In Sibexpocentre the international SibWoodExpo exhibition completed its work

On September 14, 2018 the international SibWoodExpo exhibition was completed which has been for the first time held jointly with the German company Deutsche Messe AG - the largest organiser of the international exhibitions of the latest developments of the woodworking industry. Leading companies of the wood-processing industry have participated in this event, significant for our region. As exhibi-tors there were not only Russian, but also foreign representatives from such countries as: Sweden, Germany, Finland and Estonia. Participants have exchanged experience, have held negotiations and also have concluded long-term contracts on cooperation.

Representatives of Deutsche Messe noted that they in turn are very happy to cooperate with Sibexpocentre, since Irkutsk Region has for many years been the leader of the timber industry in the Russian Federation, and this fact also influenced the decision of foreign partners to make such a large-scale joint project - SibWoodExpo exhibition.

Undoubtedly it stands to mention the important role of the Government of Irkutsk Region in formation of the SibWoodExpo exhibition as a significant international project which purpose is to increase the level of development of the region's timber industry complex and to gain knowledge and new modern technologies shared by the foreign partners of the exhibition. Ruslan Bolotov, Deputy Chairman of the Government of Irkutsk Region made a welcoming speech on the opening day of the exhibition:

The key event at the SibWoodExpo exhibition was the ‘New Trends and Technologies in the Timber Industry Complex. Bioenergetics’ scientific and practical conference, in which formation the Government of Irkutsk Region, representatives of leading universities of Germany, as well as representatives of the top management of the Deutsche Messe Company took part. The speakers shared their experience and knowledge on the latest technologies for processing of wood waste, fuel and wood based materials, on current trends in the development of forestry technologies, which are actively used not only in Germany, but all over Europe, and also told entrepreneurs how all this can be introduced and used by enterprises of the forest complex of Irkutsk Region. Nikolai Kovalchuk, Deputy Minister of Timber Complex of Irkutsk Region has performed with the words of a greeting: ‘This conference is important for us, first of all, because the strategy for the development of the forestry complex supposes the availability of new technologies that should be aimed at deep processing of wood. We’d most like if by results of this conference participants having gained for themselves new knowledge embodied them in real projects. We hope that the technologies recommended by us will certainly be introduced on the territory of Irkutsk Region.

At the scientific and practical conference Alexander Wurst, First Vice-President of Deutsche Messe AG (Germany) has greeted all attendees, having designated the important role of this event for the development of forest industry. Further the reports were submitted by the German speakers. One of the first reports was made by Mr. Ruediger Staib, representative of the German Center for Forest Work and Technology KWF GmbH. He told the audience about the new tendencies and technologies applied in forestry of Germany, about work on various power sources and also about development of the special equipment - advanced machines manageable and all-terrain on any uneven surface. Thanks to such equipment, practically no damage is done to the soil. Sergey Herzen, representative of LINCK (Germany) has shown a video in which step-by-step operation of the woodworking machine was shown. He told in detail about wood processing stages, focusing attention on every moment of video. Also at the conference Mr. Frank Brodbeck, Professor of the Department of Biomass and Logistics of the Rottenberg Forest University (Germany) presented a subject of production of wood pellets and the market of pellets in Germany. Mr. Bohumil Kasal, Professor, Doctor of engineering science, Director of Fraunhofer Institute of Wood Science named after Wilhelm Klauditz (Germany) told about use of wood in constructions at extreme loading. Timur Irtuganov, Director General of the Association of the Furniture and Woodworking Industry of Russia presented the report ‘Current status of the timber industry complex in Russia. Problems and ways to solve them’ (the city of Moscow). Alexander Pekarets, Technical Director of Forest Company LLC (Irkutsk) presented innovative production of charcoal briquettes. And also Dmitry Kalinin, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, Senior Lecturer, Expert of the Energy Committee of the State Duma of the fifth convocation, participant of Technological platforms ‘Small-scale distributive power generation’ and ‘Bioenergetics’ (Irkutsk) presented a new technology of energy efficient use of bark and wood waste.

On September 11, the traditional III Regional Forestry Forum was held, at which issues of the development of the timber complex of Irkutsk Region were discussed. It was noted that the number of forest fires in different territories of Irkutsk Region has significantly decreased, and this is a very important point, since the forest industry is the basic industry for the region. Irkutsk Region is really a unique entity that has a large forest resource base - more than 60 million hectares, timber resources make 9 billion cubic metres. And the key task is the rational use of resources.

Also, the presentation of the strategy for development of the timber complex in Irkutsk Region was held, in addition such issues as the investment opportunities of the timber processing complex, prospects for the development of the market of sanitary tissue products in Russia, new approaches to hunting management and many other things were discussed.

At the forestry forum Andrei Shapovalov, Director General of Sibexpocentre OJSC presented the presentation of the SibWoodExpo-2019 exhibition. Deep wood processing, high value-added production technologies, forest protection and restoration of forests, training of personnel in the forestry sector and fire control will become the main directions of the exhibition. He noted that for the first time during the exhibition there will be the competitions within the DEMODAY programme at which the leading forestry equipment manufacturers will conduct model works on the open forest area.

The organiser of DEMODAY is the German Center for Forest Work and Technology KWF GmbH (Germany), which representative Mr. Ruediger Staib attended the SibWoodExpo exhibition as one of the invited speakers. DEMODAY is a modern format which will enable leading forestry machinery manufacturers to present their products in operation, to show its opportunities and advantages. Such companies as Katmatshu, Ponsse, Liebher, John Deer, etc. and also producers of Hussquarna and Bosch equipment regularly participate in similar shows which take place in Europe. The government of Irkutsk Region in turn supports and aids for this large-scale event to be held at the worthy level in the territory of the timber complex of our region.

On September 12 the ‘Instruments of state support for stimulating innovation development of the timber processing complex’ round table took place on which Nikolai Kovalchuk, Deputy Minister of Timber Complex of Irkutsk Region told about main goals: ‘Today the main task is substantial increase of volume of deep processing that will give a chance to avoid export supplies of the round wood. The purpose of our meeting is to define those moments which will help development of the timber complex, including measures of State support for implementation of projects. It is important to understand what problems exist in realisation of this support. It should be noted also that in the timber complex there is a problem of organisation of illegal buying up of the Russian wood by foreign companies. Therefore today it is very important for us to discuss all these issues.’

Thus, on the round table such issues as measures of state support of the forest industry complex, as well as instruments to facilitate lending to small and medium-sized businesses were widely discussed. The urgent issues of financing and support of enterprises of the forest complex of Irkutsk Region were touched upon. Entrepreneurs received full information about the existing financing programmes and also assessed the conditions for granting loans: rates, terms, preferential projects, etc.

On September 13, within the exhibition a youth platform was held at which the ‘Future of Siberian Forests’ round table among the youth took place. Students from four largest universities of the region: Irkutsk National Research Technical University, Irkutsk State Transport University, Baikal State University and Bratsk State University came together. The themes of the roundtable were the best youth initiatives in the forestry sector. Students talked about the negative impact of the transport monopoly, technologies for recycling of timber industry complex waste and many other things. At the end of the round table a championship between students was held. Innovative products of the timber complex became its subject.

Also during the exhibition on the open area of Sibexpocentre there were ‘Woodcutter’ demonstration performances and woodcarving. Experts of the business competed, providing the real works of art to the jury. From usual round timber the whole sculptures turned out. The audience could contemplate with their own eyes extraordinary hard, and at the same time fascinating work of masters. A letter of gratitude for creating a fabulous bear sculpture from a wooden massif was presented to Ivan Butenko, Head of the ‘Lukomorye at Baikal’ project

On September 14 the solemn closing ceremony and rewarding of participants of the international specialised SibWoodExpo exhibition was held. One and all exhibitors received memorable diplomas. Gold star was handed to the Ministry of Timber Complex of Irkutsk region, EstererWdGmbh Company, Eland Company, Stroydomeksport Company, Kami Company, Altaylestekhmash Company, Wood Profi Mashinery Company, Specpritcep Company, Timbermash Baikal Company, Link Company, VeistoOy Company, Main Directorate of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Irkutsk Region. Silver star was awarded to Company-NB, Forest Complex of Siberia, KvarnstrandsVerktygAB, Ilim Group, Kapitalstroy, Jartek, Rusforest Magistralny, Ind Timber and also ANS Graifer Company.

Organisers of the exhibition Sibexpocentre OJSC and Deutsche Messe Company thank the Government of Irkutsk Region for active support, participation and assistance in organising the SibWoodExpo exhibition.

We can say with confidence that the event was held at the worthy level. Russian-German cooperation really gives a powerful impetus to the development of the forest industry in our region. And the knowledge and practices shared by foreign speakers with representatives of local businesses will be able in the future to positively influence the level of the entire forestry sector.