Manufacture of furniture
July 29, 2024 2025-07-14 15:54Manufacture of furniture
About the department
Address: Bulgaria, Sofia 1756, bul. “Kliment Ohridski” 10, University of Forestry
Department of Furniture Production;
Location: Administrative activity-building “EFC”, third floor, laboratory 312
Teaching staff – building А, I and IV floor; Educational Laboratory Corpus – I floor
Laboratories – building А – lab. No. 415, 503, 511; Educational Laboratory Corpus – No. 102, 310, 311; Laboratory Hydrothermal Processing of Timber.
Head of Department: Prof. Pavlina Minkova Vodenova
Quality assurance: Assistant Dr. Krasimira Alexieva Atanasova-Alexandrova
Organizer of Educational activities: Eng. Teodor Hristov Lulchev – building ”EFC”, third floor, laboratory 312, tel. 91907/442 E-mail: teodorhl72@gmail.com
History
Founder of the “Department of Furniture Production” is the “Department of Mechanical Wood Technology”, founded in 1950 when is formed independent Department of Silviculture then at the Agricultural Academy. Its first director was lec. Petko Chernaev, who become a professor in 1955 and stays head of department until 1966. The initial staff of the department is lec. P. Chernaev – lecturer, Assistant E. Enchev (later professor), Assistant F. Filipov, quit in 1955, postgraduates Sv. Nikolov (later professor), Assistant P. Obreshkov (later professor in the Department of Woodworking Machines). The subjects that are learned in the department are: woodcut production, plywood production, furniture production, drying of lumber, special productions, wood knowledge. Later in the department entered G. Donchev (1954), G. Kiuchukov (1959), N. Yosifov (1961), Hr. Videlov (1966), A. Kavalov (1966). During this period, the department expanded its staff, the number of the studied subjects had increased. By 1966 the supervisor of the department is Sv. Nikolov. During the same period in the department work as lecturers lec. B. Gankov, lec. K. Kirov and Assistant N .Todorov. Initially as postgraduates and then as research assistants by the Problem Laboratory of modification of wood, are working G. Abrashev, K. Simeonov and P. Panayotov. In the beginning of 1974 the Department of Mechanical Technology of Wood is divided into two separate departments: Department of Furniture Production with supervisor Prof. Sv. Nikolov and Department of Woodworking with supervisor doc. G. Donchev. In the Department of Furniture Production continue to work Prof. Svilen Y. Nikolov – supervisor of the department, scientific supervisor of Problem Scientific Research Laboratory of Modification of Wood and lecturer of hydrothermal processing of wood; Prof. Encho Enchev lecturer of Woodscience; doc. Georgi Kiuchukov – lecturer of Constructing furniture; doc. Andrei Kavalov – lecturer of Technology of Furniture; sen. assistant Hristofor Lubenov – classes of hydrothermal processing of wood and Assistant Nikolai Todorov – classes of Interior Architecture; scientific supervisor Kalin Simeonov – classes of Woodscience I part; postgraduate Panayot Panayotov – classes of Woodscience II part. In the department in 1975 – 1976 as assistants have started work: Eng. Genka Blaskova – Woodscience; Eng. Iliq Dragazov – Drying of Wood; Eng. H. Rusanov – Wood Technology. Consistently they are habilitated as lecturers: Assoc. Prof. Hristofor Videlov – lecturer of Protection and Modification of Wood; Assoc. Prof. G. Blaskova – lecturer of Woodscience; Assoc. Prof. H. Rusanov – lecturer of Special Productions; Assoc. Prof. Il. Dragazov – lecturer of Hydrothermal Treatment of Wood. In relation of the new structural changes in 1984 the Department of Furniture Production became the name Design and Production of Furniture. As supervisor was selected Assoc. Prof. A. Kavalov (1984 – 1989). As new lecturers in the department of Design and Production of Furniture entered: Assistant N. Terziev – classes of Hydrothermal Treatment of Wood (1988), Assistant Y. Genchev – classes of Design of Furniture (1988), Assistant R. Raicheva – classes of Interior Architecture (1989), Assistant V. Merdjanov – classes of Technology of Furniture (1989). After defending a doctoral dissertation in the field of wood modification Assoc. Prof. Hr. Videlov is habilitated as a professor of hydrothermal treatment, protection and modification of wood. With a habituated research Assoc. Prof. G. Kiuchukov is habilitated as a professor of Design of Furniture. After the political changes in the country, he was selected for supervisor of the department (1990 – 1994). In that period as new addition in the department have started work: Assistant V. Jivkov – classes of Design of Furniture (1992), Assistant B. Kiuchukov – classes of Protection and Modification of Wood (1992). In 1994 for supervisor of the department was selected Assoc. Prof. Hr. Rusanov (1994 – 1999). In 1996 by the department are detached three educational laboratories: of technology of furniture producing (EFC 102); of adhesives and finishes (EFC 311) and of special production (EFC 310). In 1995 was established a new degree in Faculty of Forest Industry – Interior and Furniture Design and in the development of the educational plan participated Senior Assistant Y. Genchev, Senior Assistant V. Merdjanov and arch. R. Raicheva. For lecturers in the new specialty by competitions were drawn sin. res. Assoc. II degree PhD Georgi Abrashev – lecturer of wood and wooden materials (1995) and sin. res. Assoc. PhD P. Panayotov – lecturer of adhesive and finish coatings (1995), who were raised position Assoc. Prof. in the department in 01.01.1996. For lecturer fundamental course “shape formation” were drawn Prof. D. Ermenkov – from the Academy of Arts. Consistently for lecturers in the department are selected: arch. E. Pisareva – lecturer in designing public furniture (1997), Assistant PhD E. Trichkova-Vetova – classes of hydrothermal wood processing (1997), Assistant T. Lulchev – classes of “Special production of wood products” (1998).
In 1999 the department of Design and Production of Furniture is divided into two: department of “Furniture Producing” with supervisor Assoc. Prof. Rusanov and department of Interior and Design for Furniture with supervisor Prof. Kiuchukov. In the department of Furniture Producing as a assistants entered Eng. D. Angelski (2000) and Eng. St. Hikov (2004). From December 1999 for supervisor of the department was selected Prof. Hr. Videlov who in 2005 because of retirement was replaced by Prof. P. Panayotov (2005–2007). In the period 2004–2007 lec. Hr. Rusanov is dean of Faculty Forestry Industry. In the end of 2007 for supervisor of the department was selected Assoc. Prof. Hr. Rusanov with a permanently alternate Assoc. Prof. P. Panayotov who in the begging of 2008 was given the rank professor of Adhesives and Protective and Decorative Coatings. In the middle of 2008 Eng. St. Hikov leaves the department and his place was taken from Assist. Zh. Georgiev – classes of Building Products of Wood, who was chosen with a contest in the autumn of 2009. In September 2010 Assoc. Prof. Rusanov was retired on sickness.
In the begging of 2012 the membership of the department includes: 1 professor (Prof. P. Panayotov), 3 assoc. Professors (Assoc. Prof. E. Trichkova – Vetova, Assoc. Prof. Y. Genchev, Assoc. Prof. B. Kyuchukov), 4 assistants (Senior Assistant V. Merdjanov, Senior Assistant T. Lulchev, Senior Assistant D. Angelski, Assistant. J. Georgiev). For guest lecturer by the department works: Prof. Andrei Kavalov – Technology of Furniture, and as a part time lecturer Prof. Hr. Videlov – Theoretical Base of Modification and Conservation of Wood. From June 2009 for regular doctorants by the department was selected Eng. Galina Vasileva with scientific supervisor Prof. Panayot Panayotov and Eng. Svetlana Davidkova with scientific supervisor Assoc. Prof. B. Kyuchukov.
In the last 5 years in the department are protected 2 doctoral dissertations:
– June 2010 Senior Assistant Dimitar Angelski protects doctoral dissertation in the area of the Technology of Furniture entitled: “Research on the Processes of Plastification and Bending of Parts of Solid Wood”.
– October 2011 Eng. Rumiana Kirilova protects doctoral dissertation entitled “Research of the Properties of Protective and Decorative Coatings formed on wood and wooden materials”.
In December 2011 for supervisor of the department again was selected: Prof. Panayot Panayotov.
Organizer of educational activity of the department is Eng. Antoaneta Boteva (1989).
Technical support of the educational activity and of the research activity of the department is ensured by Eng. Vladimir Mihailov.
The lecturers of the Department of Furniture Production output lectures on the disciplines listed in educational plans of the faculty of Forestry Production and faculty of Economical Management by the University of Forestry on three courses: Wood Technology (ED “bachelor”, ED “master”), Engineering Design (ED “bachelor”, ED “master”) and Economical Management (ED “bachelor”).
Today, the composition of the "Furniture Production" department consists of the following members:
Study process
In recent years, the lecturers from the “Furniture Production” department have been leading 27 courses included in the curricula of various majors from FFP and FSU.
The Wood Technology specialty has more than half a century of history. During this period, it developed and established itself as an authoritative institution for the training of highly qualified specialists with a higher engineering education.
There are over 6000 engineers graduated from LTU and over 3500 have worked and are working in the furniture industry. Over 1700 students have graduated under the supervision and guidance of the lecturers of the Furniture Manufacturing Department. Students from Greece, Cyprus, Syria, Nigeria, Algeria, Ukraine and Macedonia have been trained in the department. After their graduation, they are successfully realized in their countries and around the world as leading specialists in the field of design, organization and management of furniture production and trade.
Modern teaching methods are applied in the teaching work – modern and cutting-edge technologies are presented through multimedia, promising design solutions are used in determining the structure of the furniture. Tracking the development of functionality and form-building of furniture, the properties and type of materials, the way of their application and determination of the shape, cross-sections and joints between the main structural joints are analyzed. Dozens of textbooks, manuals and books have been published, which are used by students in the preparation of individual disciplines, the development of course projects and theses. Along with this, the modern forms of distance learning used under Project BG051PO001-4.3.04-0052 “Development of the Centre for Electronic Forms of Distance Learning at the University of Forestry and Mechanical Engineering” help to increase the quality of education in the difficult to master technical disciplines.
Active students develop diploma projects that are in demand and find implementation in furniture companies. For example, the created programs of furniture in classical style in the diploma work of Ivan Mihailov and in modern interpretation of slabs and profiles of solid wood in the work of Polina Nikolova are implemented in the company Livers, exhibited at the Plovdiv International Fair were awarded with gold medals in 2010. The students show interest and innovativeness to the initiatives of the management of the FGP. After a competition, the project of Yordan Yordanov who won the first prize was implemented in the furnishing of the hotel part of the UOGS Yundola base, and others in the furnishing of the rooms in the student dormitories. Assisted by the lecturers in the department, creative solutions and ideas are often demonstrated in the development of projects and assignments during studies.
The engineers, successfully implementing the knowledge and skills acquired during their training, show creativity and daring in their work in the furniture industry, in the installation and commissioning of new facilities, in solving complex technical, technological and managerial tasks. Among the numerous examples of outstanding engineers is the system of furniture fittings developed by Eng. Г. Pantev in the 1980s – patented in 14 countries such as Germany, USA, Italy, etc.
The international recognition of the participation of the project of Eng. Ilian Milinov at one of the most popular international furniture exhibitions – Milan. The chair transforms into a table with one movement, is distinguished by its elegant shape, modern sculpture and was awarded as the chair of the year 2000. Along with the successful realization in Bulgaria, engineers from LTU find opportunities for work and expression abroad – in countries with developed furniture industry such as Italy, USA, Canada, Australia, France, etc. they occupy managerial positions in large associations, solve design, technological and construction problems, or have created their own companies.
Over the years, in addition to teaching in the full-time course of study, engineers from leading enterprises and institutions have been permanently admitted for further training and postgraduate specialization. Engineers from Bulgaria, as well as from the TU in Dresden, the Higher School in Vranje – Serbia, have upgraded their qualification, and those from the Faculty of Šumar in Skopje have prepared their master’s theses.
The authority of the department in the preparation of PhD students and postgraduates is undeniable – nearly 20 PhD students have defended their PhDs in scientific areas typical for furniture production, furniture and material design. Under the guidance of prof. Svilen Nikolov, prof. Kyuchukov and prof. Kavalov, PhD students from Syria, Greece, Macedonia and Serbia defended their theses.
Prof. Hr. Videlov has defended his dissertation for Doctor of Technical Sciences in the field of wood modification.
Scientific directions
The scientific interests of its members have been multifaceted over the years since the establishment of the Furniture Production Department. Problematic are the issues from the beginning of the creative process in the creation of new furniture and products, distinguished by creativity in form-building, through the determination of their structure, construction schemes of construction, functional and strength dimensioning. Particular attention is paid to the materials used and the study of methods for modifying and improving their properties, methods of processing, the possibilities of applying cutting-edge and rational technological processes. The application of protective and decorative coatings and ways of protecting furniture is a problem whose solution requires ingenuity and extensive knowledge in this field.
The themes developed and implemented are varied in nature, covering the whole spectrum of design, production, quality testing and furniture consumption. They can be succinctly expressed in the following directions:
The authority of the Department of Furniture Production as a leading factor in training and science in the industry is also reflected in the demand of the lecturers giving dozens of consultations, expert evaluations of State Development Institutions for small and medium businesses, companies in the industry, a number of state facilities furnished under the Public Procurement Act, the judiciary, etc.
It is endlessly satisfying for a lecturer when former students meet him after a while, when they share their projects, solved problems and achieved successes in their work and with a smile of appreciation they hear the words of gratitude to the LTU for the knowledge and skills they have acquired.
