EPF March Quarterly Meetings 2015

The preliminary results in the wood-based panels industry for the year 2014 have been presented during these meetings. Consolidated results will be revealed during the EPF (The European Panel Federation, representing the European manufacturers of particleboard, MDF, OSB, hardboard and softboard) Annual General Meeting to be held in Vienna on 24-26 June 2015.

Concerning particleboard, production rose by 3% and home sales by 1% while exports fell by 3% compared to the year 2013. Production of MDF, however, remained stable and exports rose by 3% while home sales fell slightly (-1%). The results for OSB show a further increase by 5% of home sales and by 3% of production although exports dropped by 2%.

Stable production capacities are observed for particleboard, while they decreased slightly for MDF and increased slightly for OSB. Wood availability remains critical in the core Europe. Concerning the current general economic context, slow but steady improvements are observed. Furthermore, consumers’ confidence rose significantly these last months.

The preliminary EPF statistics for the year 2014 also show that exports and production of hardboard remained relatively stable (+0% and -1% respectively) while home sales fell by 2% compared to 2013. Evolutions of sales within Europe were very diverse. Exports towards extra-European destinations dropped by 13% compared to 2013. Packaging and furniture are the main applications for hardboard in Europe.

During the year 2014, production of softboard increased by 6% while home sales and exports improved by 1% and 11% respectively compared to 2013. Sales within Europe rose by 6% while exports towards non-European destinations decreased by 1%. Rigid and flex building shells were the main applications for European softboard.

The General Assembly also approved a revision of the statutes of the federation and (re-)elected EPF’s Managing Board. Following persons have been nominated: Mr Ladislaus Döry, Mr Martin Brettenthaler, Mr Ulrich Bühler, Mr Rui Manuel Correia, Mr Paolo Fantoni, Mr Henning Jensen, Mr Maciej Karnicki, Mr Andrew Macdonald, Mr Clive Pinnington, Mr Stefano Saviola, Mr Erlfried Taurer, Mr Bernard Thiers, Mr Kris Wijnendaele and Mr Michael Wolff.

The General Assembly re-elected Mr Ladislaus Döry as Chairman and approved the appointments of Mr Clive Pinnington in the newly created position of Managing Director and Secretary General Mr Kris Wijnendaele as Technical Director.

With the appointment of Mr Pinnington, the Managing Board and General Assembly wish to significantly strengthen the capability and capacity of the EPF. This is to be able to deal in the best possible way with the many strategic challenges that the wood-based panels industry faces both today and in the future. Mr Pinnington has many years of senior management experience gained with supplier companies to the wood-based panels manufacturers and brings a wealth of talent and experience to the EPF Team. A short summary of Mr Pinnington’s career to date is attached.

Last but not least, the EPF Managing Board and General Assembly welcomed and approved the application of the European Plywood Manufacturers as regular members of the federation. This expands the scope and activity field of the federation even further.

The new members are:
Regular members:
– Latvijas Finieris AS, Latvia
– Union des Frabricants de Contreplaqué (UFC), France
– Koskisen Oy, Finland
– Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Tablero Contrachapado (AEFCON),
– Assopannelli/Federlegno-Arredo – Plywood section, Italy
– Verband der deutschen Holzwerkstoffindustrie (VHI) – Plywood WG, Germany
– F.A. Mourikis F.A., Greece
– HESS & CO AG, Switzerland
– Maderas de Llodio, Spain
– Vyatsky Plywood Mill, Russia

Associated members:
– CEMA-Bois de l@¬#Atlas, Morocco
– Prefere Resins Finland Oy
– Grenzenbach BSH GmbH, Germany
– Kotkamills Oy, Finland
– SCHERMESSER SIS, France

EPF also continues the tradition of organising a press conference during the opening day of the Interzum Fair. This year@¬#s edition will take place on Tuesday 5th May at 2:00 pm in Conference Room A of Congress Centre North at the Cologne Fairgrounds. EPF’s President, Mr Ladislaus Döry, will give a presentation with the most recent statistics about the situation on the particleboard, MDF, OSB and fibreboard markets in Europe.