FEP: Promising forecast surpassed in 2007 An analysis of the provisional annual data compiled by FEP, the European Federation of the Parquet Industry, indicates that parquet is further consolidating its growth, notwithstanding the fierce competition from a variety of other flooring alternatives. The already positive forecast which the federation traditionally issues at the start of Domotex, was in end effect even outdone. An encouraging development confirming that the focused efforts of the European Parquet Industry on promoting amongst others the multiple inherent advantages of genuine wood floorings are bearing fruit and are progressively materializing in concrete results, according to FEP. Total production in 2007 in the FEP area has increased by 2,47%, for the first time surpassing the hurdle of 100 million m2 and peaking at a volume of 100,334 million m2. The overall result, though far from being uniform at European level, was to a large extent influenced by surging volumes in Poland, France and also the Czech Republic. Though multilayer still represents by far the largest slice of the production cake, mosaic and lamparquet are holding their position with respectively 3% and 2%, whereas solid is strengthening and has extended its market share from 16% to 19%. In absolute production figures, Sweden is still number one with 16,94%, but Poland is practically at the same level with 16,62%. Germany follows in third position with 12,96%. As regards the pro capita production, Sweden is still on top with 1,85 m2/inhabitant, with Austria in second place with 1,02 m2/inhabitant. Total pro capita production in 2007 amounted to 0,25 m2. The usage rate of oak is still increasing and has meanwhile attained the figure of 56,7%. Tropical wood species have also reinforced their market share and are now at 15,4%. With 7,8%, ash has replaced beech in third position. The solid 4,89% growth of consumption exceeds the forecast at the start of this year as well. In line with the tendency of the past years, the development strongly varies from country to country, with generally a strong performance in most countries and Poland in particular. Somewhat surprising though, says FEP, are sharp declines in Hungary and the Czech Republic. Consumption reached a new high of over 112 million m2 in the FEP member area. The highest consumption per capita can be found in Austria with 0,90 m2, with Sweden (0,78 m2) and Switzerland (0,69 m2) completing the podium. The consumption per inhabitant in FEP territory now amounts to 0.28 m2. Germany remains Europes biggest parquet market with a share of 18.5%, followed by Spain, Italy and France. According to the data available, FEP estimates that the market share of parquet remains in the vicinity of 6% in the total European flooring market. Euparal/EPLF, July 2008 Members Conference EPLF At the EPLFs Ordinary Members Conference, held last month in Austria, the Associations leadership was unanimously elected to office: Ludger Schindler (MeisterWerke) remains in post as Chairman of the Board and EPLF President, with Martin Prager (Kronotex) re-appointed as his Deputy. Theo Smet (Unilin) was also re-elected as Coordinator of the Technology Committee. There was a change in the Market and Image Committee, which was previously led by Ralf Eisermann. The new Chairman is Volkmar Halbe (Parador), who like Theo Smet received a unanimous vote. Both are members of the EPLF Board. The EPLFs new auditor is Stefan Pletzer (Egger), succeeding Johannes Schulte, who has held the post for many years.
Current sales figures from manufacturers affiliated to the EPLF indicate that it is still too soon to forecast results for 2008. Western European markets are posting a slight upturn, while Eastern European markets continue to grow. Russia and Poland head the rankings, although the new EU member states are also enjoying exceptional growth. Euparal/EPLF, June 2008 Nybron names new Executive leadership
Nybron Flooring International (NFI), Europes market leader in engineered wooden flooring, recently announced the return of two Senior Executives now tasked with management of the companys three business units Kährs, Bauwerk and Marty. Per Skårner was appointed as new Chief Executive Officer and Stefan Jacobsson as new Executive Chairman. I am delighted to re-join Nybron - a company whose brands, products, and people I believe in, said Skårner. We have lots of work ahead of us but I am confident we can further improve upon a great company. In March this year, NFI announced that CEO Gérard Legtmann had left the group - after implementing operational improvements that had already resulted in significant improvements at its three subsidiaries, Kährs, Bauwerk, and Marty - and that the board of directors, including Jürgen Schaubel, NFIs CFO, would take over Legtmanns duties on an interim basis. Earlier that month, NFI had finalised a debt-for-equity swap with its lenders, significantly reducing Nybrons debt position and interest costs. As part of the deal, Nybrons senior lenders have taken a majority stake in the restructured entity, and have substantially reduced their claims. The agreement leaves Nybrons senior lenders holding EUR 185m of debt, made up of EUR 10m in a new revolving facility, EUR 110m in two senior loan facilities, and EUR 65m in a new second lien facility. In return for accepting this reduction of their claims, the senior lenders have been given 90 percent of the preferred equity in the new entity, and 77 percent of the 3.1m new ordinary shares. Nybron, which was owned by investment firm Vestar Capital, faced a restructuring process due to unfavourable market conditions as well as Vestars decision not to commit further funding for the group. End of May, Marty in France filed for Plan de Sauvegarde protection. Euparal/NFI, May 2008 First patent victory of Unilin in China This patent is one of the two granted patents and 20 patent applications of Unilin in China that protect the glueless technology in flooring panels. An opposition was filed in March 2006 to invalidate this patent by certain Chinese organizations. Flooring Industries, the intellectual property company within the Unilin Group, explains that the decision by the SIPO results in a patent that claims essentially the same as its European and US counterparts in relation to similar patents in those regions. It is presented as further confirmation of the 2007 decision of the US International Trade Commission (ITC). This is of course a crucial step in Unilins Chinese enforcement strategy, according to Raymond Hegarty, managing director of Flooring Industries. It is clear that our legal team will take the next steps in stopping the illegal sales in China which are harming the business of our Chinese partners and licensees exporting to China. The Unilin Group is part of the American company Mohawk Industries. Euparal/Unilin, May 2008 Chinas Wood Flooring Industry 2008-2010 At present, there are about 5,400 wood flooring manufacturers in China and the output of flooring, according to the China National Forest Products Industry Association, will hit 500 million m2 in 2010, with an annual growth rate of around 13%. Zhang Senlin, president of the China National Forest Products Industry Association, predicts that Chinas wood flooring industry will prosper for a long time. However, 2008 will be a year of reshuffle for the wood flooring industry. Adding value, brand building and innovation will be greatly emphasized. Furthermore, great pressure will face the whole industry as the state intensifies macro control. Other trends he notices are that the supply of raw materials will not fluctuate dramatically and that for large brands, raw materials must be partially self supplied step by step, to maintain a sustainable development. Finally, he observes that big brands will insist on exporting. According to China Wood Monthly Market Report (Feb. 2008) the promising Chinese wood flooring industry is in fact experiencing internal and external difficulties and hardships. On one hand, domestic market is full of miscellaneous brands, homogeneous products and disordered market competition. Low-level marketing resorts - superstar spokesman, advertising on famous TV channels, price war - eventually bring companies into cut-throat competition. On the other hand, domestic wood flooring manufacturers also are facing competition from abroad, international anti-dumping and price hike of oil and timber. The report quotes an insider who believes that Chinas wood flooring industry is a typical perfectly competitive industry with so many domestic manufacturers and foreign brands; the whole industrial environment is very hard at present for flooring companies. Euparal/China Wood International, March 2008 BAU 2009 before Domotex 2009 Between 12 and 17 January 2009 around 2,000 exhibitors from 40 countries will be presenting their products and solutions on 180,000 square metres of exhibition space at BAU 2009 in Munich, Europe’s largest trade fair for architecture, building materials and building systems. The range of products and solutions presented at BAU 2009 covers the whole bandwidth of planning, building and design. The 17 exhibition halls are divided up according to building materials, product and theme areas. The entire spectrum of floorings – from elastic (linoleum, PVC, rubber, cork) and textile to laminates and parquet – will be on show in a compact section in Hall B6 and parts of Hall A6, on around 12,000 square metres of exhibition space. A list of exhibitors is available on the internet at: www.bau-muenchen.com/en/home. Next year, BAU will for the first time be organized before Domotex in Hannover. Domotex 2009 (January 17 up to 20) starts on the day BAU closes. Euparal/Bau, March 2008 EPLF presents final 2007 sales figures The final sales figures of 2007 across the EPLF show that global sales of made in Europe laminate floorings are on the increase with slight growth in Western Europe and major gains in Eastern Europe. Worldwide in 2007, the 19 member companies of the EPLF European Producers of Laminate Flooring achieved sales of 507 million m2 of laminate flooring produced in Europe (previous year = 468 million m2). This represents an increase in global sales of 8%. The overall market share held by EPLF member companies in the world market is estimated by the association to be around 55%. In Western Europe, 295 million m2 of laminate flooring (previous year = 285 million m2) were sold, while in Eastern Europe the figure was 129 million m2 (previous year = 88 million m2). This represents growth of 3.5% in Western Europe and 46.6% in Eastern Europe. The German market remains relatively stable at 96 million m2 (previous year = 98 million m2) and continues to be the largest single European market. France has grown to 42 million m2 (previous year = 36 million m2) and lies in second place in Western European market rankings. The UK recorded a slight reversal with sales of 39 million m2 (previous year = 40 million m2) and takes third place. Spain is making gains and with sales of 22 million m2 (previous year = 18 million m2) has achieved fourth place for the first time. With 22 million m2 (previous year = 21 million m2), the Netherlands are close behind and take fifth place. In North America, the EPLF continues to record a downturn in sales of made in Europe laminate flooring. A year-on-year comparison shows a reduction in total sales from 68 million m2 (2006) to 54 million m2 (2007). This corresponds to a drop of 20.6%. Laminate flooring manufacturers affiliated to the EPLF can therefore be satisfied with the sales trend in 2007, although the North American market continues to recede for many European producers, the association concludes. Euparal/EPLF, March 2008 European parquet industry in 2007
EPLF sales figures for 2007
Domotex 2008 consolidates leading position
The 20th Domotex Hannover set new records, with 1,442 exhibitors (2007: 1,336) - from over 60 different nations - occupying some 97,083 square meters of display space (up from 91,757 square meters in 2007).
The logo has meanwhile been officially registered by FEP (European Federation of the Parquet Industry) on the territory of the European Union. The producers in question are: Albers Parketgroothandel, Dekora Parket, Inpa Parket Vloeren, M.J.D. Parket, Parketfabriek Lieverdink, Van Kesteren Parketfabriek en Houthandel, Grönloh Parket and Beter Hout. In the same line, FEP is also very pleased with the adherence of Tilo, Chène de l'Est, Boen Parkett Deutschland and Amorim Revestimentos SA. The new affiliates bring the actual number of companies authorised to use the Real Wood label to 43. An updated list of all Real Wood licensed affiliates can be found on the Real Wood website, under www.realwood.eu. FEP's management sees the recent adherence of the many parquet producers as yet another token of recognition for the continuous and focussed efforts the federation is undertaking at European level to objectively communicate to the consumer the multiple advantages of genuine wood floors.
Ahead
of the field in terms of sales statistics are Germany, Great Britain,
France and the Netherlands. In Eastern Europe, Poland leads the ranking
followed by Russia, Rumania and the Czech Republic. Against this background,
all forecasts indicate that the European laminate flooring industry will
once again increase its global sales in 2007. The EPLF suggests that this
positive development can be largely explained by the leading position
of the European laminate flooring industry in terms of quality and innovation
in combination with a strong commitment to the environment and
sustainability.
The
new facility comprises all modern equipment which is needed to produce
hard floating floorings with all kind of surface and core combinations
from raw materials to finished floor boards. Välinge: The new
R&D centre will be the most advanced in the world. 100 technicians
will in close cooperation with Välinges 80 licensees develop
and commercialize the flooring technology of tomorrow. Välinge
is also planning to establish several support centers in central and Eastern
Europe, USA and Asia. Välinge holds 600 patents in 40 countries.
The company anticipates that the pending applications will increase the
patent base to more than 1000 patents in a few years and that the total
number of patents covering various aspects of flooring technology will
increase to more than 2000 patents in 2010.
DOMOTEX
asia/CHINAFLOOR closing report
DOMOTEX
asia/CHINAFLOOR (DACF) 2007 once again broke several new records at the
end of its Shanghai run from 28 to 30 March, with organizers reporting
double-digit growth rates for Asias biggest floor coverings show. 'Pfleiderer market leader North America'
Against this backdrop, the Executive Board aims for total revenues including Pergo of at least Euro 1.9 billion and Group EBITDA of at least Euro 270 million in full-year 2007. Pfleiderer board member Michael Ernst is the new CEO of Pergo AB, replacing Tony Sturrus. Frida Rosenholm is deputy CEO of Pergos European operations. Pfleiderer: Taking over the Pergo Group makes Pfleiderer the market leader in North America as an integrated manufacturer of laminate flooring with a share of around 15%. The acquisition will also accelerate the Groups entry into the European laminate flooring market. As a result of the merger, Pfleiderer expects to benefit from significant synergies and economies of scale in procurement, logistics and production, as well as the better exploitation of existing patents and licenses. Euparal/Pfleiderer, May 2007 The Unilin Group, Beaulieu International Group and Välinge Innovation AB have reached an agreement to settle their global patent dispute. This puts an end to many years of litigation relating to the infringement and validity of the respective patents. Both
the Unilin Group and Beaulieu International Group have marketed laminate
flooring with glueless systems since the late nineties. These systems are
protected worldwide by various patents. The Unilin Group has introduced
its Uniclic system in 1997 and markets its products under the Quick-Step
brand. Beaulieu International Group has produced laminate flooring products
since the year 2000 under the license of the Swedish company Välinge
Innovation AB and markets these products under the trademarks Berry
Floor and Alloc. Beaulieu International Group was, as
a licensee of Välinge, involved in dozens of legal proceedings with
Unilin regarding alleged infringements on the respective patents. Both companies have now reached an agreement to settle all their legal cases
worldwide. This agreement settles approximately 25 current legal cases in
the USA, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and the United Kingdom.
Beaulieu International Group will have access to Unilin patents on the glueless
technology as well as on the bevelled edge technology by means of a license
agreement. At the same time, Unilin will have access to patents of the Swedish
company Välinge Innovation through an agreement with this company.
This agreement protects the value of the respective patents and it offers
to each party the chance to maximize its innovations, according to a press
release by Unilin and BIG.Euparal/Unilin/BIG, April 2007 PROFILE | NEWS | AGENDA | MEMBERS | E-MAIL | ADDRESS | LINKS |