The European high-pressure laminates (HPL) industry is at a crucial moment. While the HPL market is back on a clear growth trajectory, recording an 8.1% increase in production in the core HPL board business last year, the industry is facing greater challenges than ever before.
The weakness of the European economy is clouding the future prospects of the HPL industry due to high dependence on the EU single market. This is shown by the market figures published by the ICDLI on the occasion of the European HPL Summit in Porto.
After a significant decline in 2022 (-13.6% compared to 2021), the production output of HPL manufacturers in Europe recovered significantly last year. In 2023, the companies included in the ICDLI survey produced a total of 293 million sqm of decorative laminates, corresponding to a strong increase of 6.9% compared to 2022.
The core business with HPL panels in particular grew above average by +8.1% compared to the previous year. 'The prospects for market growth depend heavily on economic developments in the EU market and the resulting price pressure, which has the potential to reduce consumer demand for HPL. With a market share of over 80 percent, the EU single market is and remains by far the most important sales market for European HPL manufacturers,' says Miguel Nogueira (SURFORMA), President of the ICDLI.
Variety of topics, intensively discussed
The European HPL Summit is the most important industry meeting, bringing together HPL manufacturers, representatives of the supply chain, and industry experts from all over Europe. With over 80 participants, the ICDLI underscores the importance of the three-day event as a central platform for exchange, knowledge transfer, and networking. In addition to the presentation of current market figures and an outlook on market developments, the two-day lecture program focused on sustainability, employer branding, design, and technical developments.
Dr. Oliver Balch, a British author and freelance writer at Reuters, The Guardian, and Financial Times, specialising in business and international affairs, began by discussing the sustainability challenges for the European economy and its impact on the HPL industry, as well as general societal risks on a global and European level for business and social cohesion.
Two human resources experts from Porto, Joana Castro Pereira (Peppermint) and Elvira Cardoso (Soul Temple), explored the opportunities and challenges of cross-generational workforces. Success in modern workplaces hinges on the ability to integrate diverse generational perspectives, unlock collective strengths, and create a culture where every contribution is recognised and valued.
Design trends in the hotel industry and the requirements of hotel furnishings for HPL were the focus of the presentation by Pilar Paiva de Sousa, managing director of the architectural firm PPS. Following this, Patrick Ostheimer from P-O-I.Design presented the requirements for the interior design of cruise vessels and demonstrated the innovative use of HPL in shipping, calling for strong cooperation between HPL manufacturers and designers.
The first day of lectures concluded with two presentations on new technical developments. Firstly, Philip Haller and Florian von Kuczkowski from Upco Srl - German Branch presented a new coating process for HPL, an innovative approach for developing versatile product properties. Then, Fernando Cunha, Executive Director of Fibrenamics, closed the first day of lectures with insights about a process for producing fibres from waste biofibres made from natural polymers.
The second day of lectures began with a presentation by Rui Henrique Alves from the School of Economics and Management at the University of Porto and former Head of the ECOFIN Unit ("Núcleo de Economia e Finanças") at the Permanent Representation of Portugal to the European Union. He examined the development and challenges of the Southern European economy, critically assessed the focus on tourism as a growth driver, and expressed skepticism regarding the future prospects of the overall European economy.
Markus Höchli, spokesman for the ICDLI Market Research Group, presented the current data for the European HPL market, traditionally collected and published by the ICDLI. Alexander Kubo, Managing Partner at MP Corporate Finance in Vienna, then addressed market drivers and the increasing consolidation of the HPL market in Europe. His conclusion: The HPL industry will experience accelerated consolidation in the coming years.
The BASF approach to sustainable amino resins and thus a greener HPL supply chain was the focus of the lecture by Dr. Ralph Lunkwitz from BASF. The company aims to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions worldwide by 2050. To this end, BASF has implemented far-reaching measures that will reduce absolute CO2 emissions by around 50 percent by 2030 compared to 2018 levels, before reaching their final goal in 2050.
Last but not least, two innovative products made of HPL were spotlighted at the summit. Dano Waldburger from Timbaer presented skis made of HPL—extravagant and high-quality—that he helped develop, while Claudia Costa from SURFORMA demonstrated the use of intelligent laminates, such as thin heaters embedded in the HPL or integrated lighting systems.
ICDLI President Miguel Nogueira was highly satisfied at the end of the three-day summit in his hometown: 'The European HPL Summit 2024 was not only the most well-attended summit ever, but also showed the challenges facing our industry precisely and succinctly. The HPL industry must be enabled to achieve climate targets while remaining competitive. Excessive rules and requirements hinder European companies in global competition. Europe must therefore focus on better implementing existing laws instead of continually expanding the regulatory framework.'
The next European HPL Summit will take place on 22-24 October 2025 in Marseille, France.
More information:
ICDLI European HPL Summit
www.icdli.com