Advanced Technology for Extraction, Processing and Testing of Forest Products

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Wood Science and Forest Products".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2025 | Viewed by 169

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Wood Engineering and Creative Industries, University of Sopron, 9400 Sopron, Hungary
Interests: mechanics of wood machining; wood cutting theory; optimization of wood processing

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Wood Engineering and Creative Industries, University of Sopron, 9400 Sopron, Hungary
Interests: glued wooden structures

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Guest Editor
Institute of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Wood Engineering and Creative Industries, University of Sopron, 9400 Sopron, Hungary
Interests: wood and wood-based products; biocomposites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Wood, one of Earth’s most significant renewable resources, is critical in combating global warming through sustainable processing, utilization, and recycling. In Europe, forested areas continue to expand (europarl.europa.eu), with managed forests ensuring a steady, sustainable wood supply. Climate change, however, is reshaping forest ecosystems, favouring more drought-tolerant tree species. This shift necessitates research into the industrial applications of these species, driving innovation in green technologies such as additive manufacturing, 3D printing, and eco-friendly chemical processes.

Wood products, particularly in construction, act as long-term carbon sinks, with their use in the building industry projected to grow substantially. Similarly, demand for wood-based packaging and insulation materials is expected to rise.

This Special Issue focuses on modern technologies for the sustainable use of forest products, such as wood, pulp, paper, and other plant-based raw materials. It covers the following main areas:

Extraction Technologies: Advanced methods for sustainably harvesting and collecting forest raw materials. This includes mechanized logging systems, precision forestry technologies, and innovative approaches such as utilizing biomass for energy production.

Processing Technologies: Cutting-edge procedures for industrially processing forest raw materials. Examples include woodworking machinery and robotics for efficient and precise processing; the optimisation of wood processing (e.g., LEAN, industry 4.0); chemical and biotechnological methods (e.g., extracting lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose); and the production of new construction materials, such as composites and bio-based products.

Testing Technologies: Modern analytical tools and methods to assess product quality and durability. These include testing mechanical properties; the fire resistance testing of wood-based building materials; and environmental and sustainability assessments.

This topic emphasizes innovation and sustainability throughout the entire lifecycle of forest products, facilitating the efficient and environmentally friendly use of natural resources.

Prof. Dr. Endre Magoss
Dr. Csilla Csiha
Dr. Tibor László Alpár
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • renewable resources
  • climate change
  • logging
  • additive manufacturing
  • fully recyclable wood-based products
  • building industry
  • wood-based packaging
  • green chemistry
  • testing technologies

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 4248 KiB  
Article
Toward Safer Resin Tapping: Assessing Alternative Chemical Stimulants for Pinus Pinaster
by Faustino Rubio Pérez, Aida Rodríguez-García, Santiago Michavila, Ana Rodríguez, Luis Gil and Rosana López
Forests 2025, 16(5), 849; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16050849 - 19 May 2025
Abstract
The use of chemical stimulants in resin tapping is essential for prolonging the resin flow and enhancing production. Traditional stimulants, primarily composed of sulfuric acid, pose concerns related to workplace safety, environmental impact, and tree health. In this study, we compared alternative stimulant [...] Read more.
The use of chemical stimulants in resin tapping is essential for prolonging the resin flow and enhancing production. Traditional stimulants, primarily composed of sulfuric acid, pose concerns related to workplace safety, environmental impact, and tree health. In this study, we compared alternative stimulant pastes containing ethrel, salicylic acid, and citric acid with the traditional Spanish and Brazilian stimulant pastes with higher contents of sulfuric acid. We tapped Pinus pinaster seedlings with five different stimulants, using untreated and mechanically wounded plants as controls. The resin yield, tree growth, and physiological parameters were compared. The pines stimulated with citric acid released ca. 50% more resin, while ethrel and salicylic acid yielded similar amounts to the traditional paste, suggesting their potential as viable alternatives. Although all stimulants reduced the seedling growth, no significant differences were observed in the midday water potential or stomatal conductance. The internal resin accumulation and resin canal density were strongly correlated with the total resin production, and more-acidic pastes tended to cause xylem damage and resin retention. Our findings suggest that moderate acidity is sufficient to trigger resin biosynthesis and release, and that safer, less corrosive formulations, like citric acid, may provide viable, safer, and more sustainable alternatives to conventional stimulants. While the results from the seedlings provide a rapid and cost-effective screening tool, anatomical and physiological differences from mature trees should be considered when extrapolating findings to operational settings. Full article
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