world news - 30.06.2004
European parquet industry prepares for the future
The 48th General Assembly of the European Federation of the Parquet Industry, FEP, was held on 11 June 2004 in Lugano, on invitation of the Swiss parquet industry organisation, ISP. The participants were welcomed to Lugano by Mr Bruno Durrer, ISP President. In his opening speech, FEP chairman Mr Dieter Betz first of all pointed towards the somewhat unexpected positive development of parquet production and consumption in the FEP countries in 2003, with increases at both ends.
He then focused on the main challenges for the European parquet sector for the coming years, such as stimulating parquet consumption in the FEP region, successfully confronting the ever-increasing competition from Asia and Eastern-Europe, increasing the market share of parquet products by recovering part of the volumes lost to laminate floorings and convincing the consumer of the intrinsic advantages of real wood flooring.
Furthermore, industry will have to make sure not to endanger its own profitability and should recognise the need for a fundamental re-orientation from fragmentation towards a joint, uniform, creative and solid pro-active vision, thus ensuring that it can cope with the numerous challenges ahead and guarantee its sound future development.
However, he equally saw major opportunities for a future positive development for parquet that should be able to increase its annual output, provided that the economy in Western Europe finally gets a long expected surge, construction activity picks up and the parquet industry succeeds in fully valorising the inherent advantages of its products.
Whilst the achievement of such result will of course very much depend upon the actions from the parquet industry itself, FEP will focus its activities over the next years precisely on creating the right framework conditions for a sound market development.
One of the elements in this context is the strengthening of FEP as an organisation. Next to pro-actively contacting parquet manufacturers, FEP intends to open up membership also to supplier companies in view of creating a real “parquet industry cluster”. Other actions presented by the FEP Board were:
• A consumer survey to identify the obstacles prohibiting parquet from being the favoured alternative solution for flooring;
• The organisation of information meetings in the various FEP member countries in collaboration with the local members;
• An involvement in CEI-Bois’ Roadmap 2010 process, aiming at making wood and wood-based products the leading material in construction and interior solutions;
• Developing arguments for the retail chain to facilitate parquet sales;
• Stimulating successful business achievements and innovation through annual “best practice” awards;
• Proliferation of positive experiences among FEP member countries;
• Launching concrete actions to protect the uniqueness and name of parquet, etc.
The various action proposals will now be worked out in more detail and, upon relevance, presented to the members.
As regards the ongoing actions, the General Assembly was most pleased with the breakthrough realized by FEP in the US customs case that has been a lingering question for more than two years following the unilateral reclassification of parquet as plywood. In fact, FEP has achieved that the World Customs Organisation, at its meeting in May 2004, has ruled that multilayer products are to be listed under heading 441830 as parquet panels, and not as plywood. It is hoped that, through this ruling, the battle over import taxes can finally be settled.
A further breakthrough was reached in the reaction to fire classification discussions at EU level. FEP is within short expecting the formal ratification of a European decision that will enable parquet manufacturers to label certain products under a specific reaction to fire class without the need for additional testing. In the past, FEP has been investing quite heavily in this activity.
On the organisational side, Mr Dieter Betz was confirmed as FEP chairman, as were the Board members Louis Borg (Panaget, France), Peter Hamberger (Hamberger Industriewerke, Germany), Javier Hervas (Mariano Hervas SA, Spain) and Ralph Plessmann (Pamino, Germany).
Mats Friberg (Tarkett) was appointed as a new Board member. The Assembly expressed gratitude to Mr Teerikorpi, who left the Board in May 2004. The General Assembly was followed by the European Parquet Congress 2004, which this year focused on market development issues and ways to raise the market share for parquet products.
Speaking on behalf of a “parquet panel”, the director of the Swiss parquet industry federation, Mr Bernard Lysser, presented in an eloquent way the various initiatives taken by the Swiss parquet industry to substantially increase the per capita consumption in Switzerland. Through a variety of targeted activities such as technical advice, promo, PR, training etc. it has been possible to gradually raise the initial consumption level from 0.22 m²/inhabitant in 1986 to 0.53 m²/inhabitant in 2003, an impressive result.
FEP Secretary General Filip De Jaeger presented the results from the first step of the Roadmap 2010 action by the European Confederation of Woodworking Industries, CEIBois.
This action aims at making wood and wood-based products the leading material in 2010 for construction and interior solutions and, in this context, presents an interesting vehicle for the parquet sector in gaining market shares.
The highlight of this year’s congress was the closing presentation of Prof Gino Van Ossel on the importance of strategic marketing for the European parquet industry as an indispensable tool for attaining the set objectives of growth and added value.
In a lively, well-founded and entertaining “show”, Prof Van Ossel referred to examples from other industry sectors to emphasize the premise that one should first “grow the cake”, only to slice it up afterwards. In other words make sure there is something to divide, prior to actually doing it. This lecture was met with sincere approval by all participants, a fitting conclusion of a well attended two-day event.
Following the invitation from the Hungarian FEP members, the General Assembly unanimously agreed to hold the 2005 event in Budapest in June.
See also:
- — Russian timber, timber-processing and pulp and paper industries will increase production 6,5% in 2004
- — European consumers again reduce pulp stores
- — Pulp stores in European ports have been declining for 3 months
- — The European Sawmill Industry: modest optimism prevails
- — Russia reported timber and pulp and paper products exports up 4,5% within 3 months in 2004 compared with the prior period in 2003.