American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) said it will conduct a free seminar titled ‘Designing & Working with American Hardwoods’ in Dubai on September 26, targeting architects and interior designers in the UAE.

AHEC is the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry which runs a worldwide programme to promote American hardwoods in over 50 export markets.

The event, to be held from 7 to 9 pm at the Park Hyatt Hotel, will revolve around educating attendees about the wide variety of American hardwood species as well as their key eco-credentials and importance in sustainable design, said a AHEC statement.

The seminar will centre around two key presentations, given by Criswell Davis, Sustainable Hardwood design consultant and Bob Sabistina, Hardwood technical consultant and will be geared towards architects and interior designers, as well as manufacturers who use hardwoods in the production of furniture, flooring and joinery.

Davis will provide in-depth information on the US hardwood forest and its environmental credentials, as well as on the variety and commercial availability of American hardwood species and the potential they offer for design and end use in the Middle East.

Sabistina will provide an introduction to the grading of American hardwood lumber according to the National Hardwood Lumber Association rules, which will include a practical demonstration, said a top official.

'This seminar offers an excellent opportunity for architects, interior designers and other industry professionals to gain a more in-depth understanding of the unique characteristics and advantages of American hardwoods,' remarked Roderick Wiles, AHEC director for Africa, Middle East, India and Oceania.

'Further, the event is designed to allow for full audience participation thereby offering a unique opportunity for anyone coming into contact with wood products to learn about American hardwoods at first hand from industry experts.'

'We have organised this seminar in other countries across the region and the response has always been very positive, and so we are confident that we can generate the same level of interest here in the UAE,' he added.

In the Mena region, significant increases in demand for US hardwood lumber are being monitored, with red oak being the most sought-after species.

With a total export volume of 11,298 cu m in the first six months of 2010, red oak shipments to the region have grown by 18 per cent as compared to the same period last year.

Among the regional markets, the UAE is demonstrating renewed and steadily increasing interest for US hardwoods, with import figures reaching $4.3 million from January to June 2010, up 84 per cent from the last year's $2.3 million, Wiles added.-TradeArabia News Service