Blogs Archive

Difficult economic times but particleboard keeps on growing
03 November 2015 Unfortunately, there does not seem to be much improvement in the global economy since my last column in the August/September 2015 issue of WBPI. The economic problems facing much of Europe, South America and China have certainly not gone away and show little signs of improvement in the short-term.

Economic woes in some areas a cause for concern?
13 August 2015 One of the major editorial sections in this issue of WBPI is of course the second part of our survey of the World MDF industry – the countries outside Europe and North America. Written by acknowledged MDF industry expert Geoff Rhodes, it makes for very interesting reading, not least for his conclusions at the end of the article about total global MDF capacity. Geoff points out that the world’s MDF capacity looks set to go over the one million cubic metre mark in the not-too-distant future!

Shows point the way to improving markets
15 July 2015 Although I was unable to attend the Interzum and Ligna exhibitions in Cologne and Hannover in May myself this year, due to ill health, the reports that I have received from my colleague Stephen Powney, who attended in my place, and from the industry in general, are very positive indeed. In fact, one machinery supplier described it as "The best Ligna ever!" and it appears he was not alone in that opinion.

Looking forward to the biennial show season
13 May 2015 Finally, I am back at my desk, if only for short periods at a time, but I have been able to relieve Stephen Powney of his additional duties on WBPI and I take this opportunity to thank him most sincerely for acting as full-time editor, as well as carrying out his duties as editor of sister journal TTJ, during my prolonged and unforeseeable absence due to illness.

New year begins with mixed messages
27 February 2015 In my comment column in the last issue, I said that I hoped to be back in work by early January 2015, following two spinal operations in September and October 2014.

The road to recovery and New Year hopes
15 December 2014 In my comment column in the last issue, I ended by saying that I would be away from day-to-day work for about four to six weeks. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a rather optimistic forecast on my behalf.

Global market can lead to local uncertainty
06 November 2014

‘Woodbox’ and ‘toilet’ join the campaign trail
04 September 2014 An important upcoming event was announced at the European Panel Federation’s (EPF) Annual meeting in Bruges in June. The federation, and its co-organisers EOS and CEI-Bois, need your cooperation and support for this event, if you are a European panel maker.

Maybe the emperor isn’t wearing any clothes...
17 July 2014 If you are a regular reader of this magazine, you may remember my 'bedtime story' in the first issue of this year (February/March 2014), concerning the tale of the Emperor's Clothes, which I applied to the vexed subject of climate change, formaldehyde emissions and so on.

OSB is growing fast, wherever you look
15 May 2014 Our first survey of production capacities in the global panel industry appears in this issue and it concerns OSB in North America and 'the rest of the world'. That means that we kick off our series of annual surveys (MDF and particleboard are next) with a very positive story all round.

A bed time story for our first issue of 2014
28 February 2014 In considering recently the many things that we believe because we are told to, I started to wonder how many of our readers are familiar with the children’s story of The Emperor’s new clothes by Hans Christian Anderson. I came to pondering this question because it has seemed to me for a long time that this story should be essential reading for all adults, so that they are less likely to believe everything they are told.

The New Yearmay well build on 2013’s optimism
22 January 2014 as I write this column, there is only just over a month to go before the end of 2013, which has been a year of mixed fortunes for the panel manufacturing industry, depending on where the manufacturers are located.

Still looking for stability in global markets
22 November 2013 A major part of this issue is given over to part one of our survey of particleboard mills, covering Europe and North America. Nobody will be surprised to hear that new capacity is not planned in North America, while western Europe has just four capacity increases planned – two of which are from Swedspan.

It’s true - things really are looking better!
25 September 2013 Continuing the theme of my Comment columns in the last two issues, it seems that there really is good news out there as we pass the halfway stage in 2013. Improvements in the market in North America have continued, thus far at least, and most commentators seem to think that will continue.

Good news is out there if you look for it
03 July 2013 In my Comment column in the last issue, I said that I was looking forward to Ligna and believed that it was going to be blessed with a good number of both exhibitors and visitors. The good news is that I was right.

Reasons to be cheerful as Ligna opens its doors
02 May 2013 This is an odd-numbered year and this is the April/May edition of WBPI, so a large part of this magazine is, of course, dedicated to the exhibition which the industry is eagerly anticipating – the big, biennial, show for the world’s woodworking industries called Ligna. It will be held in Hannover, Germany, from May 6-10.

With a bit of luck and a following wind.....
20 March 2013 In some countries, including the UK, the number 13 is regarded as an unlucky number by the superstitious. I always joke: “I’m not superstitious, it’s unlucky!” But I’m sure that 2013 will bring no such bad omens and that everything will be great. Well, in truth, I am hopeful rather than sure, but we must be positive!

Obstacles ahead need the Olympic spirit
21 January 2013 Suddenly, another year is almost over and we have reached the issue of WBPI which both sees out 2012 and sees in 2013. A chance to consider what has been and what is still to come, then.

South America takes centre stage in the news
21 August 2012 In recent times we have reported on a number of takeovers of one machinery company by another as the complete line suppliers add to their competence in certain areas of supply to the panel production line. However, in this issue, it is some of the panel manufacturers who are making the news in terms of buying each other out and that is happening in South America.

Forecasting has never been so difficult
13 June 2012