Veneer – No salvation without innovating June 22, 2009
Europe’s veneer industry stands before significant changes. Trade with raw veneer will most certainly disappear, according to participants at Interzum 2009. Staff and capacity reductions are to be expected. An extended standard size range for the furniture industry is deemed to be a prerequisite for the survival of the veneer industry. Among technological innovations, Danzer with Reholz, Schorn & Groh with fleece 'n' stripe and Mehling & Wiesmannwith Schokowood showed the way.
Mehling & Wiesmann has significantly extended the Schokowood range well past fumed oak. At Interzum, the well-known oak veneer manufacturer presented a variety of eucalyptus products. Whether bolted or figured, this rapidly growing wood species opens up unimagined possibilities once smoked. Moreover, pine, larch, olive tree, red oak, Tineo (Indian apple), wild service tree, apple tree and Douglas fir can also be found in the Räucher-Programm from Mehling & Wiesmann. However, the wood treated with ammonia at Mehling & Wiesmann is mostly oak. As a pioneer in changing colours, the company from Lower Franconia is able to control the colour intensity from hazel to very dark hues, like chocolate. The secret to intensive tones lies in regulating the wood moisture as well as in alternating overpressure and vacuum. Nevertheless, the wood is kept four to six weeks in the drying chambers. "We have just a little bit more pixels in our wood," commented Kurt Siedler, sales manager at Mehling & Wiesmann, on the difference from competitors. (Further information on the production process)
Thanks to smoked products, Mehling & Wiesmann has also managed to answer a difficult question for the industry – what to do with lower veneer qualities? Dark colouring levels colour defects. Common wood flaws like ring rots make the smoked oak really attractive. Different acid concentration levels lead to nice stripe patterns which remind of rosewood.
Standardization brings new customers The increasingly demanded standard size veneer has been further developed by Schorn & Groh. For quite some time now, a fleece set on the back face of the veneer transforms it into a fleece`n`flex. To tap into a new customer pool, the Karlsruhe company included an offer entitled fleece`n`stripe into its catalog. The target group are companies which considered veneer too expensive up to now. The striped standard size with fleece is offered in a format of 2480 mm x 620 mm with 0.6 mm of thickness. The price is about 17 €/sq.m.. Fleece 'n' stripe is available in the following species: Cherry, American walnut and European oak.
Market adjustment expected
A visible market adjustment is expected within the veneer industry. Companies which keep their present production level will not survive, believes a veneer manufacturer present at Interzum. Currently, orders for small quantities and short delivery times prevail. Veneer is no longer ordered by truck load, but by palette. For medium and lower veneer qualities, there is a shortage of demand on previous outlets like Spain, Italy and China.
