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The aim of the paper is to assess the use of controlling in family businesses within the woodworking and furniture industry in Slovakia compared to non-family businesses and to identify the underlying reasons for its implementation or lack thereof. The questionnairebased survey was evaluated using relevant statistical methods. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that most of the woodworking and furniture enterprises belong to family businesses, and they tend to use controlling to a lesser extent compared to non-family businesses. The results indicated a positive correlation between the size of the enterprise and the implementation of controlling. Additionally, a distinctive specific of the surveyed businesses which may hinder the application of controlling is considered the concordance of ownership and management roles. The study identified the state of the use of controlling in the surveyed businesses and sheds light on the factors influencing their decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of polycondensation urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins in the woodworking and furniture industries is widespread due to their relatively low price, high reactivity, availability of raw materials, and ease of use. After curing, they provide a transparent, brittle joint, but their main disadvantage is the continuous emission of formaldehyde. The naturally occurring biopolymer keratin and the amino acid cysteine prepared from sheep wool were chosen and tested as possible agents for UF adhesives, allowing the reduction of formaldehyde emissions from wood-based panels. Emissions of formaldehyde were determined in accordance with EN ISO 12460-4. The gluing quality was tested according to standard EN 314-1, and the tested plywood met the requirements of standard EN 314-2. The most significant decrease in formaldehyde emission by up to 44.0% was achieved by applying 1% MOD-I (pre-condensate of glutaraldehyde and urea + cysteine) to the reference UF adhesive. Therefore, samples prepared for this study have great potential for application as environmentally friendly formaldehyde scavengers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to find the link between workplace accidents and the lack of Occupational Safety and Health education and training on the woodworking industry workforce. The focus of research was to determine the level of the understanding of the importance of personal protective equipment in preventing injuries as well as the amount of information the employees have received about the hazards they can and will face on their workplace and the ways they can prevent or minimize the risks before and during their employment. The research aims to give a clearer insight about how much the alertness of workers needs to be adjusted along with the changes necessary in the degree and type of education needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capital structure has been widely discussed, but there is still a lack of industry-oriented empirical studies of Slovak enterprises focusing on this topic. The aim of the paper is to identify significant capital structure determinants of wood-processing enterprises in Slovakia, and their comparison with the determinants in other industries worldwide. Applying panel regression, in the years 2016-2019, we found evidence for the negative relation between leverage and profitability, growth opportunities, cash, respectively. But most of these relations were disturbed during the crisis in 2020. Some evidence of a negative relation between leverage and size occurred only in the crisis period. There is only a partial confirmation of several capital structure theories. Pecking-order theory corresponds to the debt-equity choice of Slovak wood-processing enterprises best. When comparing empirical capital structure determinants with other industries and countries, the most similar to our sample seems to be the food and beverages industry in Indonesia. Our paper is the first one, which reveals relations between leverage and its determinants of Slovak wood-processing enterprises that support a need for next studies focusing on similar topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inhalation is the main route of exposure to airborne pollutants. To evaluate the safety and assess the risks of occupational hazards different testing approaches are used. 3D airway epithelial tissues allow to mimic exposure conditions in vitro, generates human-relevant toxicology data, allows to elucidate the mode of action of pollutants. Gillian3500 pumps were used to collect the airborne particulate from woodworking and metalworking environments. EpiAirway tissues were used to model half working day (4 h), full working day (8 h), and 3 working day exposures to occupational pollutants. Tissue viability was assessed using an MTT assay. For preliminary assessment, RT-qPCR analyses were performed to analyze the expression of gelsolin, caspase-3, and IL-6. Tissue morphology was assessed by hematoxylin/eosin staining. An effect on the proliferation of lung epithelial cell line A549 was assessed. Acute exposure to workspace pollutants slightly affected tissue viability and did not change the morphology. No inhibiting effect was observed on the proliferation of A549 cells. Preliminary analysis showed that both types of particles suppressed the expression of gelsolin, with the effect of metalworking samples being more pronounced. A slight reduction in caspase-3 expression was observed. Particles from metalworking suppressed IL-6 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high prevalence of periodontal diseases in workers with professional contact with unfavorable factors of the production environment is an unresolved problem of dentistry. This study aimed to investigate the harmful effects of formaldehyde on periodontal tissues in woodworkers who have long-term contact with formaldehyde in their professional activities. Sixty-nine men with occupational exposure to formaldehyde were examined to study the effect of formaldehyde on the human periodontal tissues, looking particularly at signs of the periodontal tissues' inflammatory process using a series of periodontal indices. The study results showed that the condition of periodontal tissues was statistically significantly worse in woodworkers who have long-term contact with formaldehyde in their professional activities. However, the hygiene status was not significantly different in the main group and the comparison group. Thus, we concluded that working under conditions of constant exposure to formaldehyde has a negative effect on the condition of periodontal tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activity of woodworking enterprises of the Western region and their place in the market of woodworking of Ukraine is invest igated. The types of activity of active woodworking enterprises are characterized. The degree of diversificat ion of the activity of woodworking enterprises has been invest igated, as well as the most promising forms for the direct ions of economic activity in the woodworking industry have been substant iated by carrying out a detailed analysis of enterprises of the Western region, which have posit ioned themselves as act ive market part icipants. The main groups of enterprises are dist inguished by the degree of processing, according to the product chain of woodworking. The main problems of the timber market in the context of business development are pointed out. It is noted that the timber industry has significant potential for doing business, in part icular, growing demand, raw material potent ial, free market niches in certain sectors of the timber business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The forest-based sector is affected by many profound structural changes and the increasing complexity of the business environment due to, for example, the mature markets of many core products and the aims for bio and circular economies and more sustainable societies. In response to the changing business environment, forest-based sector firms need to restructure their business models and develop new products and services. From the Finnish perspective, new forest-based businesses are crucial in the transition to successful and sustainable bio and circular economies. Views on the concepts of bioeconomy, circular economy and sustainability vary according to which parties are involved. Developing new forest-based sector businesses requires that different actors have knowledge of how each understands these concepts because this creates a basis for commonly accepted goals. This study aims to shed light on how forest-based sector companies understand the concepts of bioeconomy and circular and their linkages to sustainability when transforming their businesses. Semi-structured thematic interviews were conducted with 18 company executives and managers from 17 forest-based sector firms and companies from interfacing sectors, all of which have operations in Finland. The results indicate that there are various understandings of the studied concepts and that they are strongly interlinked. The participating firms often saw themselves as forerunners of circular bioeconomy, highlighting the core role of sustainability and reliance on "reasonable use of wood" and far-reaching, in-depth Finnish expertise in the field. Bioeconomy was usually seen as a response to climate challenge by bio-based, renewable material. The key dichotomy was whether bioeconomy should include traditional, bulk forest-based products or should it be dedicated to new, innovative, higher value-added products only. Another challenge was how to target and guarantee the availability of wood-based biomass for different purposes. Circular economy was characterized by resource efficiency, closed loops, recycling and collaboration. The challenges here was leaning too much on old practices whereas more emphasis should be put on inventing innovative collaborations and products. The sustainability discussion was focused on raw material sustainability and on the importance of Finnish forests as carbon sequesters and the sustainable volumes of wood-biomass utilized, whereas biodiversity went largely unnoticed. Highlights • Bioeconomy is viewed as a response to climate challenges by using renewable material. • Circular economy is defined by resource efficiency, closed loops and collaboration. • The sustainability debate focuses on the role of the Finnish forests as carbon sinks. • The Finnish firms see themselves as forerunners of sustainable, circular bioeconomy. • Directing biomass for various needs (bulk/higher value-added products) is a challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current state and prospects of domestic woodworking industries are in some way determined by the trends of volume and assortment of timber harvested in Ukraine. Its updates the need to assess the raw material potential of the Ukrainian woodworking industry. The purpose of the article is to provide analytical substantiation of directions of development and rational use of the raw material potential of Ukraine woodworking industry. The place of Ukraine among the EU countries in terms of the volume of liquid, business and fuel wood harvested is determined. The unsatisfactory structure of timber harvested in Ukraine was revealed - the share of fuel wood in liquid in 2017 amounted to 61.4% vs. 53.3% in 2010. In the neighboring countries with a similar forest landscape, - in Poland and Czech Republic, - the share of fuel wood was 11.6% and 12.3%, respectively, in Slovakia - only 6.3%, and in the EU as a whole - 23.2%. According to the results of the study, analytical conclusions were formulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of migration between Uttar Pradesh, other areas of India, and the Gulf, this article explores the role of the imagination in shaping subjective experiences of male Muslim migrants from a woodworking industry in the North Indian city of Saharanpur. Through attending to the dreams, aspirations, and hopes of labour migrants, the article argues that bridging the material and the imagined is critical to understanding not just patterns of migration, but also the subjective experiences of migrants themselves. Through a descriptive ethnographic account, involving journeys with woodworkers over one and a half years, the article explores the ways in which migration, its effects, and connections are shaped by the imagination, yet are also simultaneously active in shaping the imagination—a process that is self-perpetuating. Emerging from this, the article gives attention to continuity at the material, personal, and more emotive levels. This runs counter to research that situates migration as rupturing or change-driving within both the social and the subjective. These continuities play out in complex ways, providing comfort and familiarity, but also enabling the imaginations of migrants to be subverted, co-opted, influenced, and structured to meet the demands of labour markets both domestically and abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to identify the differences in the perception of the preferred level of corporate culture in Europe (Czech Republic and Slovak Republic), Asia (the People's Republic of China (Beijing Municipality), and the Russian Federation (Sverdlovsk region). The research methodology was based on the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument, which is a well-known and widely used measurement tool developed by Cameron and Quinn (1999). Based on statistical verification through an analysis of variance and Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) test, similarities in corporate cultures were seen for employees working in the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, and People's Republic of China, and there was a demand for a clan corporate culture. In the Russian Federation, employees preferred market and hierarchy corporate cultures. Furthermore, the corporate culture within the Baby Boomer, X, and Y generations was analysed. Within generations, major inter-regional differences were not confirmed. A positive corporate culture can contribute to further strategic development of companies and successful operation in the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The employment opportunities for people with special needs in the field of woodworking have not yet been mapped out in the Czech Republic. All the current experience in this area has been directly acquired from individual protected and socio-therapeutic workshops. As such, the research proposes a method for evaluating the employment opportunities for handicapped people when working on woodworking machines and this has become the main contribution of the thesis. The originality of the method consists in creating a questionnaire focused on the activity under examination which has been chronologically broken into individual sub-operations for which we have determined the degree of mastery and load rate for each worker. In case of failing to carry out a sub-operation, we have proposed possible measures to remove the barrier to enable the person to carry out the operation. A model of the method has been tested with one handicapped worker. The basis for the work involved mapping out 4 protected workshops currently involved in woodworking. The research was undertaken by means of a personal visit to each individual organization and via consultation both with the leaders and with handicapped workers. Experience has shown that appropriate work adaptation enables the production of complicated wooden products such as musical instruments. The proposed method specifies the work capacity of a particular person and technology on a particular piece of machinery when machining of a specific workpiece. As such, it ascertains the real causes of the barriers restricting handicapped people from performing the work and it should lead to the consideration and proposal of work conditions which compensate for a handicap so that a person with special needs can perform the work activity in consideration. The nature of the evaluation method means that it is suitable for protected workshops, socio-therapeutic workshops and organizations producing mass-produced products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Occupational exposure to dust leads to acute and chronic respiratory diseases, occupational asthma, and depressed lung function. In the light of a lack of comprehensive studies on the exposure of Iranian workers to wood dusts, the objective of this study was to monitor the occupational exposure to wood dust and bioaerosol, and their correlation with the lung function parameters in chipboard manufacturing industry workers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on chipboard workers in Golestan Province; a total of 150 men (100 exposed cases and 50 controls) were assessed. Workers were monitored for inhalable wood dust and lung function parameters, i.e., FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and FEF25-75%. The workers' exposure to bioaerosols was measured using a bacterial sampler; a total of 68 area samples were collected. The analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and regression statistical tests. Results: The geometric mean value and geometric standard deviation of inhalable wood dust for the exposed and control groups were 19 ± 2.00 mg/m³ and 0.008 ± 0.001 mg/m³, respectively. A statistically significant correlation was observed between the lung parameters and cumulative exposure to inhalable wood dust, whereas a statistically significant correlation was not observed between the lung parameters and bioaerosol exposure. However, the exposure of Iranian workers to bioaerosols was higher, compared to their foreign coworkers. Conclusion: Considering the high level of exposure among workers in this study along with their lung function results, long-term exposure to wood dust may be detrimental to the workers' health and steps to limit their exposure should be considered seriously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The main objective of this study is to develop a model for solving the one dimensional cutting stock problem in the wood working industry, and develop a computer program for its implementation. Design/methodology/approach: This study adopts the pattern oriented approach in the formulation of the cutting stock model. A pattern generation algorithm was developed and coded using Visual basic.NET language. The cutting stock model developed is a Linear Programming (LP) Model constrained by numerous feasible patterns. A LP solver was integrated with the pattern generation algorithm program to develop a one - dimensional cutting stock model application named GB Cutting Stock Program. Findings: Applying the model to a real life optimization problem significantly reduces material waste (off-cuts) and minimizes the total stock used. The result yielded about 30.7% cost savings for company-I when the total stock materials used is compared with the former cutting plan. Also, to evaluate the efficiency of the application, Case I problem was solved using two top commercial 1D-cutting stock software. The results show that the GB program performs better when related results were compared. Research limitations/implications: This study round up the linear programming solution for the number of pattern to cut. Practical implications: From Managerial perspective, implementing optimized cutting plans increases productivity by eliminating calculating errors and drastically reducing operator mistakes. Also, financial benefits that can annually amount to millions in cost savings can be achieved through significant material waste reduction. Originality/value: This paper developed a linear programming one dimensional cutting stock model based on a pattern generation algorithm to minimize waste in the wood working industry. To implement the model, the algorithm was coded using VisualBasic.net and linear programming solver called lpsolvedll (dynamic link library) was integrated to develop a one dimensional cutting stock Program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycrystalline diamond (PCD) tools fulfil a vital role in the woodworking industry, with its ability to achieve smooth machining quality and long service life, along with excellent performance features. However, diamond tools' fabrication is a difficult material removal process. In this study, we propose and develop an electrical discharge machining (EDM) grinding method with disk electrode. Tool profiles are captured by a measuring probe, and path curves are tracked by a peripheral disk in edge fabrication. Experiments of graphite and copper serving as electrode are carried out, respectively, in the disk discharge grinding process. In addition, with design of experiments on PCD machining, different Disk EDM parameters are obtained to evaluate the influence of dominant factors on machining speed and surface quality. Optimal gap reference voltage, wheel rotational speed and pulse width are extracted, respectively, under the conditions of two electrode materials. Results show that pulse width plays the most important role in machining, and copper electrode can effectively produce smoother surface than graphite when used as electrode in Disk EDM. Moreover, edge fabrication of spiral miller (φ125 mm) is precisely realized with circular run-out errors less than 0.050 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three environments were chosen for this study (office, metal, and woodworking industries). The results obtained by an electrical low-pressure impactor (ELPI+) in this study show that the particle number concentration and surface area are significantly higher in workplaces of the metal- and wood-working industries but concentrations of mass are lower. Therefore, the characteristics of mass should not be used on their own as a representative parameter for the description of occupational exposure and cannot be used for occupational risk assessment as a single parameter. The nanoparticles ratio together with occupational exposure limits could possibly be used as the background for occupational risk assessment. At the same time, it is essential to mention that the nanoparticle ratio alone is insufficient and parameters like concentration levels, chemical composition, and shape characterization must also be taken into account, especially in occupational toxicology studies done in the future. According to the SEM data, samples from the metal industry contained more ultramicroscopic and nanometric particles (e.g. toxic metals such as Zn, Mn, and Cr) and fewer microscopic dust particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modern woodworking industry applies resource-saving, environmentally appropriate technologies, providing both the metal removal performance enhancement and functioning with the optimal economic factors. Progressive cutting parameters require the application of the highreliability cutting tools, eliminating machine-tool equipment standstill and increased cost of the expensive tool materials. In this paper it is suggested to increase the wood-cutting tool efficiency by means of the vacuum-arc separated coating deposition process optimization. The droplets are one of the main problems while generating vacuum-arc coatings, and they have a bad influence on the quality and operational coatings characteristics. The application of the separated system, allowing minimize the droplets content, is one of the most promising ways to solve this problem. Vacuum-arc deposition technique was used in this work to generate multicomponent coatings. The coatings deposition was directly carried out on the modernized vacuum-arc plant, equipped by Y-shaped macroparticles separator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was carried out to assess the dust emission and working conditions in the bamboo and rubberwood furniture manufacturing industries in Malaysia. The emission of wood dust arising from these industries was measured in each main work station in the mills. Meanwhile, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 5900 workers in 45 companies to obtain information on the occupational accidents that occurred in the mills. The data were collected, compiled, and analyzed using the SPSS package. The highest dust emission from the sanding operation resulted in respiratory ailments among workers. The occurrence of injuries particularly to the hand, wrist, fingers and forearm was due to the prevailing working conditions, safety climate and workers characteristics. The dust exposure levels and working conditions were much more severe in the bamboo furniture manufacturing industry. As a result, a review of existing of dust exposure levels in the woodworking industry is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Woodworking industries still consists of wood dust problems. Young workers are especially vulnerable to safety risks. To reduce risks, it is important to change attitudes and increase knowledge about safety. Safety training have shown to establish positive attitudes towards safety among employees. The aim of current study is to analyze the effect of QR codes that link to Picture Mix EXposure (PIMEX) videos by analyzing attitudes to this safety training method and safety in student responses. Safety training videos were used in upper secondary school handicraft programs to demonstrate wood dust risks and methods to decrease exposure to wood dust. A preliminary study was conducted to investigate improvement of safety training in two schools in preparation for the main study that investigated a safety training method in three schools. In the preliminary study the PIMEX method was first used in which students were filmed while wood dust exposure was measured and subsequently displayed on a computer screen in real time. Before and after the filming, teachers, students, and researchers together analyzed wood dust risks and effective measures to reduce exposure to them. For the main study, QR codes linked to PIMEX videos were attached at wood processing machines. Subsequent interviews showed that this safety training method enables students in an early stage of their life to learn about risks and safety measures to control wood dust exposure. The new combination of methods can create awareness, change attitudes and motivation among students to work more frequently to reduce wood dust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machining with robots represents a promising, highly flexible and cost effective alternative to standard machining and hand labour applications when machining mid tolerance soft material end products. One of the most challenging issues is to know the vibration characteristics in milling with the robots which greatly affect tool life. In general the technological bases of tool life expectancy while milling with robot arms are not available or studied. That`s why the purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of attained vibrations analysis during the milling process and correlated tool wear. Primarily the study is focused on tool wear according to the distance between the milling position and the robot`s base. Results show that increasing distance between the robot's base and the milling position significantly affects tool wear because of the attained vibrations in proportion to the increasing distance respectively. Tool wear has also proved to be greater in comparison to machining with CNC machine and applicable new information for woodworking industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sawing solid wood (lumber, wooden boards) into blanks is an important technological operation, which has significant influence on the efficiency of the woodworking industry as a whole. Selecting a rational variant of lumber cutting is a complex multicriteria problem with many stochastic factors, characterized by incomplete information and fuzzy attributes. About this property by currently used automatic optimizing cross-cut saw is not always rational use of wood raw material. And since the optimization algorithms of these saw functions as a "black box", their improvement is not possible. Therefore topical the task of developing a new approach to the optimal cross-cutting that takes into account stochastic properties of wood as a material from biological origin. Here we propose a new approach to the problem of lumber optimal cutting in the conditions of uncertainty of lumber quantity and fuzziness lengths of defect-free areas. To account for these conditions, we applied the methods of fuzzy sets theory and used a genetic algorithm to simulate the process of human learning in the implementation the technological operation. Thus, the rules of behavior with yet another defect-free area is defined in fuzzy expert system that can be configured to perform specific production tasks using genetic algorithm. The author's implementation of the genetic algorithm is used to set up the parameters of fuzzy expert system. Working capacity of the developed system verified on simulated and real-world data. Implementation of this approach will make it suitable for the control of automated or fully automatic optimizing cross cutting of solid wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]