10 | News
BioComposites Centre director Rob Elias recruited by MDF Recovery
commercial, Steve Harvey to help provide sustainable technology to those organisations who want to embrace being part of the circular economy. Recovering high-value
Above: Rob Elias (left) with Craig Bartlett
The director of the well- known BioComposites Centre at Bangor University in Wales is joining MDF Recovery as head of business development.
Rob Elias currently oversees the BioComposites Centre’s management, scientific endeavours, and strategic vision. In collaboration with MDF Recovery, he currently offers technical guidance and contributes to research programs advancing technology – including
facilitating MDF Recovery’s demonstration of fibre drying technologies to prospective clients. Previously, Mr Elias worked at Kronospan and later at CSC Forest Products (now West Fraser) in Scotland. UK-based MDF Recovery is transitioning from an intense period of R&D into its commercial growth phase, and Mr Elias’ appointment reflects company ambitions. He will work alongside managing director Craig Bartlett and head of
Arauco’s composite panel division
saw sales decrease in Q4, 2023 The wood-based panels division of global forestry and wood products company Arauco saw sales volumes decreases in Q4, 2023 by 5.4%.
The company, which has panel production facilities in North America, South America and Europe, said the sales drop was partially offset by a 0.3% increase in average prices during the quarter. “In North America, although
the overall panel market consumption was slower than expected, we did see indications of improving demand in some products (PB & TFL),” it said.
“There is still some excess
available supply vs demand in some products such as MDF and plywood. There
was downward pressure on prices and volumes, especially in MDF, due to depressed economies and excess supply, especially in the Brazilian market.” Q4 composite panels production totalled 1.28 million m3 million m3
, up from 1.16 in the same quarter
a year ago. The plywood division
reported average prices decreased 6.7%, offset by a 4.6% increase in sales volumes.
In general, the decline
in markets continued to be explained by slow economies, low construction (also affected by high interest rates), fallen retail in some countries and oversupply in some producing countries.
WBPI | April/May 2024 |
www.wbpionline.com
wood fibres from discarded MDF means organisations can be part of a growing desire to be more environmentally friendly.
“In Rob we’ve hired an expert in the science that underpins our proposition to the marketplace - there’s simply no one who knows more about MDF production technology or could be better placed to join the team,” said Steve Harvey, head of commercial at MDF Recovery. “As a company looking
to license the technology to manufacturers and other organisations, Rob’s knowledge in talking to customers and prospects will be invaluable – he understands their challenges
and I’m hugely excited he’s joining the team.”
In his new role, Rob will use his knowledge of the production processes to help unlock the potential of MDF Recovery’s revolutionary technology for organisations including MDF manufacturers, furniture manufacturers, construction and building companies, retailers and even government agencies. “I’m thrilled to be joining MDF Recovery and am excited to apply my knowledge and experience gained over many years of collaboration to help further develop and commercialise its innovative fibre recovery technologies,” said Mr Elias. “MDF Recovery is
pioneering a more sustainable future for the wood products industry, and I look forward to contributing to continued success.” He takes up his new role on
May 1, 2024. Metsä integrates maintenance
operations of ply and Kerto LVL mills Metsä Group is to integrate maintenance operations of its plywood and Kerto LVL mills as part of its own organisation. At present, the
still subject to approval by the Estonian Competition Authority. Related to the
maintenance of the company’s plywood and Kerto LVL mills has been outsourced to the industrial maintenance company Quant. On April 24, 2024, Metsä Group and Quant Finland and Quant Estonia signed an agreement on the transfer of business for the maintenance operations to Metsä Group, and the transfer is scheduled to take place on October 1, 2024. The Finnish Competition
Authority has approved the business arrangement in Finland, while in Estonia the business transaction is
arrangements, Quant’s employees working at Metsä Group’s plywood and Kerto LVL mills (approximately 150 people in total) will transfer to the service of Metsä Group starting from October 1, 2024 through a transfer of business. “Maintenance is an important part of Metsä Wood’s industrial efficiency. For the past seven years, we have been developing maintenance operations and occupational safety in co-operation with Quant,” explained Jaakko Anttila, executive vice-president of Metsä Wood.
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