RKL Plywood has become the first company to achieve BM TRADA Q-Mark certification for plywood produced in China.
BM TRADA Certification business development manager Mark Wilkinson confirmed the Swansea-based importer was the first to achieve the mark, which is designed to show that a product is fully compliant with the Construction Products Directive for use in structural application.
The Q-Mark scheme was introduced by BM TRADA Certification as a response to a loss of confidence in the quality of products from Chinese plywood manufacturers and the appearance of CE marks on inferior products.
RKL said the first batch of production of Q-Mark plywood had started in China and it expected to receive its first shipment of the product in November.
RKL managing director Geraint Hawkes said the company’s achievement was a “real coup” for RKL and he was looking forward to bringing the UK’s first Q-marked plywood to market.
“All boards must be individually marked and any mills found to be non-compliant with any of the requirements will be suspended from the scheme immediately,” said Mark Wilkinson. “We are confident that the Q-Mark will drive up quality in the market place.”
He said three other plywood companies were currently going through the Q-Mark process.
