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PRESS RELEASES
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New
Milestones set in the golden anniversary edition
of a
AWFS®
fair |
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The Golden Anniversary edition
of the AWFS®
Fair, held at the Las Vegas
Convention Center July 18 – 22, 2007 continued
the tradition of delivering great value to
both attendees and exhibitors, setting new
milestones in many areas. Over 30,000
industry professionals, from 66 countries
networked, learned, conducted business and
experienced the excitement of 2007’s largest
industry |
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event over the course of four demanding days.
With 910 exhibiting companies, the most of any
previous show, occupying 475,875 net sq ft, an
increase of 14% from 2005, AWFS®
Vegas 2007 was the
largest, most successful and exciting Woodworking
Machinery and Supply Fair®
to date. Angelo Gangone noted that, “With more
exhibitors occupying more exhibit space, it was
only due to careful planning and the incredible
team effort on the part of all of our staff and
vendors that exhibitors experienced the smoothest
move-in ever. This set a highly positive buzz that
continued over the next four days.” |
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Other milestones of
the 2007 event included a 40% increase in the
number of new products vying for Sequoia Awards, a
30% increase in the number of entries in the Fresh
Wood Student Competition, a 45% increase in the
attendance at the Gala Awards Dinner and the
successful inaugural debut of the National Belt
Sander National Championships. Exhibitors such as
Vollmer of America, already have plans to
substantially increase the size of its exhibit
space in 2009. For Vollmer this is a six-fold
increase since making their initial appearance as
an AWFS® Fair exhibitor in 1999. “The ’07 show
was a big success for Vollmer in many ways. We
were able to reinforce existing partnerships with
customers while introducing them to our newest
technologies. The Fair is a wonderful opportunity
to present new applications and to listen to our
customers; to learn how to better serve their
needs and meet industry expectations. It is this
willingness to listen and then adapt our systems
to customer needs that drives VOLLMER’s success.
The AWFS Fair provides our company with an
unmatched opportunity to accomplish these goals
and more,” said VOLLMER of AMERICA President, Ralf
Kraemer. |
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The continued
growth in attendees drawn from the cabinet
industry, the Fair’s largest attendee segment,
growing by 12% in 2007, offset the prolonged
decline in the furniture category that has
occurred over the past decade even though it had
been buoyed slightly in 2005 as a result of the
co-location of the Furniture Market’s grand
opening event. International attendance from our
neighbours to the north, Canada, also set new
record highs, growing once again by 27%. Ana Druk,
AWFS®
international liaison, notes that this year’s
international program was the best ever in
participation, use of the International Business
Center, and seriousness of the international
buyers attending the show. Formal delegations
came from a number of countries that had never had
a single attendee in the past, and these
individuals were prepared to buy. One first time
international attendee, not only found two new
suppliers, but finalized initial purchases of
$135,000 and plans on repeat orders if the
products measure up. Another individual used the
IBC to finalize the purchase of two pieces of
equipment costing approximately $165,000. The DOC
representatives who spent the time meeting both
exhibitors and international attendees, commended
AWFS®
on the association’s initial participation in the
IBP program and on the quality of the fair’s
International Directory, distributed to all
international exhibitors who attended the event. |
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Dale Silverman,
AWFS®
EVP, notes that “As in 2005, we had many new
attendees from throughout the U.S. and around the
world. Particularly thrilling was the record
number of Wood and Wood Products Top 100 companies
that sent a record number of their employees to
the Fair this year and signed most of them up for
the Awards Dinner as well. The Awards Dinner has
distinguished itself as being “THE” premier
industry event celebrating the best and
brightest.” One of the many first time attendees
that had never experienced a “major” show before,
Rusty Henderson, Master Refinisher from Troy Ohio
dropped by the AWFS®
booth to thank the association. The Fresh Wood
Competition, showcasing 58 finalist pieces drawn
from a record 210 entries not only drew record
crowds of attendees and exhibitors, but the
national press. “AWFS®
goal is to continue to strengthen the value
proposition of the AWFS®
Fair, building it into
the most important woodworking supply and
machinery industry show in the world.” notes Skip
Hem, AWFS®
president. “The 2007 event is now history and
both the board and staff are already working on a
number of creative and innovative ideas to make
the 2009 event as vital, exciting and important as
was 2007.” |
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THE NEW ACIMALL BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR 2007-2010 |
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The new board
of directors – voted by Acimall at the
ordinary assembly in Ischia on June 16 – shows
continuity in the management of the
association, member of Confindustria, that
gathers the Italian manufacturers of
woodworking technology. |
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So, both the
President Ambrogio Delachi (Delmac) and the
Vice Presidents Grazia Finocchiaro (Gruppo
Scm) and Paolo Griggio (Griggio) were
confirmed. Many board members were also confirmed
– Claudio Ginnasi (Simimpianti), appointed
as the new treasurer, Luca Lari (Artiglio),
Marco Alberti (Alberti Vittorio) and Gianni
Volpato (Volpato) – plus two new entries,
namely Franco Paviotti (Metal World) and
Gianni Raggi (Falcioni-Cefla).
“The
will expressed by our associates – commented
Ambrogio Delachi – is proving the effectiveness of
our decisions and the strategies we have pursued
for the past three years. But this is also a clear
spur to providing our industry companies with the
necessary tools to face a more and more
competitive and global market, where we cannot
think that the “made in Italy” mark will be enough
to ensure our success forever.”
It is worth
underlining that the composition of the board of
directors – that will guide the association until
2010 – is highly representative. “Over the next
three years – Delachi added – Acimall will rely on
the contribution by board members coming from
different industry segments and organizations.
From small and medium businesses to large
industrial groups, from primary operation to
tools, from finishing to traditional equipment, up
to big plants. Incomparable sources of knowledge
and experience that will help our association
identify, interpret and support the specific needs
and features of the many different areas we
represent.” |
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IWF® RANKS ONE OF
THE NATION’S TOP TRADE SHOWS FOR BUYERS |
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The International Woodworking Machinery and
Furniture Supply Fair - USA® is one of the
nation’s top trade shows (#5) in attracting
attendees with buying influence, according to the
Trade Show Trends report issued annually by
Exhibit Surveys Inc.
The Trade Show Trends report for 2006 showed that
IWF ranked fifth among exhibitions with the
highest buying influence among attendees and tenth
among shows where attendees had plans to buy. The
report, based on audience surveys conducted at 50
shows in 2006, said that 92 percent of attendees
at
IWF 2006 had the power to recommend or make purchasing
decisions, and 64 percent of attendees at the
event plan to buy within 12 months. These
influential buyers come to
IWF from all 50 states and 85 foreign countries,
with attendees representing everything from
one-man shops to the largest production
facilities, making the event a key place for
exhibitors to showcase their latest products and
achieve a great return on their investment.
IWF 2008 will be held Wednesday-Saturday,
August 20-23, 2008 at the
Georgia World Congress
Center
in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The 2008 event has over
900 exhibitors and over 750,000 net square feet of
exhibit space sold already 14 months before the
event. IWF 2008 is forecasted to be double the
size of and will have twice the number of
contracted exhibitors than the next largest show
in the Americas. In addition to a strong base of
past exhibitors that have increased the size of
their exhibits, there is substantial interest from
new companies in key market segments such as
cabinetry, furniture, supplies, architectural
woodworking and other woodworking areas, solid
surfaces, plastics, flooring, windows/doors,
machine tooling, composites, material handling,
hardware and components.
"Key decision-makers worldwide come to
IWF because they know it is attracts the
manufacturers and suppliers that provide the
manufacturing solutions they need for this
wide-ranging industry, for every company from the
one-man shop to a large production facility,” said
Charles R. (Tommy Tomkins, IWF 2008 Chairman and
President of Cresent Fine Furniture Company, based
in Gallatin, Tennessee.
“Our buyers stress that
IWF is their best opportunity to see and evaluate
the most innovative new technology, machinery,
supplies and services displayed all in one place,
and to meet with new and existing suppliers.
Live demonstrations presented by the world’s
leading manufacturers, technical sessions that
explore the issues facing the industry and
networking with peers are added value that make
IWF the must-attend event,” Tomkins added.
Features of the 2008 Fair will include a Technical Conference
program to meet challenges facing the industry,
the New Product Showcase highlighting the
industry’s latest developments, The Challengers
Distinguished Achievement Award® for innovation
and the trend-setting student Design Emphasis
Competition. |
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THE
NEW EDGE-BANDING MACHINE CONTRIGA DEMONSTARTES ITS
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY |
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Innovative in its design, high-performance
in its processing and space-saving in the workshop
– the new edge-banding machine CONTRIGA for
upmarket trade and industry is presented to the
world public for the first time by HOLZ-HER REICH
Spezialmaschinen GmbH at LIGNA 2007.
The new CONTRIGA demonstrates its advanced
technology in edge banding in all areas. It was
awarded the internationally renowned red dot
design award 2007 for its outstanding design and
its choice of new materials. Its charismatic
design is expressed with elegant and space-saving
sliding covers. The pneumatically controlled
covers automatically move upwards with the push of
a button, uncovering the aggregates. This way of
construction significantly reduces the space
required in the workshops compared with
conventional covers, which are mounted on a
swivel. For an 8-m-long edge-banding machine, the
required mounting space behind the edge-banding
machine reduces by approximately 6 m2.
This space can now be used for running or other
work surfaces. |
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The soldered base frame constructed with
separate units guarantees perfect stability. By
default, the CONTRIGA can be used to process
workpiece thicknesses of up to 60 mm with an edge
cross-section of 30 x 65 mm. To do this, an
extremely robust chain is used to transport the
workpieces. The round/flat guide of the chain
gliding rail enables vibration-free transportation
and an optimum processing result. The
motor-powered, height-adjustable pressure bridge
and the robust pressure bridge guide in
combination with a continuous top belt pressure
are the prerequisites for a quiet running of the
workpieces. Thus, the requirements for an optimum
processing result are given. The feeding area with
an adjustable feeding level provides numerous
options for putting on edges individually. The
default premilling unit produces panel material
surfaces free of tears and thus provides for a
high quality of the products to be manufactured.
The magazine of the CONTRIGA processes rolls and
strip products up to 65 mm in height and 30 mm in
thickness. The tool-free changeover from one edge
material to another or the combination with a
6-fold automated edge box with drop length
monitoring are responsible for an efficient
feeding of the edge-banding machine.
The glue application system 1905 with nozzle
application is the ideal combination for
economical edge bonding. Low energy consumption
for heating the glue or the application system
significantly reduces the running costs for the
machine. The glue application system can process
glue in form of cartridges or granulate. For
larger amounts, a corresponding filling funnel,
for granulate up to 5 kg with remaining quantity
monitoring, can be mounted. The use of different
glues, such as EVA, polyolefin or polyurethane –
glues offers flexible possibilities to cover
individual customer needs. |
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It
is just as easy to change the colour to adapt the
glue joint to different material decors such as
brown, black, white or grey. The glue cannot
discolour or burn due to the
temperature-controlled and closed heating system,
since only the required glue is melted within a
heating-up time of 3.5 minutes at the most. The
post-processing area, from the trimming unit to
the finishing units, is constructed in a modular
way. This means that the machine can be configured
and constructed according to the individual needs
of the customer. All parameters can be taken into
consideration – more than 60 units are available.
The high-performance trimming units as well as the
flush milling and the multifunctional milling
units make it possible to process numerous
different radiuses and chamfers. The newly
developed corner copying unit as well as the
4-motor form milling unit enable the frontal edges
and the form of the panel materials such as
postforming profiles to be copied and perfectly
processed. Back groove units in synchronous and
reverse rotation as well as frontal groove and
grinding units can be integrated into the machine
concept of the CONTRIGA without problems. There
are several possibilities for the finishing units,
starting with the spraying device, the radius
scraper and surface scraper to use-controlled or
oscillating buffer units. |
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Integrating the CONTRIGA into a digital
workflow increases the productivity. The
integration with the HOLZ-HER pressure beam saws
and CNC processing centres enables efficient and
future-proof production.
In combination with the HHPDE software (HOLZ-HER
process data acquisition), a chronological and
calculatory monitoring and feedback of the machine
data is possible on the network. HOLZ-HER REICH
Spezialmaschinen GmbH has set a future-oriented
milestone with the CONTRIGA series within the area
of edge-banding machines, which convinces with its
innovative design, robust processing and a
space-saving construction. |
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LIGNA+ 2007 – AN
AWE-INSPIRING SUCCESS STORY |
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The outstanding success
of this year’s LIGNA has given a significant
boost to the
international wood industry and effectively
underscored the show’s reputation as the
world’s No. 1 event for its sector.
“Attendance was up by over 10 percent, with a
major increase in the number of high-caliber
visitors and more guests coming from abroad
than ever before”, reported Stephan Ph. Kühne,
member of the Managing Board at Deutsche Messe.
“LIGNA 2007 has delivered exactly the kind of
stimuli needed for even more solid growth
ahead.” |
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This year’s
LIGNA (staged under the motto “World of Wood”)
was referred to by many exhibitors as the
“best LIGNA ever”, and surveys confirmed a
significant increase in the number of business
contacts generated at the show. LIGNA has
always highlighted future trends, and this
year’s event – boasting a total of 134,583
square meters of net display area (up from
129,083 sq. m. in 2005) – again set new
standards for the various sectors of the wood
industry, highlighting a host of impressive
innovations and revealing the shape of things
to come. With 1,879 exhibitors (up from 1,800
in 2005) from 49 countries (2005: 44), LIGNA
2007 had broken records even before the gates
opened. The over 107,000 visitors in
attendance (2005: 96,675) were every bit as
enthusiastic as the exhibitors, who reported a
strong upwind in virtually every segment.
Among the show’s
featured themes, the “Handwerk, Holz & mehr”
showcase devoted to wood craft professionals,
drew a lot of attention, as well as displays
on timber construction, energy and surface
treatment. |
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More visitors
from abroad, more trade professionals and more
deals closed |
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Part of the
upsurge in attendance at LIGNA 2007 was
accounted for by five percent more visitors
from Germany (with significantly more visitors
coming from Baden-Württemberg, North
Rhine-Westphalia and the eastern German
states). But it was again the soaring figures
for attendance from abroad — topping the
previous show by 21
percent — that cemented LIGNA’s reputation as
an unparalleled international event. This huge
upswing was mainly due to a greater
turnout from the EU, Asia and North America. A
total of 50,200 foreign visitors (2005:
41,400) boosted the international visitor
ratio to 46.5 percent, as compared with 42.8
percent in 2005. Trade visitors from EU
countries increased by 23 percent, to 28,900
(23,500 in 2005). |
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The figures for
Asia were even more impressive, with visitor
numbers up 32 percent to 5,800 (2005: 4,400). The
same 32-percent growth rate was achieved by the
United States and Canada, which together accounted
for 4,500 attendees compared with 3,400 in 2005.
The list of the top ten visitor nations was headed
by Italy and Austria, followed by the United
States and Canada. |
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The
outstanding caliber of the show’s attendees
was clearly confirmed by visitor surveys,
which revealed that the number of visitors who
play a “decisive” or “advisory” role in their
company’s capital investment decisions rose
from an already impressive 78.3 percent to
82.3 percent, or 85,900 in absolute terms.
This excellent visitor profile was also
reflected in terms of deals done at the event:
One Finnish supplier of biomass power stations
reported contract signings worth a total of
100 million euros.
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Wood crafts
showcase “Handwerk, Holz & mehr” attracts 30,000
visitors |
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In terms of
sectors, attendance was up for the retail
trade, the wood processing industry, the
furniture industry and the wood-based
materials segment. A highly popular attraction
was “Handwerk, Holz & mehr” (Wood Crafts), an
event targeted at joiners, cabinetmakers,
carpenters, assembly and prefabrication firms
and architects and planners. A total of around
30,000 professionals turned out to see this
show-within-a-show, which registered a steep
rise in attendance from the following fields:
carpentry, joinery and wood-based construction
(up from 4,700 to 7,900); assembly and
prefabrication (up from 1,200 to 4,000);
engineering and architecture (a more than
twofold increase, from 2,500 to 5,700).
Several firms who were not yet exhibiting in
the “Handwerk, Holz & mehr” section have
already chosen to book another stand there for
the next LIGNA. |
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Upbeat mood among
exhibitors |
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LIGNA 2007
once again succeeded in topping the previous
show’s foreign exhibitor turnout: This year a
total of 1,033 firms came to Hannover from
aboard (2005: 956), while 846 came from within
Germany (2005: 844). This puts the foreign
exhibitor ratio at 55 percent — further
confirmation of LIGNA’s status as the world’s
No. 1 meeting place for the wood and forestry
industries. Italy once again headed the list
of exhibitor nations, with 330 participating
firms (2005: 307), followed by Austria with 89
(93), Taiwan with 50 (43) and Sweden with 47
(40). The exhibitor survey revealed a
significantly more optimistic climate
throughout the industry than in 2005.
Interestingly, German exhibitors were even
more upbeat than their foreign competitors.
Sales expectations were also noticeably higher
than before. |
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Exhibitors identified
their main objectives for coming to LIGNA as
staying in touch with existing customers and
generating new leads. The main criterion for a
successful fair was cited as being the caliber of
its visitors, and LIGNA fully met all expectations
in this regard. Accordingly, exhibitors rated the
benefits derived from participating in the show
even more highly than in 2005. |
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Sector trends |
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Exhibitors
of technical solutions for the furniture
industry were highly satisfied. Along with
the latest automation techniques and equipment
for furniture manufacture, panel and veneer
processing, their displays featured machines
for surface treatment, assembly and packaging,
plus goods handling and storage systems.
Innovations at this year’s LIGNA included the
new “hot melt” coating technique, which
eliminates the need for filler application and
primer machines, as well as any intermediate
sanding. Other innovations included ink
printers for wood panels, providing
exceptional flexibility for design changes and
eliminating the cumbersome need to change
surface rollers. |
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The displays in
the halls devoted to sawmilling technology,
solid wood working, wood materials and
veneer production featured machines for wood
sawing, milling, planing, sanding and pressing,
all in continuous operation. Here, too, there was
an emphasis on the topics of wood optimization,
new surface technologies for laminates and parquet
floors, and high-performance machines. This
included several “world premieres”, for example a
new thin-kerf band saw for dividing wood blocks
into thin wood slices for sandwich panels, and a
saw for kerfs of less than 0.7 mm. |
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EFE 2007 –
THE PREMIER AND MOST EFFECTIVE FURNITURE FAIR
DRAWS A SUCCESSFUL END |
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The Export
Furniture Exhibition or EFE was successfully
held on 4th – 8th March
2007 at the new venue - Stadium Putra,
Kompleks Sukan Negara, (National Sports
Complex), Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
EFE opened its
third annual exhibition in this new venue with
the Minister of Plantation Industry and
Commodities, Malaysia Yang Berhormat Datuk
Peter Chin Fah Kui as guest-of-honour turning
the EFE’s Cube as a gesture of his Ministry
efforts in guiding the furniture industry to
greater heights. |
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EFE as the stage
for a dynamic convergence of industry players
and industrious entrepreneurs from the global
furniture industry, this year, EFE have
recorded a total of 197 booths with 167
exhibitors from Malaysia and 25 foreign
exhibitors from foreign countries, namely
China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and etc. And
in the five days exhibition, the exhibition
had attracted more than 10,000 visitors from
151 countries worldwide. |
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EFE 2007
exhibitors have taken their initiative to
decorate their booths. This has created an
attractive and very impressive surrounding
giving an atmosphere of a truly international
fair. The panel of judges comprising of
consultant from government agencies and head
of school from design colleges moved off to
judge the 58 entries in the three categories –
Best Booth, Best Product and Innovative
Product competition of the EFE 2007. The
judges were happy to comment that there were
improvements in the overall standard of design
in the competition. On product identity, they
believe that development really takes a long
time and that we must be very committed . |
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Again in EFE 2007,
students from colleges are invited to be
abreast of the latest furniture design,
material, branding and etc. The
organizer hopes that the new generation of
Malaysia has more and earlier chances to
contact with the furniture industry and rise
out their interests on the furniture design
and manufacturing.
EFE, promising to
be a thriving hub of trading opportunity
activities, this is the time to take advantage
of the event from forging strategic business
partnerships and chart your route to the
global furniture market. |
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The global furniture
market awaits you at EFE 2008, the premier and
most effective furniture fair in the region today.
We look forward to welcoming you again in 2008. |
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RED
OAK: THE NEWEST ANSWER TO FURNITURE MAKING |
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Internationally renowned Italian furniture maker
Maurizio Riva launched a new collection of
American red oak furniture, designed by Terry
Dwan, at the Cologne Furniture Show in January.
Speaking at the show, Riva said that he now
appreciates that, as one of the most sustainable
hardwoods, red oak is able to take the pressure
off other hardwood forest resources. Riva is no
stranger to American hardwoods having pioneered
some of the most exclusive and contemporary
European designs in black cherry during the
1990s. Today the company, which has 500
distributors around the world, uses mainly
American black walnut and white oak. |
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Maurizio Riva is highly sensitive to environmental
issues, working with some of the world’s top
designers and architects including Renzo Piano
from Genoa. As with many leading Italian
furniture makers, all their emphasis is on
temperate hardwoods and red oak now gives them
another option, particularly as supplies of cherry
and walnut are not endless. Riva regards red oak
as the “brother of European and American white
oak with a colour that is warm and beautiful”
which he hopes will be appreciated by the
company’s many customers
Terry Dwan, a well known American designer working
with Riva has created the STRONG BOX collection of
solid hardwood furniture for Riva under the banner
RIVA 1920. The LUDO console and the FALO’ stool
were the two pieces selected to be presented in
red oak at Cologne. |
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Most popular now in Italy is American black
walnut which is also experiencing huge demand
from other countries, especially China. Fifty
percent of Riva’s tables are walnut, but given
historical experience - Italian walnut
supplies were not sustainable in the long term
– no modern furniture maker can normally rely
on availability of any one species. Red oak
might just be an exception, given the enormous
natural oak resources in the USA. Oaks
represent 40% of its total standing hardwood
forest; which has a long record of
sustainability by natural regeneration
supported by a framework of protective
legislation. |
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Asked how Riva found red oak as a material for
furniture making, the answer came back that
just as with white oak, they had no particular
problem in working it. However, they did find
some darker veins inside the wood which were
mainly cut out before use - although some can
still be seen in one of the stools. Cologne
is regarded as an essential platform from
which to launch new furniture collections into
the top end of the central European market and
Riva’s stand this year had much to offer.
Business was brisk, but with environmental
issues increasingly strong in the minds of
trade buyers, the promotion of red oak by such
leading makers as Riva provides new options
for the industry to develop a new fashion in
hardwood that consumers can feel comfortable
with. |
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Source: American Hardwood Export Council |
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ASH
- ONE OF AMERICA’S FINEST HARDWOODS |
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American ash is mainly white ash, Fraxinus
americana,
but includes black or brown ash, Fraxinus nigra.
This is sometimes the root of confusion, for the
heartwood of white ash is also frequently referred
to as brown ash. The percentage of brown
heartwood in
americana
depends very much upon growing location. For
example in the faster grown southern ash the
heartwood accounts for less than the slower grown
colder climate northern ash. White ash is often
sold as northern or southern. And the density
varies too. Its provenance extends from New
England to Florida in the east and as far west as
Minnesota and eastern Texas. So the old adage,
when specifying American hardwoods, (not a wives
tale) is “know your source”! Most European
hardwood importers and distributors are well
versed in their different characteristics.
Ash represents about 10% of
the American hardwood sawn timber imported into
the UK making it the second most popular after
white oak,
which compares to 6% for Europe as a whole, where
ash is number four or five. In the
first six months of 2006, the UK imported
$4.7million.
One
of the earliest uses of American ash was as a
snake preventative, the leaves being worn in
hunter’s boots and pockets. Since then it became
better known for baseball bats, tool handles and
anything where wood needs to be bent or absorb
shock. The seeds are a huge source of wildlife
food - important because ash is spread thinly
throughout the entire eastern US forest rather
than in isolated concentrations. The tree grows to
70 or 80 feet, rather larger than its European
cousin, thus producing long wide boards relatively
free of defect. Ash may only represent 4.5% of
the total standing hardwood resource (Source:
USDA/FAS, 1992) but that nevertheless amounts to
373 million cubic metres. Ash has been cut
continuously for widespread use since the settlers
first arrived and yet it increases its growing
volume by sound management and natural
regeneration – a true measure of sustainability.
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Lincoln (ISBN 0 85442 028
2) describes American ash as “weighing around 660 kg/m3 with
very good bending properties, good strength, elasticity, toughness,
stiffness, and hardness qualities allied to its relatively light
weight.and excellent shock resistance.” This was enough to encourage
the American Hardwood Export council in Europe to select ash, along with
red and white oak and tulipwood for structural testing by BRE several
years ago. The results are contained in the publication, Structural
Design In American
hardwoods which provide architects and engineers with structural
data under Eurocodes not previously available.
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The
Sage Gateshead, UK |
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Average Weight (12% M.C.):
Average Volumetric Shrinkage:
Modulus of Elasticity:
Hardness: |
673 kg/m3
10.7% (Green to 6% M.C.)
11,977 MPa
5,871
N |
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Values based on Fraxinus
americana |
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American ash is classified as non-durable although the sapwood is
permeable and easily treated with preservative, whereas the heartwood is
moderately easy to treat. This fact also enables American ash to be
more easily treated with fire retardant chemicals than some other
hardwood species. For example, using the heartwood treatability
designations given in EN 350-2, Trada lists American ash as being Class
1, easy to teat, while European ash is listed as Class 2, moderately
easy to treat. This better permeability of American ash leads to a
greater uptake and retention of chemicals necessary to achieve the Class
0 fire rating demanded by Building Regulations for internal linings used
in escape routes and circulation areas in public buildings. Other
properties lead to the harder wood needing pre-boring for nails, but it
machines well and also glues,
stains and polishes well to a fine finish. The decorative properties of
ash are derived from its strong grain patterns and generally warm
colour, which varies from pale to yellow.
There
are many references for the use of American ash. Joan Bakewell’s
kitchen in Fulham won a Carpenters Award for the white ash joinery some
years ago. A whole generation of young people grew up with black ash
furniture, a fashion that still lingers today. Many shop-fitters have
used the species to good effect in high street renovations for such
clients as major building societies and banks; and at airport shopping
facilities where natural light is minimal or non-existent. Wherever a
light and airy feel is needed, designers have turned to this fresh
looking wood. In performance it hardness makes it ideal for flooring,
and with its distinct grain pattern it shows wear and tear less than
some other light species such as hard maple, another American
favourite. But its most recent recognition was the FSC certified white
ash specified by Foster and Partners in their Sage Gateshead complex on
the river Tyne for Gateshead Metropolitan Council. The conference and
concert Auditorium, seating an audience of 1,700 was completely lined
out in solid wood to a very complex curvature which required the
assistance of TRADA for the work done by Abrahams and Carlisle
in Bradford. This highly experienced joinery contractor used an MDF
base to make up the profile with ash to provide the visual and
acoustical surface. The effect has drawn praise from musicians and
audiences alike. The Office of Public Works in Dublin also specified
ash for its highly acclaimed EU Veterinary Office and more recently in
the new Marine Institute in Galway.
Source:
American Hardwood Export Council |
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DOMOTEX ASIA/CHINAFLOOR
2007 REACHED A NEW HEIGHT! |
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DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR (DACF) 2007
once again broke several new records at the end of
its Shanghai run from 28 to 30 March, with
organizers reporting double-digit growth rates for
Asia’s biggest floor coverings show. A total of
35,695 professionals came to Shanghai to see and
source the latest products and trends. The
interest from overseas increased significantly.
The number of foreign visitors was 5,944 (compared
with 4,315 in 2006, a 37% growth)
from 91 countries from all 5 continents. The top 5
visitors’ origin countries and regions were
Korea, USA, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Taken together with the fact that
38% of all visitors attended the show was major
decision makers, it’s easy to see why over 62% of
all visitors came to place orders during or
directly after the fair.
90% of all visitors said they would be back
for the 2008 edition.
The number of exhibitors grew by
11% to reach a new total of 928 (2006: 833), among
which 239 exhibitors were from outside China. And
the show also registered an increase in the amount
of display space sold, reaching a new high of
85,000 square meters for gross display space (2006:
73,000m² - a
16% increase).
According to the exhibitor questionnaires, over
89% of all exhibitors state their participation
objectives had been met with over 90% further
adding that they would be back again next year.
DACF2007 saw big increase in its four major
segments. Wood & Laminate Flooring covered
3 standard halls and 2 temporary halls this year,
with over 40,000 square meters space, further
establishing its importance for the market and the
show. Textile Floor Coverings also had up
to 20% growth, reaching 24,000sqm with more and
more international and Chinese brands actively
participating. Resilient Flooring also
doubled the size of last year to 6,000sqm and has
become more and more popular with visitors from
hospitals, office buildings and other contract
businesses. Flooring Technology section
also grew 38% in exhibition space, covering
10,000sqm and was well received by the flooring
manufacturers from China and abroad.
Various conferences and satellite
events were held in conjunction with the
exhibition.
Design Week Shanghai 2007,
the premier designers’ event attracted over 800
designers and architects and many of them visited
DACF. Sports Arena the special display area
for sports flooring provided an ideal meeting
place for the constructors from stadiums
nationwide and a series of workshops were held.
The 1st edition of DACF Floorlaying Competition
concluded with great success. All players in the
competition were well-prepared and performed
excellent with outstanding techniques, winning
cheers from visitors.
Finally
Zhejiang Jiusheng Flooring Company won
Solid Wood Flooring Gold Prize and both Sika and
Richfame won the Silver Prizes. At the
Sino-US-Europe Floor Summit on March 30,
association leaders and representatives of
companies discussed hot topics in the parquet and
laminated coverings
industry.
DOMOTEX asia
/ CHINAFLOOR
2008 will be held in Shanghai New International
Expo Centre during March 11-13, 2008.
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FURNITURE MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHINA 2007 |
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Concurrently with ‘FURNITURE CHINA 2007’, ‘ZOW
CHINA 2007’
September 12-15, 2007, Shanghai
Woodworking Machinery, Furniture Raw Materials
Looking for partners in China |
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The 13th Furniture
Manufacturing & Supply China (FMC 2007) will be
turned on grandly in Shanghai New Int'l Expo
Center (SNIEC) on Sep.12-15, 2007. This fair
continues to follow the tenet of "Base on China,
Face to Abroad". While keeping up the space
increase, we extend more on publicizing and
invitation of the overseas professional buyers. It
is estimated the number of the overseas trade
visitors will increase by nearly 80% than the
previous fair, and the total exhibition space
could reach 32,000 square meters with 600
companies.
FMC has the purpose of building up a trade
platform for woodworking machinery and furniture
supply industry in China, offers a free, open,
borderless opportunity to exhibitors and trade
visitors, especially for those overseas buyers who
are looking for partners, high quality products at
lower price
FMC is a part of FURNITURE CHINA which is the
largest furniture fair in china. In 2006, two
shows together attracted more than 62,000 trade
visitors with 13,000 professional buyers from
abroad. The quantity of exhibitor reached 1.500
with a scale of 200,000 sqm exhibition space,
while FMC had 23,166 domestic visitors and 2,222
overseas visitors.
FMC 2007, as a show only targeting on woodworking
machinery and furniture raw materials industry,
will reach 600 exhibitors including not only Int'l
industrial magnate: Homag, BIESSE, WEINIG, SCM,
FONJIN, ANDERSON, SHODA, LEUCO,etc, | | | | |