With 525 votes for, 49 against, and 44 abstaining, the European Parliament passed a proposal for regulations on the indication of the nation of origin of certain products imported from other nations.
The European MPs say that the Mark of Origin will provide EU citizens more information and permit greater control over their choices, in this way protecting them from inadvertently buying products of potentially dubious quality, and above all, will eliminate the obstacle that has held Europe back so far compared to China, India, and the USA, nations in which the Mark of Origin has been required for a long time.
The MPs also invited the European Commission to conduct a study on the effects of such regulation after three years of its validity. In order for the regulation project to become law, the text must be approved by the Council (wherever EU member nations object to the idea of Europe-wide Made in legislation). If the Council expresses favorable opinion of the Mark of Origin, the new regulations will become valid everywhere in the Union one year after the publication in the EU Official Gazette. As specified in an amendment approved by the AULA, after 5 years, this regulation will lose its validity and the European Parliament, Commission, and Council will have to decide whether or not to extend it as is or modify it further.

How can today’s installer use his professional skills to increase a wood floor’s value? What assets must he possess and exactly what must he know? More to the point, what is the current state-of-the-art in the sector in Italy and Europe? Mapei posed these important questions to a vast international audience last Thursday, October 21, in Milan, Italy, at the company’s auditorium on the occasion of a convention that might be aptly described as “intercultural”. The world-leading construction product Group had summoned operators from all over Europe to a discussion on the topic: representatives from German (EUFA P+F), Austrian (Bundesinnung der Bodenleger), English (British Wood Flooring Association), Dutch (VPL, Vereniging Parketvloeren Leveranciers), Spanish (Federación Española de Pavimentos de Madera), Czech (Parkettlegerzunft und Fußbodentechnik der Tschech.
Republik), Polish (SPP Stowarzyszenie “Parkieciarzy Polscy”) and Romanian (AMPR) trade associations. Not to mention the Italian Federlegno Arredo and AIPPL. The topic was presented by Mapei Parquet Sector Product Manager Angelo Giangiulio, who illustrated all the complexity of the wood floor production chain.
Particularly significant was the report from EUFA President Heinz Brehm, who presented the German training system and emphasized how its efficacy lies in combining theory and practice: “There are professional training schools in each Region that specify a 3-year program in which the apprentice is provided with a complete view of the art at both training institute and company levels”.
We at Professional Parquet claimed some time for ourselves: considering communication strategies in Europe, we could only speak from our own personal experience that began around twenty years ago. The event was brought to completion by a exceptional guest speaker: the master of the house, Mapei Group CEO Giorgio Squinzi, who made an interesting presentation on the evolution of the worldwide construction market that briefly considered also the future of the wood flooring sector. Despite the fact that no clearing on the horizon can be foreseen at least for the next two years, CEO Squinzi was not entirely pessimistic: “We have to roll up our sleeves and resume investing, go on the offence and not play defense”.
This is what Mapei has always done, dedicating around two thirds of its investment money to research for product development and systems that are more compatible with both humans and the natural environment.

After noticing that the laptop cases available at most electronics dealers were sadly anonymous, Berlin designer Rainer Spehl decided to make handsome cases in wood in both standard series and to customer specification.
/ In order to protect the laptop against scratches and impact, the cases are provided with a thick leather liner.
/ The most expensive model (for the MacBook Pro 17") costs around 260 Euros.

For more information: http://rainerspehl.com

In order to make a wide range of technical advice and information on American hardwood more clear and easily available, the American Hard - wood Export Council (AHEC, the association that represents the United States hardwood industry at international level) has completely renewed and updated its website: www.americanhardwood.org. The site’s new look was developed with users’ suggestions in mind and re-structured to meet “three click” criteria (no matter the information required, it will appear on your screen after a maximum number of just three clicks).
The development of the new website required significant investments in time and money. This operation also demonstrates the constant effort exerted by AHEC in reducing the quantity of printed material, also by offering the possibility to download all its publications - including its fundamental document, The Guide to Species, which was redesigned last year in a more easily readable format. The new website will also offer more information on sustainability provided by Rupert Oliver, an independent sustainability expert. AHEC intends to keep the site lively and encourage interaction with anyone involved in hardwood who cares to do so.
The site can be consulted in 9 languages and in all the leading AHEC markets around the world.