The 14th European Wood Based Panels Symposium will take place from 14–16 October 2026 at the Grand Elysée Hotel in Hamburg.
Organised by the European Panel Federation (EPF), in co-operation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research (WKI) and with the support of iVTH and Hywax, the event will focus on Market, Resources, Artificial Intelligence, Recycling, Binder Systems and Developments. Researchers, industry experts, academics and stakeholders from across the woodbased panels sector give presentations to an assembled audience of wood-based panels manufacturers and industry stakeholders.
The Call for Papers to be submitted has already taken place and we can expect a highquality field of presenters in the autumn.
The Symposium remains a major networking and knowledge-sharing platform for the global panel community, offering participants the opportunity to present recent advances, exchange insights and engage with peers on current and future challenges shaping the industry.
This biennial gathering attracts people from across the world. At previous editions, delegations from Japan, North America, and the Middle East have been among attendees, demonstrating that although Europe is the main focus, the event has a global angle. The quality of presentations and R&D updates, coupled with the chance to meet suppliers – such as chemicals companies and machinery producers – means it has forged a reputation as the leading global hub for the international wood-based panels industries.
The last event in 2024 attracted 20 presenters and more than 370 participants.
Heading up the Symposium scientific committee is Prof Dr Raoul Klingner, director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research (WKI), Kris Wijnendaele, EPF director, and Prof Dr Rainer Marutzsky, managing director for the International Association for Technical Issues Related to Wood (iVTH).
Parallel to the Symposium there will be an accompanying technical exhibition in the main auditorium, with sponsors communicating their products, services and technologies.
The networking is facilitated by a welcome dinner and gala dinner in Hamburg. Early-bird registration rates are available until August 7, 2026, with reduced rates for members of universities/institutes and for members of iVTH or EPF.
For more information on the event, see the official website here.
