from 2023 Brushware November-December: Combo Issue

10 Must-Do’s For Small To Medium Manufacturers

By Katharina Goldbeck-Hörz

The 63rd FEIBP Congress was held in the Europa Hotel in Belfast, Ireland, from September 20-22, 2023. The night before the official Congress opening, FEIBP President, Andrew McIlroy, with the reception committee of John Rainey, Christopher Boomer and Kevin McNamee were on hand to welcome guests to Belfast and the Europa Hotel. The Denroy Plastics team efficiently organized a diverse and engaging social program for the conference, swiftly fostering a welcoming and amicable ambiance. Despite the occasional cold and rainy days on the Emerald Isle, the conference was marked by a heartfelt sense of unity and camaraderie.

On the first official day of the Congress, Andrew McIlroy warmly welcomed guests to the land of his birth as he opened the 63rd FEIBP Congress in Belfast. “Innovation remains a key factor for our brands and our industry,” with these words, he reminded Congress participants in Belfast of the industry’s industrial focus as well as the importance and mission of the annual meeting.

Reflecting on the past year, with its economic and political ups and downs, he says, “Consumer price inflation in Europe is at its highest in many years. It still stands at six percent overall and 10 percent for food. The rapid rise of credit interest rates in the last 12 months has significantly suppressed demand for most products, indirectly impacting our industry.”

The only positive aspect of the downturn mentioned by McIlroy is the gradual decline in commodity prices since early 2023, though it is primarily attributed to a lack of demand. Energy costs in Europe remain above average and are, according to McIlroy, the main driver of inflation.

Fons Ceelaert and Andrew McIlroy at the Titanic Museum.

He also mentioned the increasing number of dramatic climate problems worldwide. Sustainability in all aspects remained a crucial topic throughout the conference. The responsibility for sustainable product development, including manufacturing, packaging and transportation, is increasingly falling to industry. Regulations and requirements are on the rise. As a result, there is a need for innovation in the industry and, above all, for peer-to-peer exchange on environmental protection and safety.

“Meetings like today’s are important for all of us,” says McIlroy. “At the Brush Forum we have the opportunity to refresh our knowledge of policy and market trends, network with our raw material and machinery suppliers and learn about the latest developments from our valuable members.”

General Manager Report: Fons Ceelaert

FEIBP YEAR AT A GLANCE: In the previous year’s congress in Prague, Central Europe, distinguished speakers Philipp Haindl and Andrew Griffiths addressed pertinent topics related to family businesses and sustainability. Following a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s congress was conducted in person, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

The industry demonstrated a keen desire to meet face-to-face for robust discussions and to strengthen the European brushware network. The Congress remains a vital platform, and the FEIBP continues to invest in enhancing the program and format.

Throughout the year, Working Group meetings on Technical Brushes, PHB, and Paint Brushes were conducted, featuring engaging discussions. The FEIBP website was consistently updated, and the quarterly index was maintained.

A significant achievement this year was the establishment of the International Brush Industry Foundation (IBIF) through a collaboration between FEIBP and ABMA, intended to provide an alternative to Interbrush Freiburg. This endeavor involved overcoming legal complexities and selecting a new exhibition venue. We are pleased to announce Bologna Fiere as our new partner, and information about the World Brush Expo was shared at this congress. The event is scheduled for May 22-24, 2024, and FEIBP will actively participate.

MEMBERSHIP STATUS: The membership status has remained relatively stable, but there is a commitment to fostering growth. After the dissolution of the French FFP at the end of 2022, French companies specializing in PHB continued as individual members. Encouragingly, a new, smaller French Brushware Manufacturers Federation is poised to become a FEIBP association member from 2024 onwards, with the support of well-known French FEIBP enthusiasts.

LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS: Philip Coward, who served as chairman of PHB for 25 years and played a pivotal role in establishing the Charter, has decided to step down. His remarkable contributions to our federation cannot be overstated. Although he couldn’t attend this congress, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Philip and look forward to future FEIBP events.

Pierre Simler, a long-time board member and former President, is retiring from the brushware industry. Regrettably, he could not attend this congress but conveyed his best regards, emphasizing his enjoyment of the FEIBP years.

Keynote Speakers

Speaker Dorcas Crawford’s charming presentation was titled “Effective Communication Requires Active Listening!” and led the audience through the topic of conflict management. Her amusing, exemplary scenarios made it possible to quickly recognize one’s own weaknesses. The mediator showed solution-oriented approaches for effective and sustainable discussions that work in families as well as among colleagues and business partners.

Denroy’s John Rainey with Dorcas Crawford

Emma Trevor delivered a captivating presentation with the intriguing title “Unpacking EU Packaging Regulations: The Matryoshka Approach.” As the International Compliance Manager at VALPAK, she delved into the intricacies of European packaging regulations, drawing a compelling parallel to the nested Matryoshka dolls, where each layer reveals smaller ones within. With her profound expertise, she detailed the underlying intentions and objectives of these regulations, extending her insights beyond Europe to encompass the specialized packaging guidelines and regulations pertinent to North American countries, showcasing their ongoing implementation. Key points from her presentation included:

The EU Packaging Directive (EU Directive 94/62/EC) aims to harmonize national regulations on the handling of packaging and its waste. In particular, it aims to protect the environment by preventing or avoiding packaging waste.

EU Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy instrument that extends the financial and/or operational responsibility of the producer of a product to include the management of the post-consumer stage in order to contribute to the achievement of national or EU recycling and recovery targets. The Directive sets mandatory targets for EPR, recycling of plastic packaging waste, reuse of rigid plastic packaging and use of recycled plastic content. The directive provides for a move towards sustainable plastic packaging and a reduction in the plastic footprint of plastic packaging. The labeling requirement is extremely important.

EPR implementation includes data migration, testing, technical readiness, operational readiness and owner readiness, a full dress rehearsal, cutover and go-live. On October 10, 2022, the new Regulation (EU) 2022/1616 on materials and articles made from recycled plastic that are intended to come into contact with food came into force in its essential parts. According to Article 33 of the regulation, the further deadline is October 24, 2024, and transitional provisions with further dates have been stipulated (Articles 31 and 32). The regulation starts with the collection of suitable waste and extends to the requirements for placing RC plastics on the market and using them.

FEIBP Golf Tournament

To add a new dimension to the 2023 FEIBP Congress, Andrew McIlroy noted that in 2016 when the Congress was hosted in Edinburgh, Scotland, a two-day golf tournament was held at the iconic St. Andrews. Seven years later, the FEIBP community decided it was time to reignite this tradition, welcoming both familiar faces and new participants.

On a crisp Tuesday morning, September 19, a group of 20 avid golfers teed off at the Castlerock Golf Club, situated on the North Coast of Northern Ireland. As they took on the challenge of this links course, they were met with somewhat challenging weather conditions on the back nine. However, the indomitable spirit of the participants prevailed, and all returned to the clubhouse, perhaps a few golf balls lighter, but still in high spirits.

The following day, the weather was more favorable, with the sun gracing the skies and strong winds helping dry out any residual moisture from the previous day’s golf bags. On Wednesday, September 20, the participants convened at the Malone Golf Club in Belfast, an impeccably maintained parkland course. Scores, as McIlroy noted, were marginally better than the previous day.

Incorporating a golf event alongside the Congress not only enhanced the number of participants at the event but, more significantly, fostered valuable connections and friendships. The camaraderie and bonding that naturally occur during a round of golf left an indelible mark on the overall experience.

The resounding success of the 2023 FEIBP Convention’s golf event sets the stage for potential future endeavors of a similar nature.

Looking Ahead: Ibiza

The end of the Congress marked the end of Andrew McIlroy’s term as FEIBP President after having served for three years. The newly elected president is Alessandro Acquaderni the CEO of SIT Brush in Italy. Acquaderni’s father Andrea also previously served as FEIBP president.

Acquaderni says he is honored to start serving as President and looks forward to working alongside industry leaders and experts to uphold the rich heritage of brushes and drive innovation, sustainability and excellence in our field. He will be supported in his role by new vice President Simon Lorillière (France, Brosserie Brenet) and the FEIBP board. Together, we can shape a brighter future for the brush industry across Europe and beyond.

New FEIBP leaders Simon Lorillière and Alessandro Acquaderni

Alessandro invites every member to take an active part in the future of FEIBP and the brush industry starting with the active participation in the World Brush Expo in May 2024 in Bologna in addition to other meeting opportunities across our industry, like the ABMA Convention in March 2024 in Florida and the 64th FEIBP Congress in to be held in Ibiza, Spain, at the Hotel Torre del Mar from October 10-12, 2024.

“Here in Belfast we started a journey across three congresses where we analyze the concept recalled by John Donne’s poem of ‘no man is an island’ under three different lenses in progress: individual loneliness (no leader is an island), company leadership (no company is an island), and federation/association success (no federation is an island),” says Acquaderni. “After Belfast, the preparation for Ibiza 2024 has already started with great success as people are willing to keep walking the path that we have just started, together.”