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Tomorrow's light-weight Furniture Solutions "lightweight.network" at ZOW 2007

A constant stream of new ideas and products from the furniture supplies industry continues to inject new stimulus into the interior furnishings market. Egger, Rehau and Hettich have joined forces in the "lightweight.network" to pool their expertise, give shape to a common vision and create a new set of synergies. The new development network is focused on light-weight design. The technology is ramping up now that frameless light-weight panels have gone into industrial production. The three member companies of the "lightweight.network" will present the product and its potential applications at ZOW in Bad Salzuflen on February 23rd - March 1st 2007.

The goal of the joint effort is to integrate all companies along the value-add chain into the long-term development process and develop and market complete frameless light-weight panel system solutions. Egger in Austria started up the first light-weight panel production line in August 2006. The revolutionary new machine, which was developed by SHS, is a milestone in the history of panel production.

However, without adequate edging and fittings solutions, light-weight panels would never a marketable product. This is where the lightweight.network comes in. Rehau specializes in the development and production of innovative polymer-based edge solutions, and Hettich is a leading supplier of fittings. By combining their expertise, the three companies are now able to offer compatible solutions for fabricators who work with the new light-weight panels.

Other suppliers may want to joint the group, and this would be welcomed by the "lightweight.network" members.

ZOW shines the Spotlight on light-weight Design

Light-weight panels and the advantages they offer have been a topic of discussion at ZOW for a number of years. The organizers want to raise the profile of this technology in 2007. Taking the breakthrough in industrial production as the starting point, ZOW will create a forum which will be dedicated specifically to light-weight technology. Stand E2 in Hall 23.2 opposite the Architecture Lounge has been reserved for this purpose.

In addition to an attractive appearance which is becoming more and more important to end users, frameless light-weight panels offer the advantage of reduced weight and easy handling. Now that industrial-scale production has gotten underway, these two advantages can be fully exploited, and this gives furniture designers and interior decorators the opportunity to address a whole range of new applications. The new material is ideal for a number of products including doors, cabinet furniture, tables and worktops. Low material consumption during the production of light-weight panels is another big advantage. Particularly at a time when wood is becoming a scarce commodity and raw material prices continue to rise, this can mean big savings for producers and customers.

The members of the "lightweight.network" will jointly present their innovative ideas at ZOW 2007 and inject new stimulus into the market. As a result of the new forum event and the expertise of the exhibitors, ZOW now has a well-earned reputation as the innovation marketplace which communicates new ideas for tomorrow's intelligent furniture.


Egger

The Austrian-based Egger Group was founded in 1961 and is now one of Europe's leading suppliers of wood-based materials. The family-managed company currently employs about 5,100 persons and produces more than five million m³ of high-quality chipboard, MDF and OSB panels at 16 sites across Europe. From plants in Austria, Germany, France, the UK, Russia and soon in Romania (start of construction 2006), the company supplies innovative wood-based products to the furniture industry, wood dealers, flooring dealers and home improvement stores.

Hettich

Engineering solutions for furniture have been the core business at this international company for more than 70 years. The name Hettich has become synonymous with innovation, quality and dependability in the furniture, automotive, white goods, electrical and electronics industry.

The Hettich Group, operating under the umbrella brand Hettich International, is one of the world's largest producers of furniture fittings. Seven German production companies and plants in Spain, the Czech Republic, Russia, the US, Brazil and China along with international sales companies currently employ around 5,000 employees, about 3,000 of whom work in Germany.

Rehau

Rehau is one of the leading system producers of polymer-based solutions for the international construction, automotive and industrial market.

Using "Design for Furniture" as the slogan, Rehau develops, produces and markets sophisticated, functional finishes and coordinated systems for the office, kitchen, bath, living and sleeping worlds. As innovator and market leader in the complete edge machining process, Rehau continually pushes product, design and process boundaries. The company offers a large range of decors and unicolors which are coordinated to enhance the collections of international panel manufacturers. Rehau has introduced basic edge (support edge) technology which has been specially developed for the light-weight market.

More than 14,000 Rehau employees at 170 sites on all five
continents work towards the common goal of achieving continual growth and excellent long-term business performance.