Headlines
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...
Egger Wins German Sustainability Award for EcoBox
GERMANY - Egger has won the German Sustainability Award in the Resources category for its innovative EcoBox construction solution. The award was presented during Sustainability Day on November 29 in Düsseldorf. The EcoBox optimizes timber frame construction by using a...
Ikea Opens ‘Hus of FRAKTA’ Pop-Up Store on London’s Oxford Street
UNITED KINGDOM - Ikea has opened the ‘Hus of FRAKTA’ pop-up store on Oxford Street, London, celebrating its iconic blue FRAKTA bag. The pop-up, located at 216 Oxford Street, is a playful tribute to the world-famous bag and is situated next to luxury brands in one of...
Novopan Promotes Responsible Tourism in the Community of Zuleta
ECUADOR – Novopan, the leading wooden panel manufacturer in the country, and the Zuleta Community have joined forces to promote sustainable tourism and environmental conservation. Over the past year, they’ve implemented practices that balance social, biological,...
Egger and Wren Implement Closed-Loop Waste Management System
UNITED KINGDOM - Egger, a top wooden panel manufacturer, and Wren, a leading kitchen furniture manufacturer, have implemented a closed-loop waste management system as part of their ongoing commitment to sustainability and waste reduction. This innovative...
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Spanish Furniture Exports Grow 1.9% in 9M-2024
SPAIN - The National Association of Furniture Manufacturers and Exporters of Spain (ANIEME) has published the report on the foreign trade results of the Spanish furniture sector for the period from January to September 2024. During these nine months, international...
Google Unveils First Mass Timber Office in California
USA - Google has unveiled its first office building constructed using mass timber, located at 1265 Borregas in Sunnyvale, California. The five-story building, designed with sustainability in mind, is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 96% compared to a traditional...
Ecuador’s Particleboard Exports Grow 15.6% in September
ECUADOR - In September 2024, Ecuador’s particleboard exports reached USD 18.2 million FOB, marking a 15.6% increase from the previous year. The primary destination countries for Ecuadorian exports were Colombia, Peru, and Panama. Exports to Colombia grew by 24.8% to...
Ligna 2025 More Than 105,000 sqm Already Booked
GERMANY - In its 50th anniversary year, Ligna reflects on its origins, which began in 1975 when it branched off from Hannover Messe during the oil crisis to become an independent trade fair. Now, half a century later, the woodworking and wood processing industry is...
Robot Adoption in Factories Accelerates Worldwide
GERMANY - Robot adoption in factories worldwide continues to accelerate. In 2023, the global average robot density reached a record 162 robots per 10,000 employees—more than double the 74 units recorded seven years ago, according to the World Robotics 2024 report by...
European Parliament Vote Confirms Delay of EUDR Implementation
BELGIUM - The European Parliament has voted to delay the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by one year. Originally set to take effect on December 30, 2024, the law will now apply from December 30, 2025, for large companies, and June 30, 2026, for small businesses....
Hendrik Rawe Appointed New Department Head at Deutsche Messe
GERMANY - As of November 1, 2024, Hendrik Rawe (34) has assumed the position of head of the “LIGNA, INTERSCHUTZ, parts2clean, and SurfaceTechnology GERMANY” department at Deutsche Messe. He will report to Arno Reich, Senior Vice President of the “Trade Fair &...
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