The influence of fly ash addition on the physical and mechanical properties of MDF boards. The aimof this study was to determine whether the addition of different mass fractions of fly ash (siliceous) during theproduction of MDF boards affects their physical and mechanical properties, and whether there is potential forusing this inexpensive filler in large-scale MDF production. Laboratory-scale MDF boards were manufacturedwith varying mass fractions of fly ash (5%, 10%, 15%, and 30%), and the physical and mechanical properties ofthe resulting boards were examined and compared with those of a reference board. The results demonstrated thatincorporating an appropriate amount of fly ash into the outer layers of MDF boards can significantly enhance theirphysical and mechanical properties, as well as improve their fire resistance. The best results were obtained withadditive contents of 5–10% for mechanical properties and 30% for fire resistance. These findings confirm that flyash can serve as an effective filler and thermal insulator, enhancing the potential applications of MDF boards inindustry.
Labour Cost and Productivity in the Furniture Industry of the Visegrád Group Countries in 2008–2020.The paper focuses on the analysis of the position of the furniture industry in the Visegrád Group countries againstthe EU-27 over the period 2008–2020, focusing on employment, productivity, and cost competitiveness.The Visegrád Group share of EU furniture employment increase from 21.6% to 28.1%, primarily driven by Poland(+28.3% employment growth) was observed. The hypothesis concerning the convergence of labour productivityin the V4 furniture industry towards the EU average level was confirmed. This indicator improved from 52.9% to58.6% of the EU-27 average. The hypothesis that the growth rate of labour costs in V4 countries exceeds thegrowth rate of productivity was also verified (+44.3% versus +41.6%), which indicates a gradual reduction of theregion's cost advantage. Different development models were identified across individual countries: at risk of losingcompetitiveness in Slovakia, based on simultaneous growth in employment and productivity in Poland, and relyingon productivity gains accompanied by employment reduction in the Czech Republic and Hungary.
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of relative air humidity (RH) on the dimensional changes of oak wood (Quercus robur L.) subjected to hydrothermal treatment and thermomechanical modification. Dimensional changes in the anatomical directions (radial, tangential, longitudinal) and volumetric swelling of oak wood were analysed at five levels of relative air humidity: 9 %, 34 %, 55 %, 75 %, and 98 %. Oak wood after hydrothermal treatment and densification (variants V and VI) was the most dimensionally unstable in the radial direction compared to non-modified oak wood (variant I) and to oak wood subjected to hydrothermal treatment (variants II and III) or densification (variant IV). Regardless of the oak wood modification variant, the dimensional changes in tangential direction were similar in climates with a given relative air humidity level. However, in the climate with the highest relative air humidity, i.e., 98 %, significant variation in test results was observed, from approximately 6 % in the case of oak wood after hydrothermal treatment for 150 min (variant II) to approximately 9 % for oak wood after hydrothermal treatment for 300 min and densification (variant VI). The non-modified oak wood (variant I) was characterized by the smallest volumetric changes. In a climate with a relative air humidity of 98 %, comparable volumetric swelling values, i.e., approximately 12 %, were recorded for all tested modified oak wood variants. The findings provide valuable insights for optimising wood modification processes and support the selection of processing technologies in relation to anticipated service conditions under variable humidity, which is relevant for both scientific research and the wood and furniture industries.
Assessment of the qualitative characteristics of trees should be taken into account in forest management, especially in the positive selection of trees with special technical properties. Methods based on visual assessment (VGA) do not align with current knowledge or the level of dendrological research. The use of sound equipment to test the degree of trunk depreciation is also the subject of research in forestry. It is noted that the interpretation of the results for the tree species varies with ambient temperature. In the present study, we analysed measurements of the speed of sound wave propagation using an impulse hammer to test black alder trees of varying thickness at varying air temperatures (-16C to +35 C). After a series of measurements, the tested trees were drilled with an increment borer to verify the results. It has been demonstrated that measurements made at freezing temperatures (about -5C) yield a significantly higher speed of sound propagation and may falsify the diagnosis of internal decay. Under such conditions, information about the decay can be masked by frozen water in the deprecated part of the tree trunk. High temperatures (about 30-35C) are negatively correlated with the speed of sound waves propagation, which may falsely suggest the initial stages of internal rot. The optimal temperature for diagnosing black alder using the impulse hammer is approximately 25C.
Testing the adhesion of finishing coatings on furniture fronts with a grooved surface. The aim of thisstudy was to evaluate the adhesion of finishing coatings applied to grooved furniture fronts. The study wasconducted on two types of fronts used in a domestic environment for a period of one year. The impact of use andlimiting the number of topcoat layers on the durability of the coatings was assessed. The results showed that afterone year of use, the adhesion of the coatings decreased to a maximum of 45%. It was concluded that the analyzedfronts did not meet the requirements for resistance to mechanical damage, indicating the need to optimize thetechnology for applying finishing coatings. analysed fronts did not meet the requirements for resistance tomechanical damage, indicating the need to optimise.
The study examined the vibration levels emitted by loudspeaker enclosures made of wood-based materials such as chipboard, MDF fibreboard and birch plywood. The suitability of boards and plywood was assessed based on the amplitude of voltage generated in the speaker enclosure as a result of the impact of a sound wave with a wide frequency range from 0.03 kHz to 10.00 kHz. On the basis of the obtained results, it was concluded that none of the tested materials provided consistent sound quality. The most regular and systematic vibrations for two frequency ranges, from 0.03 kHz to 0.30 kHz and from 1.05 kHz to 3.00 kHz, were observed in birch plywood. In MDF fibreboard, the lowest vibration levels occurred at frequencies from 0.31 kHz to 1.05 kHz and from 3.20 kHz to 10.00 kHz, while in chipboard, a relatively regular pattern was observed only at frequencies from 0.03 kHz to 0.30 kHz. The results showed that the speaker enclosure should be a three-way design, made of plywood and MDF, which would allow mainly low and mid-range frequencies to be reproduced. In the case of high frequencies, further research is needed to select the appropriate wood-based materials.
Proposal of an Extended Methodology for Testing the Flammability Properties of Wood-Based Panelswith Online Measurement of Burned Surface Area, Mass Loss, and Heat Transfer. This paper presents an extendedmethodology for testing the flammability of wood-based panels, including in-line measurements of burnt area,mass loss, and heat transfer. Standard flammability tests, such as those specified in the PN-EN ISO 11925-2standard, provide limited information on combustion dynamics. To supplement this, a prototype test rig wasdeveloped, consisting of a burner mounted on a stepper motor-driven guide, a scale, a USB camera, and a thermalimaging camera, all controlled by an ESP32 microcontroller and proprietary software. Data is collectedsimultaneously from all sources and processed using a set of programs (FrAnK, FrAnCs, FrIC, and FrAg),providing comprehensive, synchronized time information. The methodology enables a detailed analysis ofignition, fire spread, and heat transfer in various wood-based materials, including MDF, LDF, OSB, and plywood.The results reveal material-specific combustion patterns and heat transfer dynamics that are imperceptible instandard tests. Image analysis challenges, such as flame detection and perspective correction, are addressedthrough calibration and mask processing. The proposed approach offers a valuable tool for both research and thedevelopment of materials with enhanced fire resistance. The software provided can be further developed andtailored to meet various needs.
In the Anthropocene era, where climate change mitigation is a systemic goal, a shift toward a circular approach in construction is underway. The examination of historic or vernacular techniques informs the search for modern technologies. The original wooden heritage of Warsaw’s architecture did not survive the destruction of the wars of the contemporary epoch. After World War II, the installation of Finnish houses revived the popularity of urban wooden habitable structures. The review of the chosen settlements was conducted through both desktop and field studies. The results are presented in the context of other surviving, or remaining only in documents, examples of wooden architecture in Warsaw. The importance of the results lies in their alignment with actual trends in sustainable building, serving as a reference or inspiration.
Strategic aspects of the internationalization processes of Polish furniture enterprises – a conceptualapproach. This article aims to identify methods of entering foreign markets and assess the effectiveness ofinternationalization strategies employed by Polish furniture enterprises, comparing companies with varyingdegrees of internationalization. The results indicate that the dominant model of entering foreign markets amongPolish furniture enterprises is the staged approach, particularly used by companies with lower levels ofinternationalization. These companies prefer gradual and cautious approach to expansion based primarily onexports. By contrast, more highly internationalized companies more likely to follow the born globals concept,pursuing faster and more intensive development of their foreign operations. This indicates greater resources and ahigher level of international experience. The research confirmed that, regardless of the degree ofinternationalization, furniture companies most often implement an ethnocentric strategy, preferring to expand theiroperations in culturally similar markets. Highly internationalized companies also employ polycentric or dualstrategies. They have greater resources, more developed organizational structures, and experience operating indiverse markets. The analysis confirms that companies identify the strategies they implement as the most effective,which underscores the importance of consciously choosing an internationalization path. However, one in fivesurveyed companies with a lower level of involvement in international expansion confirms the lack of a clearlydefined strategy for operating in foreign markets.
Contemporary Wooden Architecture in Poland Since 2000: Aesthetics, Function, and Social Reception.This article provides a comprehensive overview of contemporary trends in wooden architecture in Poland sincethe year 2000. The analysis encompasses three interrelated dimensions: aesthetics, functionality, and socialperception. For the purpose of this study, the term "wooden architecture" is understood broadly, encompassingboth fully timber-structured buildings and those where wood plays a significant aesthetic or symbolic role.Historically linked to conventional construction methods, wood is presently gaining recognition as a legitimatematerial in contemporary architectural design. The aesthetic analysis explores the fusion of local identities witha universal design language, emphasizing the role of wood as a carrier of both visual and cultural meaning.The functional dimension focuses primarily on the technological opportunities offered by wood in large-scaleconstruction, including structural applications, comfort-related factors, and performance in sustainablearchitecture. The third area of investigation focuses on the social perception of wood as a material. Despite the factthat this perception is still shaped by persistent stereotypes, it is increasingly subject to change through educationand the promotion of sustainable solutions. The article delineates salient challenges and prospective researchdirections, underscoring the imperative to integrate technological innovation with cultural and social context.
ew species in the mycobiota of the Kampinos National Park (Central Poland).Between 2017 and 2025, eight fungal species new to Kampinos National Park were identified, consisting of fivemacro- and three micromycetes. Four species (Biscogniauxia marginata, Cladosporium exobasidii, Morchellagigas, Verpa bohemica) belong to the phylum Ascomycota, while four (Aureoboletus projectellus, Exobasidiumpachysporum, E. rostrupii, Phyllotopsis nidulans) are part of the Basidiomycota. The locations of these sites areprovided, and their occurrence in Poland is discussed. The data increase the total number of known macrofungispecies in Kampinos National Park to 1,659, comprising 1,427 Basidiomycota and 232 Ascomycota.
Ecological aspects of intensive and semi-intensive green roofs in urban areas in Poland. The aim of this article is to discuss the ecological aspects of intensive and semi- intensive green roofs under Polish climatic conditions, with a particular focus on the selection of the most suitable wood plant species. The paper provides designers and decision-makers with a review of reliable evidence and recommendations useful during the planning and implementation of intensive and semi-intensive green roofs. A brief characterization of selected intensive roof gardens in major Polish cities, namely Coviteon in Kraków and the roof garden of the University of Warsaw Library (UW), is also presented, highlighting their ecological, recreational, and educational functions.
The review of selected predicting models and assessment of their suitability for forecasting in the woodindustry. The paper focuses on the analysis of selected models for predicting the value of the total roundwoodproduction in the European Union and Poland. The analysis tested a moving average model (SMA), a weightedmoving average model (WMA), a Brown’s exponential smoothing model and a linear regression model. All testedprediction methods were characterised by parameters proving the usefulness of the models, especially in a shortperiod of time. The research showed that the lowest values of mean error (ME) and percentage mean error (PME)using a linear regression model both for predicting total roundwood production in the EU and in Poland wereobserved.
Analysis of furniture types in Dutch homes from the Baroque period on the basis of iconographic materials is a paper presenting an iconological interpretation of easel paintings, focusing on the topic of furniture. The paper presents the characteristics of early Baroque interiors that were depicted in the paintings of 17th-century Dutch painters between 1650-1700, with an analysis of the furniture use and placement within the rooms based on iconographic materials, as well as description of the style and structure of several different types of Dutch furniture from that period. For this purpose, a search of Internet sources was carried out to find oil panel paintings presenting genre scenes taking place in residential interiors. The ones selected for further analysis needed to have clearly visible furniture painted with precision (to a degree that permitted to specify the type of construction, stylistic features and ornaments). The results of this research became a basis for discussion with reference literature on the subject.
Due to the growing demand for biofuels and the importance of efficient utilization of lignocellulosic biomass, this study investigated the effect of different pre-treatment methods of poplar wood on the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis. Populus deltoides × maximowiczii wood aged 3 and 5 years, and P. trichocarpa wood aged 3 years were analysed. The first pre-treatment method involved mechanical size-reduction of the material into various particle fractions. The second pre-treatment method involved multiple extractions with water, ethanol, cyclohexane, a chloroform–ethanol mixture (93:7w/w), and a sequence of solvents (water–ethanol–cyclohexane). Afterwards, the pre-treated material was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis, and HPLC was used to determine the glucose content in the hydrolysate. The results showed that the removal of extractives did not significantly affect glucose yield, suggesting that these compounds neither inhibit enzymatic activity nor limit access to cellulose. It was also observed that mechanical grinding of poplar wood caused a slight increase in glucose yield (up to approximately 20%) only for the smallest particle-size fraction (<0.16 mm). Despite this improvement, the process is economically limited and can serve only as a preliminary stage in further wood processing.
The use of engineered wood in the design and implementation of non-standard structural forms. In the21st century, architecture has embraced non-standard structural forms, characterized by unconventionalgeometries, innovative materials, and cutting-edge construction techniques. These forms deviate from traditionalnorms, such as rectilinear designs, to create dynamic, expressive structures that redefine the built environment.The use of engineered wood materials in non-standard structural forms has gained prominence due to theirstructural efficiency, aesthetic versatility, and sustainability. This paper explores how these architectural forms areconverted to non-standard structures built of engineered wood, highlighting technologies, methods, andimplications shaping modern architecture.
Analysis of selected economic data of Polish wood processing enterprises in comparison to totalmanufacturing. The paper focuses on analysis of the dynamics and selected economic indicators describing theeconomic situation of enterprises belonging to the wood processing industry in comparison to the totalmanufacturing. The analysis showed a growing trend of the value of net financial results, revenues, assets andequity, particularly visible in 2021-2022. The research also showed a slower growth rate of total liabilities in thegroup of wood processing enterprises than in the total manufacturing. The examination of the share of stocks incurrent assets and short-term dues in inventories allowed us to confirm that there is no threat to the liquidity ofwood processing enterprises.
This study assesses the potential of hemp fibers (Cannabis sativa L.) as a sustainable partial substitute for wood fibers in MDF for furniture applications. Laboratory-made panels (16 mm thickness, target density 700 kg/m) containing 1–25% hemp fibers were evaluated with respect to bending properties and internal bond strength in relation to EN 622-5 requirements. Based on estimated values derived from experimental plots, panels with 5 – 10% hemp fibers exhibited the most favorable performance. The modulus of rupture (MOR) reached approximately 29 – 31 MPa, while the modulus of elasticity (MOE) ranged from 3600 to 3700 MPa, remaining comparable to conventional MDF. The highest internal bond strength was observed at 5% hemp fiber content, reaching approximately 0.80 MPa, and values for panels with up to 25% hemp fibers remained within standard limits. These results indicate that low-level hemp fiber substitution enables a meaningful reduction of wood raw material consumption without compromising key mechanical properties. Further research should focus on enhancing moisture resistance and validating the performance of hemp-modified MDF under industrial manufacturing conditions.
Abstract: Furniture by Johann Nepomuk Geyer (1807 – 1874) and the influence of their forms on furniture in southern Poland – based on the purchase of the Museum of Folk Culture in Kolbuszowa. In 1936 Stefan Sienicki in a book “Meble kolbuszowskie (Furniture from Kolbuszowa)”, among other drawings of furniture, included a sofa and a table. According to their owner, Jerzy Tyszkiewicz, they were constructed in Kolbuszowa in the years 1820-30. They did not survive second world war. Lately Museum in Kolbuszowa acquired a set of furniture consisting of table, sofa, two fauteuils and four chairs that bear significant resemblance to the pieces from Sienicki’s book. Moreover the forms of both groups of furniture are not likely to be deriving from the second decade of Biedermeier style development. They resemble furniture made by Johann Nepomuk Geyer (1807 -1872), a carpenter from Innsbruck who was, among others, a deliverer to imperial court in Wienna. They look but more provincial. The details of construction show the possibility of production with the use of mechanical tools. The aim of this article is to assess the probable time of production of the pieces drawn in Sienicki’s book and of the set acquired by Museum in Kolbuszowa.
Conservation Issues Related to Polish Eagles on Elliptic Shields in the Senatorska Room in the Royal Castle in Warsaw. The aim of this paper was to present issues related to the conservation of three eagles from elliptic shields in the Senatorska Room in the Royal Castle in Warsaw, that were originally manufactured for the coronation of Emperor Nicholas I in 1829, and later kept in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw. The paper includes a historical background of the iconography of the Polish coat of arms. The history of the items, their current appearance and their state of preservation have been described. Conservation and restoration works have been carried out to reconstruct and restore parts of their wood-carved elements. Conservation works were limited to the bare minimum, avoiding the creation of new elements during reconstruction, and basing it exclusively on the preserved patterns. The analysis of wood-carving quality carried out during the project suggests that most probably each eagle was created by a different sculptor and made in haste. It has been confirmed that the eagles are made of linden wood (Tilia Sp.).
