Holzforschung Austria Named Winner of First FEP Award

Istanbul (Turkey), 7th of June – The European Federation of the Parquet Industry (FEP), the umbrella organisation of the wood flooring industry in Europe, announced Holzforschung Austria (HFA) as the winner of the very first FEP Award. As a prominent research institute in the field of wood and wood-related products, HFA conducts a range of testing activities and gathers expertise across the sector. With a series of cooperative R&D projects, the organization has proven to be a leading partner in innovation, technical development and standardization for the Austrian parquet industry. With this award, FEP recognizes HFA’s tireless dedication to wood and wood flooring research, which is a costly and labour-intensive discipline. FEP strongly believes that the award will serve to further strengthen the already existing ties between HFA and the European Parquet Industry, paving the way for future research to the benefit of parquet consumers all over Europe.

The FEP Award

Being the European representative of an industry producing innovative quality wood flooring products, FEP created the FEP Award to recognize the dedicated efforts of an individual, organization, institute or authority having made a significant contribution to the advancement of the European Parquet Industry. Not only do their efforts help improve the industry’s products, they also contribute in their own way to an ever enhanced and accessible wood flooring experience. The process of selecting an award recipient is well-considered and merges all competent ranks within and around FEP: the member parquet producers, the National associations, the associated members, the trade press and the Board. Next to receiving the FEP distinction and the enduring trophy, the winner is also rewarded a 5,000 euro grant to support his ongoing research.

Award Winner

This year FEP’s members have decidedly voted in favor of Holzforschung Austria (HFA).

Being a privately run institute with over 80 collaborators based in Vienna, the HFA is a non-profit organization whose clients include private individuals, SMEs and industrial companies. The organization is also a member of several European committees where know-how is shared and standards are set for Europe-wide regulations. The institute is led by Dr. Manfred Brandstätter, a graduate of wood technology from the University of Agricultural Sciences in Vienna.

Wooden flooring constitutes a significant area of study for HFA. With a series of cooperative R&D projects, the organization has been a leading partner in innovation, technical development and standardization for the parquet industry in Austria and beyond. High on the institute’s agenda are topics such as the emission of volatile organic compounds, fire resistance and surface treatments with specific oils and waxes to maintain and protect the wood.

By developing products that do not only meet today’s international standards but also anticipate those of the future, HFA has demonstrated the quality of its innovation and the importance of its forward-thinking to the benefit of the parquet sector.

In a world where the impact of building materials is increasingly valued for both its sustainable and emotional qualities (the look and feel), a good quality product backed by credible information plays a decisive role in the consumers’ buying process. That is why HFA has helped to develop surface treatments that meet actual and future standards and why dozens of companies consult the experienced collaborators of HFA on a regular basis.

Investment in the Future

Recognizing the achievements of HFA, the 2012 FEP Award underlines the Association’s firm intention to support the kind of contribution realised by HFA. FEP believes that the efforts of the company - and others like it - will give rise to future findings of benefit to both the parquet industry and the public it strives to serve with ever-improved products, backed by clear, to the point and substantiated information.

About FEP

The European Federation of the Parquet Industry (FEP) reunites European national parquet federations, parquet manufacturers and suppliers to the industry. It is the main body representing and defending the interests of the European parquet industries towards the European authorities. FEP’s primary goal is to strengthen and improve the position of wood flooring against other floor covering solutions by underpinning the multiple inherent & sustainable advantages of raw material wood and consequently to enhance the growth, prosperity and stature of the European parquet manufacturing industry – thereby protecting its interests and reinforcing its image. FEP was founded in 1956 and currently comprises 75 members located in 22 countries throughout Europe.

For more information, please visit www.parquet.net and www.realwood.eu.