Pallets and panels

25 November 2015


It’s been a case of pallets and panels just recently, as several important annual events in these sectors take place in the UK and Ireland.


Cork was the setting for FEFPEB’s superbly organised 66th Congress, attended by pallet sector representatives from across Europe, Asia and North America.

Delegates were told that timber had a healthy 85% share in the pallet and packaging sector, with European timber pallet markets currently “stable”.

FEFPEB is busy promoting the environmental and performance benefits of timber packaging through its “Packaging from Nature” campaign and defending the timber pallet sector against attacks from the plastics industry.

New research into migration of microbacteria from timber packaging to food showed wood in a very good light and will now be communicated by EMABois to authorities and enforcement bodies and hopefully used by the industry as a useful technical reference.

FEFPEB is also lobbying the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation about global harmonisation on the ISPM15 standard, which governs the treatment of wood packaging to counter the threat of forest pests’ spreading. The event, hosted by Timcon this year, also provided a detailed look at the Irish forestry and timber processing market, with the Irish agriculture minister telling delegates how the government is investing €482m in the Irish forestry sector, with log production set to rise.

But there was also concern expressed about the impact that growing demand from the biomass energy sector will have on the timber processing industry.

London has also been a busy hub recently, with the Plywood Luncheon Club’s Shippers’ Lunch, attracting 200 people drawn from mills, importers, agents and distributors, followed by the TTF’s National Panel Products Division’s annual dinner which saw 300 people gather.

In this issue we also feature some input from both the Wood Panel Industries Federation and European Panel Federation, while Mike Botting – editor of TTJ sister title Wood Based Panels International – was at the International Panel Products Symposium in Wales to hear latest developments in panel products.

Meanwhile, it’s heartening to hear Chris Powell describe how he has sought to create a family feel to his business at CP Timber and credits the staff commitment and knowledge as a key reason behind the firm’s success.

He also cited the importance of honouring customer and supplier relationships - “to me a handshake is a handshake”, he says.

Mr Powell also urges the industry to step up to the plate in its marketing efforts, not leaving it to the likes of AHEC and others.