Preliminary Programme Schedule
Event	Date	Time	Venue or Pick & Drop Location
Preconference Tour	05-Sept	07:00 – 18:00	Paul Sauer building, Dept of Forest and Wood Science, Stellenbosch
Preconference Tour	06-Sept	07:00 – 18:00	Paul Sauer building, Dept of Forest and Wood Science, Stellenbosch
Preconference Tour	07-Sept	07:00 – 18:00	Paul Sauer building, Dept of Forest and Wood Science, Stellenbosch
Welcome Cocktail	07-Sept	18:00 – 21:00	Stias, Stellenbosch
Conference	08-Sept	08:00 – 18:00	Stias, Stellenbosch
Conference	09-Sept	08:00 – 18:00	Stias, Stellenbosch
Conference	10-Sept	08:00 – 18:00	Stias, Stellenbosch
Gala Dinner	10-Sept	19:00 – 23:00	Middelvlei Farm, Stellenbosch
Technical Visit	11-Sept	08:00 – 18:00	Stias, Stellenbosch

A detailed programme will be available after abstract decisions.

The ISCHP 26 (International Scientific Conference on Hardwood Products 2026) had a change in its name replacing the word ‘Processing’ from the previous editions by ‘Products’. This revision was made to adjust the name of the event with the directions took by the conference in the latest editions.

 

Since wood quality is such an important aspect of hardwood products, we decided to combine the ISCHP event with that of the Wood Quality Modelling working group of IUFRO. Although we hope there is a focus on hardwood wood quality modelling, we understand that some researchers only work on softwoods and, therefore, there will also be a session on softwood wood quality modelling.

 

The following themes will be covered in the 2026 ISCHP edition:

 

Species, wood properties and quality

Forest, stock, wood procurement; Hardwoods (temperate, tropical); Bamboo, Palm wood and Cork; Eucalyptus wood; Strength and stiffness; Visual grading; Durability; Non-destructive testing;

Processing and products

Primary and Secondary Processing; Drying; Modification; Adhesion; Moulding; Chemical extraction; Reconstituted Panels; Fibers; Paper and cellulose; Chemicals; Engineered wood products; Charcoal;

Structural and non-structural applications

Heritage structures; Road and Hydraulic works (bridges, lock gates, etc); New structures;

Connections; Standardisation; Architecture with hardwoods; Biobased materials; Windows, doors and facades; Life Cycle Analysis; Markets, certification, forestry management and policies;

Wood quality modelling

Understanding links between silviculture and wood fibre properties

Building integrated model chains for predicting forest growth, wood quality and value in a changing environment

Multi-scale modelling of wood properties: from the cell wall to end-products

Enhanced inventory methods for mapping wood quality

Integration of genetic selection and genomics with tree and wood quality models

Development and application of simulation tools for the forest sector