NEWS
SALES VOLUMES INCREASE DESPITE BREXIT UNCERTAINTY Investment in product improvement and customer
constraint on output over the next year by 37% of
reality which is that our members have been selling
research is growing despite rising raw material
respondents. Labour availability and capacity came
products and adapting to the higher costs that have
costs and slowing sales growth according to the
next, with 24% and 20% of respondents feeling that
now unfortunately become the new norm.
British Woodworking Federation’s Joinery State of
they were most likely to constrain output.
Trade Survey for Q4 2017.
“More than two-thirds of respondents noted
Just under a third (32%) of respondents on
that Brexit-related uncertainty has already affected
A third of respondents reported an increase
balance reported increasing their labour force in the
their business, with two-thirds of those identifying
in sales volumes over the last quarter, with 41%
previous year, with 44% of respondents anticipating
the impact as being increased raw material costs. If
reporting an increase over the last year.
an increased labour force over the next year.
we look to the longer term however, manufacturers
Brexit-related uncertainty had affected the
Raw material costs were noted as a major
are unsure as to what the effects of Brexit might be.
business of 68% of respondents with 67% of those
inflationary factor for unit costs for 95% of
noting an impact on the cost of raw materials.
respondents on balance, with wage/salary
to see joinery manufacturers taking a proactive
increases pushing up unit costs for 67% of
approach to growing their market. Investment in
respondents on balance.
e-business is set to increase by half and customer
A balance of 32% felt that Brexit negotiations would have a negative impact on their business in the next 12 months.
Over the previous year a balance of 59%
“On the plus side, it’s hugely encouraging
research is anticipated to double. More than
When asked about the impact of Brexit
of respondents had invested in improving
two-thirds of members will be investing more in
over five years, respondents were split between
their products with 45% investing in their
product improvement.
whether it would be positive or negative (25%
manufacturing equipment.
for each) with 40% unsure of the implications and 10% expecting no impact. Manufacturers felt that sales volumes would improve in the next quarter, with a balance of 34% predicting an increase for Q1 2018, and a balance of 30% predicting an increase over the next year.
Investment in product improvement was set for
“With the innovation and initiative of our members reflected in the survey results, there are
the highest capital investment over the next year,
plenty of reasons why wood should be the material
with a balance of 67% planning to invest and with
of choice for 2018 and beyond. The irreparable
48% set to invest in equipment.
damage of plastic pollution is never far from the
“Sales are still growing at a reasonable rate and
news, with programmes such as Blue Planet 2
there are no indications of a sudden decline for the
capturing the public imagination and the Wood
British woodworking industry despite the pessimism
Window Alliance’s Fake Facts campaign shining a
order book of future work extending beyond three
around construction from some quarters,” said
spotlight on the PVC-u industry’s ‘plastic promises’.
months – down 7% from the previous quarter –
BWF policy and communications executive Matt
We will be building on existing resources to support
with 53% saying that their order book extended to
Mahony. “Slightly fewer order books extending
members of all sizes in showcasing their products
between one and three months.
beyond three months and consecutive quarters
as beautiful and sustainable and illustrating the
of lowered sales growth expectations conceal the
benefits to specifiers of building it with wood.”
Just 19% of companies reported a current
Demand was listed as the most likely
ACCOYA WOOD RECOGNISED FOR ECO CREDENTIALS Accoya Wood, the high-performance wood
the Red List thereby meeting the LEED v4
manufactured by Accsys Technologies has
Material Ingredient credit, Option 1 reporting
been awarded a Declare label from the
requirements.
International Living Future Institute (ILFI). The ingredients label for building products is a transparency tool to help architects and other
>99.5% from FSC certified, rapidly renewable
specifiers make informed choices regarding
Radiata Pine; has a life span of more than 50
sustainable and healthy material use in green
years; and proves no limitations for end of life as
buildings.
it is recyclable and biodegradable/compostable.
Accoya wood has achieved the declaration
02
In addition to a Red List Free status, the Accoya wood Declare label shows it is made
The Declare label was created to support
status of “Red List Free,” deeming its product
the sustainable material requirements of the
ingredients are 100% disclosed to 100
Living Building Challenge, an international green
ppm and do not contain any chemicals on
building philosophy.
WWW.TIMBERMEDIA.CO.UK
SPRING 2018