PRESS INFORMATION EGGER AT THE EXPO, June 2015 00 PRESS INFORMATION EGGER AT THE EXPO, June 2015 Table of contents Sustainable EGGER products take centre stage ...................................... 03 On challenges, partnerships and opportunities on the world stage............................................................... 08 01 PRESS INFORMATION EGGER AT THE EXPO, June 2015 Your contacts Ulrich Bühler Lennart Wiechell Head of Marketing and Head Architect German Sales EGGER Group Pavilion and Managing Partner at SCHMIDHUBER For queries: FRITZ EGGER GmbH & Co. Holzwerkstoffe Manuela Leitner Weiberndorf 20 6380 St. Johann in Tirol Austria Phone Fax +43 5 0600-10638 +43 5 0600-90638 manuela.leitner@egger.com 02 PRESS INFORMATION EGGER AT THE EXPO, June 2015 Sustainable EGGER products take centre stage Audience of millions experience wood-based materials. By the end of October, 20 million people are expected to have flooded through the gates of the Expo grounds in Milan, with three million headed for the German Pavilion. Whether visitors stroll through the exhibition, sit in the restaurant, wash their hands, or experience the Be(e) active show – they will be surrounded by EGGER products. The Working Group German Pavilion (ARGE) selected EGGER as a partner to supply its wood-based materials for the interior fittings. With a complex and demanding build, the German Pavilion was completed on time and immediately proved to be a magnet for visitors. On 1 May 2015, the German Pavilion was officially opened under the motto "Fields of Ideas". It is an active and fertile landscape, full of ideas, sustainable solutions and a respectful approach to nature where visitors will experience an open and friendly image of Germany. The building stands out thanks to the freely accessible, 10 m high landscape level, made from domestic wood. Light "idea seedlings" provide shade on the gently rising wooden terrace. Visitors enter the impressive "Fields of Ideas" of the German Pavilion, where the interior houses an exhibition with ideas on the future of food, food production and sustainable consumption. The path through the exhibition merges into the magnificent show "Be(e) active“. Innovative EGGER materials are used inside the rooms, including flame-retardant Eurolight lightweight board, a version developed especially for Milan and the compact laminate Flammex, which was developed especially for Italian fire protection regulations and certified by the CATAS Institute. And at the end of the world exhibition, in line with the Expo's sustainability ethos, the German Pavilion will be dismantled and recycled. At the exhibition: 700 unique pieces Inside the German Pavilion's exhibition spaces, visitors journey through the topics of soil, water, climate and biodiversity. EGGER Eurolight lightweight boards were selected for this "Garden of Ideas" and provide a colourful and diverse landscape of lamellas. The composite board was created by EGGER specifically for the German Pavilion and runs for four kilometres in total. It is a strong, flame-retardant 16 mm thick Eurospan Flammex board with a lightweight, highly robust cardboard honeycomb core and curved design. Each one of the 700 Eurolight boards differs from each other. Despite a generous lamella thickness of 51 mm, with the light-weight honeycomb core it was easy for the transporters and installers to move and assemble. The lamellas were 03 PRESS INFORMATION EGGER AT THE EXPO, June 2015 edged with EGGER thin MDF HD edging. These boards were used by the trade fair builder Nüssli to create hundreds of curved lamellas with integrated LED light bars. Finally, they were painted in 13 different colours and assembled on site. This is how the "Garden of Ideas", with its four topic areas, became an unforgettable spatial experience. The flight of the bees show With live music and two ceiling suspended screens, the audience of the "Be(e) active" show experience a flight above Germany from a bee's perspective. Each day 16,000 visitors sing along and stamp to the beat on the EGGER laminate flooring. The H2790 Moor Acacia decor from the new "EGGER Laminate Flooring 2015 – 2017" collection underlines the nature theme. Thanks to progress in flooring technology, the 250 m 2 surface area is easy to clean and resists the unusual stress which it is subjected to, through the high number of visitors. By the end of October, this floor will have been stepped on by approximately 6 million feet. German Restaurant: An innovative combination In the German Restaurant, visitors sit together at long tables and enjoy contemporary food and design. The benches and cabinets are robust and cosy, with slim tabletops incorporating current design trends. Versatile compact laminates and robust MDF boards in attractive decors and synchronised pore surfaces are used here. The flame-retardant compact laminate with the Feelwood synchronised pore surface is an innovation developed by EGGER specifically for the German Pavilion. The product fulfils strict fire protection regulations, high-traffic demands and contemporary design. Impact and scratch resistant, solvent, moisture, temperature resistant and hard wearing - these are attributes characterising EGGER compact laminate. It is specifically used in hightraffic areas for furniture and interior design. Made of a multitude of core layers, the product has a closed and attractive edge. This black core is a feature of the design. The flame-retardant compact laminate with the H3309 Sand Gladstone Oak decor and the synchronised pore surface ST28 Feelwood Nature is used in the German Restaurant. It provides tabletops and the back panels of the benches with a natural oak look, it is extremely robust and at the same time provides a filigree look. This decor-texture-material combination can be seen for the first time at the Expo Milano 2015. In the tradition of large world exhibitions it is an innovation. "Symphonie" Restaurant conveys a stylish woodgrain look In the "Symphonie" Restaurant, visitors enjoy their meals in an elegant and stylish setting. The light H1372, ST22 Natural Aragon Oak decor characterises the entire space. MDF was applied as coreboard of the laminates. The wall cladding was made with 16mm Eurodekor MDF and the dining tables with EGGER compact laminate. The carefully set 04 PRESS INFORMATION EGGER AT THE EXPO, June 2015 colour accents follow a natural look. As such, the dark woodgrain H1215, ST22 Brown Cassino Ash decor is used on table tops and wall claddings. It is combined with U961, ST15 Graphite on wardrobes, walls and counter frontals, the room exudes calm – perfect conditions for undisturbed conversations and tasteful delights. VIP Lounge provides a calming retreat The VIP Lounge of the German Pavilion is used for receiving prominent guests and as a bar and retreat area for undisturbed discussions. The curved wall elements flow into the ceiling panels, creating an unimposing feature and include H1372, ST22 Natural Aragon Oak with a 13 mm filigree of compact laminate Flammex. The reception desk and the counter are also made of this robust, flame retardant material, which EGGER certified in Italy especially for this purpose. The 19 mm Eurodekor MDF benches lighten the atmosphere of the VIP Lounge with the intentional contrast between W1000, ST9 Premium White and U961, ST2 Graphite. "Dining room" with a view From the shaded terrace of the German Pavilion there is an exceptional view of the Expo grounds. This is why a cosy snack up there is particularly tasty. The "dining room" represents a high quality food stand integrated into the Pavilion façade. Visitors can order a typically German picnic basket and receive it across an EGGER Graphite compact laminates counter. Sanitary areas: Well-maintained auxiliary rooms Washing your hands has turned into a design experience. To make sure that the design concept in the Lounge and Restaurant toilets was not sterile, the architects incorporated natural coloured elements: Natural Aragon Oak (H1372), Driftwood (H3090) and the calming uni colour Aubergine (U330) ensure a calming atmosphere when combined with the simple, white sinks. The moisture resistant EGGER compact laminate with Feelwood synchronised pore was chosen for fixtures and mounts. 05 PRESS INFORMATION EGGER AT THE EXPO, June 2015 Sustainable EGGER products take centre stage → The 2,700 m2 interior of the German → The light H1372, ST22 Natural Aragon Pavilion takes visitors on the adventurous "Fields of Ideas“. → The EGGER Eurolight lightweight Oak décor sets the tone in the elegant "Symphonie" restaurant. → The curved wall elements, which board was selected for the "Garden of Ideas" within the exhibition. characterise the look of the VIP Lounge, flow into the ceiling panels and were made with filigree 13 mm compact laminate with the H1372, ST22 Natural Aragon Oak décor. → The H2790 Moor Acacia decor from the new "EGGER Laminate Flooring 2015 – 2017" collection underlines the nature theme of the "Be(e) active" show. → In the "dining room", visitors receive their → The innovative flame retardant compact laminate with Feelwood → synchronised pore surface, fulfils the strict requirements regarding fire protection and high design demands. picnic basket across an EGGER Graphite compact laminate counter. In order to make sure that the design concept of the Lounge and Restaurant toilets was not sterile, the architects incorporated accents in natural colours. 06 PRESS INFORMATION EGGER AT THE EXPO, June 2015 On challenges, partnerships and opportunities on the world stage EGGER became partner of the ARGE German Pavilion at the Expo Milano 2015 thanks to its innovative solutions. From 1 May to 31 October 2015, Milan hosts the world fair Expo Milano. In the Italian metropolis, numerous nations present their impressive structures, exhibitions, shows and ideas on the topic of "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life". As a partner of the Working Group German Pavilion, EGGER supplied its decorative wood-based materials for the furniture and interior design of the German Pavilion. The topics of sustainability, innovation and recycling have been taken up by the German Expo's "Fields of Ideas" and also by the products used by EGGER. EGGER's wood-based innovative solutions have been integrated into the German Pavilion and provide the Austrian wood-based materials manufacturer with an international stage to showcase its products. For six months, millions of visitors will be able to see how wood-based materials can be used creatively in furniture and interior design. "Expo Milano 2015 introduces many new and future oriented technologies and offers a forum to discuss questions, such as the preservation of our environment. For EGGER, wood is an essential resource that must be sustainably managed", says Ulrich Bühler, Head of Marketing and Sales EGGER Group: "It is therefore a great honour for us to support the Milan Expo, partner the ARGE German Pavilion and contribute to its success with our innovative products." EGGER products open up new possibilities EGGER was selected by the ARGE German Pavilion to be a partner, thanks to its leading role in developing innovative solutions, sustainability and quality. For head architect Lennart Wiechell, Managing Partner at SCHMIDHUBER a central aspect to planning and building the entire German Pavilion was the ability to easily dismantle and recycle the materials. This ties in with EGGER's philosophy on recycling and reuse. He also gives additional reasons why decorative wood-based materials where used for furniture and interior design: "We've been working with EGGER materials for a long time. Over the past year, we have been particularly surprised by the new surface quality of synchronised pore. EGGER opens up entirely new possibilities for using its products in areas requiring a long service life and high resistance. Our design requirements regarding the look and feel of the German Pavilion have been fully met by these products." 07 PRESS INFORMATION EGGER AT THE EXPO, June 2015 Inside the German Pavilion, it is primarily simple, pure surfaces that are used, such as light oak decors, but also colourful glazed Eurolight lightweight boards. This is in keeping with the spirit of the project, which focused on the conscious and concentrated use of materials and energy. Saving resources through the design has been reflected in the materials chosen. And after the Expo ... At the end of the Expo Milano 2015, the German Pavilion will be dismantled, just like all the other country pavilions, with the exception of the Italian one. This is an important aspect which is greatly aided by the EGGER products – either in recycling or further use. "The furniture of the German Pavilion will continue to be attractive after the Expo, and it will enjoy a long life. Further use by Expo fans would be a desirable outcome," says architect Lennart Wiechell, with an eye on the future. The conversion of materials would also make sense in his opinion: "We already have colleges that have expressed an interest in the material. In addition, the path of recycling still remains, where the previously named solutions of reuse should be given priority." The ARGE German Pavilion The German Pavilion at the Expo Milano 2015 was built on behalf of the Federal Ministry for the Environment and Energy. The Messe Frankfurt commissioned the Working Group German Pavilion EXPO 2015 Milan (ARGE) with the completion of the Pavilion. As general contractor, the ARGE supervised the planning as well as the construction and the exhibition of the German Expo presentation. Schmidhuber from Munich was in charge of the spatial concept, architecture and general planning. Milla & Partner from Stuttgart takes on the content concept, as well as the design of the exhibition and the media. Nüssli from Roth bei Nürnberg covered project management and construction work. EGGER as leader in sustainability The sustainable use of wood is a central value at EGGER and includes the concept of cascading use: Timber is made of high-quality log wood, and wood-based materials are made from sawmill by-products, wood from sustainably managed woodlands and recycled materials. Wood that can no longer be used to make products is thermally converted by EGGER. In addition, the company develops technologies to reduce the amount of wood used in its products, such as the Eurolight lightweight board used in the German Pavilion. It requires less material than a comparable solid wood board of the same thickness. Under the motto "More from wood", EGGER's 7,200 employees, in 17 locations across Europe, produce a comprehensive range of products made of wood-based materials 08 PRESS INFORMATION EGGER AT THE EXPO, June 2015 (chipboard, OSB and MDF boards), as well as timber. The company generated a turnover of EUR 2.22 billion in the 2013/2014 business year. EGGER has customers worldwide in the furniture industry, wood distribution and DIY markets. EGGER products are found in countless areas of private and public life: in kitchens, bathrooms, offices, hotels and shops. EGGER considers itself a full-range supplier for the furniture industry and interior design, wood construction and laminate flooring. With innovative products and a growing turnover in a challenging market context, EGGER is recognised as a leader in its industry. On challenges, partnerships and opportunities on the world stage → As a partner of the ARGE German → → EGGER opens up new design possibilities Pavilion, EGGER supplied decorative with its product innovations. wood-based materials for the → The decorative wood-based materials fulfil furniture and interior design of the the high design requirements regarding German Pavilion. the look and feel of the German Pavilion. Sustainability, innovation and recycling characterise the German Pavilion as well as the EGGER products used. 09