The UK’s Timber Trade Federation (TTF) and the Wood Protection Association (WPA) are joining forces under a strategic partnership agreement aimed at strengthening the market for treated wood. The agreement focuses both organisations on working together to tackle the ‘priority actions’ that came out of an industry survey conducted jointly by TTF and WPA in 2017/18. Source: Timberbiz
This survey highlighted that three key issues had to be addressed if demand for tread wood in the UK was to grow.
These are:
- Tackling a general failure of buyers to specify pre-treated wood correctly
- Improve user awareness about how to install and use pre-treated wood correctly
- Build confidence in the performance of treated wood through independent verification of treatment quality.
Commenting on the agreement TTF managing director Dave Hopkins said: “This strategic agreement is based on a mutual desire of the TTF and WPA boards to work more closely on matters of common interest.”
WPA chief executive Gordon Ewbank confirmed that it is the synergies between the TTF and WPA that made the partnership agreement an obvious strategic move for both organisations.
“The WPA’s technical knowledge bank, standards and regulatory expertise together with our profile in the European wood protection market is a great match with our profile in the European wood protection market is a great match with the TTF’s timber supply chain understanding, communication networks and lobbying influence,” Mr Ewbank said.
Both organisations will continue to operate as independent trade associations.
“This is not a merger,” Ewbank said. “The partnership agreement is very much focused on combining resources to deliver a joint action plan for the benefit of the members of both organisations and provide a springboard for treated wood growth.”
Under this agreement WPA will also make available to TTF members its other specialist services such as regulatory affairs, technical support, the WPA Benchmark quality assurance scheme and training at privileged partner consultancy rates.
Major wood treating members of both WPA and TTF have welcomed the agreement that is seen as having significant potential to build confidence in treated wood and grow demand spearheaded by a ‘Treated Timber You Can Trust’ campaign.
