Tomra’s new GAINnext not only separates wood A from wood B but also excels at MDF recovery (Image: Tomra) Global sensor-based sorting technology provider Tomra Recycling announced their participation at the upcoming IFAT 2024 from 13-17 May in Munich, Germany, with plans to reveal their latest technology portfolio. With Tomra’s theme for IFAT 2024 being ‘Transforming Resource Recovery’, the firm will highlight their newest GAINnext technology, which can identify objects by their shape, size, and other visual characteristics. With high precision and stability, it efficiently sorts various types ..read more

Palm trees Raw material shortages present a significant obstacle for the country’s timber industry, particularly the downstream sector, according to the chairman of the Malaysian Panel Products Manufacturers’ Association (MPMA), Sheikh Othman Rahman. He added that Malaysia has the potential to produce high-value wood products but efforts are needed to address raw material supplies. He said the scarcity of raw materials is hindering production and affecting key products such as plywood, MDF and particleboard. Plywood is ranked as the second largest wood exported, after wooden furniture. The ply ..read more

Xylexpo 2022 From 21-24 May 2024, Xylexpo will be held at Halls 1 and 3 of FieraMilano Rho. According to the organisers, more than 260 exhibitors, 33% of which are international, have signed up for the biannual Italian wood and woodworking trade exhibition. Among other themes and topics, this year’s Xylexpo 2024 will explore Industry 5.0 solutions. “It will be a valuable opportunity in view of the recent measures for Industry 5.0. Italian companies will benefit from fiscal incentives up to 45% of their investments, provided they comply with specific features in terms of digital transformation ..read more

The designs of the previous edition of Future Heirlooms (Image: AHEC) Always Welcome and the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) are collaborating on the launch of the second iteration of Future Heirlooms, a project exploring the future of sustainable South African design. The 2024 edition engages participants from cross-disciplinary backgrounds with a focus on the South African interior design and architecture communities. The designers have been invited to design an object for domestic use using American red oak. In line with the Future Heirlooms theme, they have to design a piece that l ..read more

Visitor turnout for CIFF Guangzhou 2024 was the highest since 2019 edition CIFF Guangzhou concluded back in late March with what is reported to be the “highest number of exhibitors and visitors ever”, with 4,700 exhibitors and 363,449 trade visitors, 11.8% and 22.06% respectively more than the 2019 edition. Among the visitors, there are 51,205 international ones, hailing from 178 countries, a 43.11% increase compared to 2019. This, according to the organisers, solidifies “CIFF’s position as the world’s largest furniture fair and the most important and comprehensive business and product researc ..read more

Image: Berndorf Band Group Berndorf Band Group has announced their expansion into the Indian market with a new branch as part of their company’s growth strategy. According to the company’s press release, India’s thriving economy, projected growth and “ambitious global goals” convinced Berndorf Band Group to expand into there. The company’s vision for the Gujarat, India branch, named as Berndorf Band India, aims to provide potential and new customers with steel belts, belt systems, and local service support. “By becoming a reliable partner across various industries, we strive to significantly c ..read more

The AI application developed by Metsä Group and CollectiveCrunch for detecting insect damage won the international Innovation of Innovations prize. Metsä Fibre’s Future Sawmill concept was recognised in the Business innovations category. The international Quality Innovation Award (QIA) 2023 competition rewards the most notable innovations of the year. The award-winning application from Metsä Group and CollectiveCrunch detects insect damage in forests such as damage caused by spruce bark beetles before it is visible to the human eye. The application is based on artificial intelligence, machin ..read more

The Egger Group acquired a majority stake in the Italian recycling company Cartfer Urbania (Image: Egger) The Egger Group has acquired 60% of shares in the recycling company Cartfer Urbania, based in Urbania, Italy, in the Marche region, at the heart of the Italian furniture industry. The acquisition completed on 27 Mar 2024. The previous owner Sara Burani will remain part of the company management. The experienced team of eight employees will be taken over. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price and further details of the transaction. This represents a further addition to ..read more

Signing ceremony between Luli Wood and HOMAG (Image: HOMAG) In Q4 2023, HOMAG received a major order from China. The contract with the Chinese customer Luli Wood Industry has a term of three years and covers the delivery of a comprehensive package of machines and systems for furniture production. According to HOMAG, the total value of the order is approximately €90m. The renewed strategic cooperation between HOMAG and Luli Wood Industry was formally sealed with a traditional signing ceremony, which was attended by Zhong Duzhang, deputy general manager of the Luli Group, and Dr Daniel Schmitt ..read more

Image: AkzoNobel The Interpon team at AkzoNobel has designed and launched interpon.com: A new website with a host of new features and digital tools to enable visitors to experience the world of powder coatings. The new site is designed as a single ‘hub’ to enhance the customer experience, serve more customer needs, and make the interaction between visitors, the Interpon team and its powder coatings simpler and more intuitive. According to Interpon, this website is created with a customer-first mindset, ensuring an optimal user experience. It highlights their involvement across key sectors ..read more