Dr Michael Benfield, Managing Director of South Wales-based Benfield ATT, will attend over fifteen meetings scheduled in Vancouver, Halifax and Toronto with selected Canadian lumber exporters, on behalf of his company.
“I am delighted to be representing my company in an international dialogue and hope to open doors for Canadian suppliers of the highest quality environmentally-certified timber and timber components, into the ever-growing European timber frame construction market� said Dr Benfield.
This announcement comes just a few weeks after the Forest Stewardship Council announced that Benfield ATT were the first timber frame engineering company in the UK to gain certification for the Design & Build of Engineered FSC Structures, and some suggest that this trip is actually to facilitate the interest they have seen for their FSC buildings.
Dr Benfield suggested that research into the Canadian lumber market is an important step for Benfield ATT. After fears that the company’s UK supply chain cannot cope with the international interest gained from its FSC certified structures, Benfield ATT’s Technical Sales Manager, Paul Tappin commented “Benfield ATT are concerned with getting the best value for money for our customers, which means the highest quality timber. Canadians are the global experts in sustainable housing; with over 90% of all new builds being timber frame, the UK can learn a lot from their experience. Canadian timber and cladding systems are renowned for their strength, integrity and structural grain, and we want to introduce the UK to these advancements�.
Dr Benfield began the two-week Mission on the 5th March 2004. For more information on the Forest Stewardship Council or on the Canadian Trade Mission, please contact Benfield ATT on 01291 437050.
