Issue 379
At first glance, the challenges facing our sector can feel daunting. Rising costs, tightening regulations, persistent skills shortages, and the urgent push toward sustainability all weigh heavily in day-to-day discussions. But to focus solely on these hurdles is to overlook the steady stream of meaningful progress and individual contributions that quietly shape the furniture and joinery industry.
Each month, our inboxes and news feeds are filled with stories worth celebrating — long-serving employees retiring after decades of dedication, industry pioneers leaving behind lasting legacies, businesses supporting charitable causes, and inspiring collaborations that fuse tradition with innovation. These stories may not always grab headlines, but they make up the real, human fabric of the industry.
As we enter the final quarter of 2025, themes of sustainability, innovation, and workforce development continue to drive the conversation. In this issue, we spotlight the initiatives and individuals bringing these principles to life.
We begin with a round-up of the open house events taking place across the sector this October. These gatherings offer a valuable chance to see machinery in action, explore the latest technology, and gain hands-on insights from the expert teams behind the solutions — a real opportunity to connect, learn, and prepare for the future.
Our insight section features essential guidance from ACID CEO Laura Newbold Green on protecting your intellectual property in the face of AI and copycat threats.
Elsewhere in this issue, meet our cover star, Blum’s latest innovation – MERIVOBOX; discover the key trends shaping wide belt sanding, shared by Mirka’s Neil Newbrook, and learn how Ecogate®’s smart extraction technology – installed and distributed by Extractly Ltd – is helping UK manufacturers cut energy usage, reduce costs, and move closer to their net zero targets.
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