Contents | 5


Contents SUMMER2026


NEWS


07 — UPM approves plywood business demerger 08 — Unilin plans €100m Oostrozebeke PB investment 09 — Strong response to second Dieffenbacher Technology Symposium 10 — Veneers and hardwood specialist Danzer reports higher revenues


FOCUS ON MDF: PART ONE


11 — In this the first part of our annual survey of the global MDF producing industry, Geoff Rhodes looks at the MDF mills and their capacities in Europe and North America


FOCUS ON OSB: 18 — Europe & Rest of the World Region: OSB capacity investment levels are being depressed by ongoing economic doldrums, reports Stephen Powney 24 — North America: Uncertain economic policies and weak housing demand led to a difficult Year for the OSB industry in 2025


FOCUS ON ENERGY SYSTEMS 30 — We speak to Vyncke sales director Kevin Vandewalle about how panel manufacturers are managing their energy needs. 32 — Unilin has made chipboard production more sustainable at Oostrozebeke, thanks to an investment with A&S Energie 34 — Turboden discusses ORC cogeneration in the WBP sector


FOCUS ON RECYCLED WOOD 36 — Unilin has commenced operation of an industrial-scale fibreboard recycling plant at its MDF plant Bazeilles, France 38 — A life cycle study on recycled fibre using the MDFR process 39 — An update on the EcoReFibre project


FOCUS ON SOUTH AMERICA: BRAZIL 40 — WBPI correspondent Eugene Gerden reviews the Brazilian WBP market


PANEL PERSPECTIVES 44 — A preview of the 2026 IWF Fair in Atlanta 46 — WBPI interviews fire-retardant specialist CircoTech


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Wood Based Panels International magazine


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Newsletter


www.wbpionline.com | Summer 2026 | WBPI


The WBPI Group


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