BC Wood just recently received confirmation that the funding for our 2013-2014 trade show activities has been approved. We began this year’s proposal writing with some concerns over just how much our members would want to take on in the coming year. Our early December sector meetings with member companies provided some good input on how much companies wanted to do this year and where they wanted BC Wood to focus its’ efforts.

BC Wood took this input and put together a comprehensive package of market development activities. Upcoming activities will focus on expanding market share in the United States while maintaining the hard won presence we have gained in Asian markets and Eastern Europe. Recognizing the possibility of a new and emerging market opportunity in India, BC Wood has scheduled a mission and participation in a trade show in Bangalore in February 2014. The Global Buyers Mission, our 10th, will be a highlight, with over 200 buyers coming to Whistler in early September.

I would like to recognize and thank the staff of BC Wood for the extra effort they put towards writing these funding proposals. The result was that BC Wood has another strong program of approved trade event activities for 2013-2014. For those of you wanting to see the updated list of trade show activities, please visit the BC Wood website at www.bcwood.com and select Trade Events from the Programs & Services tab. Any comments or questions regarding these planned activities can be directed to me at bhawrysh@bcwood.com or by calling our office at 604-882-7100.

With the GBM over, BC Wood’s Japan office is now working on bringing members into the market through two major fall shows. One of course is the famed Japan Home Show (Nov 14^th – 16^th) that has been welcoming overseas suppliers for more than three decades. The other, the Osaka Living and Design Show (Oct 24^th -26^th), is a new show for us and is a part of our continuing efforts to brand Canadian wood products in the high-end, Japanese commercial construction and interior design market. This is the last chance for members looking to take advantage of these exciting programs. Only a few spaces remain so please act fast if you are interested.

Osaka Living and Design Show

After a long absence from taking members to trade shows in Osaka, BC Wood will be organizing a Canadian pavilion at the new but highly regarded Living and Design Show. Over the past few years we have participated in Tokyo Designers Week, but decided to change to L&D as it is more focused on B to B for interior design and also gives us a chance to target the lucrative but underserved Kansai region in Japan (all foreign competitors go to Tokyo). This area that includes Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe has a larger economy than all of Canada and is also experiencing a flourishing commercial construction sector. Another benefit of this show for members is that it better covers building products such as flooring and millwork.

Japan Home and Building Show

BC Wood will once again be organizing the Canadian wood products pavilion at the annual Japan Home Show. This year the show will return to its traditional November schedule and run from the 14^th through the 16^th at Tokyo Big Sight.

The JHS typically attracts about 90,000 industry people ranging from importers and distributors to builders and architects and has long been the highest profile building products show in the country, particularly for imported products. This year the organizers have decided to strategically partner with JAPANTEX which is one of Japan’s largest interior trend shows for professionals. With the JHS and JAPANTEX collocated together in Big Sight’s East Hall, it is expected that JHS exhibitors will see a dramatic increase in designers working on non-residential projects.

Also, we expect positive synergies from the HOSPEX show, catering to the owners/operators of medical and elderly care facilities, which will be run concurrently by the same organizers in an adjacent hall. Elderly care facility operators have been adopting 2×4 buildings more and more in recent years because of the perceived therapeutic benefits of wood framed buildings. COFI’s Japan Office has been very active in targeting this market on the structural side and we are endeavouring to find more opportunities for value-added products on such projects.

BC Wood will also be working with the Canadian Embassy on a program timed around the show to target the reconstruction efforts in the Tohoku region. As a result, members attending the JHS will also be able to take part in some match-making activities targeting local companies working on both non-residential and residential projects in the tsunami devastated communities.

This show offers a great opportunity for companies looking to enter the Japanese market and take advantage of the many positive trends we are seeing.  Products sectors covered: cabinetry, engineered wood, millwork, log and timberframe, packaged homes, as well as reman and specialty lumber including WRC.

For more information about either of these shows please contact Jim Ivanoff at ivanoff@canadawood.jp.

BC Wood will once again be organizing the Canadian wood products pavilion at the annual Japan Home Show. This year the show will return to its traditional November schedule and run from the 14^th through the 16^th at Tokyo Big Sight.

The JHS typically attracts about 90,000 industry people ranging from importers and distributors to builders and architects and has long been the highest profile building products show in the country, particularly for imported products. This year the organizers have decided to strategically partner with JAPANTEX which is one of Japan’s largest interior trend shows for professionals. With the JHS and JAPANTEX collocated together in Big Sight’s East Hall, it is expected that JHS exhibitors will see a dramatic increase in designers working on non-residential projects.

Also, we expect positive synergies from the HOSPEX show, catering to the owners/operators of medical and elderly care facilities, which will be run concurrently by the same organizers in an adjacent hall. Elderly care facility operators have been adopting 2×4 buildings more and more in recent years because of the perceived therapeutic benefits of wood framed buildings. COFI’s Japan Office has been very active in targeting this market on the structural side and we are endeavouring to find more opportunities for value-added products on such projects.

BC Wood will also be working with the Canadian Embassy on a program timed around the show to target the reconstruction efforts in the Tohoku region. As a result, members attending the JHS will also be able to take part in some match-making activities targeting local companies working on both non-residential and residential projects in the tsunami devastated communities.

I am very excited about this year’s Japan Home Show as the housing market overall has been strong this year and the show organizers have been working hard to bring more value to exhibitors. This show offers a great opportunity for companies looking to enter the Japanese market and take advantage of the many positive trends we are seeing.  I will be booking booth space soon so for more information please e-mail me at ivanoff@canadawood.jp.

By Daryl Holmes

Organized for the 35th time, TURKEYBUILD Istanbul is dubbed the biggest inter-regional building gathering that covers Turkey, Balkans, former CIS countries, North Africa, and Middle East. The exhibition was held from May 2nd to 6th, 2012 at the Tüyap Fair Centre and Congress Center, which is made up of 81,000 sq. metres and consisting of 12 exhibition halls. Attendance at this show was very high with total attendees recorded at 110,000 guests.

The following information summarizes the show and my market observations as they pertain to the value-added wood industry beginning with the core feedback that directly impacts you, the member.

BC Wood first attended Turkeybuild in the smaller market of Ankara in September, 2011 with the notion of returning for the signature event to be held in Istanbul. The valuable work undertaken in September set the stage for a very successful return to this market in early May. This show takes me back to the glory days of USA builder shows with the aisles full of qualified agents, buyers, architects, designers, developers, planners, and builders. In Turkey, industry continues to take firm steps forward. Turkey, which acts as an intercontinental bridge due to its geographical position, is an extremely important partner for BC manufacturers who wish to develop sales in this part of the world.

Where do the sales prospects lie?

At the show, four companies represented their products in the BC Wood booth space. We focused our display on products that we feel have the greatest competitive advantage in this area – Engineered Wood Products, Log Home and Timber Frame structures, PreBuilt Housing, and Remanufactured Products. Flooring and high-end furniture also received attention at this event.

During the show, we spoke to many qualified representatives of local companies who were interested in the distribution of products; these contacts were spread around Turkey and the surrounding countries. All member companies received wide spread interest in not only distribution of products, but also direct sales opportunities.

While most construction taking place in Turkey is with concrete and steel, the appetite for wood products was high. Timber and lumber comes into the country from neighbouring countries; however, the reputation of Canadian wood products as being high quality meant that we received many enquiries about project based developments and high-end building materials. So, in short, the increase in development taking place in this market indicates a growing demand for lumber and wood products overall. It was encouraging to speak to many project managers and resort developers who did not see Canada’s geographic proximity as a barrier to discussing business deals.

How do I access these opportunities?

Obtaining access to these opportunities is not easy and won’t happen overnight. The key, as always, is to get active in the market and to get connected to local industry partners. Securing strategic partnership agreements with local agents is of the utmost importance. Relying on your website and word-of-mouth will not get you access to this market. Also, once you have made contact in this area, the key is to commit to follow up, and the required amount of engagement needed to realise sales.

Either as an individual company or in partnership with BC Wood and other industry groups, you will have success showcasing your products and gaining profile in this competitive marketplace if you make the decision to invest some time in a market strategy that puts you and your products in the path of these key decision makers.

Does Turkeybuild Deliver?

This show is without a shadow of a doubt the premium show to attend in this market. This show draws attendees from all over the Middle East and the local Turkish market, as well as Russia, Ukraine, and other neighbouring markets. Follow the money – this notion is so prevalent in this marketplace and based upon our success at this show, members have already secured sales. The Europe market is mature and very competitive; however, niche areas of the world continue to show an increase in opportunity for BC’s value added industry. The Turkey marketplace falls into this category and it is my opinion that business to business sales opportunities will continue to grow in this area.

Upcoming events in the Europe market include Holzhaus, Moscow (Nov 9-13), and BAU, Germany (Jan 17-20, 2012). For more information contact Brian Hawrysh at bhawrysh@bcwood.com  or email me at dh@themataigroup.com

This January’s cold snap has been blessing ski hills around the country with an abundance of snow after a slow start to the season. However, the Fukushima nuclear crisis still looms heavily over the prospects of resorts attracting foreign tourists. In fact, for 2011 the number of tourists coming to Japan fell 27.8%. Niseko has benefitted the most from inbound tourism over the past few years so it was safe to assume that it was also being hit the hardest by this steep decline in travellers. Therefore, I recently visited the area to find out what was happening and what the prospects were for a rebound.

The first thing that struck me driving around the area was the number of construction sites that seemed to be stopped. In meeting with local people I soon learned that developers quickly put the brakes on many projects after 3/11. However, unlike past boom and bust cycles the owners of these projects are now well financed professional developers. Therefore, they have both the capability to weather the tough short-term conditions and they also have the foresight to see that over the longer term the nuclear fears will dissipate and foreign tourists will return in large numbers. Everything that has made Niseko the most talked about ski resort in Asia is still there.

One positive outcome from the current downturn is that a central “village” may finally be built in the Hirafu area. Over the years many people involved with developments in the area told me that the shoddy shape of the main access to the Hirafu lifts and the lack of a Whistler type village area was holding Niseko back from reaching the next level as an international destination. Many of the old buildings lining the main road were owned by people waiting for the area to grow further but without the means to properly develop the properties themselves. It seems that several of them were persuaded by the bleak prospects last year to finally sell. Once that part of Niseko is redeveloped, the whole area will benefit greatly from it.

Another thing that seems to be changing is the attitude towards domestic travellers. One of the amazing aspects of the Niseko success story was how it could prosper while only catering to foreigners and completely ignoring the massive Tokyo market. Hokkaido was always seen as a clean and pristine area, but that image has been further reinforced by the fact that it was one of the few areas in Japan that was spared any fallout after the Fukushima explosions. By actively pursuing the Tokyo market, Niseko operators can not only fill more rooms now, they can also build a more diversified client based so that the area is less susceptible to future shocks from overseas.

While 2011 was a terrible year for Niseko developers and lodging operators, there is some optimism returning. Apparently the number of inquiries from Australia and ex-pats in Asia has been increasing recently. Hopefully the Japanese government’s declaration in December that the Fukushima plants have achieved cold shutdown will encourage the Chinese tourists to also comeback. At the very least, the Japanese government is looking positively at 2012 by aiming to attract over 9 million inbound tourists topping the previous record of 8.6 million. Let’s hope they are right!

Register now for the 28th MBC Construction Expo in Seoul, Korea, this coming January 27-30, 2012. BC Wood will be taking space at this building and construction show to exhibit member products to Korean builders, architects, distributors, and construction material importers. The four-day event is expected to attract over 150,000 attendees as well as 350 exhibitors.

This trade event offers an excellent opportunity for BC Wood members to tap into the Korean market and take advantage of our expert in-market representative. Members that would benefit from this event include manufacturers and suppliers of remanufactured lumber products, prebuilt homes, kitchen cabinets, log home and timber frame homes, and engineered wood products.

BC Wood will be coordinating space for members at the event; advertising in key industry publications; managing event logistics; and organizing business networking opportunities. Space is limited so contact David Pao ASAP at dpao@bcwood.com to register.

For more information, please click here.

StructureCraft Builders is a unique team of engineers and builders who work with clients and architects to design, fabricate, and erect carefully detailed building and bridge structures in timber, steel, glass, concrete, and other materials. Their staff of engineers, modellers, detailers, estimators, project managers, supervisors, and carpenters are all based in their 25,000 sq. ft. FSC-certified shop located in Delta, BC.

Thirteen years ago, Gerry Epp formed StructureCraft Builders to design and explore more building ideas with architects, often in conjunction with their associated firm, Fast+Epp Structural Engineers. The first project they took on was the stainless-steel-and-Parallam trussed roof of the Vancouver Aquarium expansion in 1998. Since then, StructureCraft has been engaged by architects and design-build teams for projects which require exposed structures, usually involving wood in a significant and innovative way.  These 50+ projects cover all types of structures including timber buildings, facades, atria, and hybrid footbridges, as well as WoodWave structural panels, timber panel systems, composite concrete-timber, lathe milling, and custom castings.

As design-build specialists in architectural timber structures, the StructureCraft Builders team combines their significant experience in structural engineering, 3D modeling, detailing, project management, timber procurement, shop fabrication, and site erection of complex wood structures to design and construct each project to the highest standards, throughout North America

They work with their clients from the design phase which begins with understanding both the vision and the overall project constraints. Working together, they introduce ideas which can both enhance the architecture and lead to efficient structural solutions. They also work with the client to develop concepts which, through 3D models and renderings, are eventually developed into drawings. Structural testing is carried out on certain projects before fabrication, which takes place in the controlled environment of their shop. They then erect all of their projects to ensure the final product reflects their high standards. Their unique methodology of pre-planned “constructible” design, timely material procurement, and creation of a custom kit of parts and assemblies results in a rapid and accurate installation for each project.

Many of their projects have won awards for both architect and design-builder, including the unique WoodWave roof of the 2010 Olympic Speedskating Oval; the Arena Stage Parallam-and-cable façade in Washington, DC; the “Footbridge of Dreams” in Princeton, BC; and the Central City timber structures in Surrey, BC.

They are currently wrapping up construction of the free-form, orchid-shaped roof for the VanDusen Gardens Visitors Center (picture to the left). The 71 unique all-wood panels of this Living Building Challenge project were completely pre-fabricated in their shop, including glulam beams, lumber rafters and ceiling joists, plywood skin, sprinkler piping, electrical conduits, thermal and acoustic insulation, and laminated plywood ceiling battens. The Center will open to the public this fall.

StructureCraft Builders are committed to creating excellence in architectural structures for their clients.  The results can be viewed on their recently updated website at www.structurecraft.com where you will find detailed descriptions of their design-build process, their staff, their products, examples of their completed projects, and their awards received.

For over 30 years the Japan Home & Building Show has been one of the most important events in marketing calendar of foreign companies selling into Japan. However, this year there were many challenges facing the event, some resulting from the 3/11 earthquake while others were self-inflicted.

Several years ago the show organizers decided to change the date of the 2011 show so as to time it with the planned UIA event at Tokyo Forum. I personally expressed my concerns over this numerous times as I have seen how such date changes have hurt other shows. Especially with the JHS’ long history, everyone expects it to take place in November. However, they believed that holding it in conjunction with the UIA event would inject new energy into the show.

These plans were greatly complicated by the March earthquake. By having bumped up the show, the organizers also bumped up the recruiting period of the show to late spring, which was still the dark period when no one knew what tomorrow would bring. As a result, purse strings were tightened and I am sure the JHS had trouble signing up exhibitors.

The earthquake and the nuclear disaster also worried the expected 10,000 overseas UIA attendees. In April there was even talk of cancelling the UIA event. However, they moved ahead with it as the situation in Fukushima gradually improved.

As we set-up for the show, I wondered and worried about how it would turn out. As feared, the attendance fell dramatically, from 87,000 to 43,000. Luckily though the quality of the visitors greatly increased as many more architects came to the show for the first time. This was undoubtedly due to the cross-marketing with the UIA event. We even received many overseas guests who came for the UIA event. Overall, even though the overall numbers were down, we felt just as busy as last year since the architects were spending more time with us asking questions about products.

The other thing that I had been wondering about was how much traffic we would receive related to reconstruction efforts in the Tohoku area. Over the three days we met with many builders, developers, and distributors from the earthquake/ tsunami affected areas and they seemed to be getting themselves prepared for the big reconstruction projects. I learned that developers from across the region and even other parts of Japan are buying up all the available elevated land near the coast for such projects. However, they are experiencing labour shortages and are thus looking at overseas suppliers that can help with packaged homes and other solutions.

Despite the drop in attendance I was very pleased with the results of the show. We were able to make a great number of new contacts including ones involved in the reconstruction efforts. This helps us prepare for the Nikkei Show next March where reconstruction projects will definitely be taking center stage.

Structurlam Products is a manufacturer of high quality glue-laminated beams and a premium fabricator of complete heavy timber packages for non-residential projects. They started out in Penticton, BC 49 years ago and have grown into one of Canada’s leading suppliers of heavy timber packages. What stands out about Structurlam is their innovation and investment in technology.   ”In 2000, we were the first North American heavy timber company to invest in European technology such as three-dimensional modeling software and robotic machinery,” says President Bill Downing. “This allows us to create complex custom designs, including curved and shaped members.”

While the BC Wood, FPInnovations, and CAWP staff were in the Okanagan, we toured the Structurlam facility in Okangan Falls.  Recently, they took on the project of developing cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels that they have branded as CrossLam.  CLT has been used all across Europe and Structurlam is on the forefront of bringing this technology to North America.    As a result of their extensive research over the last couple of years, they have outfitted their brand new facility with the latest in technology for effective and efficient production of CLT. They have recently gone out of the testing phase and into production, already delivering two projects.

CrossLam by Structurlam is a state of the art solid timber panel that is ideal for floor, wall, and roof systems making it the perfect structural solution. With its cross-layered construction, reduced carbon footprint, and ready to assemble system, CrossLam is the green choice for schools, health care facilities, public buildings, commercial buildings, and multi-family housing.

Some of the benefits for using CrossLam are:

• Up to 6 times lighter than concrete
• Cost competitive against steel and concrete
• Reduces overall construction time
• Space creator, 1/3 thinner than concrete
• Primarily requires carpentry skills and power tools

For more information on Structurlam, please visit: www.structurlam.com.

For more information on CrossLam, please visitwww.structurlam.com/product/crosslam.php.

BC Wood will be exhibiting at the China International Exhibition on Housing Industry (CIEHI) this September in Beijing. This event will focus on China’s growing construction market and the application of new housing and green building technologies. Attendees of the three day event will include major real estate and property developers from around various regions in China. The event is hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Construction. Other organizers also include the China Real Estate Association, Beijing Construction Committee, and Beijing Housing Technology Development Co.

BC Wood, along with Canada Wood partners, COFI and CFPA, see a strong potential for Canadian wood products at this event and will coordinate participation.

When and Where?  

Date: September 27-29, 2011  
Location: Beijing, China

Why should you come?  

• Cost savings for BC Wood members
• Gain in-market exposure and first hand market intelligence
• Opportunity to meet key builders and developers in China

Who should participate?

Manufacturers of:

• Glulam and heavy timbers
• Prebuilt homes
• Outdoor wood products (Western Red Cedar)
• Landscaping products
• Exterior siding and panel products

Market Opportunities

• The rise in China’s middle class is credited for a growing and increasingly important import market. The country’s rapidly growing middle class has spurred strong domestic consumption of housing and material goods.
• Over the past 10 years, there has been rapid growth in China’s use of imported wood products.
• Despite the global recession, the China market is continuing to grow with GDP growth projected to continue at up to 8.5% per annum.
• China’s new policies, focused on improving energy efficiency and environmental impact of structures, make wood building systems an increasingly attractive option, with benefits such as carbon reduction and seismic stability

Save the date and register now!

For more information or to register, please click here  to download the registration form and fax to 604-882-7300 or contact David Pao at 604-882-7100 or dpao@bcwood.com

The Japan Home and Building Show is the most famous building products show amongst foreign exhibitors. Every year companies from Canada, the US, across Asia, and many parts of Europe come to this show to find new Japanese partners or build on their existing market presence. Even companies that do not participate directly time their business trips to Japan around the middle of November so that they can at least visit the show or take part in related receptions.

This year, however, many companies will be surprised to find out that the JH&BS will be held from September 28th through 30th and not in November. This is because the UIA is holding their “World Congress of Architecture” in Tokyo in and the JH&BS organizers agreed with the UIA organizers to tie the two events together. The UIA’s website explains their event in the following way:

“Described as the “Olympics of Architecture,” the UIA World Congress is a major international architectural event that attracts around 10,000 architects, engineers, researchers and students.Since the inaugural World Congress in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1948, it has taken place triennial in 23 different cities around the world.”

By adding these international guests to the JH&BS’ already large audience of Japanese industry professionals, the show organizers are expecting that exhibitors will be able to reach a much wider audience than in the past. This will be of particular interest to those who are looking to begin marketing to other parts of Asia as an event of this calibre in Tokyo will be sure to attract the top people in architecture from neighbouring Korea and China. Considering the bleak outlook that some people foresaw after the 3/11 earthquake, this added vibrancy to the JH&BS is a welcome development.

Another point in this year’s JH&BS’ favour is that some major wholesalers have decided to cancel their own private trade shows in the summer and fall. This means that the JH&BS will be the only venue for buyers, builders, and architects to see new products this fall. It is expected that the strong resulting interest amongst attendees will overcome any confusion resulting from the change in dates.

BC Wood now has its funding in place for the new fiscal year and as a result I am able to accept applications for show space. Please contact me for more information on this year’s event as well as on how to apply.

obs, Tourism and Innovation Minister Pat Bell is lauding the opening of British Columbia’s first cross laminated timber plant today, which he said he believes could open up a new market as significant as an emerging lumber market in China.

The $13-million plant in Okanagan Falls will start production with 7.5 million board feet of lumber on one shift, but that could grow into billions of board feet in the next decade, Bell predicted. That kind of aggressive market growth would chart a similar bath in China, where in the past decade, lumber exports have grown from tens of millions of board feet to 2.8 billion board feet in 2010.

Any new, significant new market for lumber would benefit north-central B.C., which until recently, has been reliant on the U.S. housing market, still in the midst of a collapse.

“It opens the market to taller buildings, greater spans, institutional-type sector. And it really competes with the concrete tilt-up construction,” said Bell, the MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie.

The province supported the new plant with a $2.5 million grant, with Ottawa chipping in another $3.2 million. The company, Structurlam, put in $7.5 million.

“In the same way that our glue-laminated beams offer an alternative to steel in long and complex spans, our CrossLam panels provide an alternative to concrete that uses local, renewable resources with compelling structural and environmental advantages,” said Structurlam president Bill Downing.

Click here to read entire article

This week, I got the opportunity to speak with Scott Boates, the Sales Manager for Cedar Shake and Shingle, from Teal-Jones Group.

The Teal-Jones Group started out as a small organization in 1946, and has since grown to the largest independently owned logging and lumbering organization in West Coast BC, employing over 1000 people.  They are headquartered in Surrey, BC, on the banks of the Fraser River. Currently, their operations span British Columbia coastal regions, the lower Fraser Valley, interior British Columbia, northern, central, and southern Vancouver Island, and the Queen Charlotte Islands. In 2005/2006, they completed a new small log mill (JS Jones) in Surrey as well as a planner mill in Sumas, Washington.

The Teal-Jones Group sets itself apart from its competitors by being a fully integrated company.  They do everything from planting trees, to milling, to selling the wood and everything in between.  Since 2004, The Teal-Jones Group has planted close to 7 million seedlings throughout B.C. which will provide future generations with a continuous supply of natural resources.

The Teal-Jones Group has attended every single Global Buyers Mission (GBM) and will be attending the 2010 GBM in Whistler this September.  Scott mentions that they have had a very positive experience with the GBM and has always gotten new clients from it.

Some advise that Scott passes on to first time exhibitors is to “be patient; usually you will have more than one opportunity to speak with the prospective clients.”  Also, “this is a different type of show, it is way more personal.” It is best to take your time with the people that come through your both.

The Malaysian Timber Council will be organizing the MTC Global Woodmart (MGW) 2010 from October 19-20, 2010 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).  This will be the first event of its kind in South East Asia and will serve to provide a one-stop selling, buying and networking platform for all suppliers and buyers of timber products from Malaysia and abroad.  The MGW will also facilitate business among local and/or overseas wholesalers, manufacturers, importers, distributors and ancillary providers in the timber industry and trade and promote and encourage the wider application and use of timber from Malaysia as well as international sources.

Reasons why you should participate in teh MTC Global WoodMart 2010:

1. Enables buyers and manufacturers of wood products to source their product needs through a dedicated event
2. Created trade opportunities for timber industry members by bringing together international buyers and sellers from around the world
3. MTC, HQ, and their offices in London, Shanghai, and Dubai will undertake marketing efforts to bring prospective buyers from traditional markets (ie, Europe, USA, Japan) and emerging markets (India, Middle East, Eastern Europe) for business matching with timber industry members from around the world.

Exhiborts who sign up before May 30, 2010 will qualify for an Early Bird Discount.  For further information, please visit www.globalwoodmart.my.

Click here to view invititation letter.

Click here to view the page 1 of brochure.

Click here to view page 2 of brochure.

We have launched our Pre-Registration Program for 2009 participants of the Global Buyers Mission. If you are a past participant but did NOT yet receive your invitation to attend, please let me know as soon as possible.

If you have not exhibited at the GBM before but would like an invitation, please let me know and once pre-registration closes on April 23rd, we will send you an application to participate this year.

The GBM continues to be the best business building events in Canada for wood products manufacturers interested in growing their export market opportunities – and developing new business relationships with local architects, designers and developers, as well as other exhibiting wood products companies. Response from our 2009 Exhibitors surveys indicated an estimated $22+ million in new business from attendance at the event.

For information and photos from past year’s events, visit the BC Wood website at www.bcwood.comand select Global Buyers Mission under Programs & Services.

For more information, please contact Randi Walker at rwalker@bcwood.com.

BC Wood is coordinating member participation at the upcoming Wood Solution Fair in Vancouver at the Vancouver Convention Centre on April 22, 2010. The Wood Solutions Fair is for decision makers in the construction industry and is targeted towards professionals who need to know what wood products are available and how they can be used.
Canada

This event is specifically targeted for:

• Architects
• Engineers – Structural and Civil
• Builders
• Building Designers
• Building Officials
• Construction Technologists

The Wood Solutions Fair will also feature:

• Informative seminars dedicated to wood products
• Technical information from suppliers, manufacturers, wood engineering consultants, and industry associations
• Exhibits featuring a full range of structural and architectural wood products

There is a ground swell of interest in using more wood in non-residential construction projects in BC. The Federal and Provincial governments have invested heavily in stimulus dollars for the construction of publicly funded buildings. Additional interest is also being generated by the British Columbia’s new Wood First program. The Wood Solutions Fair will give you an opportunity to talk to key architects, engineers, and the municipal officials on these projects. It will also give you an opportunity to learn more about the Wood First program and how it can affect your business.

If you would like to participate in the Wood Solutions Fair or want more information, contact Brian Hawrysh at 604-882-7100 or bhawrysh@bcwood.com.

Click here for more information on the Wood Solutions Fair

In discussions with a number of wood product manufacturers, both here and across the border, I have noticed a significant change in the Bid-Close ratio over the past few months. For those who don’t know, this ratio is comprised of the number of quotes a manufacturer bids on in relation to the jobs that they actually land. If a company bids on five jobs and they land one, they have a Bid–Close ratio of 20%.This ratio acts as a barometer to the market which is a good measurement to the relative success manufacturers have in signing sales agreements.

The general rule of thumb for the wood industry is the higher up the value-added chain you go, the greater the bid-to-close ratio becomes. For example, finished product manufacturers tend to have a higher bid-to-close ratio than do reman operations often due to the time, complexity, and expertise of bidding on the project. The more time and effort spent on the bid commonly leads to a higher percentage chance of landing the job.

With the downturn in the market locally, and the economic mess south of the border the Bid–Close ratio has changed dramatically. For example, Architectural millwork manufacturers who would normally work on a Bid–Close ratio of between 45% to 50% are now working on a 20% ratio. Engineered wood product manufacturers who are usually even higher (60+%) are hovering around the 23% to 28% range.

What to make of this? Well, almost all the manufacturers that I have spoken to have been extremely busy on the bid side. Comments that I typically heard are “I’ve never been busier quoting on jobs than I am now” . It also seems that buyers are doing their due diligence and shopping their projects to a greater number of suppliers than ever before, some asking for quotes months before the time that manufacturers are normally involved. I’ve also heard that some manufacturers are taking on projects with extremely thin margins in order to just stay busy.

As the markets gradually recover I expect the Bid–Close ratio will likely follow suit and return to normal. For the old adage “that were not in the business for the practice” still holds true today as it did before this downturn.  Manufacturers still need to turn a profit in order to stay in business.

Ainsworth Lumber has completed the sale of “non-core” specialty plywood facilities, allowing the Vancouver, B.C.-based producer to concentrate on engineered wood products.

“In early 2009, we established a clear strategy of divesting non-core assets and dedicating our resources to our most profitable operations,” said president/c.e.o. Rick Huff. He added that the firm is now “well positioned to take advantage of an eventual recovery in North American demand for engineered wood products.” Read more

We now have received over 100 applications from architects and designers to attend the GBM.  Of these, 95 have registered.  We anticipate that we will achieve our goal of 100 registrations by the next few days, a record for this event.  Of the applications we have received, the split between new and returnees is 50/50 which we are also very pleased with.  For more information on the architect program of the GBM, please feel free to give me a call at BC Wood offices at 604 882-7100.