AUSTRIA – The Egger Group, one of the largest wooden panel manufacturers in the world, based in St. Johann in Tirol, Austria, closed the first half of its 2024/2025 financial year with consolidated sales of EUR 2.1 billion, reflecting a slight decrease of 0.2%...
Imports Make up 7% of U.S. Construction Materials
USA – In 2023, the U.S. residential construction sector imported USD 13 billion in materials, representing 7% of the USD 184 billion spent on materials for new single-family and multifamily housing, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The...
Koelnmesse is Revamping its Furniture and Interior Design Events
GERMANY - Koelnmesse, a global leader in trade fair organization, is revamping its furniture and interior design events to better meet market demands. Starting in January 2026, imm cologne will focus annually on the consumer market with a streamlined, targeted...
Global Wood & Paper Trade Drops 12% in 2023
USA - Global trade in wood and paper products dropped by 12% in 2023, according to the FAO's Global Forest Products Facts and Figures 2023. Exports fell by $64 billion to $482 billion, still above pre-2021 levels, but indicating lower prices amid an economic slowdown....
Garnica and Tecnalia Innovate in Sanding Dust Valorization
SPAIN – The Garnica Group and Tecnalia have teamed up for an R&D project to transform waste from wood panel production into high-value materials for construction, focusing on valorizing sanding dust from plywood-type panels. Sustainability policies promote waste...
Hexion Acquires Smartech to Boost AI Manufacturing
USA – Hexion Inc., a global leader in adhesives and performance materials, has acquired Smartech, an AI-driven technology company specializing in autonomous manufacturing solutions. This marks Hexion’s first acquisition in a decade and is a key move in the company's...
Eduardo Cosentino Appointed Chairman of NKBA Board
USA – Eduardo Cosentino, EVP of Cosentino Group and CEO of Cosentino Americas, will become the new Chairman of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) Board of Directors on January 1, 2025. He succeeds Ken Williams, President of Caesarstone Canada, who will...
Pantone Reveals Mocha Mousse as 2025 Color of the Year
USA - Pantone has officially announced its 2025 Color of the Year: Mocha Mousse, a warm, rich brown hue described as "earthy sophistication." The color is designed to capture a global mood of connection, security, and harmony, reflecting a collective desire for...
Slight Drop in Peruvian Particleboard Imports in 10M-2024
PERU - Peru’s particleboard/MDP imports from January to October 2024 (10M-2024) saw a modest overall decline of 2.6%, with total imports falling from USD 121.01 million in 10M-2023 to USD 117.92 million in 10M-2024. Among the countries of origin, Ecuador experienced a...
Masterbrand Closes Two Cabinet Manufacturers
USA - Two major cabinet manufacturers, Dura Supreme and Norcraft, are set to close plants in North Carolina, resulting in a combined loss of 274 jobs. Both companies are subsidiaries of MasterBrand, one of the largest kitchen cabinet manufacturers in the U.S. Dura...
Kronospan Launches New OSB Production Line
UKRAINE - Kronospan, one of the largest producers of wood panels in Ukraine, has launched a new OSB production line in the Rivne region. The investment in this new facility amounts to EUR 200 million, with approximately 60% of the production expected to be exported to...
Pfleiderer Earns EcoVadis Platinum Medal
GERMANY - The Pfleiderer Group, one of the leading wooden panel manufacturers, has further solidified its position as a sustainability leader by earning the prestigious Platinum Medal in the annual EcoVadis sustainability rating. This marks the first time the...