Confidence and growth have returned, says NPPD chairman

Confidence has returned to the panels sector and 2010 will be the year in which it can demonstrate further that significant improvements can be achieved. That was the message from Nigel Williams, chairman of the National Panel Products Division (NPPD) of The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) addressing around 170 guests at the annual NPPD dinner in London on November 11.

Acknowledging that “if 2008 was a challenge, 2009 has proved to be more of a battle”, Mr Williams said the recession had forced businesses to be more innovative and that the sector was stronger as a result.

“We have proved as an industry that we can make uncomfortable decisions, we have proved that we can manage stock positions, we have proved we can effectively manage cash flow and we have proved we are all more than capable of managing our businesses and our industry through the day-to-day turmoil that the worst recession in living history throws at us.

“New areas of finance have had to be obtained because our traditional financial models had been brought into question,” he said, adding that while financial support from the banking industry had remained constant, the actions of credit insurers had hamstrung business.

Data now showed that confidence has returned to the market sector, he said. “Our message to the financial market is positive – we are back as a growth industry.”

Mr Williams also entreated the sector to ensure that every panel product traded came from a legal and sustainable source. “We have several tools available to help us in the environmental due diligence process, so let’s all encourage our various manufacturers to use these tools and not leave our industry open to criticism and attack,” he said.

The panels sector should also be diligent in terms of standards, particularly where new species were being introduced, said Mr Williams. “It must be clear to the manufacturers that until certain species can prove they can conform to the relevant test criteria, any change in the species of wood, or whatever fibre they use, must have data relevant to that fibre to make any claims for performance.

“It is not acceptable here in the UK, or indeed in Europe, for products to be changed without relevant test data.”

John Wright of John Wright Panel Products was presented with an NPPD Lifetime Achievement Award at the dinner. The award was made from FSC-certified Latvian birch plywood, kindly donated by Lathams.