West Fraser’s European Sales, Marketing & Logistics Director, Simon Woods, will provide insight from the wood-based panels sector, exploring issues and opportunities faced by manufacturers and the impact of these on the market.

The BMBI, part of the Builders Merchant Federation (BMF), is a monthly index of builders’ merchant sales. The BMBI’s panel of experts is made up of representatives of 14 companies, each with an in-depth knowledge of their own industry. The group is a go-to resource for the wider construction industry, the media, government and its advisors.

Simon Woods thinks West Fraser (formerly known as Norbord) is joining the BMBI panel of experts at a crucial time for the wood panel industry.

He explained: “With increased demand for wood panels being driven by the move to wood as a carbon-friendly resource, joining the panel of experts will give us a great opportunity to share our valuable knowledge of this particular area as all panels produced in West Fraser’s UK mills are net carbon negative. 

“The general appetite for lessening human impact on the planet along with the target placed on the construction industry to reduce its carbon footprint at a time when demand is outstripping supply of most timber products has created challenges for our industry. We see 2021 as a year of both optimism and frustration for all sectors of the timber market, but we are confident that strong planning partnerships across the whole supply chain will help to smooth the way.”