Voters at the ready!

Buyers of timber products will have until June 24 to register their votes across a range of eight best in class categories.

This year we are updating the voting process and moving into the digital age.

The change sees us move to an online digital voting system which will record votes from buyers of timber products, who can nominate their suppliers of choice and leave a brief comment as to why they voted for them.

Our aim is to help ensure the Awards reach the broadest possible voter audience and give more power to the elbow of timber suppliers by being able to mobilise their customer base to vote.

If customers appreciate your service and product quality then let them know that voting is under way! A marketing campaign has launched to push the voting out into the supply chain. A voting link can also be accessed on the TTJ Awards website.

A new category featuring is Timber Merchant of the Year, to recognise the important role merchants play in the timber supply chain. Buyers can vote for independent builders’ and timber merchants who have a broad and substantial timber product offering.

We have also amalgamated Plywood Trader into the Panels Trader of the Year, creating one overall award recognising wood-based panels suppliers.

I have seen over many years how timber traders have benefitted from being short-listed and winning in the TTJ Awards. If it hasn’t been on your radar before then pencil in the 2019 awards date of September 13 and enter one of our judged categories, also now open for entries and spanning career development, manufacturing, innovation, environmental achievement and marketing.

In addition, after many years of running the Achievement in Engineered Timber Award and seeing how timber is taking off in design and construction, we have expanded the award into three separate categories to recognise timber projects in the interiors and build sectors.

Looking at this issue of TTJ, we have a big focus on panel products and US softwoods and hardwoods, detailing the state of trade and market dynamics.

We update on investment progress at Norbord’s Inverness mill and Kronospan’s Chirk mill. The latter has made big investments in its operation and is on course to add an OSB line at the site in 2020.

And our North America focus features some intriguing use of ink injection into US hardwood, literally putting more red into red oak grain, achieving a new effect. Furniture designer Sebastian Cox likes to push the boundaries and his timber “transfusion” is certainly creating a stir.