The end of the Franco era brought a new freedom to Spain.
Under the Franco regime trade associations were not allowed and many of the country’s industries were fragmented and ineffectual – but the new democracy changed all that.
Organisations began to spring up around the country – among them the Spanish Confederation of Timber and Woodworking Industries (Confemadera). It was founded in 1977 with the express purpose of looking after the interests of the country’s woodworking sector.
Its general secretary Francisco Pons said: ‘At that time, most of the woodworking companies in Spain were very small but growing, and it seemed a good idea to bring them all together.
‘There were local and regional trade organisations in areas such as Valencia and La Mancha, but no central body to pull them all together. Now Confemadera acts for every area so all companies are represented, if not directly then through their region.’
The range of Spain’s timber and wood-based products is comprehensive, covering doors, windows, frames and mouldings, plywood and boards, flooring and linings, building, carpentry and joinery products and furniture.
The confederation has been instrumental in encouraging and assisting the industry to undergo a thorough modernisation programme which has made Spanish products far more competitive in the global market place.
This has been achieved through helping set up technological institutes such as AIDIMA in Valencia and the Wood Technological Centre in Toledo. Confemadera has also developed training projects with the European Union – important if companies were to evolve.
Funding help
The Association does not give direct financial assistance to its members – but by acting as an intermediary it can help them source funding. Mr Pons explained: ‘We have cultivated strong relationships with the government’s Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Science and Technology and keep them informed of industry needs. If we can convince them it is necessary to help they may give some assistance.
‘If a ministry receives an application for help from a company it consults us to check credentials and ask whether the company should receive help. We also help companies access European funding for the creation of employment – an area that was not developed before.’
Four years ago the confederation extended its role, actively promoting its members’ products not only at home but abroad.
Mr Pons said: ‘Since we started global promotion our exports have risen each year. It is difficult to quantify exactly but the increase has been considerable.’
By intentionally acting as a holistic organisation – and making proper use of the already existing associative structures to which it belongs – Confemadera has consolidated its representative role in a wide range of processes focused on transforming the woodworking sector into a dynamic and competitive industry.
Mr Pons: ‘Bearing in mind the huge transformation undergone by the international markets in the last few years, the confederation’s main aim is to help industries and human resources adjust to the new commercial and production models.’
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“We are a country with know-how in woodworking” |
Confemadera is a member of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations – the official employer’s association in Spain – and the European Confederation of Wood- working Industries (CEI-BOIS). Through that membership, it actively participates in the different committees established to negotiate matters concerning international commerce, trade unions, environmental issues and all of the general regulations affecting the industry.
It is this activity that has led to Confemadera being recognised by the Spanish government and related organisations which in turn has led to the notable support measures for member companies.
At international level, the confederation organises export programmes for the woodworking industry, promoting the global activities of Spanish companies. This programme includes participation at international trade fairs, assessment and commercial missions both to and from Spain, the production of promotional materials and the creation of Spanish export consortiums. The confederation has organised and participated in such activities in Italy, the UK, Israel, Morocco, United Arab Emirates, Russia, Germany, France, Turkey, Poland, China, Japan, the US and South Africa.
It is also the confederation’s priority to work closely with associations from other countries to strengthen links between respective woodworking industries. They collaborate on subjects such as technical and management training, environmental concerns and the rational use of natural resources, organisation, certification, safety at work, new technology and procedures to transform raw materials into industrial products.
As a member of the most relevant European Union forestry and woodworking related forums, Confemadera has assisted at several meetings of the Advisory Committee on ‘forestry and cork’ and the Industry Round Table.
At national level, the confederation belongs to the Managing Board of the Association for the Spanish Forest Certification, actively working with the Environment Ministry in the development of the Spanish forest strategy and with the Spanish Standardisation (AENOR) to raise standards for treated wood.
The Spanish woodworking industry and associated processes provide employment for an enormous number of people. In the woodworking sector alone 216,884 people are employed while in the furniture industry the number is 131,234 people and in the semi-manufactured industry 85,650 people.
The woodworking industry represents 3% of Spain’s manufacturing production and accounts for 8% employment. Official industry turnover statistics lump together the wood and cork industry. These show the sector achieving sales in 1993 of €4.1bn. Seven years later the figure had risen to €8.1bn.
France was Spain’s biggest woodworking industry export market during 2000, representing 20% of total at €463m. Portugal at 17% and Germany at 9% are second and third respectively. The UK accounted for 7%, or €171m. 71 million
In 1997 exports of semi-manufactured products had a value of just €553m – but by last year they had risen to €716m.
Carpentry – including doors, flooring and cabinet making – makes up the largest subsector the wood industry. More than 51,000 people are employed, representing 52.4% of the woodworking workforce, and the business turns over around €2.8bn. There are 12,769 companies in the sector. Sawmilling, sanding and the industrial transformation of wood, undertaken by 1,847 companies, account for €1bn of GDP and provide employment for more than 13,000 people.
Export growth
Looking ahead Mr Pons said: ‘We are trying to encourage companies to export more and also to get our woodworking sector recognised as an industry with quality and prestige – a force to be reckoned with.
‘We are a country with know-how in woodworking. We can transform a piece of wood into a thing of beauty which, at the end of the day, makes life much more enjoyable.’
