FOREST ECONOMY AT THE BEGINNING OF A NEW MILLENNIUM
Part 3: Furniture and Wooden Constructions

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:
The global furniture production has reached record levels. The forecasts made a decade ago predicting the maintenance of the furniture production centers in the developed countries and the exportation to the regions under development have not been confirmed. Countries with handicraft technologies and having no wooden resources have become global furniture exporters to the detriment of traditional manufacturers. The performances of wood-based boards and of the equipment employed in wood-processing industry diminished the share of solid wood within the structure of furniture. China is now the leading furniture producer and dominates the North American and Central European markets for several years. The new outlets have trouble in adapting to the classical selling systems because of the population’s low income. New industrial groups are gradually taking control over the sale of furniture. The regions with constant demographic growth will be the tomorrow’s consumers of wood-based products.
 Because of the unexpected rise in the price of steel, wood constructions can now compete with the classical systems. The new wooden structures are developed with pre-designed properties and meet the same requirements as the other building materials. The legislation in the Central European countries has changed in the favor of the new wooden structures, allowing the building of civil and industrial constructions, of various complexities.

Key words: furniture, wooden constructions, raw materials, wood-based boards.