PROFESSIONAL PARQUET INTENATIONAL ::: Bimontly of technical information about parquet and other surfaces

::: T�te � t�te with HEINZ BREHM
PROTAGONISTS of Federica Fiorellini
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The President of the Association for the Promotion of Professional Training for Parquet Laying and other Floor Covering Techniques in Europe (EUFA) talks to us about the problems shared by all European parquet layers.

We met the President, Mr. Heinz Brehm, in Milan on the 21st October. We were, like him, guests at the Mapei trade fair and were determined not to miss our chance to put him a few questions about his association (EUFA, association for the Promotion of Professional Training for Parquet Laying and other Floor Covering Techniques in Europe), the current situation in Europe and the future of this profession.

How did your association come into being and what are your goals?
Heinz Brehm: It all started back in 1967, in Germany, with the setting- up of the �Bundesleistungswettbewerb� (Federal competition for merit) aimed at all professional crafts; this competition decided, for instance, the top three parquet layers each year. Then, years later in 1996, there being no further developments in the world of wooden flooring, I decided to create the �European Contest of Parquet Laying�, which has enjoyed increasing success and been held in many European countries: Germany (1997 and 2006), France (1998), Poland (2000 and 2010), Holland (2002), Belgium (2004), Austria (2008).
Future editions are planned in Romania (2012) and the Czech Republic (2014).
As for the association I head, EUFA was set up in 2005 with the following goals:
� to provide conceptual (and financial) support for the training of parquet layers throughout Europe;
� to create and/or rent rooms for training activities throughout Europe;
� to encourage contacts between apprentices, craft professionals and trainers and thus improve standards of training;
� to promote and improve standards of training, to encourage better qualifications and thus corresponding improvements in employment prospects;
� to promote and consolidate contacts between vocational schools and comparable training institutions as well as between individual trainers, training companies, associations and others.
The aims in setting-up and fostering contacts between European institutions are:
� to promote language and professional skills, as well as skills specific to particular countries and areas;
� to discover the culture of other countries, particularly at a professional level;
� to take part in European competitions that award qualifying certificates etc., upon completion of the training courses.

Is it right that there are some common problems throughout Europe when it comes to the level of training of people working in this field?
Heinz Brehm: Some small differences in manual laying techniques have emerged during the various editions of the European Contest of Parquet Laying, while major differences have been found when using machinery to do the job. There are also some great gaps in knowledge concerning the manufacturing and working of parquet.
I believe that the reason for this is due to the fact that most craftsmen only receive minimal training - if employed by large firms - for reasons of cost; for example, weekend courses.
Longer - and more onerous - periods of training are not common in many countries. Extra training should, for instance, provide information on how to face and deal with complaints. It is my opinion that training is insuf ficient on a European level.

How do you view the trends in the sector this past decade?
Heinz Brehm: Although the material provided by suppliers (parquet) has improved in recent years and is easier to work, the actual quality of laying has unfortunately worsened.
This situation is, I feel, due to the unfavourable working conditions of parquet layers: obliged to work bending down, on their knees. If the job were well paid, there would be better qualified workers and the image of our sector would immediately improve.
The introduction of the European Contest of Parquet Laying helps meet the need to make our profession better known.

How could trade associations and the European press work together to improve the share of the market held by wooden flooring?
Heinz Brehm: European associations must aspire to and create a situation whereby the laying of parquet becomes quicker, more accurate and cleaner: in other words, better training for the layerers of wooden flooring.
This basically consists in the ability to foresee the risk of complaints, thus helping to keep the number of disputes down. Only a very small percentage of complaints can give the sector the security it needs and only jobs done in a workmanlike fashion will help make wooden flooring more popular with the consumers.
I would also hope that the trade press would stop dedicating so much space to covering disputes and, on the contrary, make more of the success stories, of jobs well done, of the firms and layerers who deserve praise.

Parquet Floor Italy The �European Contest of Parquet Laying�, organised by Eufa, was held in Germany in 1997 and 2006, in France in 1998, in Poland in 2000 and 2010 (the photo shows the winners of the latest edition in Poznan: two young south Tyrolean layers), in Holland in 2002, in Belgium in 2004 and in Salzburg, in Austria in 2008. Future editions are planned in Romania (2012) and the Czech Republic (2014).