Brussels, 25 October 2024
The 13th European Wood-Based Panel Symposium, held from 9-11 October in Hamburg, welcomed a record number of delegates from over 30 countries. It successfully gathered experts, researchers, and industry leaders from across the globe. The biennial event provided a platform for insightful presentations and discussions, with a high-level quality programme and speakers, as well as for networking opportunities within the wood-based panel industry.
This year’s Symposium focused on market trends, resources, Artificial Intelligence, recycling, resins and developments that are shaping the future of WBP. 375 attendees from 30 countries across the globe had the opportunity to hear from keynote speakers, participate in panel discussions, and explore the latest developments and innovations driving the industry’s 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 expert presentations, the event featured an exhibition space, where companies showcased state-of-the-art technologies and cutting-edge solutions via interactive stands and posters. The organising committee led by Harald Schwab of Fraunhofer WKI and Kris Wijnendaele of EPF, in cooperation with iVTH and with the support of key sponsor HyWax GmbH, extends its heartfelt thanks to all speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and participants for their valuable contributions, making this year’s symposium a resounding success.
Mark Your Calendar for the Next Symposium in 2026
Looking ahead, we are thrilled to announce that the next and 14th European Wood-Based Panel Symposium will take place on 14-16 October 2026, once again at the Grand Elysée Hotel in Hamburg. We kindly invite industry professionals, researchers, and relevant stakeholders to mark their calendars for what promises to be another impactful event.
About EPF – The European Panel Federation has members in 30 European countries and represents the manufacturers of particleboard, MDF, OSB, hardboard, softboard and plywood. The EU wood-based panels industry has an annual turnover of about 25 billion euro and creates over 100,000 jobs annually. Contact us at info@europanels.org
