The Dubai Woodshow 2006 – a dedicated wood and wood machinery exhibition in the Middle East – has proved to be a resounding success with the organiser claiming the signing of deals worth over Dh23 million ($6.26 million) during the three-day event, held last month.

The construction boom in the UAE is fuelling unprecedented growth of the country’s wood market, with the total trade of wood and wood products recording a remarkable 37.5 per cent jump last year over 2004, according to trade traffic statistics compiled by the Statistics Department of Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC).

Besides termites, several other insects are also known to infest and seriously damage wood, causing considerable damage to property. These include various bark beetles, powderpost beetles and the round and flat-headed borers that are found alive most frequently in unseasoned wood.

German wood processing equipment manufacturer Weinig, says that its range of timber-processing machinery required in the production chain of solid timber such as ripping, cross-cutting, finger jointing, moulding and profiling, helps customers maximise their profits.

Leading solid wood and building materials supply company Danube has enhanced the choice of products available to the regional wood, timber and furniture sector by introducing Italian Bendywood, and France-based Oberflex, at the recently held at Dubai Woodshow 2006.

The third edition of the Abimad 2006, organised by the Brazilian high-end furniture manufacturers association, held at Sao Paulo in Brazil (18 to 21 February), was a great success with furniture industries forecasting $8 million in business with GCC countries in the coming year.