{"id":2263,"date":"2026-04-13T18:08:51","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T16:08:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.foppolibramin.com\/eng\/?p=2263"},"modified":"2026-04-13T18:09:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T16:09:02","slug":"production-of-ash-wood-handles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.foppolibramin.com\/eng\/production-of-ash-wood-handles\/","title":{"rendered":"Production of ash wood handles"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>Wooden handles production in Europe: what is happening to ash wood<\/h1>\n<p>Wooden handles production in Europe is undergoing a period of significant change. Ash wood, long considered the benchmark material for professional tools in gardening, agriculture, and construction, is now at the center of a phytosanitary crisis that is reshaping the entire supply chain.<\/p>\n<p>Today, its availability is no longer as guaranteed as in the past. Across Europe, companies and industry operators are facing a scenario where supply, wood quality, and costs are no longer stable variables, but factors that require careful management.<\/p>\n<p>For manufacturers of shovel handles, hoe handles, and pickaxe handles, this means making strategic decisions regarding materials, processes, and market positioning.<\/p>\n<h2>The role of ash wood in wooden handles production<\/h2>\n<p>For decades, ash has represented a quality standard that is difficult to match in wooden handles production.<\/p>\n<p>Its combination of mechanical strength and elasticity makes it ideal for producing handles designed to withstand intense and repeated stress. In practical terms, this translates into a natural ability to absorb shocks, reducing strain for the user and improving safety during use.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, its long and compact fibrous structure reduces the risk of breakage, even under demanding working conditions.<\/p>\n<p>For this reason, ash has historically been used for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>shovel handles<\/li>\n<li>hoe handles<\/li>\n<li>pickaxe handles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Even today, it remains the benchmark material for many wooden handles manufacturers.<\/p>\n<h2>Ash wood crisis in Europe<\/h2>\n<p>In recent years, the spread of the fungus <em>Hymenoscyphus fraxineus<\/em> has significantly affected European forests.<\/p>\n<p>What initially appeared to be a localized issue has gradually spread across much of the continent.<\/p>\n<p>In Central and Northern Europe, the impact has been particularly severe, with a drastic reduction in the availability of healthy trees. In Southern regions, the situation is more variable but still evolving and closely monitored.<\/p>\n<p>The consequences for the sector are already clear:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>reduced availability of raw material<\/li>\n<li>less consistent wood quality<\/li>\n<li>increased costs across the entire supply chain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The result is growing pressure on wooden handles production.<\/p>\n<h2>Direct impact on shovel, hoe and pickaxe handles<\/h2>\n<p>For companies in the sector, this scenario has immediate and tangible effects, especially in professional applications.<\/p>\n<h3>Supply chain under pressure<\/h3>\n<p>Sourcing has become more complex:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>less ash wood available<\/li>\n<li>increased competition among buyers<\/li>\n<li>longer lead times to obtain suitable material<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Less consistent quality<\/h3>\n<p>Quality now requires greater attention than in the past. The material may show:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>internal defects<\/li>\n<li>increased fragility<\/li>\n<li>variability between batches<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Rising costs<\/h3>\n<p>The increase in raw material prices directly affects margins, particularly for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>shovel handles<\/li>\n<li>hoe handles<\/li>\n<li>pickaxe handles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In these products, strength and reliability are essential, making material management even more critical.<\/p>\n<h2>Wooden handles production: strategies to face the change<\/h2>\n<p>In this context, more structured companies are adopting targeted strategies to ensure production continuity and maintain high quality standards.<\/p>\n<h3>Raw material diversification<\/h3>\n<p>Alongside ash wood, there is increasing use of:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>European beech<\/li>\n<li>hickory (imported)<\/li>\n<li>selected alternative hardwoods<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This approach reduces dependence on a single raw material.<\/p>\n<h3>Direct control of the supply chain<\/h3>\n<p>It is becoming increasingly important to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>collaborate with selected sawmills<\/li>\n<li>select timber at the source<\/li>\n<li>adopt certifications such as FSC and PEFC<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This ensures higher quality, traceability, and reliability.<\/p>\n<h3>Production process optimization<\/h3>\n<p>Companies are focusing on:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>better use of wood<\/li>\n<li>waste reduction<\/li>\n<li>quality standardization<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This allows them to remain competitive even in a context of rising costs.<\/p>\n<h3>Quality-driven market positioning<\/h3>\n<p>Companies that clearly communicate:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>product quality<\/li>\n<li>wood origin<\/li>\n<li>sustainability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>are building a stronger and more distinctive position in the European market.<\/p>\n<h2>The future of ash wood and the sector<\/h2>\n<p>Despite current challenges, ash wood is not destined to disappear.<\/p>\n<p>Forestry research is working on developing more resistant varieties, while the entire supply chain is adapting to manage available resources more efficiently.<\/p>\n<p>For wooden handles production, this means evolution, not decline.<\/p>\n<h2>A forward-looking commitment<\/h2>\n<p>In this constantly evolving scenario, our company continues to invest in raw material selection and direct control of the supply chain, with the aim of ensuring reliable and high-performance wooden handles.<\/p>\n<p>Our experience allows us to face market changes while maintaining high quality standards, without losing sight of what truly matters: safety, durability, and comfort for those who use our products every day.<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Wooden handles production in Europe is going through a transition phase.<\/p>\n<p>Companies that are able to adapt, diversify, and strengthen supply chain control will not only overcome current challenges, but also seize new growth opportunities in a market increasingly focused on quality and sustainability.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2265\" src=\"https:\/\/www.foppolibramin.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMMAGINE-TESTO-ARTICOLO-FRASSINO.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2419\" height=\"1361\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.foppolibramin.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMMAGINE-TESTO-ARTICOLO-FRASSINO.jpg 2419w, https:\/\/www.foppolibramin.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMMAGINE-TESTO-ARTICOLO-FRASSINO-1280x720.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.foppolibramin.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMMAGINE-TESTO-ARTICOLO-FRASSINO-980x551.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.foppolibramin.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMMAGINE-TESTO-ARTICOLO-FRASSINO-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 2419px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wooden handles production in Europe: what is happening to ash wood Wooden handles production in Europe is undergoing a period of significant change. Ash wood, long considered the benchmark material for professional tools in gardening, agriculture, and construction, is now at the center of a phytosanitary crisis that is reshaping the entire supply chain. Today, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2264,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-posts-from-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foppolibramin.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foppolibramin.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foppolibramin.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foppolibramin.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foppolibramin.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2263"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.foppolibramin.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2263\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2266,"href":"https:\/\/www.foppolibramin.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2263\/revisions\/2266"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foppolibramin.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foppolibramin.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foppolibramin.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foppolibramin.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}