Modified wood, pallets and forest industry consultancy are represented among six new members to join The Timber Trade Federation (TTF).
The TTF says membership is now up to about 225 companies – an increase of more than 10% on three years ago when numbers were below 200.
TTF chief executive John White said there had been a big increase in 2007 because of a large promotional drive, but he said the trade also increasingly recognised The Federation’s lobbying efforts and range of services.
“The TTF is continuing to grow,” he said. “People recognise the positive profile we continue to take, so hopefully the trend will continue.”
Mr White was also hopeful that several industry giants would rejoin following the TTF’s recent decision to make it mandatory for all members to introduce a due diligence risk asessment system to ensure they are not handling illegal timber.
New members include Southampton-based Kurawood plc, which supplies VECOwood modified wood products made in New Zealand using radiata pine. An organic treatment process is designed to give the softwood the characteristics of tropical hardwood.
County-based Smile Worldwide Ltd specialises in softwood and hardwood trading, while Fepco International Europe NV of Belgium trades in lumber, plywood and millwork.
Others to join are the Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation, Lancer Sideloaders and Cheam-based Pöyry Forest Industry Consulting.
