13th European Wood-based Panel Symposium:
Trends and challenges in the wood-based materials industry
On 9th October 2024, the European Wood-based Panel Symposium in Hamburg began with an evening event. The Fraunhofer WKI and the European Panel Federation (EPF) organized the networking event for the 13th time in cooperation with the International Association for Technical Issues Related to Wood (iVTH). The largest event of its kind worldwide offered the around 370 participants from Germany and abroad the opportunity, from 9th to 11th October 2024, to exchange ideas regarding the most important trends and challenges in the wood-based materials industry.
The event started on 9th October 2024 with a welcome party at the Grand Elysée Hotel Hamburg. Harald Schwab (event organizer and Head of Department at the Fraunhofer WKI) and Kris Wijnendaele (EPF Technical Director) welcomed the participants who were active in the application, manufacturing, and supply sectors.
Prof. Dr. Raoul Klingner, together with Kris Wijnendaele, opened the conference on 10th October 2024. Prof. Dr. Klingner had been Acting Director of the Fraunhofer WKI since 1st October 2024 and, in this function, succeeded Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bohumil Kasal, who retired on 30th September 2024.
The first section of the conference focused on current developments. In his presentation, Philipp Sprockhoff (EPF Managing Board) provided an overview of the situation in the European wood-based materials industry. David Svensson (IKEA Supply Services Sweden AB) answered the question regarding the future requirements that IKEA sees for wood-based materials, both from a commercial and a sustainability perspective.
Top-level specialist presentations then followed on the topics of markets, resources, recycling, resins, and material developments. These topics were supplemented by the new topic of artificial intelligence. Among others, Daniel Schwartze and Jürgen Woll (Dieffenbacher GmbH) as well as Gregor Bernardy (Siempelkamp Maschinen und Anlagenbau GmbH) and Oren Yahav (Smartech Manufacturing™ Technologies) provided insights into the most important trends in the sector.
On 11th October 2024, researchers from the Fraunhofer WKI provided presentations on material developments and resins:
- Dr. Moira Burnett (Fraunhofer WKI): Impregnation and bonding of hybrid wood-based materials in automotive body shell
- Dr. Steven Eschig (Fraunhofer WKI) and Christin Koch (University of Kassel): Bio-based, switchable adhesives for reshapable wood-wood composites
- Bettina Meyer (Fraunhofer WKI) and Sandro Ciroi (CATAS SPA): 10 important facts you should know about the new European formaldehyde requirements (REACH)
The around 370 participants from Germany and abroad were able to engage in intensive discussions with one another during the breaks and at two evening events. Hywax GmbH and other industrial companies cordially invited participants to attend these events. The accompanying technical exhibition provided participants with further sources of information.
“Through the high-caliber speakers, new insights and perspectives were conveyed that offered those present a high level of added value. In particular, the networking character was greatly appreciated by the visitors. The opportunity for conversation and discussion during the breaks provided important impulses that extended beyond the event,” stated Harald Schwab.
Press release Fraunhofer WKI /
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