COLOGNE, Germany -  New developments in fastener connectivity, improved access and lifts for cabinets doors and closets, flexible storage solutions, and an abundance of new overlay textures, embossed in registration designs, finishes and patterns were just some of the items drawing high interest from a record setting crowd at interzum 2017.

More than 69,000 visitors from 152 countries – a 19 percent increase from the previous show – attended the world's largest trade fair for furniture, cabinet and casework production and interior construction.

ARTICLE Hardware, fasteners snaps up awards at Interzum 2017 Best of Interzum includes fasteners from OVVO and Hafele, and a Salice hinge for thinner doors.

Held in Cologne, Germany, May 15-19, interzum featured 1,732 exhibitors from 60 countries, an increase of 13 percent, spread over 185,000 square meters of exhibit space.

"It was the best interzum yet," said Katharina Hamma, COO of show organizer Koelnmesse GmbH.  "Interzum has reached a new level with the rises in visitor figures, the growth in exhibitor numbers and the increase in floor space combined with measures to enhance the event's quality."

ARTICLE The latest woodworking tech will draw nearly 100,000 to Ligna 2017 Innovative woodworking technology, including beta designs, is on display this week in Hannover Germany, for Ligna 2017, the world's largest woodworking trade show.

The fair also attracted a number of international visitors. According to show management, more than 51,000 visitors came from outside Germany, with the number of visitors from North America rising 26 percent this year.

What follows is a brief recap of some of the new products soon to be seen in North America, and other trends at the show.

Lamello used interzum for the worldwide launch of Cabineo, a CNC connector that requires no edge drilling while offering high clamping force and fast installation. The RTA system is a one-piece connector without dowels so no pre-assembly of screws or dowels in the side panels are necessary.  Quick and easy to install, Cabineo can be drilled or machined.

Moovit MX

Hafele also had lots of new items on display including the ixconnect tool-less connector system which won a Best of the Best award, with the Verlander connector system also earning a  High Product Quality Award.  Along with innovations in the Slido system, shown in one creative display with Smuso components and doors with damper systems embedded in the track. Available in a new drawer height of 115mm, the Moovit MX drawer system also features an innovative fluid damper for quiet, continuous soft closing without visible and noticeable stops. New innovations in lighting incorporating Bluetooth technology also were featured.

Aventos HK

One of the highlights at the Blum booth was the concept product: an automated push to open/soft-close pocket door product for large doors. Also on display by Blum were: the Aventos HK Top (new generation) lift system,  the ClipTop 155 hinge which offers zero protrusion of doors in the cabinet, and 8-13mm hinges for thin doors.  On the machinery side, the company offered an Easy Stick adaption for the Blum Minipress, which makes drilling patterns easier for cabinetmakers.

Drawing a lot of interest at the Grass booth was the Tavinea Sorto drawer organization system and also the larger version Tavinea Opima.  Grass also featured the new modular drawer side design elements of the Vionaro iD. Other new products include Nova Pro Scala H250 high closed drawer side, Tipmatic soft close, the Kinvaro D flap system that folds down to open, and the Tiomos Hidden concealed hinge that is fully recessed into furniture.

Push-to-open technology

Hettich's theme this year was “Fascin-action,”  and the new lines certainly did. Among the items featured  were the Wingline push to move and pull to move doors, which are a great way to gain usable storage space in tight areas,  including under the stairs. Also on display were the Slideline doors with a single and double track, shown in closets, kitchen and bath vignettes; plus TopLine sliding door systems. Attendees also liked the LegaMove lifting system, which can bring upper cabinets “down” or workstation heights up. The LegaDrive offers power assisted height adjustment. Hettich also now offers push to open Silent for the AvanTech, ArciTech, InnoTech and Actro 5D as well as Quadro for wooden drawers.

Award-winning Air hinge

One of the highlights at the Salice booth was the Air hinge, a 2016 Challengers Award winner and named one of the Best of the Best at interzum. Also making a splash was the Wind lift system, available in five cover colors and which features an adjustable mechanism that attaches to the top of the cabinet door for a cleaner footprint. The newly designed Pacta is a soft close hinge with integrated damping for drop down flap doors. Also a new addition, the Silentia+ hinge allows users to quickly and easily customize the speed of the soft close mechanism. Also on display was the Shelf concealed runner, which allows for locking in the open position, a particularly useful feature when using for cutting boards. Another new product was the Slider M50 coplaner sliding door system with soft open and close features, and a capacity of more than 200 pounds. The LineaBox features metal side drawers attached to a concealed runner and can be used with a split organization system that will launch in the U.S. later this year.

Cornerstone MAXX

Among the new products on display by Vauth-Sagel, the Cornerstone MAXX corner unit features a wider opening to bring the contents of the two tray-like shelves fully in front of the unit. Easy to install, the fixing system is practically invisible and the shelves have a linear design. Movement is supported by a Power-Assistant Movement system.  Vauth-Sagel also showed the Planero new storage tray shelving system; Planero can be used in all Vauth-Sagel product groups, such as the VS TAL Larder and the Cornerstone MAXX.

New patterns and textures

Rauvisio Crystal Mirror

Rehau showed a variety of new items including new patterns  such as stone, thinner (2mm acrylics) and new materials. New materials include the High Product Quality Award winning Rauvisio Crystal Mirror, which is an acrylic on MDF, specially coated for mirror effect, but can be cut with standard woodworking tools.  The company has added a hard coating to the Rauvisio Crystal line, making it even more durable for use in cabinets and other products. Also drawing a lot of interest from attendees was the Rauvolet Vetro glass tambour door with thinner edges. The company says it also continues to see a growing popularity of products with deep textures.

Galaxy mixed with wood tones

Booth "zone" vignettes at Schattdecor highlighted colors and textures for the way we live. The Community Zone symbolized multifunction spaces featuring natural looking, warm and textured decors. Ageless Living reveals the fun, adult/youthful (think man cave), with fun patterns such as Galaxy, mixing with wood grains for casegoods and flooring. Smart Home shows designs and product options integrating power access. The final area, Micro Housing, showed colors and patterns suitable for small setups.  The displays also showcased the company’s range of printing capabilities.

Located in the Design Post, adjacent to interzum, Interprint was showing off its latest ”six pack” of trendy colors: three oak interpretations, one chestnut, walnut and marble design. Working with five international designers, the company created new patterns and textures on display:  the oak-based Reef, weathered spruce patterned Picea, textile-looking Comfy, the industrial Yonga which resembled chips/OSB board, and a walnut-textile combination called Harris & Crusoe. Digital printing continues to make a splash at Interprint, which reportedly has the largest industrial digital printer that can go up to 15 feet without repeating the pattern.

Renolit promoted its realistic textures and EIR products. Also displayed was the Makalu décor, a concrete look offering different shades of gray and embossed flaws and air pockets for a realistic industrial look. Renolit also showed three new oak patterns: Grandson Oak weathered décor, Kronberg planked oak and the Kendal Oak featuring a contoured grain and slight red cast, giving it the look of oiled wood. The company also highlighted its expanded metallic looks.

Among the offerings by Döllken was the new 3D-Space-Wave edgeband, winner of the pro-K award 2017. The 3D edgings feature an extreme depth effect and are available in stainless steel, titanium, old bronze, aluminum and copper, in 23 x 1.3mm and 43 x 1.5mm. The edgings are also available in a prime matt as well as a high gloss finish.

Other notes

A first-time exhibitor, Osborne Wood Products displayed its range of furniture and kitchen components, including wood/metal legs. Also garnering interest from attendees were the mouldings and trim, corbels and other wood components.

Northwest Hardwoods also reported the lumber supplier had a good show, with a lot of interest in the company's alder and other domestic  offerings; it currently boasts 75 percent of the market share of alder in the Pacific Northwest. Also available are a range of exotic species for export and domestic use.

The 2019 interzum will take place May 21-24, in Cologne, Germany.  For additional information visit interzum.com
 

CHICAGO – Chicago-based architecture and design firm Perimeter Architects helped Chicagoland’s first medical marijuana dispensary, Dispensary 33, save $50,000 a year by creating it clever wooden packaging.

Illinois law states that once a seal on a bottle of medical marijuana is broken, that marijuana must be sold within seven days or disposed of.

That conflicted with Dispensary 33’s sales strategy – putting marijuana and flowers together on display –, which required it to break the seal on its suppliers’ plastic marijuana bottles. This cost Dispensary 33 an estimated $50,000 per year.

ARTICLE Manufacturing homes of the future likely to be a CNC-friendly affair Virginia Tech Center for Design Research spent four years on the FutureHAUS project, exploring integration of technology with architecture, and its prospect for industrialized home production.

Premier Architects came up with a clever solution: a customized glass bulb with a laminated wooden base - featuring a pressure-locking mechanism that maintains a seal.

The packaging allows Dispensary 33 to show off their product their way while remaining within the confines of Illinois law.

The packaging picked up an AIA award last month.

Dispensary 33 came to Perimeter Architects after it designed Dispensary 33’s interior space. Perimeter Architects created a space that gradually revealed itself upon entry, with rift-cut white oak transaction counters, hand drawn marijuana illustrations, and custom fabric wall installations.

Perimeter Architects is an award-winning Chicago-based architecture and design practice interested in the exploration of urban environments. We define our practice of architecture as the pursuit of a refined-pragmatism. Simple, direct solutions are the goal. We approach every project with certainty; the betterment of our environment is fundamentally achievable through design. We do not come into any project with preconceived solutions and seek the potential of every challenge. We strongly believe in the craft of architecture.

Photos by Perimeter Architects

PORTLAND, Ore.– A 12-story building is on its way to becoming the first mass timber tower in the United States.

The Framework Building, approved this week for construction by Portland and the State of Oregon, will measure nearly 150 feet tall and will be constructed of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glue-laminated timber (glulam).  

Project^, developer of the building, expects construction to begin this fall. The goal for completion is Winter 2018.

The Framework tower will feature retail space on the ground floor, five stories of office space, and five more of apartments. The building will house an estimated 60 homes.

Portland-based CLT pioneer D.R. Johnson will supply many of the building’s CLT panels. D.R. Johnson is the first U.S. company to receive APA/ANSI certification to manufacture structural CLT panels. The company worked with USNR to build a custom CLT panel press for its Portland operation.

ARTICLE Timber construction has lumber milling machinery rolling D.R. Johnson is ready to serve a new market spawned by a recent boom in worldwide timber construction.

Portland State University and Oregon State University performed extensive testing on the proposed building to make sure it met U.S. code for seismic, fire, and acoustic requirements.

Cross-laminated timber has been gaining popularity as of late, due to its lightness, sustainability, and ease of use. Planks of timber are glued and orientated at 90 degrees to each other and are then cross-laid in layers. Those pieces are then shipped to construction sites and can be assembled by just a few workers - even for large buildings.

Its use in tall wooden buildings has also been growing. London, Stockholm, and Quebec are just a few of the cities who either already have large timber towers or have one in the works.

Building codes are being adjusted in Oregon and Washington State to permit the tall wood structures.

D.R. Johnson CEO Valerie Johnson and Oregon TallWood Design Institute Manager Iain MacDonald will speak about cross-laminated timber at the Woodworking Network Leadership Forum at AWFS 2017.

LYONS, Ore. - A $250,000 grant from the U.S. Forest Service will help Freres Lumber Co. bring its veneer-based massive plywood panels to the market.

Announced late last year, Freres Lumber says its massive plywood panels (MPP) could be used for floors and walls in multi-story commercial buildings, and they could be made to order. Freres hopes its panels will revolutionize the construction industry.

“We were recently informed that our mass plywood plant was named the Forest Service’s top project in the U.S.,” Freres executive VP Rob Freres said. “This was a competitive process with 114 grant applications submitted for consideration."

Designed to be an alternative to cross-laminated timber, Freres' massive panels can be as much as 12 feet wide and 2 feet thick. Freres says there are many potential benefits:

ARTICLE Freres Lumber's massive plywood panels could revolutionize construction Freres Lumber Co. hopes its new-to-market, veneer-based massive plywood panels will revolutionize construction.

Structures made of MPP could be made in days instead of months, says Freres, and use 20-30 percent less wood than cross-laminated timber. The lightweight nature of MPP could reduce truckload transport costs. Large format panels could be manufactured at a facility to include window, door, and all other required cut-outs – minimizing waste and labor on the job site.

The grant will be used toward purchasing a CNC machine for the company's upcoming plant. The CNC will enable Freres to finish MPP panels to precise buyer specifications; saw doors, windows and other cutouts with precision and efficiency; and drastically reduce labor time at commercial building sites.

The new 168,000-square-foot plant, with construction costs around $23 million, is scheduled to open in January. Freres plans to initially employ 20 full-time workers, and plans to hire 40-60 more in the future.

Freres MPP went through a year of rigorous development and performance testing at Oregon State's Advanced Wood Products Laboratory.

DOTHAN, Ala.– Florida-based International Beams, a manufacturer of high-quality, pre-fabricated i-joists, will convert a General Electric building as its new 227,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Dothan, Alabama.

The City of Dothan approved several tax abatements for the factory conversion, including $632,000 and four annual payments from July 2018 to July 2021 “to meet obligations with the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority to facilitate the project,” reported the Dothan Eagle.

EVENTS Technology for tall wood construction expands in U.S. market  At the Leadership Forum, Iain MacDonald from the TallWood Design Institute and Valerie Johnson, CEO of DR Johnson Lumber, explain the phenomenon leading to Portlands 14-story wood high rise.

The number of jobs created and more details about the expansion will be announced next week, Dothan officials said. It is reportedly unknown precisely what International Beams will manufacture at the facility, but the state said the company made sure the facility was highly-specialized.

At its other plants, International Beams produces solid-sawn i-joists - strong, lightweight, "I" shaped engineered wood structural members that meet demanding performance standards. I-joists are comprised of top and bottom flanges, says the APA, which resist bending and provide outstanding shear resistance. The flange material is typically laminated veneer lumber (LVL) or solid sawn lumber, and the web is made with plywood or OSB. The robust combination of structural characteristics results in a versatile, economical framing member that is easy to install in residential and light commercial projects.

International Beams is headquartered in Sarasota, Florida and runs two manufacturing facilities, one in Pohenegamook, Quebec, and the other in Tillson, Ontario. The company employs 95 workers across the two sites.

Find more about International Beams here.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Smith & Fong Co., makers of Plyboo bamboo architectural panels and flooring products, announced the launch of Fractal and Fractool, a new concept in customizable architectural panels that utilizes the isosceles triangle.

“Fractal panels, when combined with the Fractool, comprise one of the most revolutionary new product concepts we have introduced,” Smith & Fong president Angus Stocks said. “The client now has full control over the design of a wall installation and all of this can be done online, on the client’s time.”

The Fractool is a proprietary online design tool that is on the Plyboo website. It produces a photographic image of a wall of Fractal panels, custom configured by the user, along with a blueprint of how to assemble and install it, and a price that includes delivery.

Fractal panels are fabricated using Plyboo RealCore bamboo in dimensions of 24”x24”x34” (610mm x 610mm x 864mm). Available in many colors including natural, amber, fog, mist, greige and noir, these colors can also be used in combinations with a wide range of surface patterns. Designs are offered unfinished, or with a natural, oil finish.

Produced in the United States from imported and domestic components, Fractal panels can contribute to multiple USGBC LEED credits including Certified Wood and Low-Emitting Materials. See http://plyboo.com.

DALLAS – The manufacturer of Accoya wood will introduce Tricoya, a new MDF product for exterior and wet interior applications, at AWFS Fair July 19 – 22, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Tricoya is made from wood fibers that have gone through a modification process called acetylation, similar to Accoya wood, that alters the cell structure of the wood. The process is designed to make wood more dimensionally stable.

Tricoya can be used on a variety of exterior applications that would not normally be considered ideal for any MDF products including façade cladding, fascia and soffit panels, window components, outdoor furniture, and play frames/tree houses. It can also be used in wet interior applications such as wall linings in swimming pools, bathrooms, wet rooms, and changing rooms.

“Tricoya is truly a major innovation in the wood panel industry and we are excited to bring it the North American market,” said Laura Keily, head of marketing at Accsys Group. “Tricoya opens up new market opportunities for woodworking professionals to use a wood panel that will stand the test of time and climate.”

Tricoya panels are available through worldwide network of distributors throughout North America. For more information, visit http://www.tricoya.com.

SAN DIEGO - A two-story cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure is being subjected to the forces produced by a 1994 6.7 Northridge earthquake. The engineered simulation is expected to reveal ways in which tall wood buildings could survive damaging earthquakes.

Workers constructed a 22-foot tall wood test structure on UC San Diego's shake table, a device for shaking structural models or building components with a wide range of simulated ground motions, like earthquakes.

Led by the Colorado School of Mines (CSM), the new test will examine the viability of constructing quake-resistant CLT buildings that could be as tall as 20 stories high.

“We are working to minimize the amount of time buildings are out of service after large earthquakes," CSM engineer Shiling Pei said in a statement. "We are also focused on cutting the costs required to repair them.”

LAS VEGAS -  It's been 20 years since the first containers of AraucoPly plywood made their way from Chile to the United States in 1997.  Arauco celebrated the anniversary in a special event held at its booth during AWFS Fair 2017.

The company said despite temporary setbacks caused by the economic downturn in 2008 and a wildfire that devastated one of its manufacturing plants in 2012, AraucoPly has made giant strides in growing its customer base throughout the United States and Canada. Michael Vincent, director of Import Panels - Arauco North America, noted that the United States and Canada now account for 40 percent of AraucoPly's worldwide sales.

The plywood panels are made from 100 percent radiata pine, grown in the company's own FSC-certified, sustainably managed forests and composed of cores using exterior PF resins for flatness and stability, Arauco said.
 
As part of the anniversary, Arauco is introducing factory-primed AraucoPly panels at the 2017 AWFS Fair in booth 4609. Primed AraucoPly Siding, Beaded and Sanded products are offered with a consistent, full-coverage, prime on five sides (edges included) and a smooth, sanded back. The company says the primed option was introduced in response to growing market demand for the time-saving advantage of a factory-primed, wood surface.
 
Also featured at AWFS, Arauco's Prism TFL collection has expanded its North American distribution of the exclusive Taction Oak collection. The company says the oak's natural characteristics are captured and replicated using Embossed in Register (EIR) technology, resulting in a finished panel that rivals the look and feel of wood. Offered in five contemporary colors, Taction Oak coordinates with Prism Accentz neutrals. The Prism collection features more than 80 styles, including 59 exclusive designs.

LEXINGTON, N.C. - Egger Group has announced plans to build its first U.S. particleboard plant in Lexington, North Carolina. The Austrian-based panel producer will invest approximately $304 million for the first phase of the project, with the entire project expected to run about $700 million.

Construction is set to begin by the end of 2018, with production scheduled for 2020. The panel plant will create 400 direct jobs over the next six years, with an additional 370 jobs planned for later phases of the 15-year project.

The news was announced July 24, during ameeting with the North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, representatives of local authorities, company co-owner Michael Egger and Walter Schiegl, Egger Group Management Technology/Production.

Among those making the announcement were: Walter Schiegl, Bernhard Vorreiter, Executive Director of the Davidson County Economic Development Commission Steve Googe, Michael Egger, Karl Grasser and Mario Bobsin.

Sources report the 4.5 million-square-foot production facility will be spread across more than 200 acres in an industrial park. The first stage of the project will involve the construction of a composite panel plant with coating capacities. The company said the North Carolina plant will feature state-of-the-art facilities and will enable it to better serve customers in North America.

“The planned production location in Lexington, North Carolina, will play a decisive role for Egger’s increasing presence on the North American market for wood-based materials, as well as ensure product availability and delivery speed for our customers,” Schiegl said.

Egger's panel products are used in the manufacture of a variety of items, including laminate flooring, cabinetry, residential and commercial furniture, and casework.

“Our sales activities in the U.S. have already proved our product range is highly attractive for architects, designers, wholesalers and industry customers. With the Davidson County production site, we will be able to enhance our customer relationships, ensuring product availability and speed of delivery. Our goal is to position ourselves as the leading brand for wood-based solutions in the U.S., as we are already in Europe,” Schiegl added.

Michael Egger, Egger Group co-owner

“We are as committed today to innovation, high-quality products, our employees and the environment as we were when the company was founded 1961,” said Michael Egger. “Our mission is to create more from wood, and we will use our 56 years of history and knowledge working with this valuable resource to make this facility a global center of excellence.”

Funding for the facility is being made available by a Job Development Investment Grant, provided by the state's Economic Investment Committee. If the hiring and investment goals are met, Egger will receive up to $5.3 million in state economic development incentives over a 12-year-period and up to $2.5 million from the One North Carolina fund. The One NC fund requires a matching grant from local governments. The  agency noted that the project will grow the state’s economy by an estimated $1 billion.

"Furniture manufacturing is part of North Carolina’s legacy, and our top-flight workforce gives Egger an edge as they enter the U.S. marketplace,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said in announcing the project. “North Carolina offers international manufacturing companies everything they need to succeed, including strong infrastructure, proximity to suppliers and customers, and skilled workers.”

North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland added the “announcement is the perfect example of the manufacturing resurgence that we’re experiencing in the state.” North Carolina reportedly beat out South Carolina and Georgia for the plant.

Partnering with the state's Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. on this project were the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, North Carolina State University, Davidson County Economic Development Commission, N.C. Railroad, N.C. Department of Transportation, N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, Duke Energy, Norfolk Southern and Golden LEAF Foundation.

Founded in 1961 and headquartered in Tirol, Austria, the family-owned company employs approximately 8,200 people and has 17 plants located across Europe. Egger produces an extensive product range of wood-based panels, including particleboard, MDF and OSB, as well as timber products, for use in the furniture, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, flooring and other wood products markets. It generated sales of more than $2.74 billion (EUR 2.34 billion) in the 2015/2016 fiscal year.

Egger acquires Argentina plant from Masisa

The announcement follows the news earlier this month of Egger's acquisition of a Concordia, Argentina plant from the Masisa Group, its first production site outside of Europe. Egger said a value of $155 million has been agreed for Masisa Argentina’s business. Masisa Argentina's forestry activities are not to be taken over by Egger, but a long-term wood supply partnership has been agreed.

Egger said the acquisition is part of its strategy of continuing to grow on its own terms and to make itself future-proof through increasing internationalization.

Masisa Argentina posted sales of $131 million in 2016. The plant in Concordia has facilities for the production and lamination of particleboard and MDF panels, and in 2016, it recorded production capacities of 165,000 m³ of particleboard, 280,000 m³ of MDF boards and 274,000 m³ lamination.

“We are certain that it is an opportune time to invest in South America,” said Thomas Leissing, spokesman of the Egger Group Management. “Because Argentina is just coming out of its worst economic downturn, and following recent political developments, there is plenty of reason to hope that the economy will continue on its course to recovery.”

Egger said its goal is to become a major player in the South American market. Although the panel producer has had a sales office in Chile since 2012, a statement by Egger said the company recognized "that without its own production capacities it would always have remained limited to a small niche."

Alongside the plant and its distribution, Egger will also take over the established Masisa Placacentro Argentinean dealer network, which is independently run by 42 partners.

Egger said it plans to retain all 500 Masisa Argentina employees. “We are looking forward to welcoming the new, qualified and dedicated colleagues who will support us in our further growth in South America, and who will gain clear opportunities for their future through this takeover,” Leissing said.