Wednesday, October 30, 2024
The 13th European Wood-Based Panel Symposium, held from October 9-11 in Hamburg, brought together a record 375 delegates from over 30 countries, marking the event as a leading gathering for industry experts, researchers, and global wood-based panel leaders. This biennial event provided a rich agenda filled with high-quality presentations, engaging discussions, and valuable networking opportunities for professionals across the wood-based panel (WBP) sector.
This year’s program focused on transformative themes, including market trends, resource optimization, artificial intelligence, recycling advancements, resin innovations, and key developments defining the industry’s future. Attendees had access to expert keynote sessions and interactive panel discussions covering the latest strategies and innovations fueling industry growth.
Highlights included:
Market calls for a construction offensive, for products to meet “thin wallets, big dreams” and for the wood sector to speak as one industry in public;
New techniques for recycling MDF can drive Europe towards even more carbon storage as illustrated by the 20% annual contribution reported from panels in Japan;
Artificial Intelligence has arrived in process engineering including wood-based panels. It is not for tomorrow, it is for today, or rather it is already applied since yesterday;
Europe leads the wood-based panels world in innovation, as shown by resins, waxes, and additives evolving at pace and according to changing demands;
Sustainability is central to wood-based panels, but a lower regulatory burden and greater political support are needed for their societal contribution to be maximised.
In addition to presentations, an exhibition area showcased cutting-edge technologies and state-of-the-art solutions, with companies hosting interactive stands and displays. Led by Harald Schwab of Fraunhofer WKI and Kris Wijnendaele of the European Panel Federation (EPF), with the support of key sponsor HyWax GmbH, the organizing committee extended its gratitude to all speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees for contributing to the symposium’s success.
Save the Date for 2026
The 14th European Wood-Based Panel Symposium is scheduled for October 14-16, 2026, at Hamburg’s Grand Elysée Hotel. Industry professionals, researchers, and stakeholders are encouraged to mark their calendars for what promises to be another pivotal event for the wood-based panel industry.
The European Panel Federation (EPF) represents particleboard, MDF, OSB, hardboard, softboard, and plywood manufacturers across 30 European countries. With an annual turnover of approximately €25 billion, the EU wood-based panels industry supports over 100,000 jobs each year.
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