by Web Editor | Jan 22, 2018 | News
Shipments of particleboard and MDF in 2017 totaled 5.560 BSF for the year, an increase of 0.9 percent over 2016, according to the Composite Panel Association. December shipments totaled 395 MMSF (3/4-inch basis), down 4.14 percent compared to the same month a year ago at 412 MMSF.
Particleboard shipments in December were 232 MMSF (3/4-inch basis) and 3.309 BSF for the year, a 0.1 percent increase from 2016. MDF shipments totaled 163 MMSF (3/4-inch basis) for the month and 2.250 BSF for 2017, a 2 percent increase compared to 2016.
Also, CPA reported that shipments of thermally fused laminate (TFL) in 2017 totaled 1.267 BSF, a decrease of 0.5 percent compared to 2016. Fourth quarter shipments were 303 MMSF, up 1.7 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2016. December shipments were 86.4 MMSF, down 0.2 percent from the same month in 2016.
Shipments were extrapolated based on data from 87.3 percent of the U.S. and Canadian industry. Quarterly, the TFL Monthly Shipments Report also includes data on shipments by substrate, country of origin, two-sided lamination and print pattern and color applications.
The Industry Snapshot Report is published each month and is available to members on CPA’s website, https://www.compositepanel.org.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/final-cpa-numbers-show-panel-shipments-gain-2017?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news,canadian_news
by Web Editor | Nov 10, 2017 | News
Designers and architects can now view patterns, colors and textures in a high-resolution digital format with Uniboard’s new Design 360, a 3D design program for the company’s decorative composite wood panel (TFL) collection. The Design 360 TFL digital design program made its debut at the Woodworking Machinery & Supply Expo (WMS), held Nov. 2-4 in Mississauga (Toronto), Ontario.
With an image resolution up to 900 dpi, the Design 360 files have a realistic appearance and are calibrated for all types of web usage, Uniboard said. The scanned TFL files can be used with 3D design software, including 2020, SketchUp, Cabinet Vision and CAD software. Animated GIFs are also available, allowing users to see the texture as it appears on real samples.
Uniboard worked with Arcane Technologies Inc. to scan all of its panels. Colors and textures were captured separately, resulting in realism, resolution and image accuracy, Uniboard added.
“For us, it was essential that the quality of our products also reflects on the digital sphere that is becoming increasingly important in the market,” said Don Raymond, vice president of Marketing and U.S. Sales at Uniboard. “We are the first to offer such a complete solution, thus the name Design 360.”
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/events-contests/event-coverage/uniboard-launches-digital-design-program-tfl?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news,canadian_news
by Web Editor | Jul 24, 2017 | News
It’s been 20 years since the first containers of AraucoPly plywood made their way from Chile to the United States in 1997. Arauco celebrated the anniversary in a special event held at its booth during AWFS Fair 2017.
The company said despite temporary setbacks caused by the economic downturn in 2008 and a wildfire that devastated one of its manufacturing plants in 2012, AraucoPly has made giant strides in growing its customer base throughout the United States and Canada. Michael Vincent, director of Import Panels – Arauco North America, noted that the United States and Canada now account for 40 percent of AraucoPly’s worldwide sales.
The plywood panels are made from 100 percent radiata pine, grown in the company’s own FSC-certified, sustainably managed forests and composed of cores using exterior PF resins for flatness and stability, Arauco said.
As part of the anniversary, Arauco is introducing factory-primed AraucoPly panels at the 2017 AWFS Fair in booth 4609. Primed AraucoPly Siding, Beaded and Sanded products are offered with a consistent, full-coverage prime on five sides (edges included) and a smooth, sanded back. The company says the primed option was introduced in response to growing market demand for the time-saving advantage of a factory-primed wood surface.
Also featured at AWFS, Arauco’s Prism TFL collection has expanded its North American distribution of the exclusive Taction Oak collection. The company says the oak’s natural characteristics are captured and replicated using Embossed in Register (EIR) technology, resulting in a finished panel that rivals the look and feel of wood. Offered in five contemporary colors, Taction Oak coordinates with Prism Accentz neutrals. The Prism collection features more than 80 styles, including 59 exclusive designs.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/awfs/awfs-news/araucoply-commemorates-20-years-north-america
by Web Editor | Sep 25, 2015 | News
Today, ARAUCO North America announced plans to build a new particleboard mill located in Grayling, Michigan, to produce 424 million ft2 (750,000m3)/year of panels, along with full lamination capabilities to support the Prism TFL decorative surfacing program.
This $325 million investment will be the single largest continuous particleboard press in North America, and one of the highest capacity presses in the world. Ground-breaking is estimated for late 2016, with the rollout of the first panel during the latter part of 2018.
This investment will generate approximately 250 direct permanent jobs, and is expected to yield important economic and community development benefits to the Crawford County region. The addition of panel capacity to this geographical area will improve customer access to a stable, cost-efficient supply of high quality particleboard and decorative panel products. The location of this plant will also complement the supply of MDF from our neighboring mill in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Together with the ARAUCO North American Executive Management Team, Kelly Shotbolt remarks, “There is no better way to signal the commitment we have to the renewal and modernization of the North American composite panel industry. Our objective with this investment,” Mr. Shotbolt adds, “is to improve the logistics of our entire manufacturing footprint, and support the growth of our customers in the Mid-Western Region.”
From Arauco North America: https://www.arauco-na.com/resources/media-center/news-and-press-releases/arauco-announces-325-million-investment-for-new-particleboard-mill
by Web Editor | Jul 22, 2015 | News
ARAUCO is pleased to announce the debut of PRISM, a new brand name for the company’s thermally fused laminate (TFL) products produced in North America. The PRISM brand will represent ARAUCO’s collection of 76 designs, as well as any future exclusive design releases.
ARAUCO’s commitment to future growth of the TFL product line is evident in the company’s investment in additional TFL capacity, acquisition of a paper treating facility and the development of the TFL brand Prism. In an effort to reach designers and architects, ARAUCO completed in-depth market research and sought out to create a brand that will resonate with the audience’s desire for fresh ideas and color variety.
“After a deep understanding of the design community, we saw an opportunity to create a TFL brand that will stand out from the current product offering with a personality that speaks directly to the design community,” explains Sebastian Cremaschi, Director of Marketing. “On every promotional aspect of Prism you will find a fun, simple and clear message that will not be unnoticed, adding value to our customers, specifiers and consumers.”
ARAUCO will debut the look of the new brand, along with two new design series’, Mherge and Reclamation Maple, at the AWFS trade show in Las Vegas this week.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/wood/panel-supply/arauco-panel-announces-new-tfl-brand?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news
