From June 17 to 19, 2026, the LIFE HAYA (Hardwood for the Home) project participated in the 12th Hardwood Conference, one of the leading international conferences on research and innovation in hardwoods, held at the Ligneum Center at the University of Sopron (Hungary).
The project’s participation in this event provided an opportunity to highlight some of the most significant scientific advances made during its development, sharing the results with researchers, companies, and professionals specializing in the sustainable use of European hardwoods.
An international conference on innovation in hardwoods
The 12th Hardwood Conference brought together nearly 130 participants from universities, research centers, companies, and organizations in various European countries and beyond.
Over the course of the three-day conference, some of the industry’s main challenges and opportunities were addressed through technical sessions focused on:
- Silviculture and Sustainable Management of Hardwood Forests.
- Structure and Properties of Wood.
- Wood processing and modification technologies.
- Coatings, adhesives, and bonding processes.
- Development of engineering products and composite materials based on hardwoods.
This international forum serves as a key platform for exchanging scientific knowledge and promoting the transfer of research findings to the industrial sector.
LIFE HAYA Presents Its Findings on the Durability Classification of Beech Wood
Silvia Gómez Fernández and Mario Azaña Galán, researchers at Cesefor, attended on behalf of the LIFE HAYA project.
During the poster session, both presented a scientific paper titled: “Visual and machine strength grading of structural beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) timber from Spain: Yield comparison and characteristic values.”
This study presents some of the results obtained as part of the project regarding the strength grading of structural beech wood from Spain, comparing visual grading with grading using automated equipment, as well as the yields obtained and the wood’s characteristic values.
This research represents an important step toward expanding technical knowledge about the structural use of beech wood and helping to increase its use in high-value-added construction applications.
Great interest in the project’s results
The presentation sparked considerable interest among the attendees, leading to various questions and technical discussions about the methodology used and the results obtained.
Participation in this type of international conference allows us to share the project’s progress with the scientific community, establish new opportunities for collaboration, and highlight the potential of beech wood as a structural material for more sustainable construction.
In addition, these meetings help strengthen the transfer of knowledge between the research community and the private sector, one of the key objectives of the LIFE HAYA project.
Promoting the Structural Use of Beech Wood
Participation in the 12th Hardwood Conference 2026 reinforces the LIFE HAYA project’s commitment to generating and disseminating scientific knowledge that promotes greater use of beech wood in structural applications.
The validation of robust grading systems, along with the collection of reliable technical data, is key to promoting the use of this species in the construction sector and moving toward a bioeconomy based on sustainable, locally sourced forest resources.
