EUROPEAN HPL SUMMIT 2025

The summit featured a distinguished speaker line-up from leading companies and institutions, reflecting the full diversity of the HPL sector — from architecture and modular construction to design and green solutions. Beyond the formal presentations, the Summit once again confirmed its unique role as a central networking event for the entire European HPL value chain. Manufacturers, suppliers, designers, architects, and cooperation partners took every opportunity throughout the three days to get in touch with each other, exchange ideas and strengthen cross-industry relationships.

Europe’s Leading Experts reveal innovations

Felix Schweizer from the sustainable urban planning office Spacelab kicked off the conference programme with an inspiring look at green solutions in public buildings, showing how sustainable design principles and the intelligent use can enhance both functionality and environmental performance in modern architecture. Carlos Cruz, Honorary President of ICDLI and representative of Kōzōwood Industries S.A., explored the opportunities of modular construction, illustrating how HPL can fit in these dynamics. Matti Rantanen of the European Panel Federation gave valuable insights into EU regulation and lobbying in Brussels, outlining the value of science-based regulation for wood-based materials and how these can be supported in the EU also in the years ahead. Volker Irle, Managing Director of the Association of the Modern Kitchen (AMK), shared an overview of current trends in kitchen design, emphasising how functionality, durability and aesthetics converge – and why HPL serves all these needs very well. In the design-focused sessions, Ana Maria Plata from Munksjö discussed emerging HPL design trends, highlighting how colour, emotion and expression influence the visual language of future surfaces. She was followed by Maximilian Hammerschmidt of Schattdecor, who presented the concept of “Simplify – HPL Design”, advocating for clarity and coherence in design processes while maintaining creative freedom and individuality.

On the second day of the conference, the relationship between materials, environment and human wellbeing was the focus of Jérôme Rütsche and Barbara Schwärzler from the Swiss Center for Design and Health, presenting some examples from the field of hospitals and elderly care homes. Shifting from design to corporate strategy, Caroline van de Populiere of ICDLI member company UNILIN spoke on sustainable entrepreneurship, showing how circular business models and responsible innovation which encompass the entire company, including the whole workforce, can create long-term value and competitive advantage for manufacturers. In the ICDLI Market Report, Markus Höchli, speaker of the market research group, provided an overview of current market developments, highlighting regional trends and growth perspectives for decorative surfaces across Europe like the proportional growth of HPL in the furniture sector. Last but not least, three innovative products made of HPL were in the spotlight of the summit: Claudia Costa of ICDLI member company Surforma presented an interzum award-winning compact laminate with electromagnetic shielding. A joint session by Nadia Oukid from ICDLI member Sappi and Philip Haller from Upco Srl focused on innovative and functional surfaces and highlighted the partnership initiated by both companies. Concluding the programme, Jérôme Rütsche returned to the stage to present an application case study by ICDLI member Argolite, illustrating how thoughtful material selection and design collaboration can lead to healthier, more sustainable environments in practice.

ICDLI gains two new members and remains itself the key industry platform

In addition to the conference programme, the regular Plenary Assembly took place also in Marseille, where two new associate members, Follmann and Ahlstrom, introduced themselves. Follmann is an internationally active family-owned company in the chemical industry, whose core competence lies in specialty chemicals like adhesives for decorative and functional surfaces and assemblies. Ahlstrom is a global leader in fiber-based materials, offering innovative and sustainable solutions also more and more for the wood-based surface industry. With the two new members, the ICDLI now has a total of 30 member companies.

“Nowhere else does the European HPL community come together in such breadth and depth. We believe that the knowledge and innovative approaches here will drive progress in material, design and environmental performance for years to come”, said Miguel Nogueira from SURFORMA, President of ICDLI. “The ICDLI European HPL Summit has once again proven to be the meeting point that unites all players of the HPL industry — from raw material producers to design visionaries — under one roof”.

Press release as download: EN /DE