AHEC gears up for European Conference

20 September 2016


This year’s American Hardwood European Conference on October 20-21 in Copenhagen will provide a platform for American hardwood exporters and the European trade to discuss and debate the challenges and opportunities both industries face.

The event at the Marriott Hotel will open with an overview of how AHEC Europe is working to create a bright and promising future for US hardwoods by inspiring decision makers and creating new products for the built environment.

This will include a session on the globalisation of the hardwood trade focusing on the US domestic market, Europe, and of course China.

The AHEC Europe team led by David Venables, AHEC European director, will look to the future markets for American hardwoods and showcase AHEC Europe’s creation of promotional tools and messages aimed at accessing these markets.

This includes the promotion of underutilised species, targeting of specific markets and increasing species options and new applications as well as the redeveloped website, new publications and a refreshed format of the American Hardwood Environmental Profile (AHEP).

AHEC Europe and Andrew Lawrence, Arup Engineers, will discuss new markets for American hardwoods in construction.

The issue of sustainability will be raised in the afternoon with presentations and a panel discussion: It’s all about the trees: new approaches for demonstrating sustainability chaired by Rupert Oliver, AHEC Europe’s environmental consultant who will be joined by Jakob Rygg Klaumann, Danish Timber Trade Federation and David Hopkins, UK Timber Trade Federation, amongst others.

The last session of the day will be a US industry panel discussion and open Q&A led by AHEC’s chairman, Dave Bramlage, offering delegates a chance to instigate discussion with a panel of US exporters around topics that matter to them most.

Thursday rounds off with an informal and relaxing Gala Dinner at the historic Moltkes Palace with plenty of networking opportunities.

The following day will be an educational seminar for buyers and users of American hardwood. Rupert Oliver will start by presenting an overview of the American hardwood resource, while Neil Summers, Timber Dimension, will share the latest information on the growing markets for thermally modified hardwoods and the opportunities they present for US hardwoods.

Friday will come to a close with a technical workshop on grading lumber to the NHLA standard led by chief inspector, Dana Spessert.

This session will include practical demonstrations on how to determine grades within various American hardwood species. The full programme and registration details can be found at: http://www.americanhardwood.org/news-events/european-conference-2016/programme/