France’s premier timber industry show exceeded even the organiser’s upbeat forecasts and left exhibitors happy with contacts made and business done.
Despite double-dip recession afflicting much of Europe, the three-day Carrefour International du Bois (CIB) in Nantes in June boasted a record 530 stands, with the foreign contingent, from 26 countries, making up 30% of the total.
Show chairman Pierre Piveteau of French mill and merchant Piveteau Bois, said the event’s good health reflected an industry "undefeated by the economic climate".
"We haven’t escaped the international crisis," he said, "but growth can still be found, especially in demand from the construction sector for engineered wood products."
"The show itself helped raise spirits," said one exhibitor. "It gathered together companies that are optimistic, growing, investing and developing new products."
Visitors were also attracted to the show from around the world – a total of 68 countries were represented. The 10,000 total was approximately the same as the last event, in 2010, but international business executive of show co-organiser Atlanbois, Sam Padden, said this was a good result in today’s market conditions.
"For an industry exhibition to maintain attendance in current circumstances is a major achievement," she said. "Other international shows are seeing numbers down 20%."
Innovation focus
One of the most popular sections of the CIB was its "Techniques & Solutions" area, which focuses on latest innovations in timber-based construction systems and products. In fact this was relocated to Hall 3 of the show complex to cope with demand from exhibitors and occupied 5,000m2, an increase of 66% on 2010.
Now almost a show within a show, Techniques & Solutions was the appropriate backdrop for the release of a new report on timber construction in France from the Economic Observatory of timber promotion association France Bois Forêt.
"This showed timber taking increasing market share in France," said Ms Padden. "Timber frame now accounts for 11.4% of individual new French homes and 20% of new housing extensions. It’s also making an impact in social housing and public buildings."
An individual product area that had grown significantly since the last show was cladding; with more exhibitors showing a wider range of types and specifications. One of the leaders in the field, Sivalbp, reported twice the visitor numbers to its stand it had in 2010.
"We saw distributors and retailers, plus architects and builders, who seem more interested in fully-finished cladding than before," said sales manager Mathieu Blanc. "Most were French, but they were also from the UK, Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland, Japan, Holland and North Africa."
A focus on the stand was recently launched finger-jointed Colors Cladding, including the brand new 21x150mm face cover version in spruce, which Sivalbp expects to be "very successful in France and the UK".
New to the show was modified wood specialist Accsys Technologies. It focused on its Accoya decking, structural beams, cladding and windows, plus cladding displays in Tricoya modified MDF. A particular attraction for visitors was a water test tank underlining the materials’ durability and stability in wet conditions.
It viewed its CIB debut as a success. "We received good quality leads, including from the UK, Netherlands, Belgium and Spain, and it was an opportunity to seek further distribution for Accoya in France."
The American Hardwood Export Council’s (AHEC) decision to return to CIB was "strategic and timed to coincide with major initiatives to promote use of more wood in building". Joining forces with American Softwoods under the banner American Wood Solutions, the organisation described it as an exceptionally worthwhile experience.
"We found the mood surprisingly optimistic and there was a lot of interest in our life cycle analysis (LCA) research and how it can help promote use of American hardwoods in French construction," said AHEC’s European director David Venables.
He added that a Spanish glulam producer saw opportunities for using US hardwood.
Well-known Belgian international trader Vandecasteele said this year’s event was very well attended. "We even signed orders, which is quite unusual for a fair," said sales manager Genevieve Standaert.
Particular interest was shown in Vandecasteele’s new US hardwood range and its new eucalyptus-based FSC-certified Red Grandis, billed a sipo and sapele substitute.
Business overall was down on 2011, Ms Standaert acknowledged, but still good enough for the company to invest in 20 new trucks.
Help from the euro
Eurochêne agreed times were challenging, but the recent weakening of the euro was helping business. "And at CIB, we saw customers from France, the UK, Ireland and other countries," said the company’s Marie-Thérèse Carrey. "We also signed new contracts and hope for more following show enquiries."
Eurochêne focused on its traditional hardwood beams, unedged boards, boules and selected sawn wood, but also brought in new launches. These included its thermo-treated range of beech and poplar cladding and oak and ash decking.
Another satisfied CIB customer was fellow French hardwood specialist Ducerf. It saw 200 customers, with 30% more from France than in 2010, and over 30 from the UK.
The most popular attraction was sawn timber and scantlings, but new thermo-treated decking and cladding also proved a hit.
Export director Florence Perrucaud also said trade was demanding, with customers cutting stock and expecting quicker delivery on short orders. But a second oak saw line, which boosted daily output by 50m3, was helping it cope and, of course, CIB had given the business another shot in the arm.
