American Hardwood Export Council

AHEC to demonstrate LCA profiling for U.S. hardwoods at Interzum

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:45:00 +0100

Two years on LCA will once again be a focal point of AHEC’s 2013 presence at Interzum, Cologne from 13th – 16th May. AHEC can be found in Hall: 5. 1, Stand C-010.
During the last two years LCA consultants, PE International, have been collecting fresh data from U.S. hardwood lumber and veneer companies to produce unique and accurate Life Cycle Inventories (LCI’s) for all the main commercial U.S. hardwoods. The final ISO conformant report on the Life Cycle Assessment of rough-sawn kiln dried hardwood lumber was published in July 2012. Veneer data collection is now complete and the critical review panel will meet in early May to assess the veneer findings. It is hoped that the final veneer report will be released in time for Interzum.

An important part of the project has been the development of modeling systems known as “i-reports” that enable industry to produce LCA cradle-to-gate profiles for U.S. hardwoods based on average findings from the research of 19 U.S. hardwood species. Visitors to the AHEC stand will have an opportunity to access the modeling system and see for themselves how life cycle assessment can be used to determine scientific profiles for a range of environmental impacts including global warming (carbon foot-print) and acidification potential.

The AHEC stand will also feature some of the pieces from the ground breaking ‘Out of the Woods’ project, which merged experimental seat design and LCA profiling. Video and publications will demonstrate how this unique project has helped inform the debate on ‘green’ product design.

A team of AHEC staff and consultants will be on hand to discuss and answer questions on a wide range of current issues relevant to U.S. hardwoods; including EUTR compliance, LCA research, potential for heat treated hardwood and structural applications and the NHLA lumber grading rules.

According to AHEC’s David Venables; “Interzum provides a very valuable platform every two years to reach the widest possible audience of international wood traders and manufacturers. Export is an increasingly vital component of U.S. hardwood production so we expect a strong turnout from the industry. AHEC will provide an informative focal point for discussion and debate.”

AHEC will host an informal press briefing and drinks reception on the stand on Monday 13th May at 16.00

Notes to Editors:

American Hardwood Export Council
The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) is the leading international trade association for the U.S. hardwood industry, representing the committed exporters among U.S. hardwood companies and all the major U.S. hardwood product trade associations. AHEC concentrates its efforts on providing architects, specifiers, designers and end-users with technical information on the range of species, products and sources of supply.

AHEC produces a full range of technical publications which are available free of charge by visiting www.americanhardwood.org or by faxing +44 (0) 20 7626 4222.

For more press information, please contact:
Belinda Cobden-Ramsay
American Hardwood Export Council
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7626 4111
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7626 4222
Email: pr@americanhardwood.org

SAVE THE DATE:

The American Hardwood Export Council

Invites you to a Press Reception at Interzum Cologne

On Monday 13th May

At 16.00

Interzum Cologne

AHEC Stand: Hall: 5. 1, C-010

Come and meet the AHEC team and learn more about the U.S. hardwood industry’s environmental strategy to drive growth.

AHEC’s European Director David Venables will be joined by Global Chief Executive, Mike Snow, and Environmental Consultant and Strategist, Rupert Oliver. The latest information on AHEC’s LCA research will be distributed and will include the development of environmental species profiles for the main American hardwoods sold in worldwide export markets.

There will be an update on meeting the requirements of the EUTR.

AHEC will also briefly outline other key marketing strategies to drive new growth for American hardwood species in the construction, joinery and furniture sectors.

For more information, please contact:

Pro Publica
Siemensweg 4
D-70794 Filderstadt
Germany

Ursula Rothe-Klaiber
Tel: +49 (7) 11 70 70 95 24
Email: rothe@pro-publica.de

or

American Hardwood Export Council
3 St Michael’s Ally
London EC3V 9DS
UK

Belinda Cobden-Ramsay
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7626 4111
Email: europe@americanhardwood.org

Adam Khan’s ‘Octopus’ structure is unveiled as part of the Howick Place ‘Office of the Future’

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:41:00 +0100

Rethinking the modern office, the American Hardwood Export Council collaborated with Wallpaper*, Magazine and Adam Khan to showcase the ‘office of the future’ at Howick Place in London from 21st – 31st March.

Tony Chambers, Wallpaper* editor-in-chief comments, “The demarcations between work and home are increasingly blurred; we seem to want to domesticate the workplace and make our office environments more friendly and reflect personal tastes. In this exhibition, we have showed how personalised, cleverly domesticated workspaces can encourage creativity, motivation, loyalty and honest graft whilst simultaneously making a subtle but powerful statement about one’s identity as a business.”

The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) was invited to collaborate with Wallpaper* and architect Adam Khan to rethink the modern workplace and present a radical new vision of how and where we should spend our working lives. Working closely with Kent-based sculptor and fabricator Adam Kershaw, Khan has created a striking timber composition, ‘Octopus’, which defines, divides and connects various work zones. Khan combined natural and heat-treated American tulipwood with American maple flooring in his design to create a warm, rich work environment. “The space was designed for a generic open-floor plan to concentrate the space around it. The piece hovers between furniture and construction and the spaces defined by veil-like layers of light and dark fine tulipwood,” he says. The natural colour variations in the tulipwood create a dramatic marbled effect, which contrasts with the dark heat-treated timber, a material designed for exterior use but also used internally to provide a darker finish.

Craftsmanship
Adam Kershaw’s role as the fabricator was to maintain the visual simplicity. “Adam Khan’s structure is simple to the eye but was complex to make,” comments Kershaw. “The walls appear to be standing unsupported but are held up by the central sub floor and ceiling which help to create a solid structure.” Aside from the structural complexity, a high number man-hours were required to achieve the seamless finish. The structure consists of 179 vertical pieces and each one was sanded and finished by hand, totalling 3km of edges and 6km of corners to sand.

Material
Robert Morgan from Morgan Timber, who supplied the material, was delighted that Khan chose to use tulipwood. “Tulipwood is commonly used for internal joinery in the UK and is very suitable for doors, linings and mouldings. It is unusual to use tulipwood without painting but the results can be striking,” he explains. “The colour variations, patterns and streaks in the heartwood contrast with the creamy sapwood to produce a very interesting effect which is beautifully exploited in this workspace cladding.”

The colour and grain of the tulipwood is highlighted by American hard maple flooring. Robert Morgan adds, “Hard maple is a tough and strong timber often used in hard-wearing flooring applications such as sports halls and gymnasiums. In a market dominated by white oak, it is a pleasure to demonstrate an alternative flooring solution. Perhaps a renaissance is on the cards for this fine wood.”

A section of Adam Khan’s Octopus structure will be shown at the Wallpaper* Handmade Exhibition in Milan from 9th – 13th April 2013 at Leclettico Gallery.

Notes to Editors
For more press information, please contact:
Belinda Cobden-Ramsay
American Hardwood Export Council
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7626 4111
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7626 4222
Email: pr@americanhardwood.org

Photography credit: Petr Krejci

American Hardwood Export Council
For over 20 years the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has been at the forefront of wood promotion in Europe, successfully building a distinctive and creative brand for U.S. hardwoods. AHEC’s support for creative design projects such as the Wallpaper* Workspace demonstrate the performance potential of these sustainable materials and provide valuable inspiration.
www.americanhardwood.org
@ahec_europe

Adam Khan Architects
The practice was formed in 2006 and has established a reputation for built work of sensitivity, elegance and refinement which addresses key issues of our time - social exclusion, sustainability and the vitality of public space. This is based on careful study of context, an active process of client engagement and collaborative working methods, underpinned by a commitment to the social potential of architecture.
www.adamkhan.co.uk

Adam Kershaw
Kent-based sculptor and maker, Adam Kershaw works on bespoke craft projects.
www.adamkershaw.com

Morgan Timber
Morgan Timber is an independent timber importer and timber merchant supplying high quality hardwood and softwood to trade and retail customers throughout Kent and the South East of England.
www.morgantimber.co.uk

Wallpaper*
Truly international, consistently intelligent and hugely influential, Wallpaper* is the world’s most important design and style magazine. It attracts the most sophisticated global audience by constantly pushing into new creative territories and ensuring its coverage of everything from architecture to motoring, fashion to travel, and interiors to jewellery remains unrivalled. Wallpaper* has readers in 93 countries and has enjoyed unparalleled success in reaching the design elite right across the globe.

To Wallpaper*, the world is one seamless marketplace, where consumers flit from one destination to the next, easily cross physical borders and cultural divides, and flirt with a variety of different brands, both established and undiscovered. With 12 themed issues a year, a limited-edition cover by a different artist or designer each month, over 800,000 Twitter followers and a monthly iPad edition, Wallpaper* has evolved from style bible to internationally recognised brand.
www.wallpaper.com
@wallpapermag

Sitting Down with American Hardwood

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 10:59:00 +0000

Sitting Down with American Hardwood
Date: Wednesday 6th February 2013
Time: 14.00-14.40
Location: EH:09

Johanna Agerman Ross, Editor of Disegno talks to the team behind Out of the Woods, a collaboration between the American Hardwood Export Council, Benchmark Furniture and the Royal College of Art Design Products MA programme. The project offers a fascinating approach to designing and manufacturing chairs with an age-old material, American hardwood, whilst assessing the life cycle impacts of design decisions and eventually the finished product. A highlight of the 2012 London Design Festival, Out of the Woods is not only an extraordinary flowering of creativity, but also addresses important environmental issues that will face designers and makers of the future.

Featuring
Johanna Agerman Ross (Disegno), Sebastian Wrong (Hay), Harry Richardson (Committee), Sean Sutcliffe (Benchmark), David Venables (AHEC) and RCA students.

There is no entry fee although visitors are encouraged to arrive early to guarantee a seat. For more information on the Stockholm Furniture Fair please visit: www.stockholmfurniturelightfair.se/en

Well Proven Chair nominated for the Designs of the Year Award

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 10:22:00 +0000

This is a tremendous achievement for any designer, but one that is particularly remarkable, as these young designers created the piece while studying Product Design at the Royal College of Art.

Amongst fellow nominees in the furniture category, there are prestigious and established names such as Zaha Hadid, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec and Konstantin Grcic.

Originally produced for the groundbreaking Out of the Woods: Adventures of 12 Hardwood Chairs project, the Well Proven chair was first seen at the Victoria and Albert Museum during the London Design Festival 2012. Out of the Woods was a unique, creative and educational project put together by the RCA, Benchmark Furniture and the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC). All of the students were presented with the challenge of producing a hardwood seat or chair that was not just innovative in its design and function but could also demonstrate a positive environmental profile. Marjan and James’ response was to experiment with hardwood wood waste (chips and sawdust), bio resin and solid hardwood to transform a traditional seat mould into an unusual and dramatic expression of form, colour, texture and function.

“This nomination was unexpected but is very exciting for us and is recognition not just for the design itself but also for the sustainable thinking behind the piece,” said Marjan and James. “We saw a way to utilize wood waste from furniture production to create a new, strong and long lasting material. The results have been remarkable and the whole process of making our own prototypes at Benchmark and then producing a full Life Cycle impact for the chair with AHEC’s input has been a remarkable and valuable learning curve.”

Sean Sutcliffe, co-founder and director of Benchmark Furniture, the company that helped the students build the chairs, added: “This is a fascinating piece that shows a really well-rounded environmental thinking based on a circular rhythm of recycling the waste and sweepings from one aspect of production (the base) back in to the creation of the seat.”

Environmental profiling using hardwood LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) wasn’t the only original element of the Out of the Woods project. Eleven well-known UK authors were commissioned to write a collection of short stories and poems inspired by the student designs.

“This nomination is a very exciting development, which will help raise the profile of our work with the RCA. We are passionate about exploring the connection between hardwood as a material the process of design and real sustainability,” said David Venables, European Director of AHEC, who conceived and developed the original idea for the project together with RCA tutor and designer, Sebastian Wrong. “Out of the Woods was a unique expression of this passion and the Well Proven chair was a particularly strong piece that has deservedly had recognition. It is also the only nomination I am aware of to boast its own unique scientific environmental profile and to have inspired a poem.”

All the short stories and poems inspired by Out of the Woods, including the poem Well Proven Chair by author and playwright Stella Duffy (click here) have been published in the RCA publication Out of the Woods: Adventures of 12 Hardwood Chairs. The environmental profiles and story of this creative project can be found in the AHEC publication Out of the Woods: the Creation of 12 Hardwood Chairs. Both books are available free on request from AHEC.

The Design Museum’s sixth annual Designs of the Year include the best designs from around the world in the last 12 months across seven categories: Architecture, Digital, Fashion,
Furniture, Graphics, Product and Transport. Selected by a panel of distinguished nominators, the awards compile the most original and exciting designs, prototypes and designers in the world today – brought together in a Design Museum exhibition from 20 March – 7 July 2013.
www.designmuseum.org/exhibitions/2013/designs-of-the-year-2013

ABOUT AHEC
The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) is the leading international trade association for the U.S. hardwood industry, representing the committed exporters among U.S. hardwood companies and all the major U.S. hardwood production trade associations. AHEC concentrates its efforts on providing architects, designers and end-users with technical information on the range of species, products and sources of supply.
www.americanhardwood.org

The results of the project are available as a free iPad App on iTunes. The iPad App tells the pictorial, fictional, scientific and factual stories of the 12 chairs produced for Out of the Woods and includes:

Species information
Article on the American forest resource
Detailed article on Life Cycle Assessment
Design details for each chair produced in the Out of the Woods project
LCA results for each chair produced in the Out of the Woods project
Creative writing for each chair produced in the Out of the Woods project
Short films for Leftovers Chair, Well Proven Chair and Tree Furniture

It can be downloaded free of charge from the app store: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/out-woods-creation-12-hardwood/id564542011?mt=8 or by searching ‘Out of the Woods’ in the App store.

Photo credit: Petr Krejčí and Mark C. O’Flaherty

For further press information please contact Friends & Co.
Christine Samuelian / Christine@friendsandco.co.uk/ 07957 203 037
Belinda Fisher / Belinda@friendsandco.co.uk/ 07808721308

Out of the Woods: Adventures of 12 Hardwood Chairs

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 16:25:00 +0000

A project touching on design education and the life cycle of objects
The American Hardwood Export Council showcased Out of the Woods at the Stockholm Furniture Fair. An innovative collaboration between the American Hardwood Export Council and the Royal College of Art Design Products programme, the project offers a fascinating approach to working with an age-old material – American hardwood. Out of the Woods explores the creative and environmental potential of this naturally renewable material by looking at the entire life cycle of each product.

Working with British furniture producer Benchmark, internationally renowned for its craftsmanship in wood, RCA students – under tutors Sebastian Wrong (Hay) and Harry Richardson (Committee) – each designed a functional chair or seat using American hardwood. Designing with wood as a material and its associated Life Cycle impacts were added to the RCA Design Products programme to guide the students through this initial stage. The students camped on Conran’s lawn by night and descended on Benchmark’s workshops by day in early July 2012 where the company’s highly skilled craftsmen, led by owner Sean Sutcliffe, helped them turn their ideas into reality. “I was very impressed with the quality of the designs and the students’ enthusiasm for their projects,” says Sutcliffe. “As experts in woodworking, we saw some very strong pieces come to fruition.” The production was carefully monitored with the help of sustainability experts, PE International, to prepare an accurate life cycle impact report for each chair. The reports contribute to AHEC’s on-going research into hardwood’s sustainability credentials and inform the students of the full cradle-to-grave environmental impact of their design and material choices.

The chairs and their designers/makers

Beeeench by Petter Thörne
Designed Legacy by Michael Warren
Floating Chair by Thomas Gottelier and Bobby Petersen
Folded Chair by Norie Matsumoto
Num.4 by Santi Guerrero Font
Leftovers Chair by Lauren Davies
Phyllida by David Horan and Nicholas Gardner
Snelson by Sam Weller
Solitude by Mary Argyrou
Squeeze by Nic Wallenberg
Tree Furniture by Anton Alvarez
Well Proven by James Shaw and Marjan van Aubel

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Using AHEC’s recently published ISO-conformant report on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of rough-sawn kiln-dried hardwood lumber, the students had access to life cycle data which demonstrates, through science, the positive environmental profile of U.S. hardwoods. The report, which was prepared by sustainability experts PE International after an intensive process of data collection, analysis, and review, is the first stage of AHEC's LCA project. The report covers the environmental life cycle of hardwood lumber from point of harvest in the U.S. through to delivery at the importers yard in major export markets. It provides quantitative data on Global Warming Potential, Acidification Potential, Eutrophication Potential, Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential, and Ozone Depletion Potential. It also provides a qualitative assessment of toxicity, biodiversity, land use and land use change, and water resource impacts. The report includes a sensitivity analysis to show how environmental impacts vary according to key factors such as species, lumber thickness, transport distance and mode.

Using this data and data collected during the manufacturing process, including time spent on each machine and quantities of material used, each chosen prototype was environmentally profiled using an ‘i-report’ system developed for AHEC by PE International. According to David Venables, AHEC’s European Director, “In producing detailed life cycle ‘cradle-to-grave’ impact assessments for each chair we begin to develop a genuine understanding of the real and very direct environmental impacts of design and material choices, an extremely relevant subject in today’s sometimes indulgent world. Being immersed in the world and language of life cycle can be very daunting but the students worked hard to absorb the information and let it influence their design decisions. To then be able to present them with a series of scientific models and say ‘here is the footprint of the product you’ve designed’ is hugely significant. What we did with this group of students was completely unique and shines a light for us on how ‘green’ design may evolve.”

According to Sebastian Wrong, the project “offers a pioneering opportunity for students to create designs within the context of a stark reality.” His co-tutor Harry Richardson added, “it is not only a case of designing a chair that will survive physically far into the future, it is also to produce a chair whose design will remain relevant far into the future.”

The Stockholm Furniture Fair saw AHEC’s first participation in a Scandinavian design event for many years. David Venables adds: “We’re really excited about taking Out of the Woods to Stockholm this year. We welcome the opportunity to establish new relationships and develop contacts with Swedish designers and architects and this show is the perfect platform for that.”

Nomination for Design of the Year Award
Well Proven Chair, designed by James Shaw and Marjan van Aubel has been nominated for the Design of the Year Award under the Furniture category at the Design Museum. The winners will be decided by a jury and announced to the public on 17th April 2013. Well Proven is an experimental project exploring new sustainable ways of production, utilising timber waste from any well-run factory. Combining timber shavings collected from the workshop floor, bio-resin, water and dye, British born James Shaw and Dutch born Marjan van Aubel moulded the porridge-like mass into a classic chair which dried to form a hard structure. This unique piece sits on elegant legs of turned ash, contrasting with the liveliness of the seat.

Sitting down with American Hardwoods – a seminar at the Stockholm Furniture Fair
Disegno’s editor-in-chief Johanna Agerman Ross lead a seminar to discuss Out of the Woods with the project team – Sebastian Wrong (Hay), Harry Richardson (Committee), Sean Sutcliffe (Benchmark), David Venables (AHEC) and RCA students on Wednesday 6th February at the Stockholm Furniture Fair.

Out of the Woods at Pecha Kucha - Tuesday 5th February 20.20, Berns Hotel. Stockholm Benchmark’s Sean Sutcliffe represented the Out of the Woods team at a Pecha Kucha event during the Stockholm Furniture Fair. Sean is a craftsman at heart and an entrepreneur in spirit. He is passionate about environmental sustainability issues and the regeneration of the British furniture industry. Sean was an invaluable guide through the making process and the results of these twelve chairs have already received critical acclaim. He shared stories about the week’s camping experience at Benchmark and the invaluable experience the students took away with them. Pecha Kucha was established in 2003 in Tokyo and now events happen in over 500 cities globally. They are informal and fun opportunities for creative people to present their work, stories, and projects and share them with an audience over 20 images with 20 second per image.
www.pechakucha.org/cities/stockholm-2/events/50f962c64f5c29a51f000001 PUBLICATION - Out of the Woods: The Creation of 12 Hardwood Chairs
Written by Ruth Slavid, Out of the Woods: The Creation of 12 Hardwood Chairs tells the fascinating story of this project with detailed design information for each chair as well as the life cycle impact results. The publication was available at the Out of the Woods exhibition at the Stockholm Furniture Fair but can also be ordered free of charge at www.americanhardwood.org

PUBLICATION - Out of the Woods: The Adventures of 12 Hardwood Chairs
By considering the many complex environmental impacts of a product across its entire life, LCA reveals the stark reality of any design decision. It forces us to think beyond what we normally consider a finished product and to anticipate its effect now and into the future. Some of the best British writers were asked to write pieces inspired by the life cycle of each chair. Each produced a poem or short story about a different chair which culminated in a publication, designed by RCA Communications students Fabienne Hess and Livia Lima and project managed by Harry Richardson, RCA Tutor and Design Director at Committee. The authors are: Tiffany Murray, Jenny Valentine, Damian Barr, Luke Wright, Joe Dunthorne, Tiffany Atkinson, Gillian Clarke, Sarah Salway, Stella Duffy and Aminatta Forna.

The stories are available on the Out of the Woods iPad app. Limited copies of the printed book are available by request by emailing europe@americanhardwood.org

Out of the Woods on your iPad
The results of the project are available as a free iPad App on iTunes. The iPad App tells the pictorial, fictional, scientific and factual stories of the 12 chairs produced for Out of the Woods and includes:

Species information
Article on the American forest resource
Detailed article on Life Cycle Assessment
Design details for each chair
LCA results for each chair
Poem or short story written for Adventures of 12 Hardwood Chairs
Short films for Leftovers Chair, Well Proven Chair and Tree Furniture

It can be downloaded free of charge from the app store: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/out-woods-creation-12-hardwood/id564542011?mt=8 or by searching ‘Out of the Woods’ in the App store.

Notes to Editor:

American Hardwood Export Council
The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) is the leading international trade association for the U.S. hardwood industry, representing the committed exporters among U.S. hardwood companies and all the major U.S. hardwood production trade associations. AHEC concentrates its efforts on providing architects, designers and end-users with technical information on the range of species, products and sources of supply.

For over 20 years the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has been at the forefront of wood promotion in Europe, successfully building a distinctive and creative brand for U.S. hardwoods, researching, educating, informing and changing perceptions about hardwood sustainability and performance within design and architectural communities. Out of the Woods saw an opportunity for AHEC to turn its attention to the young designers who will be the decision makers of the future.
www.americanhardwood.org

Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is the world’s most influential postgraduate university of art and design. Specialising in teaching and research, the RCA offers the degrees of MA, MPhil and PhD across the disciplines of fine art, applied art, design, communications and humanities. There are over 1,300 masters and doctoral students and two hundred professionals interacting with them, including scholars and leading art and design practitioners, along with numerous distinguished visiting professors and tutors, specialists and advisors.
www.rca.ac.uk

The Design Products Master’s programme, led by Professor Tord Boontje, has a strong culture of experimentation. The two-year course is arranged in small study groups known as ‘platforms’, each run by two tutors who define the content and focus for project-based design work. Out of the Woods also includes collaboration with the RCA’s Visual Communication programme.
www.designproducts.rca.ac.uk

Press information:
Belinda Cobden-Ramsay
American Hardwood Export Council
Tel: (44) 20 7626 4111
Fax: (44) 20 7626 4222
Email: pr@americanhardwood.org

Photo credits: Petr Krejčí and Mark O’Flaherty

High res photography can be obtained by emailing pr@americanhardwood.org

US hardwood Lumber Exports to China Booms

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 11:14:00 +0000

According to the latest data from the US Department of Agriculture, exports of US hardwood to Greater China in the first nine months of 2012 have made an all time high record; the exports of US hardwood has been recovering while the world is still facing economical uncertainty. The growth in exports of US hardwood in China is driven by the buoyant domestic economy.

American hardwood lumber export to Greater China rose by 17% in value for first nine months of 2012 over 2011, reached the value at US$472.0 Million, accounted 39.1% of the global US hardwood lumber export market share; and US hardwood log exports reached US$202.9 million - a decrease of 7% over 201, accounted for 44.2% of global US hardwood logs export market share; and US hardwood veneer exports reached US$14.62 million decreased by 20%. The total value of all American hardwood products for Greater China (logs, lumber, veneer, plywood, moldings, flooring and siding) exported in first nine months of 2012 reached to US$ 691.31 million - an overall increase of 8%, accounted for 33.12% of the global US hardwood products market share.

The outlook for the last quarter of 2012 would continue to grow steadily but the outlook of the export to China for 2013 is expected to slow down due to the world is still facing economical uncertainty.

However the growth in exports of US hardwood in China in 2013 will be driven by the buoyant domestic economy and the future demand would also depend heavily on China’s property development market.

The Trend
The trendy species of US hardwood in Greater China in 2012 led by red oak, followed by white oak, , ash, poplar(American Tulipwood), red alder, maple and hickory and Cherry and birch. There expects a similar pattern in 2013. However AHEC is putting in more resources in promoting cherry which could move up cherry’s popularity in 2013.

The Program and Strategies in SEA & GRCH
AHEC’ strategies will continue to promote US hardwoods to specifiers(designers and architects and developers), traders and manufacturers through seminars, exhibitions in trade shows, convention, media conference and architectural/press mission; increase communications with the local industries representatives. AHEC will continue to share the Life Cycle Assessment Study of US hardwood with the timber trade and design industries.

In 2013 AHEC would plan to exhibit at the furniture shows in SEA and flooring show in China and most of the furniture and material shows in Greater China; AHEC will host the AHEC 18th SEA & GRCH and Media Conference in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China in June 2013 and organize the architectural and press mission to US in 2013.

The Challenges for the Manufacturers
Manufacturers in Greater China would have to face tougher competition in exporting furniture products to overseas major export markets as Europe and US; due to the economic uncertainty and downturn and another challenge is they would face the weak demand of furniture and timber processed products from the world market which could dampen the Chinese furniture exports in the coming year.

Manufacturers in Chinese domestic market would also face more competition from overseas furniture exporters who are enthusiastically and eagerly developing their sales into China’s market.

One of ways to improve their competiveness is to increase knowledge of material applications; how to choose the right raw materials or species to increase yield. The manufacturers and designers should also follow closely on the design and material trends.

American Hardwood Export Council
The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) is the leading international trade association for the US hardwood industry, representing the committed exporters among US hardwood companies and all the major US hardwood product trade associations. AHEC concentrates it efforts on providing architects, specifiers, designers and end-users with technical information on the range of species, products and sources of supply.

AHEC produces a full range of technical publications which are available free of charge by visiting www.americanhardwood.org or www.ahec-china.org.

US Hardwood Exports

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:54:00 +0000

Shipments to Middle East & North Africa Post Significant Gains
Total exports of American hardwood lumber and veneer to the MENA region reached USD 66.95 million during the first three quarters of 2012. Of this, shipments of American hardwood lumber reached a value of USD 48.87 million, rising by 24% from the same period in 2011. At the same time, shipments of US hardwood veneers reached USD 18.09 million, rising by 16% from the January to September period of last year.

UAE, Turkey & Pakistan Biggest Markets for American Hardwood Lumber
The United Arab Emirates was the number one destination for US hardwood lumber during the first nine months of this year, with total shipments reaching a value of USD 9.80 million, rising by 34% from the same period in 2011. Turkey emerged as the second most significant destination during the January to September period of this year, with the value of shipments reaching USD 7.13 million and marking a rise of 80% over the same period last year. In volume terms, Pakistan has emerged as the number one buyer in the region, taking 12,824 cubic metres of US hardwood lumber during the first three quarters of 2012, while the value of shipments reached USD 6.64 million. These numbers mark increases of 141% and 201% respectively over the same period in 2011. Other significant destinations for US hardwood lumber in the MENA region during the January to September 2012 period were Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Qatar.

Intermob 2012

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:17:00 +0000

For the fourth consecutive year, AHEC, together with the Hardwood States Export Group (HSEG), hosted a pavilion for US hardwood exporting companies at the Intermob show in Istanbul. Running from 13‐17 October at the Tuyap Convention Centre in Beylikdüzü, the show focused on suppliers to the furniture industry and ran in conjunction with the Wood Processing Machinery show. The two shows attracted a combined 854 exhibitors from 27 countries across 12 halls. Early estimates for visitor numbers claim that more than 60,000 professionals came to the show, 10% of whom were from outside Turkey.

The American Hardwood Pavilion covered an area of 210 square metres and featured booths for 12 individual companies, as well as a lumber grading demonstration area and a central meeting area. AHEC’s Regional Director for the Middle East was in attendance throughout the show, as well as staff from AHEC’s European Office. NHLA Chief Inspector, Dana Spessert and Professor and Wood Products Specialist, Dr. Scott Bowe, of the University of Wisconsin, Madison were also on hand during the show and were able to demonstrate lumber grading and provide technical information on species.

Intermob has become an important annual event for the Turkish market, but also for wood buyers and furniture manufacturers in neighbouring Black Sea countries, as well as in Central Asia and the Middle East. Many of Turkey’s own forest products companies had stands at the show, exhibiting lumber, veneers, flooring and a range of wood-based panel products.

Visitor numbers to the American Hardwood Pavilion were high and included both existing and new contacts from all over Turkey, in addition to Central Asia and the Middle East.

2013 AHEC European Convention to be held in Budapest

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:18:00 +0000

After a very successful meeting in Warsaw in October 2011, AHEC wanted to stay in Central Europe but take the event to a new country and city. Budapest is an exciting cultural centre and should provide easy access for European importers to attend. The Convention will be held in the Intercontinental Hotel in a great central location right on the banks of the river Danube.

The proposed theme for the event will once again centre on the environmental credentials of U.S. hardwoods, and how marketing and promotion opportunities can help strengthen the trade of U.S. hardwoods in Europe.

According to AHEC’s Director David Venables “We wanted to keep the convention focused on new business potential as we believe that despite the current tough trading conditions, the long term prospects could see significant growth for U.S. hardwoods in both existing and emerging European markets. It was good to see many new faces in Poland and we really hope the Budapest event will also attract new delegates as well as the many regulars that support us.”

The convention is open to U.S. hardwood exporters and European traders, distributors and manufacturers who import U.S. hardwoods. Registration will open early next year at www.americanhardwood.org

Notes to Editors:

American Hardwood Export Council
The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) is the leading international trade association for the U.S. hardwood industry, representing the committed exporters among U.S. hardwood companies and all the major U.S. hardwood product trade associations. AHEC concentrates it efforts on providing architects, specifiers, designers and end-users with technical information on the range of species, products and sources of supply.

AHEC produces a full range of technical publications which are available free of charge by visiting www.americanhardwood.org or by faxing (44) 20 7626 4222.

The Intercontinental Hotel
The Convention will be held at the Intercontinental Budapest: www.budapest.intercontinental.com

For more press information, please contact:

Belinda Cobden-Ramsay
American Hardwood Export Council
Tel: (44) 20 7626 4111
Fax: (44) 20 7626 4222
Email: pr@americanhardwood.org

Out of the Woods: Adventures of 12 Hardwood Chairs Now an App on iTunes

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 17:48:00 +0000

The American Hardwood Export Council collaborated with Design Products students at the Royal College of Art in London to produce and exhibit seating during the London Design Festival this past September. And now the results of the project are available as a free iPad App on iTunes.

Out of the Woods challenged Design Products students to design, make and record the life cycle impact of a functional chair or seat in an American hardwood of their choice. The designs were developed in to working prototypes with the help of Benchmark, internationally renowned for its craftsmanship in wood and long-standing relationship with designer Terence Conran. The result was 12 very unique chairs each with a comprehensive environmental profile measuring environmental effects across a range of “impact categories”.

The new iPad App tells the pictorial, fictional, scientific and factual stories of the 12 chairs produced for Out of the Woods.

Pictorial
Stunning and creative visions of the chairs’ futures are conjured by photographer Petr Krejčí.

Fictional
What does the future have in store for these chairs, benches and stools?
Some of the best writers in this country were asked to write pieces inspired by the project. Each has produced a poem or short story about a different chair.

The authors are: Tiffany Murray, Jenny Valentine, Damian Barr, Luke Wright, Joe Dunthorne, Tiffany Atkinson, Gillian Clarke, Sarah Salway, Stella Duffy, Patrick Gale and Aminatta Forna.

Scientific
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the scientific analysis of the full environmental impact of products and materials from cradle to grave. It reveals the stark reality of any design decision and forces us to think beyond what we normally consider a finished product and to anticipate its effect now and into the future. The life cycle considerations and detailed graphs to show the true impact of manufacturing the prototypes are a feature in the App.

Factual
Each student has explored the many aesthetic, engineering and environmental qualities of hardwood in a different way. The app provides the background to U.S. hardwood species, the forest resource and what the inspiration was behind each design.

Out of the Woods plays enables AHEC to confirming the potential for wood to play a very positive role in design and inform the debate about how to measure accurate environmental profiles for designs. The project has put hardwood at the front edge of the emerging debate on “green” design to deliver products with a positive environmental profile.

The Out of the Woods App includes:

Species information
Article on the American forest resource
Detailed article on Life Cycle Assessment
Design details for each chair produced in the Out of the Woods project
LCA results for each chair produced in the Out of the Woods project
Creative writing for each chair produced in the Out of the Woods project
Short films for Leftovers Chair, Well Proven Chair and Tree Furniture

It can be downloaded free of charge from the app store: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/out-woods-creation-12-hardwood/id564542011?mt=8or by searching ‘Out of the Woods’ in the App store.