Unwavering mission

The British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Members’ Day on June 15 saw joinery manufacturers from all over the UK descend on Hellidon Lakes Golf and Spa Hotel for a series of expert workshops, networking opportunities, and frank discussions about the threats and opportunities that the sector is facing.

The day began with BWF president Sean Parnaby hailing the federation’s “unwavering mission” on behalf of its members before introducing Prof Tom Woolley as the keynote speaker.

As an architect, author and expert on materials health and sustainability, Mr Woolley noted the opportunities for timber products in construction in an age when “modern buildings are increasingly made of synthetic hazardous materials”.

Expert workshops covered topics which ranged from optimising the design of stairs and windows, certifying fire doors, and changes in the house building market, to heritage and conservation joinery, product liability, and how to keep the joinery workshop safe.

Leading housing economist Alastair Stewart offered an outlook for construction in a post-Brexit Britain. With the tragic news from Grenfell Tower sending a sobering reminder of what happens when specifiers and the RM&I supply chain get it seriously wrong, Alastair said “there would be long term impacts, just like the Ronan Point collapse in 1968”.

Following the success of previous years’ attendance, Mighton Products came away from the day with plans to return again in 2018.

Technical sales manager Nick Ryley said: “The response from those who visited our stand was really positive; to both our hardware and our Mighton Ultra paints and coatings. We have taken away some strong leads as well as gaining valuable feedback on our new Mighton machinery.

“As always, the event provides a great opportunity for everyone in the industry to get together and catch up on the latest products available and network with a real mix of industry individuals as well as large companies. We will be returning again next year.”