EPLF: Board re-elected - Annual General Assembly welcomes two new Producers of Laminate Flooring

Board re-elected: The board of the European Producers of Laminate Flooring Association was re-elected unanimously on its last members meeting in Lugano (Switzerland). Chairman of the Board and President is again Ulrich Windmöller (Witex AG/Germany). His deputy is Didier Stumpf (Alsapan/France). Ralf Eisermann (Akzenta/Germany) remains on the board being also re-elected as leader of the marketing commitee.

The election of the French Didier Stumpf to Vice-President of the Association is in accordance with the Associations aim of stronger internationalisation. Stumpf: "The EPLF is the forum for exchange between the manufacturers and their suppliers. Increasing competition and globalisation make it imperative to co-ordinate on the international level." Two new members were welcomed in Lugano: Kronotec Consulting GmbH, St. Gilgen (Austria), with its plants in Sanem (Luxembourg), Chirk (United Kingdom) and Lampertswalde (Germany), and Roysol from St. Florentin (France), increasing the number of manufacturers in the EPLF to 20, covering now approximately 70-80 % of the European production.

The association however is not only aiming at the manufacturers of laminate flooring but offers also a platform for the dialogue with their suppliers. Seven enterprises from this group have subsequently joined in 1999 as associated members: Arjo Wiggins (Paris/France), Casco Products GmbH (Essen/Germany) Küberit Künne GmbH & Co (Lüdenscheid/ Germany), Mepa n.v. s.a. (Oudennarde/Belgium), schattdecor (Thansau/Germany), StoraEnso Laminating Papers (Imatra/Finland) and WKP, Württembergische Kunststoffplattenwerke GmbH & Co.KG (Unterensingen/ Germany). Five of the total of 20 associated members represent Institutes and experts from the environment of the industry.

EPLF-Managing Director Peter H. Meyer: "Board and members are aiming at winning over all not yet organised European manufacturers of laminate flooring within an reasonable time frame, enabling the association to represent the total industry." The EPLF members moved also to allow also Non-European manufacturers to join the association as extraordinary members. First applications have already been received.