Representatives from local wood panel manufacturer Kronospan travelled to Westminster in June to champion the contribution of one of the UK’s largest manufacturing industries.

They attended an event hosted by The Wood Panel Industries Federation (WPIF) to mark the reconstitution of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Wood Panel Industry and the launch of an expert working group for the sector.

Kronospan apprentices Dan Morris and Sion Smith were among the group who met with politicians at the launch.

The new working group will assess the challenges facing the sector because of the lack of security of domestic wood supply, how the industry can meet 100 per cent of UK demand for wood panel products and how it can coexist with the wood processing and wood fuels sectors which also rely on a finite wood source.

Kronospan CEO Ludwig Scheiblreiter said: “As an industry, we are increasingly struggling to source a sustainable supply of forest roundwood and thinning, sawmill products and recycled wood. Over the coming months Kronospan will be supporting the working group to develop proposals that will support the sector through it industries including construction, furniture, packaging and transport, as we look to maintain our contribution to the UK economy and provide material for future growth.”

Kronospan’s Chirk site provides work for over 600 employees, with 90 per cent of the workforce living within 10 miles of the factory. The Wood panel industry together with the WPIF’s members have a combined Gross Value Added in excess of £850 million a year with 7,500 direct and indirect jobs dependent on the industry.