Features Archive
Archive of features from the global wood industryFeatures By Date
January 2024
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Dieffenbacher powers up
The acquisition of the assets of BERTSCHenergy has supercharged Dieffenbacher’s capabilities in the energy generation technology field. Stephen Powney spoke to Wolfgang Lashofer, managing director of Dieffenbacher Energy, and head of the new business unit Energy, and Johannes Ohlsson, head of the Dieffenbacher product group solid fuel fired power plants
Boosting recycling
Swiss Krono’s Sully-sur-Loire has been the subject of extensive modernisation in recent years. Dieffenbacher has helped the company optimise and expand its wood recycling line
Harnessing the power of spectroscopy
Dr Morwenna Spear FIMMM, of the BioComposites Centre, examines the use of FTIR spectroscopy to identify glues, binders and coatings used in panel products
Milestone year ends in style
Dieffenbacher’s milestone 150th anniversary year finally culminated at the end of November with an event in Finland, topping off 12 months of celebration around the globe with its staff, partners and customers
New partnership adds value to OSB
UK wood panels processor Trade Fabrication Systems (TFS) has been acquired by US-based chemicals producer Arclin in a move which will see benefits for both parties. Stephen Powney spoke to TFS father-and-son leadership team Howard and Adam Morris
Global PB capacity grows
Panels markets have cooled greatly post-Covid, but while there may be uncertainty in key economies around the world, particleboard production capacity is still nudging up with a number of ongoing projects being delivered. Stephen Powney reports
Vyncke builds global brand
Vyncke has been in the energy generation business since the 1920s. Stephen Powney spoke to Vyncke chief sales and marketing officer Jeff Mestdagh about the company’s recent developments, projects and the current market situation
Zero emission board ambitions
Emulco has created AquaVeg bio-wax emulsions for wood panels suitable for eco-building. The product used in tandem with bio resins offers a route to zero emission wood-based panels using natural, environmentally-friendly ingredients. Stephen Powney reports
Italian panels sector hopes for 2024 boost
Italian wood-based panel producers, like most European manufacturers, have faced their fair share of challenges over the past two years, but is the future looking potentially brighter as we head into 2024? WBPI correspondent Eugene Gerden reports
Boosting energy independence
Germany-based INTEC Engineering GmbH has a long background and expertise in energy systems. Stephen Powney spoke to INTEC sales director Christian Daniel about its progress and the energy sector in general
November 2023
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Making the nucleus dance with NMR
Carlo Kupfernagel, a PhD student at the BioComposites Centre at Bangor University in Wales, explains NMR spectroscopy
IMAL PAL Group Opens New Lab
For our Part 2 Focus on Italy report, we interview IMAL PAL Group – the wood-based panels technology supplier based in Modena. Stephen Powney spoke to group managing director Loris Zanasi
Ireland bound
Geoff Rhodes, independent consultant and former long-serving marketing and sales director at MEDITE looks back 40 years to Medford Corporation’s multi-million dollar investment in the Clonmel factory
Markets See Downward Swing
Reduced demand and a generally difficult market situation has added pressure for manufacturers of particleboard. Stephen Powney looks at markets and mill investments in this Part One Focus on Particleboard report, looking at Europe and North America
Proactive customer service
Wood-based panels production technology manufacturer Dieffenbacher has now had an operational presence in the US for 11 years. The company provides this update on the development of its US subsidiary.
Pagnoni Celebrates 175th Year
Pagnoni has been a leading light in the world of HPL, short-cycle and compact presses for the value-added panel product industry. Stephen Powney interviews director Michele Pagnoni about the company’s developments and his view on markets.
IPPS innovation focus
The International Panel Products Symposium (IPPS) in Wales covers a wide field of research papers involving wood composites. This year’s event, attended by WBPI’s Stephen Powney, saw wood scientists from across the world share their latest findings.
Becoming circular with recover
Unilin Panels is finding ways to bring waste wood back into the loop through its wood takeback programme, Recover.
Evo evolution
The new generation of Biele’s EVO handling system focuses on energy savings.
US Market Movements
High interest rates have been a factor weighing on the US housing market, a key sector for the North American wood-based panels industry. But despite challenges, economic forecasters predict a soft landing for the US economy. Stephen Powney reports