Siempelkamp reports it is taking over the SicoScan measurement technology systems from the previous manufacturer, Electronic Wood Systems (EWS).

A majority shareholder of EWS of Hameln, Germany reportedly has sold out to the Kronospan Group. As part of this transaction, Siempelkamp states it is assuming production, global sales and service, as well as R&D activities for the SicoScan brand measurement technology systems.

For direct EWS customers, EWS will remain the point of contact for products, service, maintenance, and installation, according to the report. EWS will continue to independently offer and distribute its product portfolio worldwide.

Siempelkamp states it will manufacture the SicoScan product line in-house and distribute it worldwide. In addition, service for existing Siempelkamp systems has been integrated into the global service network. 

By integrating the product portfolio, Siempelkamp says it is taking another logical step as part of an organizational realignment. “This creates clear lines of responsibility in the market and for customers and ensures the long-term further development of the SicoScan measurement systems,” the company states.

Siempelkamp and EWS began their collaboration in 2007.

With more than 60 years of engineering expertise, long-standing customer partnerships, and 16 locations across 12 countries, Envanio maintains a strong local presence in key markets across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and the Asia-Pacific region (APAC). The company serves critical sectors including automotive, chemical, pharmaceutical, and surface treatment.

Envanio is a global market leader in regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) systems. These systems treat industrial exhaust air streams with heavy VOC loads, achieving purification efficiencies exceeding 99.8%.

“Envanio represents what our customers value most: in-depth expertise in industrial air pollution control, cutting-edge innovation, and measurable emissions reduction,” emphasizes Simon Ottmar, Senior Manager of Global Marketing, Envanio. “Our new brand identity brings that commitment to life and reinforces our position as the partner of choice for sustainable industrial processes.”

The company says, “Whether you know us from the past as Dürr, Universal, MEGTEC, LTB, KBA-Clean Air, or by another name, the high level of expertise and strong commitment of our employees have remained unchanged throughout the years.”

Wood panel industry professionals gathered in Amelia Island, Fla., for the 2026 APA-EWTA Info Fair and Annual Meeting, bringing together manufacturers, equipment suppliers and industry leaders for networking, technical discussions and updates on the engineered wood products sector.
Panel World Senior Editor Jessica Johnson was on hand to capture the event, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the people, exhibits and conversations that make the annual gathering hosted by APA–The Engineered Wood Assn. and the Engineered Wood Technology Assn. (EWTA), a must for the industry.
Watch the video for a quick look at the 2026 APA-EWTA Info Fair and Annual Meeting through the lens of Panel World.

West Fraser announced that it will indefinitely curtail its Huguley oriented strandboard (OSB) mill in Lanett, Ala. and sawmill in Leola, Ark. These curtailments are expected to take effect in the fourth quarter following orderly wind-downs.

These decisions are the result of continued weakness in demand for wood products used in new home construction and repair and renovation applications, according to the company. These actions are expected to reduce West Fraser’s OSB capacity by 500MMSF and southern yellow pine lumber capacity by 225MMBF on an annual basis.

“Over the last quarter, housing affordability continued to be a key constraint for wood products demand, which remains soft,” says Sean McLaren, West Fraser President and CEO. “We were also impacted by higher energy-related input costs. Our teams responded by running mills to demand, reducing inventory and controlling costs.

“Decisions like this are never easy because of the impact they have on our employees, their families and the communities where we operate. We are grateful for their hard work and contributions, and we are committed to supporting them through this transition.”

Hurricane Isaias damaged more than 2.5 million tons of timber valued at more than $33.5 million in southwest Alabama, according to a preliminary aerial assessment by the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC).

The Category 2 storm made landfall near Destin, Fla. on October 9 with maximum sustained winds of 105 MPH.

AFC pilots surveyed the affected region on October 13 and mapped a path of approximately 36 miles long and up to seven miles wide. Within the 154,783-acre impacted area, roughly 105,000 acres were forested, including 64,795 acres of forestland and 40,805 acres of woody wetlands.

“While we are thankful the damage was not as extensive as it could have been, these losses are still devastating for Alabama landowners,” Alabama State Forester Rick Oates said in a press release. “Growing timber is a long-term investment, requiring decades of hard work, careful management and financial commitment.”

Dan Chappell, coordinator of the AFC’s Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program, says the heaviest damage was concentrated in a narrow band through the heart of Escambia County, across Interstate 65 in Conecuh County and into parts of Monroe County. The AFC has not received reports of widespread forest damage in other counties.

The AFC used a new damage-rating system shared across the U.S. South and designed to analyze regional disasters consistently across state lines. Aerial spotters sorted damage into one of three categories: light (0–15%), moderate (16–50%) or severe (51–100%). The AFC then quantified timber damage by converting those ratings into tonnage and dollar estimates using FIA plot data. 

“It’s less precise but more accurate overall,” Chappell said. “Spotters work from about 2,000 feet of elevation at 130 miles per hour, and the broader categories keep them from having to pinpoint an exact percentage. Most of the damaged observation points fell within the moderate category, and a little over a quarter were rated severe. Overall, damage averaged near 40%.”

No federal disaster funding for timber losses has been announced to date, and the USDA Forest Service has not yet said whether it will activate a damage protocol. Chappell says the AFC can conduct a post-disaster FIA ground survey if requested by federal officials. 

“We all know the industry is not in a great time across its product classes,” Chappell said. “Demand for finished products is flat, so a surge of salvage wood is likely to drive stumpage values down. Salvage is tough.”

The AFC recommends that affected landowners consult a registered forester for an on-the-ground assessment before making salvage decisions. The commission’s website has tools for finding forestry professionals by service and county, and the AFC encourages landowners to utilize USDA Forest Service resources on storm recovery and timber casualty-loss tax tips.