The focus was firmly on the future at this year’s North East Coast Timber Trade Association (NECTTA) dinner.
Guests of honour were architectural and engineering students from Newcastle University who were winners in NECTTA’s annual Structural Timber Award 2001, and representatives from the Forest Education Initiative who have been actively promoting timber and wood products to schoolchildren.
This year’s award, run in conjunction with TRADA, required students to design a compact, portable shelter for use in remote areas such as the Pennines and the Cheviots.
The shelter, which would be used at outdoor events, had to be transportable on the back of a long wheel-base Landrover and designed to last 10 years. It also had to incorporate ‘new age flitch beams’ technology, developed by TRADA Technology. TRADA presented a prize to the team that produced the best sketches and notes for the concept.
The awards were sponsored by MH Southern & Co and JT Dove will sponsor this year’s competition.
A call for future sponsors had an unprecedented response – James Donaldson & Sons Ltd signed up for 2003, North Yorkshire Timber for 2004 and International Plywood for 2005.
NECTTA chairman Ian Robinson said: ‘If anyone has any ideas of what they would like to see designed in future years, let us know.’
Geoff Rhodes, vice-president of the Timber Trade Federation, told guests that the TTF Code of Conduct would be published in April and be promoted to central government through to consumers.
He added: ‘Our commitment to the importance of environmental matters is reflected in the requirement for TTF members to become members of the Forests Forever campaign. It is part of our future.’
