Surface and Panel

With thousands of products, technologies and manufacturing solutions filling the halls of IWF 2026, knowing where to start can be a challenge. Surface & Panel has rounded up a selection of new and innovative products worth seeking out on the show floor, from advanced machinery and automation to surfaces, materials, hardware, software and finishing technologies.

IWF 2026 opens Tuesday, Aug. 25, bringing the woodworking industry to Atlanta for four days of machinery, manufacturing technology, materials, supplies, education and networking at the Georgia World Congress Center. For Surface & Panel readers heading to the show, a little preparation can make navigating one of the woodworking industry’s largest events considerably easier.

Chemical Concepts has announced the retirement of Sales VP Craig Zelle following more than five decades with the company, closing a career that helped shape the organization and its relationships with customers and suppliers. Zelle’s involvement with Chemical Concepts spans generations, with the company crediting him with playing an important role in its growth and in developing many of the long-standing industry relationships that continue today.

526 Media Group, the leading independent B2B media company serving the lumber, building materials, and construction industry, and publisher of Surface & Panel, today announced the acquisition of ARCHITECT, Journal of Light Construction, and a portfolio of additional titles from Zonda. ARCHITECT is a premier platform for architecture and design professionals, while Journal of Light Construction is a trusted resource for professional residential builders and remodelers.

Formica Corporation has opened entries for its 10th annual FORM Student Innovation Competition, challenging the next generation of architects and designers to put color at the center of original furniture concepts. The 2027 competition, themed “Color as the Main Character,” is open to students studying architecture, industrial design and interior design in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Entries will be accepted through Feb. 19, 2027.

Stephanie Wagner has been named global director of LIGNA, expanding her leadership responsibilities as the international woodworking and wood processing trade fair becomes an independent division within the organization. Wagner assumed the newly created position Aug. 1 and now leads the LIGNA division within Deutsche Messe's new Trade and Consumer Fairs business unit. She reports to Hendrik Rawe, senior vice president of the business unit.

people — news — Industry News 526 Media Group named longtime editor David Koenig vice president of editorial, overseeing editorial strategy across Surface & Panel, Building Products Digest, Merchant Magazine and Deck Specialist, as well as future portfolio growth.

The High Point Market Authority (HPMA) and Loloi Rugs are launching a new live interior design competition at Fall High Point Market, bringing designers Jeremiah Brent, Amber Lewis and Jean Stoffer together to judge projects from designers across the country. Titled “Best in Design: Live at High Point Market,” the competition will culminate during HPMA’s Sunday Keynote Series event at 3 p.m. Oct. 18 at the High Point Theatre. Designers may submit projects for consideration from Aug. 17 through Sept.

EGGER Group maintained stable performance in fiscal 2025/2026 despite weak construction activity, cautious consumer spending and geopolitical uncertainty, while increasing investment in manufacturing capacity, automation and circular production. The wood-based materials manufacturer reported approximately $4.92 billion in group revenue, up 3.4 percent from the previous year.

Architectural materials supplier Parkwood Chicago is marking its 70th anniversary with a series of strategic changes, including new ownership, expanded sales leadership and investments in its digital presence. Founded in 1956, Parkwood Chicago supplies architectural materials and interior surface solutions to the commercial design community throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and surrounding states. Among the company's recent developments is the appointment of Chris Janson as sales manager.