Blogs Archive
Archive of blogs from the global wood industryBlogs By Date
December 2023
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Bright spots despite difficult markets in 2023
The approach of a New Year often brings an equal measure of trepidation and optimism.
September 2023
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Birch plywood investigation responds to concerns
In the UK there have been many rumours over the past year of birch plywood originating from Russia circumventing the current import ban on the product.
March 2023
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Ukrainian panels sector surprise
It seems incredible that wood-based panels factories can operate successfully in a war zone, but that is exactly what is happening in the west of the Ukraine for Swiss Krono’s two facilities there.
September 2022
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Caution signalled on markets ahead
Gatherings of representatives from the global wood-based panels industry are always a good bellwether of market trends and a means of identifying opportunities and challenges in the sector.
August 2021
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Getting our Ligna fix - digitally
I’m sure many readers of WBPI have the familiar experience of walking the halls of the Hannover Messe for the biennial Ligna exhibition of the global woodworking industries.
April 2020
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Responding to the coronavirus challenge
As I write this column, the coronavirus pandemic was starting to impact the international woodbased panels industry, with reports of mills starting to adjust production and even temporarily close some operations in North America and Europe.
March 2020
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Trade Show calendar will look different in 2020
The coronavirus outbreak has dominated the news of late and it is now having some ramifications on elements of the global wood-based panels sector and exhibitions.
June 2018
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Investment and growth continues
Judging by the amount of investment and expansion news we have in this issue, the buoyancy in the global panels industry continues unabated.
April 2018
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Innovation drives industry
In wood we have a material that lends itself to innovation.
December 2017
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TopDecember 2016
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WBPI -- the voice of the global panel industry
Sadly for me, this is the last issue of WBPI for which I will be fully responsible.
May 2016
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WBPI: the voice of the global panel industry
The knock-on effects of the slowdown in the Chinese economy have taken some of the gloss off more positive figures for the panel industry seen in the last year or so.
March 2016
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WBPI - the voice of the global panel industry
Welcome to the first edition of WBPI in its brand new clothing.
December 2015
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Year of progress to be followed by year of cautious optimism
So, we have come to the end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016, in the same issue of WBPI! The year 2015 was obviously over-shadowed by the ongoing economic problems of the Eurozone. Meanwhile, the United States continued its slow climb out of recession; and a resultant increase in the activity of the housing market. Unfortunately, this rebound was not as strong, or as smooth, as many predicted but at least it has continued to move in the right direction.