Wood & Panel Europe is the bi-monthly digital magazine that covers what industry professionals prefer to know to accelerate their business operations. Ranging from SME decision-makers to multinational production plant managers, we are read by all. Our subject caters to forestry, high-end automated technologies, panel manufacturing, solidwood processing, veneers, laminates, finished and semi-finished products, construction, general woodworking and a lot more.
At LIGNA 2013 in Hannover, Germany, the Siempelkamp machine and plant engineering company is presented as a provider for complete wood-based panel production plants for the manufacturing of particleboard, MDF/HDF, and OSB. Together with its subsidiaries Büttner, CMC Texpan, Hombak, Ventapp, and Siempelkamp Logistics & Service, Siempelkamp represents the complete product range including planning, engineering, production, installation, startup, and service.
2013 Woodworking Industry Conference (WIC) will be held from April 23- 26, 2013. It has become the "One Industry" conference will give a wealth of knowledge, practical information and valuable contacts. 
The 2013 International Wood Composites Symposium will be held in Seattle, Washington on April 3- 4, 2013. Presented by Washington State University in collaboration with APA, this year’s industry-driven symposium is titled “Market Dynamics, Product Development, Process Innovation” and will address markets, policies, codes, new developments and innovations for the wood composites industry. 
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Professional Women in Building (PWB) Council appointed its 2013 chair last month during the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.
Stiles Shop awarded Ed Hall, from Pioneer Cabinetry in Davison, Mich., a free Ironwood CUT 14. The contest required participants to register online for a chance to win the Ironwood 14" cut-off saw or $4,000 off any other Ironwood machine.
Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo reports the number of pre-registered attendees exceeds last year’s count by 227%. The change reflects a stronger market, a great line-up of events and exhibitors and a demand for remodeling created by Hurricane Sandy.Due to a double-digit dip on the typically volatile multifamily side, nationwide housing starts declined 8.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 890,000 units in January, according to newly released data from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. Meanwhile, issuance of permits for new-home construction rose 1.8 percent to 925,000 units – the quickest pace since mid-2008.Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes was virtually unchanged in February with a one-point decline to 46 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).
The sales and marketing activities of Schelling Anlagenbau in the Asia-Pacific region are now in the sure hands of an experienced professional. Edgar Rusev M.Eng., who from 2006 to 2012 was Schelling's man in Romania, changed over a few months ago to the responsible position in the Far East.
The Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA) has announced expansion of the floor plan for the 32nd Forest Products Machinery and Equipment Exposition – EXPO 2013. Citing increased interest in exhibit space for this event, set for June 5-7 at Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center, exposition director Eric Gee has made available to exhibitors an additional 3,000 square feet of exhibit space.
WEINIG presented its latest development, the OptiCut S 90 XL Superdrill with the new drilling and milling aggregate at Illertissen. Highlight of the event were the live demonstrations on the first machine to be delivered.At LIGNA 2013 WEINIG receives a strong response. The Profiling product segment was characterized by a wide range of machines for almost any type of application.
Grupo KUO, S.A.B. de C.V. hereinafter Grupo KUO, reported its unaudited results for the fourth quarter and full year 2012. Sales stood at the highest level of the past seven years, reaching US $2.214 billion mainly due to strong growth of KUO Automotive with 27%, largely due to the acquisition of Fritec, and of KUO Consumer with 10% against the previous year.
Following feedback from 2012’s event, this year Greenbuild Expo will include a materials and methods area. With so many claims and counter claims from different parts of the industry with regard to sustainable credentials the feedback was one of confusion amongst architects, consultants, clients and contractors. Weinig in order to close down the business of Michael Weinig S.A., which is headquartered in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, will transfer component production for tools from Switzerland to Tauberbischofsheim by mid-2013. Weinig financial director Gerald Schmidt reports that 31 employees in Switzerland are affected by the transfer and closure.
Pfleiderer AG in Düsseldorf, manufacturer of wood-based materials in Europe, has decided to convert its legal form from that of a public limited company (German “Aktiengesellschaft” or AG) to a limited liability company (German “Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung” or GmbH).The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Professional Women in Building (PWB) Council appointed its 2013 chair last month during the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.'Stiles Shop awarded Ed Hall, from Pioneer Cabinetry in Davison, Mich., a free Ironwood CUT 14. The contest required participants to register online for a chance to win the Ironwood 14" cut-off saw or $4,000 off any other Ironwood machine.Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo reports the number of pre-registered attendees exceeds last year’s count by 227%. The change reflects a stronger market, a great line-up of events and exhibitors and a demand for remodeling created by Hurricane Sandy.Due to a double-digit dip on the typically volatile multifamily side, nationwide housing starts declined 8.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 890,000 units in January, according to newly released data from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. Meanwhile, issuance of permits for new-home construction rose 1.8 percent to 925,000 units – the quickest pace since mid-2008.Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes was virtually unchanged in February with a one-point decline to 46 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).The sales and marketing activities of Schelling Anlagenbau in the Asia-Pacific region are now in the sure hands of an experienced professional. Edgar Rusev M.Eng., who from 2006 to 2012 was Schelling's man in Romania, changed over a few months ago to the responsible position in the Far East. The Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA) has announced expansion of the floor plan for the 32nd Forest Products Machinery and Equipment Exposition – EXPO 2013. Citing increased interest in exhibit space for this event, set for June 5-7 at Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center, exposition director Eric Gee has made available to exhibitors an additional 3,000 square feet of exhibit space.The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Professional Women in Building (PWB) Council honored outstanding members with scholarships and awards at the 58th annual PWB Spike Club Reception last month at the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas. Members who exceeded recruitment expectations in 2012 were awarded scholarships that their local councils will use to provide financial assistance to students pursuing degrees relevant to the building industry.
Each year, North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) honors the industry’s leaders, both on an individual level and at the corporate level. The 2012 LAMMY Awards winners are no exception, with a roster including those who’ve made exceptional contributions to the laminate flooring world.
Universal Forest Products, Inc. has announced 2012 results, including fourth-quarter 2012 net sales of $470.8 million, up 11.5 percent over the same period last year. The Company reported annual net sales of $2.1 billion for 2012, an increase of 12.8 percent over 2011. For the fourth quarter, the Company saw a loss of $1.9 million, or ($.10) per diluted share, compared to a loss of $1.7 million or ($.09) per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2011. For the year, net earnings were $23.9 million or $1.21 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $4.5 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, for 2011.
The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), with support from the Government of Canada, launched TheGreenestWorkforce.ca, a resource tool that provides information on the dynamic direction of the industry and career opportunities on offer right across the country.
The sales and marketing activities of Schelling Anlagenbau in the Asia-Pacific region are now in hands of experienced professional. Edgar Rusev M.Eng., who from 2006 to 2012 was Schelling's man in Romania, changed over a few months ago to the responsible position in the Far East.
Trend survey figures for the 2012 October-December period indicate a significant reduction of orders. The result is in line with preliminary 2012 final balance figures recently published by Acimall, the Italian woodworking machinery and tools manufacturers’ association, indicating a 10 percent reduction of production. 
The main markets of the Finnish forest industry are in Europe, where the economic downturn showed no sign of relenting. The economic crisis further emphasises how significant the competitiveness of the Finnish forest industry is. 
Building on last year’s successful premiere of DOMOTEX Russia in Moscow, Deutsche Messe now plans to also tap into Russia’s regional markets for carpets and floor coverings. “DOMOTEX Russia goes regional” is the name of a series of regional industry conferences that Deutsche Messe will be staging throughout Russia.
At interzum, the density of innovations presented by the industry is unique – which is why the world's leading fair only takes place in Cologne every two years and has been successfully holding its own as the "mother of all trade shows" for many years now. Not least of all due to its strong concept and the internationality of both its exhibitors and the anticipated visitors, interzum 2013 will again be occupying a key position in the market. 
A total of 493,945 UPM-Kymmene Corporation new shares were subscribed for between 11 December 2012 and 8 February 2013 under the company's stock option rights 2007B. The entire subscription price of EUR 3,082,216.80 will be entered in the invested unrestricted equity reserve. As a result of the share subscriptions, the number of UPM's shares will increase to 526,618,355.
Scotland's Finest Woods Awards 2013 have introduced some innovations to the line-up of competitions and bigger prizes.
The number of companies setting up stands at the German furniture supplier fair in ZOW is expected to be lower than at the comparable edition in 2011. A little over 400 businesses are registered to exhibit at the event, which takes place from 18 to 21 February 2013 at the Bad Salzuflen fairgrounds.Remodelers now have a unique opportunity to see how their business stacks up against the competition with a new publication from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). NAHB’s publishing arm, BuilderBooks, recently released the 2012 edition of the Remodelers’ Cost of Doing Business Study, a national study of remodelers’ business practices and financial performance.
Resolute Forest Products Inc. reported a net loss of $2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, or $0.02 per share, on sales of $4.5 billion. This compares with net income of $41 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, on sales of $4.8 billion in the year ended December 31, 2011.
Knowing how busy mattress industry executives are today, the International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) shortened its biennial Industry Conference to a day-and-a-half.
Stiles Machinery is pleased to announce they will be exhibiting at the 2013 AWFS Fair in Las Vegas. In the USA, a low supply of detached houses and favorable business assessments on the part of house-building companies in recent months has generated a rising number of building permits and building starts. 
HOLZMA will be showcasing many innovations on this theme at LIGNA 2013. New technologies, new processes and a completely revamped product portfolio provide for more efficiency in panel cutting. On show daily from 6 to 10 May in Hall 11 and Hall 26 at LIGNA .
For Dieffenbacher, LIGNA is an event characterized by integration and innovation. Over a space measuring almost 900 square meters, the Dieffenbacher Group will showcase tried-and-tested solutions as well as new approaches for the resource and energy-efficient production of wood-based panels. Dieffenbacher will also be represented in the bio-energy sector for the first time and will present its concept for large industrial plants for pellet production. 
Though the financial year of 2012 started with a highly uncertain market environment, it marked an increased 36% on the comparison year. Their order intake was EUR 116 million (MEUR 77). Raute’s net sales and operating profit for 2013 are expected to remain at the same level as in 2012.
The Upper Austrian machine engineering group can look back on the most successful year in the company's history and has made a promising start to the new year.
The exhibitors at "interzum cologne 2013” are now invited to submit their current products to an international comparison. The “interzum award: intelligent material & design” is awarded to the best designs in the supplier industry by an independent jury of experts.Resolute Forest Products has announced the construction of a new sawmill in the area of Atikokan, Ontario. This investment reflects Resolute's ongoing commitment to the solid wood business and will provide significant economic opportunities for First Nations in the region. 