|
|
|
|
|
BAJAJ HINDUSTHAN FORAYS INTO MDF BOARD & PARTICLE BOARD |
|
Bajaj Hindusthan Ltd.,
from Bajaj Group - one of the largest industrial groups of India, is
diversifying from sugar and allied products and has set up a 100%
subsidiary - Bajaj Eco-tec Products Ltd. (BEPL), to produce Medium
Density Fibre Board (MDF), High Density Fibre Board (HDF) and
Particle Board (PB) from sugarcane bagasse. BEPL has already tied up
with some of the reputed technology and equipment suppliers from
Europe and China, for use of their state of art technology for
manufacturing high quality MDF, HDF & PB from sugarcane bagasse.
This will save cutting of Wood/Forest and save valuable foreign
exchange.
The Company plans to set
up three new plants at an estimated total cost of Rs. 240 crores .
Two of these three plants will manufacture MDF / HDF, and are being
established in Eastern and Central U.P. and the third unit will
manufacture Particle Board, which will be set up in Western U.P. The
total production capacity will be about 2.10 lakh cubic meters per
annum, making Bajaj Eco-tec Products Ltd, the single largest
manufacturer of MDF, HDF & PB in India.
Orders for all the three brand new imported lines have already been
placed and construction activity has also commenced. All the three
plants are scheduled to commence commercial production by November
2007.
Bajaj’s USP is that the
entire raw material for making MDF and PB is available in-house.
This in turn will ensure continuous availability of MDF & PB,
something which has been the single most hurdles for all MDF and PB
manufacturers.
This forward integration
into the manufacture of MDF/PB has been envisaged to fulfill the
anticipated exponential growth in demand for the Housing and
Furniture sectors. The boom in housing will inevitably boost the
demand for Engineered Panels. Besides the se, the rapid growth in IT
and Organized Retailing sectors will further push up the huge demand
for these engineered panels.
BEPL plans to manufacture the following range of products:
a) Plain & Prelaminated MDF Board with thickness ranging from 6mm to 30mm in
size 8’ x 4’
b) Plain & Prelaminated Particle Board with thickness ranging from 8mm to 30mm
in size 9’ x 6’
c) Plain & Prelaminated High Density Fibre Board with thickness ranging from
8mm to 12mm in
size 8’ x 4’
d) Laminated Flooring
|
|
|
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
|
|
LIGNA+ 2007 – AN AWE-INSPIRING
SUCCESS STORY |
|
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.” |
 |
|
|
 |
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. |
|
|
More visitors
from abroad, more trade professionals and more deals closed |
|
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). |
 |
|
|
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. |
 |
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.
|
|
|
Wood crafts showcase
“Handwerk, Holz & mehr” attracts 30,000 visitors |
|
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. |
 |
|
|
Upbeat mood among
exhibitors |
 |
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.
|
|
|
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. |
|
Sector trends |
|
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. |
 |
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| |
|
ASH
- ONE OF AMERICA’S FINEST HARDWOODS |
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
 |
|
The
Sage Gateshead, UK
|
|
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 |
|
Values based on Fraxinus
americana |
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
|
|
DUBAI WOODSHOW
2007 |
|
EUMABOIS ENTERS INTO AN EXCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH
WOODSHOW TO BRING EUROPEAN MARKET LEADERS TO
THE ARAB REGION. |
|
Dubai Woodshow 2007, the dedicated wood and wood machinery
exhibition in the
Middle East, will feature an extensive European line-up, headlined by the European
Federation of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers
(Eumabois), the foremost international trade
association for the European wood industry.
Organisers of the Dubai Woodshow,
Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions,
have signed an exclusive partnership agreement
with Eumabois to jointly promote Dubai Woodshow.
Eumabois is the federation of 13 European national
associations representing the largest
manufacturers of machinery and accessories in
Europe for the wood industry. The 800 manufacturers cooperating with Eumabois
account for an annual production of more than 53.2
billion EUR, which represents close to 60 per cent
of global production of wood working machinery and
tools.
“The support of Eumabois is representative of our focus and
commitment to position Dubai Woodshow as the only
platform for opportunities and serious business
for wood trade in the region. As the leading
player in the European woodworking industry,
Eumabois certainly has a lot to offer in terms of
modern technologies and innovative products for
the growing construction and real estate sector in
the UAE and the neighboring GCC states,” said
Dawood Al Shezawi, Managing Director, Strategic
Marketing & Exhibitions. “Today, leading companies
across the globe are looking to the
Middle East as the new growth market and are
seeking to tap the opportunities presented by the
construction boom throughout the region. A highly
specialized show like Dubai Woodshow will go a
long way in helping to take advantage of this
global interest in the Middle East market.”
Dubai Woodshow 2007, which is also supported by the Dubai
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), American
Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) and Czech
Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers Association (CWMMA),
provides an excellent platform for regional and
international companies to showcase their latest
wood machinery and woodworking products to
business prospects and build new strategic
relationships with buyers, traders and investors.
The show made its debut in April 2006 against a
backdrop of heightened demand for wood and
woodworking products in the
Middle East, mainly due to sharp increase in
construction activities across the region.
“Wood imports to the UAE stand at an all-time high and with
other regional countries witnessing a similar
surge in wood consumption, a comprehensive trade
fair like Dubai Woodshow will serve to add further
momentum to the strong growth of the wood and wood
machinery industry in the Middle East,” said
Gianni Ghizzoni, President of Eumabois. “In line
with Eumabois' strategy, the decision has been
made to avoid too many events being scheduled,
which would only take up the time of exhibiting
companies. Instead a single trade show will take
place where high technological content of the
sector is made visible to potential users and
trade visitors. Dubai Woodshow 2007 will help us
to explore partnerships from the
Middle East region and showcase our quality
equipment, machinery, tools and products for the
region’s woodworking industry.”
About Dubai Woodshow 2007
Dubai Woodshow 2007 (February 27- March 1, 2007,
Dubai World Trade Centre) is the premier trade
event for the wood and wood machinery industry in
the region. A highly specialized exhibition that
assembles companies from the entire spectrum of
the wood industry under one roof, Dubai Woodshow
2007 offers exhibitors an excellent networking
platform, where they can build strategic
relationships with buyers, traders and investors.
The event displays a wide range of wood products,
including MDF, plywood, hardwood, softwood,
veneers, timbers, parquet, laminates, finished
wood merchandise and paper products. Dubai
Woodshow 2007 is organized by Strategic Marketing
and Exhibitions, a leading exhibition and
conference organizer based in Dubai. An
acknowledged expert in all aspects related to the
exhibition industry, Strategic Marketing and
Exhibitions organizes a number of high-profile
events in the region, including the annual
International Property Show. For More information,
please visit please visit
www.dubaiwoodshow.com |
|
|
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
|
|
woodbuild 2007:
International Specialized Exhibition of Wood in
Construction and Architecture |
| |
|
WOODBUILD, the 3rd
international exhibition of wood in
construction and architecture, will hold
during April 5-8 2007 in Moscow, Russia.
|
 |
|
|
The exhibition is organized by the company M-Expo,
one of the leaders of the exhibiting market, which
works more than 15 years in this field. Now M-Expo
is the partner of the world's largest exhibition
on woodworking Ligna + in Russia. WOODBUILD will
be held under the auspices of the Ministry of the
Industry and Power of the Russian Federation,
Federal Agency of Timber industry, the Government
of Moscow, Russian Union of Builders and others.
The exhibition WOODBUILD is a prestigious
exemplary action and unique chance for Russian
businessmen, allowing them to gather under one
roof and bringing to their attention a full
picture of the Russian market of wooden housing
construction and wood processing.
More than 30 000 business people and professionals
from wood processing industry will visit the
exhibition in order to maintain and to improve the
connection between them. Visitors of WOODBUILD
2007 will find a complete offer of more than 200
significant woodworking companies and material
suppliers from 15 countries in 5000 exhibiting
space. More than 2 times growth rate of exhibiting
space this year shows markedly successful choice
of exhibiting sections and terms of holding.
The basic exhibition sections are building
components and materials from wooden glued bearing
constructions and cylindered logs using in
quick-erected frame and wide-span construction,
small architectural forms, interiors, design,
furnish, furniture, means for wood protection,
machine tools, technological lines, equipment and
tools for wooden housing construction, ecology and
others.
WOODBUILD 2007 will be a premiere in achievement
of the national project ”Accessible and
comfortable habitation for citizens of Russia”. A
conference devoted to exchange of experience of
different Russian regions in achievement of the
project will form a basis of business program in
the context of the exhibition.
Another important part of the business program is
a conference in utilization of wood waste in the
context of effective using of forest density in
the world. The conference will show new
technologies in getting thermal energy and its
ways of widely adopting.
Significant part of the exhibition is an
exposition ‘’New village" where new technologies
in timber housing construction are presented. The
best Russian and foreign companies will present
various architecturally-building systems from
manufacture of houses from massive wood –
constructional glued bars and cylindered logs,
panel wooden and frame wooden housing
construction. Visitors of the exhibition will see
houses for constant residing at all geographical
zones of Russia, and also small summer houses
without warming, baths, wells.
Enlivened investment activities in timber industry
will increase needs of new equipment for effective
wood processing. Equipment as an important
section of the exhibition will attract much
interest from Russian regional authorities and
businessmen.
Further
information of WOODBUILD is available at the
website
www.woodbuild.ru.
You are welcome to
take part in the international specialized
exhibition of wood in construction and
architecture WOODBUILD 2007. |
| |
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
