. The employees 

also carry out regular quality checks. 

According to overall project manager 

Karl-Heinz Gude, Bürkle has already 

carried out 100% testing in the area of 

handling thanks to extensive test runs. 

At the end of Nov 2022, the operating 

personnel were finally trained in order 

to be able to carry out the first 

performance run with material on 8 

Dec. Since then, the roller coating 

line at Decospan has been running at 

full speed and ensuring the promised 

quality of the veneer flooring 

manufacturer. 

“The project was an important 

building block for the alignment and 

modernisation of our production. 

With Bürkle, we have a partner at 

our side who has fully adapted to 

our needs. Today we can say that 

all parameters have been fully met 

and the system has been integrated 

smoothly into our production 

ever since. The performance 

requirements, the engineering and 

the design of the roller coating line 

are unique on the market and a great 

success for both our companies,” 

summarised Peter Wullepit and 

Robbe Vanhoof, project managers at 

Decospan, for their cooperation with 

Bürkle. P 

After separating 

the panels, the 

production run starts 

with the first sanding 

machine pass 


STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS 

Chapel to 

St John Paul II 

in La Almudena 

Architects: 

Cano y Escario Arquitectura 

Wood consultants: Grupo GUBIA 

Location: Madrid, Spain 

Year: 2023 

Area: 40m² 

Client: Archidiócesis de Madrid | 

Cabildo Catedralicio 

Photography: Álvaro Viera/ 

Grupo GUBIA, unless 

otherwise stated 

The close relationship of Pope 

St John Paul II with Madrid takes 

another step forward with this new 

space dedicated to his figure inside 

the cathedral Santa María Real de la 

Almudena. 

The chapel, next to the main 

sacristy, designed by Cano y Escario 

Arquitectura, is an allusion to the 

primacy of Peter, the Church and 

Holiness. The project is composed of 

elements of great symbolic character: 

wood, marble and a careful lighting. 

Final images of the work already executed 

The predominant material is wood, an 

envelope that allows to glimpse the 

original stone through 50 porticoes, 

with different geometries and 

heights, which rise up to the 13m 

height of the chapel. By Grupo GUBIA, 

a consultancy in architecture and 

construction with wood, the chosen 

species was cedar, scientifically 

known as cedrela odorata, a species 

with a characteristic “smell of 

holiness” that fills the space with 

texture and colour, as a reference to 

the pontiff’s love for nature and his 

passion for forests. 



1 3 

2 

4 

The porticos, formed by 150 x 50mm 

squares, are arranged rhythmically with 

a 150mm spacing between axes on a 

base that raises them off the ground, 

creating a subtle line of shadow. The 

succession of these wooden porticos 

acts as a “counter mould” to the original 

chapel. “The new space does not hide 

the old; we want to speak of a church 

on the move, in tradition and vibrantly 

current,” said Benjamín Cano, architect 

at CANO Y ESCARIO Arquitectura. 

More than a thousand linear metres 

of cedar wood give shape to these 

50 different porticos, in which 

their length is achieved with a 

wood-wood joint in the heads. A 

reinterpretation of Jupiter’s Ray, 

designed by the technical team of 

Grupo GUBIA, which manages to 

overcome the limitations in length 

of the available wood and assemble 

the pieces like a Meccano. The 

assembly, programmed in a 

CNC centre, manages to carry out 

a crucial mass production in such 

a geometrically complex project. 

“Thanks to automation, a precise 

joint without limits is achieved,” 

commented Verónica Sancho, 

architect of Grupo GUBIA. 

The way in which the porticos are 

conceived allows a pre-assembly of 

the set in the workshop that facilitates 

the subsequent transfer and assembly 



5 

in the cathedral in optimal times, almost as if it were an 

industrialised construction. 

The lower part of certain porticoes is broken to give way to 

geometric figures that evoke the appearance of a grove of trees. 

Inside are backlit images that reflect crucial moments in the life 

of St John Paul II and, in particular, evoke the pope as a traveller 

and the Christian life as a journey. Presiding over the complex, 

an image of the pontiff’s face is placed as an antechamber to the 

confessional that gives a penitential character to the space. 

A three-tonne rock of black Marquina marble at the entrance 

refers to the primacy of Peter. On it can be read the message 

that Karol Wojtyla gave when he became Pope: “Do not be 

afraid, open, even more, open wide the doors to Christ!” From 

the natural stone emerges, already polished, a bench in the 

form of a boat, a sign of the Church. “Above the candle, on 

the ‘prow’ of this boat, is a Christ, which is the original of the 

chapel, thus dialoguing modernity and tradition,” added the 

architects. 

Legend 

1 Cedar envelope of the chapel 

2 Details of the wood in the development of groves and confessional 

3 Final images of the constructed work 

4 Final images of the constructed work (from another perspective) 

5 Interior view ai17085098048_EN_PFA_IMEAS_2024 of the chapel during the assemblycopia.pdf 1 21/02/24 11:03 

The chapel is illuminated by LED strips embedded in four 

of the chapel’s porticoes, creating different lighting scenes 

within the space. Three lamps suspended from the ceiling 

stand out within the volumetry, alluding to the Holy Trinity. P 

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SUSTAINABILITY 

Unlocking the potential 

of palm wood for 

engineered doors 

In the quest for new sustainable building materials, IOI Palm 

Wood’s OnCore palm wood has emerged as a frontrunner, 

offering a range of products including Lumber Core, 

Blockboard, and Three-Layer Panels. 

Among the various application, palm 

wood shines particularly bright in the 

realm of engineered doors, where its 

inherent fire retardance combines with 

stability and light weight. This article 

delves into the potential use of palm 

wood in engineered doors, partitions, 

and dry walls, illuminating how it paves 

the way for safer spaces through 

enhanced fire retardance. 

Sustainability and environmental 

compliance 

Palm wood is produced using oil palm 

trunks (OPT) discarded after replanting. 

Utilising palm wood in engineered doors 

supports environmentally-friendly 

practices by reducing the demand for 

traditional wood species that may be 

less sustainable or harvested from 

endangered forests. It also mitigates 

the environmental impact associated 

with deforestation. By removing the old 

OPT and sequestering the carbon from 

this material, one also mitigates the 

generation of CO2 and methane from 

the natural decaying process. 

In a fire test, Lumber 

Core maintained its 

integrity longer than 

other materials of the 

same thickness 

The production methods to produce 

palm wood does not include the 

additional of formaldehyde resins; 

hence, OnCore palm wood is totally free 

of formaldehyde. 

IOI Palm Wood is working with 

respected verifiers to investigate the 

environmental circularity of using this 


SUSTAINABILITY 

material; it will be publishing a life 

cycle analysis in the new year. 

Enhancing fire retardance: The test 

results 

Rigorous fire retardance tests 

conducted on palm wood has yielded 

promising results. In controlled 

laboratory environments, palm 

wood has demonstrated resistance 

to ignition and slow flame spread. 

Notably, Lumber Core maintained 

its integrity for a duration in 

excess of other materials of similar 

thicknesses. The fire retardance 

test also showcased the insulation 

characteristic of Lumber Core. 

The test results revealed that 

engineered doors incorporating 

palm wood could meet regulatory 

requirements for fire resistance, whilst 

reducing overall weight. This enhanced 

fire retardance is attributed to the 

unique composition of palm wood, 

coupled with treatment processes 

that further fortify its ability to 

withstand fire. As a result, buildings 

equipped with palm wood engineered 

doors could provide an added layer of 

protection against the threat of fire. 

Strength and durability 

Harvested from OPT, palm wood 

offers strength and rigidity even 

at very low densities, making it a 

choice alternative core material for 

engineered doors. Moreover, its natural 

grain patterns are unidirectional, 

free of knots and other defects – this 

reduces the natural stresses found in 

traditional timbers, resulting in a stable 

core structure. 

Engineered doors made with palm 

wood require minimal maintenance 

due to palm wood’s natural resistance 

to moisture swelling, fungal decay and 

insect infestations. Lumber Core can be 

pretreated to further enhance its natural 

properties, resulting in cost savings 

and convenience for homeowners and 

property managers over time. 

Local economy support 

Incorporating palm wood into 

engineered door, and partition 

production can support local 

economies. This reduces the need 

to import expensive sustainable 

materials from overseas, while 

promoting the economic development 

of domestic industries and empowering 

communities. 

Conclusion 

With the demand for sustainable and 

safer building materials on the rise, 

palm wood stands poised to play a 

pivotal role in shaping the future of 

engineered panels. Its light weight, 

strength, and enhanced fire retardance, 

offers a compelling solution for door 

makers and constructors alike. By 

unlocking the full potential of palm 

wood and embracing its advantages, 

we can pave the way for a greener, 

safer and more sustainable built 

environment. P 

Palm wood can open news doors for local communities by bolstering domestic 

industries and economies 

Inspiring the next “material 

revolution” by creating sustainable 

and high-performance materials 

from oil palm waste, Peter Fitch, 

together with IOI, have set up IOI 

Palm Wood to commercialise this 

untapped potential. 


SHOW PREVIEW 

Explore the best in South 

East Asian woodworking 

and furniture at TIWF 2024 

Thailand International 

WOODWORKING & FURNITURE 

EXHIBITION 

Wed Thu F 

Over 4,000 regional delegates and trade 

buyers are expected to attend this event, 

coming from 

18 

across the entire spectrum of 

the woodworking and furniture production 

industry in Thailand and the surrounding 

South East Asian region. 

18 19 2 

SEPTEMBER 20 

The exhibition is also a knowledge exchange 

platform with the conduct of a range of 

conferences and seminars IMPACT that Exhibition will discuss and Convention 

and share Hall latest 11 industry Bangkok, trends and Thailand 

opportunites. In addition, there will also be 

a series of carpentry skill masterclasses 

and DIY workshops conducted by vocational 

institutes and knowledge partners. 

Your key face-to-face exhibition & networking platform to connect 

A highlight of TIWF 2024 is the TIWF 

Sustainable Reforestation “Greening 

the Wood Industry” programme which 

encourages sustainable practices in 

the wood industry from production to 

consumption. Through the programme, TIWF 

will donate US$1 for every m 2 sold at TIWF 

2024 to help in reforestation in Thailand by 

re-establishing a healthy forest structure to 

reserve biodiversity within its ecosystems. 

and do business with the woodworking and furniture industry in AS 

TWIF 2024 provides a gateway to the latest technology, trends, and stakeholders in the regional wood industry 

Thailand’s thriving woodworking and 

furniture industry is looking forward 

to hosting the Thailand International 

Woodworking and Furniture Exhibition 

2024 (TIWF 2024), from 18-20 Sep at the 

IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre, in 

Bangkok, Thailand. 

TIWF 2024 is organised as a key business 

platform to present and discuss the latest 

technology, solutions, materials, trends and 

sustainability impacting the woodworking 

industry, not just in Thailand but also the 

surrounding South East Asian region. 

Taking up over 5,000m 2 of exhibition floor 

space, TIWF 2024 has to date received 

participation confirmations from seven 

national exhibitor group participations 

from the US, Germany, Malaysia, Taiwan, 

China, France and Thailand, joining over 150 

exhibitors from 22 countries. 

INTERNATIONAL 

In helping to facilitate new business and 

networking opportunities between exhibitors 

and attendees, TIWF 2024 will oversee the 

conduct of numerous business-related 

activities such as business matching 

programmes, business networking activities, 

technology demonstration and product 

presentations. 

EXHIBITION FOR THE 

WOODWORKING AND 

FURNITURE INDUSTRY 

IN ASEAN 

Hosted by Thailand’s Ministry of Natural 

Resources and Environment, the exhibition 

has already received numerous industry 

endorsements from over 17 international 

and local industry organisations and 

associations, affirming the importance of 

TIWF 2024 as a key regional face-to-face 

industry platform and market-gathering 

place. P 


@panelsfurnitureasia 

For more 

information, please visit 

www.panelsfurnitureasia.com 

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to PFA’s enewsletter

SHOW REVIEW 

Innovation 

and opportunities 

abound at CIFF and 

CIFM/interzum guangzhou 

conducted discussions on upcoming 

market trend concerning smart 

furniture manufacturing solutions. 

ln the plate exhibition area, domestic 

and foreign plate brands gathered 

together to highlight their latest 

products. These panels offered not 

only excellent physical properties and 

environmental performance, but also 

a variety of designs and colours. 

As one of Asia’s leading furniture 

and equipment exhibitions, the 

China International Furniture Fair 

(CIFF) and CIFM/interzum guangzhou 

has attracted furniture industry 

professionals from all over the world 

to visit and exchange ideas every 

year — and 2025 was no exception. 

The exhibition, which spanned 

175,200 sq m (an increase of 24.17% 

from 2019), saw 1586 enterprises 

present — a growth of 6.16% from the 

2019 edition as well. 

Serving as platform for displaying 

furniture products, the trade event 

set the stage for exchanging insights, 

sharing ideas, exploring designs, and 

discussing upcoming trends. It also 

showcased the development and 

diverse offerings of China’s furniture 

industry. 

Nanxing Machinery, HOMAG Group, 

Biesse Group, Baofeng Teak, and IWG 

presented their latest woodworking 

machinery and raw materials at show, 

highlighting furniture production 

equipment and technology products. 

Exhibitors and attendees alike 

discovered business opportunities 

at the exhibition, exploring wider 

prospects in the world of furniture 

manufacturing. 

Exhibitors at CIFF also delivered onsite 

demonstrations and explanations 

of their products’ performance and 

features. At the same time, they also 

Through close cooperation 

with furniture designers and 

manufacturers, panel companies 

continued to promote the 

innovation and upgrading of 

furniture products. At the same 

time, furniture manufacturers 

have adopted new types of panels 

to design creative and practical 

furniture products. 

Nanxing Machinery 

Nanxing Machinery displayed a 

series of innovative products this 

year, including a laser edgebanding 

machine and flexible edgebanding 

connecting line. Precise, efficient, 

and intelligent, these products 

featured all-round solutions from 

design to production, and software 

to service. 

The on-site signing ceremony 

between the domestic and foreign 

buyer delegation organised 

by Nanxing further enhanced 

the opening of the Home Expo 

Equipment & Ingredients Exhibition. 

64 PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA | MAY / JUNE 2024

SHOW REVIEW 

Deputy general manager and sales director 

of Nanxing, He Jianwei, shared that Nanxing 

has been focused on meeting environmental 

standards, aligning with the company’s 

new goals of quality productivity. Be it 

materials or processing, the company is 

concerned with sustainability, from waste 

management to carbon emission reductions 

and minimising energy consumption, and 

aims to help its customers achieve their 

sustainable goals too. 

HOMAG Group 

HOMAG Group’s booth saw the launch of its 

HOMAG China Success360 programme. 

With the aim of putting customers first and 

generating long-term value, the company is 

focused on providing end-to-end solutions 

for its customers, from production to 

optimisation. At the launch, Dr Daniel 

Schmitt, CEO of the German HOMAG Group, 

shared that HOMAG will continue to dive into 

and explore the trends and demands of the 

Chinese furniture market. 

Guan Jingtao, CEO of HOMAG China, said: 

“We will localise, upgrade and adjust our 

designs, R&D, sales and services according 

to the needs of the Chinese market with 

the support of advanced technology from 

Germany. We expect that HOMAG will bring 

more breakthroughs to the global home 

furnishing industry and create more value 

for customers.” 

being a highlight product for the company in 

the past 30 years. 

Sinowolf 

At Sinowolf’s booth, Liu Yao, the marketing 

director of the company, introduced the four 

major new products, including: digital edge 

bands, veneer edge bands, embossed edge 

bands, and PET film edge bands. 

With a range encompassing PVC, ABS, PP, 

acrylic, metal, digital printing, irregular 

shapes, veneer, or embossed products, 

Sinowolf can cater to the needs of its 

customers. 

Liu expressed his confidence that these debut 

products will perform strongly in the market. 

Sinowolf will continue to deliver innovation 

and quality, providing edge banding solutions 

to support the development and progress of 

the industry. 

IWG 

IWG presented their latest woodworking 

adhesive for wooden doors, furniture, flooring 

and other fields. Also on showcase were PUR 

edge sealing adhesives for 4.0 production 

lines, self-developed cold-pressing fast 

laminating AB adhesives for wooden doors, 

special upholstery adhesives for sofas/ 

mattresses, and PUR gluing solutions for 

the home furnishing industry. The company 

also focused on the environmental benefits, 

durability and flexibility of its products. 

IWG expressed their enthusiasm for working 

with more partners in the future to jointly 

promote the development of the woodworking 

adhesive industry and provide customers with 

better quality products and services. 

Other companies such as Inbrend Machinery, 

Huizhou Kubang, Zhejiang Tongxi, Top 

Sculpture Intelligence, Guangdong Yidu 

New Material, and Huawei New Material also 

presented their solutions. 

While many industry leaders remarked that 

2023 had been a difficult year, with 2024 

expected to have lukewarm developments, 

the industry will nonetheless forge ahead and 

strive to expand across domestic and foreign 

markets. These views were shared at a 

series of forums and lectures at CIFF, inviting 

industry experts and market professionals 

to share their insights on the integration 

and development of the furniture industry. 

Presenting the latest research results 

and trend analysis, these talks provided 

references and insights for visitors and 

exhibitors. 

At CIFF, both domestic and foreign visitors 

also had the opportunity to meet other likeminded 

business partners, laying a foundation 

for further cooperation development. 

With that in mind, CIFF and CIFM/interzum 

guangzhou will return from 28 to 31 Mar 2025 

to deliver further innovative developments in 

the smart furniture manufacturing industry. P 

Biesse Group 

Biesse Group displayed its solutions for the 

furniture, doors and windows, construction, 

shipbuilding, sectors, demonstrating not 

only its efficiency and precision, but also 

its intelligent and automated features. 

Through technical explanations and product 

demonstrations, visitors could understand 

the performance and features of Biesse’s 

products. 

Baofeng Teak 

Baofeng Teak, who has been named as 

“Shanghai’s Top Ten Credible Enterprises 

in Timber Import and Export” for ten 

consecutive years, showcased the natural 

texture and properties of teak at their 

booth. The company’s team introduced the 

characteristics and application scenarios of 

various teak products, with Burmese teak 

MAY / JUNE 2024 | PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA 65

EVENTS CALENDAR 

Events Calendar 

2024-2025 

2024 

AUGUST 

August, 29 – September, 01 

Korean International Furniture & 

Interior Fair 

Seoul, South Korea 

August, 27 – 30 

VIFA ASEAN 

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam 

SEPTEMBER 

September, 10 – 13 

FMC 2024 

Shanghai, China 



Shanghai 



Thailand International Woodworking & 

Furniture Exhibition 

Bangkok, Thailand 


IFMAC & WOODMAC 

Jakarta, Indonesia 

OCTOBER 

October, 04 – 06 

2024 NHLA Annual Convention & 

Exhibit Showcase 

Ohio, US 

NOVEMBER 

November, 27 – 30 

Smart Furniture Solutions Vietnam 

Binh Duong, Vietnam 

November, 28 – 30 

Cairo Wood Show 

Cairo, Egypt 

2025 

JANUARY 

January, 16 – 19 

DOMOTEX 

Hannover, Germany 

MARCH 

March, 01 – 04 

Malaysian International Furniture Fair 

2025 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

March, 05 – 07 

Hawa Expo 

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 

March, 05 – 08 

VIFA Expo 


March, 06 – 09 

IndiaWood 

New Delhi, India 

March, 18 – 21 


Guangzhou (Phase 1) 

Guangzhou, China 

March, 28 – 31 


Guangzhou (Phase 2) 


March, 28 – 31 

Interzum Guangzhou 


APRIL 

March, 14 – 16 

Dubai WoodShow 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates 

MAY 

May, 26 – 28 

DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR 


May, 26 – 30 

LIGNA 

Hannover, Germany 

OCTOBER 

October, 15 – 18 

VietnamWood 


2026 

MARCH 

March, 04 – 07 

Hawa Expo 


March, 24 – 27 

Holz-Handwerk 2026 

Nuremberg, Germany 


2-4 

SEPTEMBER 2024 

4PM - 10PM DAILY 

HALLS 1 & 2 

RICEC, RIYADH, KSA 

JOIN THE EXCITEMENT AT 

SAUDI ARABIA’S 

LARGEST BUSINESS 

EVENT FOR WOOD 

INDUSTRY 

Adhesives, Glues, 

Paints & Coatings 

Furniture Accessories 

& Components 

Power Tools & 

Software 

Doors & Windows 

Hardwoods & 

Softwoods 

Laminates 

Wood Composites 

– MDF & Plywood 

Woodworking 

Machinery 

Wood Flooring & 

Decking 

REGISTER 

FOR FREE 

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#SAUDIWOODEXPO

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 

Index of Advertisers 

Panels & Furniture Asia (Issue 4) - July/August 2024 

COMPANY PAGE COMPANY PAGE 

Baillie Lumber 9 

Baumer Inspection GmbH 23 

Forestry Innovation Consulting (Vietnam) Ltd 

IFC 

Hoon Hsiang Ind Co Ltd 41 

IMEAS S.p.a 59 

Kuang Yung Machinery Co.,Ltd 11 

Lensaya Industriya Journal 47 

Nanxing Machinery Co., Ltd 2, 3 

Panels & Furniture Asia 63 

Pika ReTech 4, 5 

Plytec Oy 68 

Saudi Wood Expo 2024 67 

Shanxi Vario Hydraulic Machinery Co., Ltd 21 

Smart Connected Solutions SEA 55 

Smart Furniture Solutions Vietnam 2024 

FC 

Technik Associates, Inc 

IBC 

Thailand International Woodworking & Furniture Exhibition 2024 1 

Wood-Mizer, LLC 29 

Yalian Machinery Co., Ltd 

OBC 

Scan to download eBook 

PFA July/August 2024 


NEWS 

70 PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA | MAY / JUNE 2024

Panels & Furniture Asia July/August 2024

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