Article Number : 8976 |
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| Date | 9/2/2014 8:32:29 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=8976 |
| Abstract | Last month, the association of parquet importers and distributors Global Flooring Alliance (formerly Euparal) organized its 50th meeting in Tallinn (Estonia). During the so-called Summer Meeting the latest market developments were discussed and the most recent... |
| Article | Last month, the association of parquet importers and distributors Global Flooring Alliance (formerly Euparal) organized its 50th meeting in Tallinn (Estonia). During the so-called Summer Meeting the latest market developments were discussed and the most recent product innovations in the field of floor coverings were examined. While the economic situation in the different member countries is still uncertain, Global Flooring Alliance (GFA) itself is quite positive about its future. The market situation in general is improving and there is a lot of interest from candidate members in joining GFA. Global Flooring Alliance was founded in 1989 under the name Euparal and had as its first president Robbert Otto from the Dutch company Woodpecker. The name Euparal was chosen as an abbreviation of European Parquet Alliance. In 1989, organizations, businesses and such were very Europe-minded. Euparal was therefore an appropriate name that matched that period. In January 2010, after twenty years, Euparal decided to change its name to Global Flooring Alliance. Most important reason behind the name change was to emphasize that the association considers itself as a global organization that welcomes new members from all over the world. GFA membership is open to one parquet importer/distributor per country to avoid conflicting national interests. Global Flooring Alliance organizes two meetings per year. One at the Domotex trade fair in Hannover and one in the country of one of the members. The aims of the association are to promote hard surface flooring products in general and to exchange product, market and technical information in the broadest sense. The members also give each other mutual assistance with strategic purchasing opportunities. At the moment the association has 15 members worldwide from an equal number of countries: Torlys (Canada), AB Küpfer (Chile), Lincona (Estonia), Trio Floor (Finland), Chetham Timber (Ireland), Egill Árnason (Iceland), Cavinato (Italy), Woodpecker (Netherlands), Witex Ukraine (Ukraine), Listor (Portugal), Polimpex (Russia), Alpod (Slovenia), Exclusivas (Spain), BoDeWo (Switzerland) and Hanna Home (Turkey). The GFA board is represented by Anibal Claudino (GFAPresident/Chairman of Torlys, Canada), Matjaz Stefan (Treasurer/Alpod d.o.o., Slovenia), and Jos Krijnen (Secretary, The Netherlands). The next GFA meeting is at the Domotex Fair in Hannover (Germany) January 19th 2015. More information can be acquired via the website www.globalflooringalliance.com |