National Hardwood Magazine - July 2011

AHEC Update
AHEC’s European Convention Heads To Poland
The American Hardwood European Convention is
firmly established as a key event in the “wood calendar”
across the European continent. The event draws
major players in the Hardwood industry from Europe
to meet with U.S. exporters and creates a unique
opportunity to discuss challenging topics and debate
current issues. This year, the AHEC Convention will
be held for the first time in Poland, at the Marriott
Hotel in Warsaw on Oct. 27-28, 2011.
The convention will include a strong focus on the
environmental issues that are increasingly shaping the
way the timber industry conducts business and trade.
The new EU timber regulation, the challenge of certification,
and meeting the demand for “green” building
and the role of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA’s), will
also be on the agenda. AHEC’s European director,
David Venables, said, “Far from being barriers to
trade, these developments present the best opportunity
we have had for decades to demonstrate the true environmental
credentials of American Hardwoods and to
actually grow the markets in Europe. As always,
debate and discussion will look at these issues in the
context of current Hardwood demand, fashion, and
promotion in the marketplace, and the convention will
again provide the opportunity to mix with friends and
colleagues to share our wood experience.” As well as
the formal program, which will shortly be announced
in full, there will be plenty of time for networking and
informal discussion at the social events around the
convention.
Venables continued, “For the first time we are taking
the convention to Poland, an increasingly important
by MICHAEL SNOW
Executive Director
American Hardwood Export Council
Reston, Va.
player in the production and supply
of Hardwood products to European
markets, and we look forward to
meeting many new contacts as well
as welcoming back old friends.” This event is specifically
aimed at the major players in the market, including
American exporters, Hardwood agents, European
importers and larger manufacturers who also import.
There is no convention fee for the European trade or
AHEC members, although there is a $300 registration
fee for U.S. exporters who are not AHEC members.
Places are limited so register early online at
www.americanhardwood.org or email europe@americanhardwood.org
for more information.
The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) is
the leading international trade association for the U.S.
Hardwood industry, representing the committed
exporters among U.S. Hardwood companies and all
major U.S. Hardwood product trade associations.
AHEC maintains offices in Japan, Europe, Southeast
Asia, China and Mexico, in addition to its Reston, Va.,
headquarters, to serve the needs of the global community.
For additional information on the Convention as
well as additional overseas activities, please contact
AHEC by phone at 703/435-2900 Ext. 114, or by
email at msnow@ahec.org.
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12 Hardwoods...The All-Purpose Material