Panda Panel Agencies Ltd has opened an office in China to capitalise on growing demand for its shipments of Chinese plywood.
The Guildford-based company said the expansion was also due to its increasing concern about adverse publicity affecting Chinese plywood.
The new office is based in Qufu in Shangdong province which, together with neighbouring Jiangsu province, form the heart of the Chinese plywood manufacturing industry. Rain Wei, who formally worked for Panda Panels supplier Qufu Luhan Woodwork Co Ltd, will manage the office.
Panda’s managing director Chris Williams said: “We already represent a number of reputable and reliable Chinese suppliers who have proven track records with numerous UK buyers, but with demand now exceeding supply it is necessary to find new suppliers.
“The only way to ensure good quality, reliable shipments and genuine CE certification is to have somebody like Rain looking after our interests in China.”
Mr Williams said Chinese plywood shipments to the UK were increasing significantly and a wide range of products was becoming available.
But he said there had been bad publicity about Chinese products regarding suspect gluelines, CE certification and the possibility of supplies not originating from mills where orders are placed.
