Page 8 - Professional Parquet
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NEWS WHAT’S UP European Parquet Market
progressively back
Salone del Mobile. to green figures
Milano 2016:
innovation in progress After a year in which the
consumption figures of
The eyes of the world will the European Parquet
be on the 55th edition of the Industry contracted
Salone del Mobile. Milano: by more than 6%, the
a fascinating and evolving first estimates for 2015
platform showcasing paint a more optimistic
products and services of the highest quality, at the Milan picture. Indeed, FEP’s
Fairgrounds, Rho, from 12th to 17th April 2016. (European Federation of the Parquet
Also featuring three exhibitions, a short film, an award Industry) preliminary forecast for the year
and the city as a whole. The Salone del Mobile is sold out which just ended indicates astabilisation
again this year, confirming yet again its position as in parquet sales across Europe, with an
the go-to appointment for companies, operators and upward tendency during the last months.
visitors within the sector. A global platform for all the This projection is based on information
latest in home furnishing, the Salone is now into its 55th received from member country
year, championing innovation and internationality – in fact representatives present at the recent Board
the number of foreign exhibitors has risen again, now meeting held at the DOMOTEX fair
making up almost 30% of all the manufacturers at the fair. in Hannover. The slight global European
This edition, at the Rho Milan Fairgrounds from 12th market growth of 0.5% should be seen
to 17th April, will feature the Salone Internazionale as a first prognosis subject to variations, in
del Mobile along with the International Furnishing anticipation of the complete data to be
Accessories Exhibition, more than 1,300 exhibitors ranged communicated at FEP’s annual General
over 145,000 square metres (to date), split into Classic Assembly next June in Thun, Switzerland.
and Design sections, making for a visitor-friendly floor As was witnessed in the past few years, the
plan and a 360° insight into the world of furniture and results show some variation from country
furnishing accessories. to country but, for the first time since long,
the Southern European markets, including
LIGNA Conference 2016 Spain, seem to be gaining in momentum.
From a regional perspective, the good
From 3 to 4 May 2016, Deutsche news comes mainly from the Swedish and
Messe and the German Hungarian markets both showing a sound
growth. The Netherlands, Belgium,
Woodworking Machinery Poland and to a lesser extent France are
Association within the VDMA also performing well while the important
are co-staging the international German, Austrian and Swiss parquet
markets remain stable at a high level.
LIGNA Conference at the As far as specific parquet products are
Robotation Academy in concerned, wooden planks continue to
attract customers. The gap between large
Hannover, Germany. The planks and 3-strip parquet products is
conference title is "Integrated manufacturing slowly but surely closing. Competition
in the woodworking industries – the woodworking from other flooring solutions is still fierce.
community on its way to Industry 4.0". The conference This is especially the case with LVT’s,
will not only address the growing importance of new which are gaining market shares, also in
business processes and the sweeping importance of the the residential market. Generally speaking,
digital revolution for development, production and the captains of the parquet industry point
distribution, but also offer examples of how companies to increased prices of raw materials due to
have embraced the Industry 4.0 initiative in Germany and shortages in the market. The fact that it is
successfully restructured their production processes. becoming increasingly difficult for
"An integrated approach to woodworking production consumers to differentiate parquet from
opens up exciting new prospects for the sector. We will competitive flooring alternatives with a
demonstrate that Industry 4.0 has already moved well wood look surface, is also a growing
beyond the visionary stage", says Christian Pfeiffer, source of concern for parquet producers.
Director of LIGNA at Deutsche Messe. The conference Nonetheless, they are convinced that
participation fee is € 249 plus VAT. This covers admission parquet has a really bright future as it
to the conference as well as catering and participation in remains the only REAL product versus
the evening get-together. Online registration begins as of wood look-a-like products made from
vinyl or ceramics. Parquet is a natural
February at www.ligna.de/en/com. high-quality product, made of a true
sustainable and renewable raw
8 material: WOOD.
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