Thursday, December 4, 2025
From November 5th to 7th, 2025, Siempelkamp hosted its highly anticipated “Service & Technology Symposium” in Marietta, USA. The event, which welcomed 45 participants from 12 North American companies, focused on key topics of service, technology, and innovation in the wood-based panel industry. It aimed to strengthen the company’s partnerships with existing clients while exploring future technological advancements.
A Platform for Innovation and Dialogue
Siempelkamp has long recognised the importance of engaging directly with customers. These symposiums provide an excellent platform for participants to discuss innovations, share knowledge, and voice specific needs. At this year’s symposium, industry leaders gathered to discuss Siempelkamp’s latest service offerings and technological developments.
The event was organised by the Siempelkamp Marietta team and supported by the company’s service experts from its German headquarters. Dr. Stephan Niggeschmidt, CEO of the Business Unit Service at Siempelkamp, highlighted the importance of customer engagement. “It is essential that we keep our customers informed about the innovations we offer to support them. However, personal exchange is just as important. It is through such dialogue that we can tailor our services more closely to customer needs,” he commented.
Exploring Siempelkamp’s Technological Innovations
The symposium’s agenda was packed with presentations on Siempelkamp’s cutting-edge technology. Among the highlights were new developments for the ContiRoll® continuous press, an important part of the company’s offering in the wood-based panel industry. Modification packages and modernisation solutions were discussed in detail, offering plant operators insights into optimising their operations.
One key presentation explored Siempelkamp’s advancements in material preparation. Here, innovative solutions for wood recycling and mat forming were shared with the audience. A special session was dedicated to the “Innovation Lab”, where customers were introduced to the latest research and modernisation options available. The lab is an ongoing resource, providing plant operators with permanent access to information on innovations, from the wood yard to finished boards.
The Role of Digitalisation: Prod-IQ and SmartPress
A focal point of the symposium was Siempelkamp’s digitalisation offerings, such as Prod-IQ and SmartPress. The digital tools demonstrated the value of real-time monitoring for wood-based panel plants. By leveraging digitalisation, plant operators can optimise production processes and reduce downtime.
Siempelkamp showcased how these tools enable data-driven decisions, allowing businesses to improve efficiency. The implementation of these technologies provides greater control over operations, ensuring plant performance can be maximised. Attendees were particularly keen to understand how such tools could be integrated into existing processes to boost productivity.
Looking to the Future: Strengthening Local Presence in North America
The second day of the symposium featured presentations by local hosts Dirk Koltze, President of Siempelkamp LP/Siempelkamp Energy & Drying Solutions, and Ulises Freire, Director of Operations at Siempelkamp LP. They discussed the ongoing development of Siempelkamp’s North American presence, with particular focus on the operations in Marietta and Charlotte. Their talk underscored the company’s commitment to enhancing its service offering to better support customers in North America.
Koltze and Freire also shared their vision for expanding Siempelkamp’s portfolio to meet future market demands. They discussed how Siempelkamp LP plans to offer more comprehensive services, addressing the unique needs of North American customers.
Engaging in Meaningful Customer Dialogue
The symposium also provided valuable opportunities for participants to exchange ideas and share their perspectives. The discussions explored how Siempelkamp can better support its North American clients. Topics such as customer expectations for research and development, new product areas, and the optimisation of existing offerings were discussed in depth.
These discussions highlighted the future challenges in the wood-based panel industry. Attendees voiced their concerns and ideas, contributing to a collaborative effort to find solutions that would shape the future of the sector.
Customer Feedback: A Success
The event concluded with overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants, who praised both the choice of topics and the format. Attendees acknowledged that the symposium provided them with valuable insights into the future of the wood-based panel industry and how Siempelkamp can continue to support their needs.
Dr. Stephan Niggeschmidt expressed his satisfaction with the event’s success, stating, “The customer symposium has given us invaluable insights. It is clear that this platform for direct communication allows us to continuously refine our services. We are committed to being the benchmark for service excellence in our industry.”
The Service & Technology Symposium 2025 in Marietta proved to be a highly successful event, fostering deeper customer relationships and setting the stage for continued innovation in the wood-based panel industry.
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Tags: ContiRoll, digitalisation, Prod-IQ, Service & Technology Symposium, Siempelkamp, wood recycling, wood-based panel industry, woodworking industry
