02 April 2007

11th European Veneer Convention: International Conference of the Veneer Industry at the Interzum trade fair in Cologne, Germany

Lectures and workshops on the European veneer industry and its markets
The 11th European Veneer Convention will be held on 10 and 11 May 2007 in Cologne, Germany. An interesting programme of lectures and workshops on topical international veneer market subjects awaits the specialists from all parts of the world. A simultaneous interpreting service will be provided.
The lectures on the first day are concerned with aspects of the international veneer sector and its markets. After the event has been opened by Mr. Olof von Gagern, Chairman of the IFN, Dr. Jörg-Peter Schmitt of DRS Consulting AG, Saarbrücken, Germany, will give a review of the strategic prospects of the veneer industry within a global context. On the basis of the structure and dynamics of the international markets, Dr. Schmitt will outline the success factors and opportunities for the European veneer and furniture industry as well as future strategies and concepts for increasing international competitiveness. This will be followed by Mr. Dieter Betz, President of the Federation of the European Parquetry Industry/FEP, Brussels, Belgium, who will address the specific market and development trends in the European parquetry industry, which is seriously facing intense competition pressure of laminate flooring. The first conference day will be closed by Mr. Jan Desmet from Decospan, Menen, Belgium, who will outline the present and future veneer market from the veneer processor perspective.
The second conference day will focus on veneers in interior finishing. Mr. Ulrich T. Kühnhold, Managing Director of Deutsche Werkstätten Hellerau GmbH, Dresden, Germany, will give a survey of the new trends and possibilities in the surface treatment of veneer. Dr. Christiane Swaboda from the Institute for Wood Technology in Dresden, will deal with the new requirements since the beginning of 2007 as a result of the VOC Guidelines on reducing the solvent content in paints and varnishes, and how this will affect paint manufacturers and processors. Mr. Jörg Förster, Dipl-Ing., Reholz GmbH, Kesselsdorf, Germany, will conclude the series of lectures with a contribution on the technology and application of 3D veneers for seating furniture, the interior of cars, for the cabinets of electronic devices and in many other areas where they have already gained a significant position in the market.
The lectures will be followed by two workshops: Accordingly, Mrs. Liljana Groh, Head of the Veneer Logo Campaign of IFN, will examine how the success story of the “Veneer - Real Wood” quality logo can be transferred to other European countries. More than 600 furniture stores in Germany, as well as a multitude of joiners’ and carpenters’ workshops are using this veneer quality logo. In the second workshop headed by Mr. Olof von Gagern, Danzer Group, experts will discuss responsible purchasing and the ban of illegal timber. In the course of this workshop Ms. Emily Fripp from the Tropical Forest Trust, Hampshire, will report on the current state of EU activities to ban illegal wood imports from Africa, while Mr. Ulrich Malessa from FSC Arbeitsgruppe Deutschland e.V., Freiburg, will give a survey on the current status of FSC certification in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.
For further information on the 11th European Veneer Convention, the programme, and for online registration, please refer to the IFN website at: