13th European Wood-based Panel Symposium:
Trends and challenges in the wood-based materials industry

Press release /

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) are organizing the networking event for the 13th time in cooperation with the International Association for Technical Issues Related to Wood (iVTH). The worldwide largest event of this kind offers the around 370 participants from Germany and abroad the possibility, from 9th to 11th October 2024, to exchange ideas regarding the most important trends and challenges in the wood-based materials industry.

The photo shows a group of five men in a festive conference hall full of people.
© Patrick Lux
The organizers ceremonially open the 13th European Wood-Based Panel Symposium. From left to right: Prof. Dr. Marutzky (iVTH), Kris Wijnendaele (EPF), Prof. Dr. Klingner (Fraunhofer WKI), Alen Bukvic (Hywax GmbH), Harald Schwab (Fraunhofer WKI).

The event began 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 are 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 has been Acting Director of the Fraunhofer WKI since 1st October 2024 and, in this function, succeeds Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bohumil Kasal, who retired on 30th September 2024. 

The first section of the conference will focus on current developments. In his presentation, Philipp Sprockhoff (EPF Managing Board) will provide an overview of the situation in the European wood-based materials industry. David Svensson (IKEA Supply Services Sweden AB) will answer 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 will then follow on the topics of markets, resources, recycling, resins and material developments. These topics will be supplemented by the new topic of artificial intelligence. Amongst others, Daniel Schwartze and Jürgen Woll (Dieffenbacher GmbH) as well as Gregor Bernardy (Siempelkamp Maschinen und Anlagenbau GmbH) and Oren Yahav (Smartech ManewfacturingTM Technologies) will hereby provide insights into the most important trends in the sector.

On 11th October 2024, researchers from the Fraunhofer WKI will be providing 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) und Christin Koch (University of Kassel): Bio-based, switchable adhesives for reshapable wood-wood composites
  • Bettina Meyer (Fraunhofer WKI) und 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 will be able to engage in intensive discussions with one another during the breaks and at two evening events. Hywax GmbH and other industrial companies cordially invite participants to attend these events. The accompanying technical exhibition will provide participants with further sources of information.

“Through the high-caliber speakers, new insights and perspectives are conveyed that offer those present a high level of added value. In particular, the networking character is greatly appreciated by the visitors. The opportunity for conversation and discussion during the breaks provides important impulses that extend beyond the event,” stated Harald Schwab.

Last modified: