Nearly 400 wood-materials scientists and engineers from around the world are attending the annual International Wood Composite Materials Symposium and Technical Workshop at the Washington State University Compton Union Building.
The April 7 – 10 symposium, showcasing research from WSU’s Wood Materials and Engineering Laboratory, will feature Mark Suwyn, chairman and CEO of Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, as keynote speaker. He will speak at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday on “The Forest Products Industry — in Transition.’’
Tuesday’s program session addresses manufacturers’ increasing need to provide environmentally friendly products to customers. The session provides the latest information on North American and European product certification plans for particleboard and engineered wood products.
Wednesday’s session will focus on engineered wood composites. Experts will discuss market opportunities and trends, and state-of-the-art production processes leading to new applications for the composites.
Other sessions on Wednesday and Thursday will address quality improvement tools for particleboard, and product and process innovation.
The symposium ends at noon, April 10. An open house and tours of the laboratory, located at the WSU Research and Technology Park, N.E. 1615 Eastgate Blvd., off Terre View Drive, follows from 1:30 4 p.m. The tours are free and open to the public.
The laboratory serves as a consultant to the U.S. Navy and has worked with more than 100 companies in the development of engineered wood products and building materials. It is an International Congress of Building Officials accredited laboratory.
