Forestry Journal – May 2018

INDUSTRY ORGANISATIONS

In our continuing feature, we talk

to some of the biggest forestry,

environmental and timber

organisations, learning about their

history, their aims and what they do

for our industry and beyond. This

month, we take a look at the Wood

Panel Industries Federation.

64 MAY 20 18 FORESTRYJOURNAL.CO.UK

T

HE Wood Panel Industries Federation (WPIF)

is a specialist manufacturer’s organisation.

There have been trade organisations in the

UK representing wood panel interests since

the early twentieth century, and most of these

focused on trade aspects. Reflecting the fact that now

markets are well established, WPIF focuses more on

regulatory, compliance and political representation.

WPIF was established by UK and Irish wood panel

manufacturers in 1996 following the collapse of an

earlier merger of two organisations; the Fibre Building

Board Organisation (FIDOR) representing imported

wet-process fibreboards, and the United Kingdom and

Ireland Particleboard Association (UKIPA). At its roots,

the collapse of this merger was due to the increasing

importance in the market of dry-process boards

(chipboard, MDF and OSB) and the decline of wet-

process boards such as hardboard and softboard.

WPIF touches on a wide range of areas but has

a particular focus on technical and environmental

influences, where the role of the federation is to support

its members’ processing activities and their products in

the market.

MEMBERS

All of the flat panel manufacturers in the UK and

Ireland are members of WPIF. In total there are

eight manufacturing sites with four owners. In the

UK the board manufacturers are Norbord, Egger

and Kronospan and in Ireland MediteSmartply is

part of the Coillte group. An important aspect of our

membership is the relationship with some of the key

chemical inputs and particularly the resin suppliers.

Because of the integrated nature of the supply chain,

WPIF has a number of associate members including

the Timber Trade Federation, British Woodworking

Federation and the Wood Protection Association,

although it collaborates with a wide variety of industry

organisations on issues of shared interest.

MANAGEMENT

The day-to-day activities are delivered by a small team.

Director General Alastair Kerr has been with WPIF

since its inception and is supported on technical affairs

by Ian Rochester and on administrative matters by

Louise Dell.

Coming from a timber technology/wood science

background, Alastair Kerr held various technical roles

before joining WPIF in 1996 as Technical Manager

and taking over as Director General in 1999. Also with

a material science background, Ian Rochester joined

Left to right: Louise

Dell, Alastair Kerr,

Ian Rochester.

WPIF trip to Egger

Forest.

Inside

Look:

WPIF