XYLEXPO 2000- 17th World Exhibition for Woodworking Technology In Milan May 25-27, 2000

Furniture World Magazine

The 2nd International Technical Forum on Value-Added Wood Based Panel Processing has been scheduled as one of the feature attractions during XYLEXPO 2000, the 17th World Exhibition for Woodworking Technology to be held in Milan, Italy, May 24-28. The TechForum dates are May 25-27. "Technicians, managers and owners from the worldwide panel industry are invited to attend this event", Dr. Paolo Zanibon, general secretary of Xylexpo announced. "The first Forum, which was held during the 1998 Xylexpo, drew participants from 24 nations and was devoted to MDF. For TechForum 2000, we are widening the subject matter to include MDF, particleboard and OSB." He pointed out that despite record output of the main types of panels, along with the rapid expansion of panel capacity, the industry's profitability has not kept pace. He noted that the technical side of value-added panel processing which developed very rapidly during the 1990s now provides panel producers with new opportunities to improve their profit positions and to extend the number and quality of new uses. Planning is under way to provide TechForum 2000 delegates with a valuable update on latest technology in all the aspects of value added. The main categories will include: surface improvement, cut-to-size, packaging-protection and preparing for shipping, wet finishing, powder coating, laminated flooring, machining and moulding, furniture elements and components, laminates and laminating incl. Adhesive application, OSB uses beyond the traditional sheathing, short cycle and continuous cylinder pressing, the range of standard, light, thick and high-density MDF applications. Who should attend: Panel mill technicians and managerial personnel, home/corporate office executives, sales and marketing managers, R&D staff, planners and mill owners. Consultants in the areas of value-added operations, product planning, panel marketing and machine application also benefit from exposure to the array of technological advances under discussion. The TechForum is also designed for the benefit of operators of satellite plants where raw boards are transformed into value-added panels, as well as for separate in-mill value-added departments/profit centers for RTA furniture, built-ins and furniture. A special invitation is extended to those panel industry members from the Latin American and Asia-Pacific regions that consider XYLEXPO their traditional source for updates on the latest European technology. Format of the Forum "The conference is being timed so that delegates will have ample opportunity to visit the XYLEXPO machinery show on the same premises as the Forum," states Dr. Zanibon. "A field trip to an Italian panel-using plant is the planning stages. During frequent breaks and after the technical sessions, attendees will be able to discuss the fine points of value-added technology and products with the specialists on hand." A bonus for all delegates is the concurrent exhibition known as SASMIL which is held on the Milan Fair Grounds and presents the latest in panels and wood products. Emphasis is on laminates of all types for furniture, cabinets, interior decoration and industrial applications. This is an outstanding showcase for Italy's renowned panel finishing capabilities as applied, especially to furniture. For further information: Interested persons and companies may contact: Fiera Milano, 730 Fifth Avenue - Suite 600, New York, NY 10019, Tel. (212) 459-0044, Fax (212) 459-0090, Email: fiera.newyork@italchambers.net Web: www.fieramilano.com