4 | Contents


Contents MAY/JUNE 2021


PHOTO OF THE MONTH 5 ― Products for the furniture industry were on show at CIFM/interzum in March


NEWS 6 ― TTJ Awards 2021 voting launches; New merchant defies pandemic in its first year


STATISTICS 12 ― BMBI figures show timber and joinery sales were up for merchants in February 13 ― TTF stats reveal that the recovery started in H2, 2020 continued in the new year


SKILLS & EDUCATION 14 ― Norbord has some new recruits to its engineering graduate scheme


OPINION 16 ― WJ Group’s Mark Eggleston on fit-for-purpose fire retardant treatments; and AHEC’s Mike Snow on the resilience of the US hardwood sector


MARKETS 19 ― Ireland’s sawmills are still being tested by the felling licence issue 22 ― Insatiable demand for plywood and OSB continues 24 ― The TTF’s annual softwood conference was held virtually this year


SECTOR FOCUS: JOINERY 29 ― Opportunities are opening up for the joinery sector, says the BWF 31 ― Joinery manufacturers are upbeat about the year ahead


SECTOR FOCUS: NORTH AMERICA 34 ― European imports of US hardwoods fell in 2020 but look more promising now 36 ― Demographics point to strengthening long-term demand for US hardwoods 39 ― AHEC’s marketing activities have continued, in spite of pandemic challenges 42 ― Stable isotope ratio analysis is being used to geo reference timber 44 ― Demand has sent US softwood prices into the stratosphere 46 ― The Canadian forest products sector has risen to the challenge of Covid-19


SECTOR FOCUS: PRESERVATIVES & FIRE RETARDANTS 50 ― The WPA and TTF campaign to grow demand for preservative treated wood 52 ― Timber treatments need to evolve, says Lonza 55 ― WJ Group explains the importance of understanding technology and terminology 58 ― Zeroignition says fire retardant treatments must be effective and non-toxic


FEATURES 60 ― The TTF and TRADA are merging to become Timber Development UK 62 ― Embracing the digital age has helped boost sales at English Woodlands Timber 65 ― Murray Timber Group has installed a new Kallfass stacking line 68 ― Continuous innovation has helped Salvamac to thrive


Cover photo: American white oak, pp36-37.


THE VOICE OF THE TIMBER INDUSTRY May/June 2021


The TTJ Awards TTJ magazine


AMERICA UPDATE HARDWOOD FUTURES


Also in this issue


NEWS TTJ Awards 2021 opens for voting, Lathams expands Irish service / MARKET UPDATE Ireland, plywood/OSB, TTF Softwood Conference / SECTOR FOCUS Joinery, North America, Preservatives


TTJ Buyer’s Guide & Address Book www.ttjonline.com Social media


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TTJ | May/June 2021 | www.ttjonline.com


The TTJ Group


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