When the Lefebvre Group opens a new €15m, 45,000m3 capacity beech sawmill in Normandy next month it will reflect not only the company’s confidence in the species, but that of the French hardwood sector.
After a decade of limited interest from international markets, beech’s popularity is on the rise again. Its gains are often at the expense of tropical timbers, as customers look for a reasonably priced certified product.
France’s abundant beech resource – 1.34 million ha – and its silviculture also provide the advantages of consistent supply and quality.
French mills produce 500,000m3 of beech lumber a year, from 1.3 million m3 of logs, and much of that goes into upmarket applications from decorative veneers and furniture to doors, floors and windows.
Another increasingly popular application is staircases, where beech is an alternative to tropical hardwoods.
Eric Ducrot, director of Les Avivés de l’Est, believes staircases offer the greatest potential for beech.
European staircase manufacturers prefer the species, partly because of its FSC or PEFC certification, he said. It is of similar quality to tropical hardwoods but the price is lower and more stable, he added.
Eric Duband, director of staircase manufacturer Souvet Agencement, favours beech for its machining properties. "It’s dense and very hard but it machines without splintering and has no cross-grain when planed," he said. "Drying poses no technical problems, and sanding, drilling, routing and gluing are easily achieved."
It is also easy to steam, and the process gives it a pinkish tone.
Gérald Vuittenez, a director of joinery firm Delta Agencement, agrees that beech’s price and appearance make it an ideal choice for staircases.
"The price of beech is highly attractive and the wood has very few visible defects; it is quite neutral in appearance, which enables staining in a variety of shades," he said.
"It’s suited to staircase manufacturing as the hard wood is highly resistant to indentation. Also, it dries well, it’s easy to machine and it glues without problems."
But it’s not just staircases where beech is making its mark. French company PSP, a world leader in upmarket salt and pepper mills and part-owned by the Peugeot family, has launched a model made from varnished white beech in its flagship Paris range.
"Its warm feel produces a rich variety of sensations for the user, with a tactile, sensual quality," said PSP’s director Aymeric Géant.
