ProLigno / ProLigno 2005 Issue 2  
     
 
 
   

 


 

 

 

FOREST ECONOMY AT THE BEGINNING OF A NEW MILLENNIUM Part 2: Wood-Based Composite Boards

Marius C. BARBU
Prof.Dr.Eng.Dr.- „Transilvania” University of Brasov – Faculty of Wood Industry
Address: B-dul Eroilor nr. 29, 500036 Brasov, Romania
E-mail: cmbarbu@unitbv.ro

Abstract:
Globalization seems to have seized the wood industry too, in all the fields of activity. The manufacturers of wooden boards have to maintain profitability under the circumstances when the prices of raw materials and energy are increasing, while the competition on the sale markets is ever harsher. The economic situation can be improved by diversifying the range of products, increasing the production volume and a zone distribution of plants. The concentration of the board production in industrial mega-groups is the result of the over-capacity and of the medium capitalization of the existing equipment. The installed capacity for the board production has increased over the last 5 years by more than 20%. The forecast for the next years is a positive one and foresees a growth in the production capacities of almost 10%. Europe holds more than 30% of the world capacity and ranks the 1st in the production of particleboards (PB) and medium-density fibreboards (MDF). The European plywood and PB production is continuously decreasing; on the contrary, unexpected peak outputs can be seen in MDF and OSB production. Europe will be more and more faced with the competition of the boards made outside the continent, particularly in China, Russia, Brazil, etc., which will result in negative economic zone results. Significant investments in the wood industry will be made in the future only in Eastern Europe, especially in Russia, based on the local demand for boards on one hand and on the existent wooden raw material, on the other hand. 

Key words: MDF, PB, OSB, plywood, wood-based composite boards.

 

 
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