IMOLA, Italy - Hundreds of woodworkers each day converged to Cefla's 35,000-square-foot LAB in Imola, Italy, for Cefla Live, an international event spotlighting the latest finishing technology for wood and other materials, along with a sneak peek at what's ahead. The ninth edition of Cefla Live was held Oct. 18-20.

Wood finishing technology and other European woodworking best practices are getting a firsthand look by approximately two dozen North American woodworking professionals as they join Cefla North America on a technology tour of Italy.

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Arauco North America President Kelly Shotbolt has been named the first recipient of the Brock R. Landry Industry Leadership Award. The award, given by the Composite Panel Association, honors individuals for their outstanding contributions and leadership to the composite panel industry. Shotbolt was presented with the award during the CPA's Fall Meeting, held in conjunction with the Material, Technology and Design Symposium. The event took place Oct. 1-3 in Savannah, Georgia.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Wood Products Manufacturers Association elected new officers to its 2018 board of directors at the 88th annual meeting, held Sept. 19-21 in Providence, Rhode Island. Doug Cummings, Cummings Veneer Products Inc., will take over as  president of the WPMA. Serving with Cummings on the 2018 executive committee are: Chris Moore, Taylor Lumber Co. Worldwide Inc., vice president; Terry Gross, Brown Wood Inc., treasurer; John Lentine, Boyce Highlands, assistant treasurer; and Pete Scheira, Fancher Chair Co., immediate past president.

Best practices for manufacturing wood components were shared by more than 100 North American woodworkers and industry suppliers during the WCMA annual Fall Conference & Plant Tour Event.

EPA has extended by one year the manufactured-by date for compliance with emissions standards, recordkeeping and labeling requirements. Also extended by three months are the compliance dates for imported and laminated products.

MARSHALL, Texas - Master WoodCraft Cabinetry is finishing up a $2 million expansion that the cabinet manufacturer said will increase capacity by 15 percent and add 35 jobs. "Business is very good. We're doing this to meet our customers' needs," COO Mark Trexler told local media. The expansion will add a third production line at the company's main facility in Marshall, Texas. Also planned is an additional parts department and shipping area.

HIGH POINT, N.C. - Residential furniture orders rose 6% in June compared to the year prior, following an 8% increase in May, according to the latest Furniture Insights survey of residential furniture manufacturers and distributors from Smith Leonard. New orders were up for approximately 60% of the surveyed participants. Year-to-date, new orders increased 6% over last year, with shipments up 5% for the year-over-year.

Chinese furniture components manufacturer Jiecang Linear Motion Technology Co., operating in the U.S. as J-Star Motion, will invest $4.9 million in a new manufacturing plant that will employ 122 workers.

RESTON, Va. - Cabinet sales rose 1.8% in July compared to 2016 figures, continuing a third straight month of year-over-year growth. According to participating members in the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association's (KCMA) monthly Trend of Business Survey, stock cabinet sales in July grew 4.5% and semi-custom sales increased 0.6%, while custom cabinet sales decreased 3.4% compared to the same period last year.