Stowarzyszenie Producentów Płyt Drewnopochodnych w Polsce |
Contact |
telephone: +48 (58) 587 82 16 fax: +48 (58) 587 87 16 Mobile: +48 662 293 382 |
e-mail: e-mail: |
www (47): |
HISTORY
Wood-Based Panels Producers Association of Poland was founded in 1992 at the initiative of the Founding Committee which consisted of representatives of the panels industry and of persons connected with the industry. The Association in a relatively short time managed to unite not only all the producers of wood-based panels in Poland but also academic sources connected with the panels industry and companies working for its benefit. During 10 years of its existence the Association has tried to face the needs of its members which are very diversified since the branches of the industry, including plants manufacturing plywood, fibreboards manufactured by wet method, fibreboards manufactured by dry method and particleboards are very characteristic and diversified in their needs. The common feature of the whole industry is undoubtedly the raw material that it utilizes - timber. During those 10 years various ownership changes have happened and some of them are still being implemented. Many plants have been liquidated while new ones have been created. This period has enabled the Association to work out the rules of operation in accordance with the requirements of its members. The Association tries to find joint interests and directions of activities for persons that are competitive to each other. One such activity is joint exhibition of associated companies at a booth of the Association during fairs and similar events. The Association tries to participate in shaping legal regulations and norms regarding environmental protection. A special representative of the Association has been appointed for that occasion to take part in normalising and legislative works in regard to environmental protection. He is supported by a special 7 person advisory team consisting of representatives of the industry. The Association also participates in two Standardisation Committees of the Polish Committee for Standardisation (PKN): Standardisation Committee nr 215 responsible for the design and implementation of wood and wood-based products, and Standardisation Committee nr 100 responsible for wood and wood-based products. The Association is also a founding member of the Polish Working Group within the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Thanks to this membership, producers of wood-based panels can influence the establishment of criteria for granting certification. It should be stressed that products marked with FSC certification have predominance on the world markets over products not holding this certification. The Association also actively participates in Phare Programme "Business Support Programme" which aims at adjusting the form of operation of our organisation to the level of European federations. Participation in the above Phare programme will help associated companies adjust to the requirements of the European Union in this field. Within the "Business Support Programme" the Association organised an international seminar in November 2001 devoted to the situation of the Polish and European wood industries. Many industry experts from various countries of the European Union took part in this. The participation of the Association in the programme mentioned above will also enable industry cooperation between companies associated with our organisation and those companies from the European Union. In order to achieve this, 5 associated companies have been selected to launch cooperation with particular European companies with the help of the Association and an expert from the European Union. Wood-Based Panels Producers Association of Poland is also a member of the following European Panel Federations: FEIC: European Federation of the Plywood Industry FEROPA: European Federation of Fibreboard Manufacturers |