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EPPA unfolds plans for a new future
29/01/2012 00:00:00
EPPA unfolds plans for a new future
On January 18th EPPA unfolded her new plans for the future during a presentation at the Nuremberg Perimeter Protection Fair. A large number of European fence & gate producing companies, together with representatives of various National Fence & Gate Associations accepted an invitation for this presentation.
In the first decade of this century, EPPA has achieved significant results in increasing the quality level in the market and upgrading the safety of the products. Various trainings provided to technical specialists of EPPA’s member companies gained appreciation. The composition and issue of the so-called EPPA ‘white books’ have made great impression and a significant impact on our EPPA members, but also on the rest of the market. In these ‘white books’ a description is provided for what should be a “good fence and gate” under different circumstances. (Please have a look at the white books here.)
Nevertheless, EPPA Chairman Maarten Meulendijks revealed that there are reasons to reconsider the direction and positioning of EPPA. The aim for quality has - fortunately - become a lot more common in the market as well as the desire to act on a European scale. EPPA members therefore no longer distinct themselves on the basis of these two aspects.
Since EPPA is the only European Branch Association for companies active in the industrial production of fences and gates, Meulendijks took his audience along a number of topics for which EPPA believes the existence of an active and broad European Branch Association is important:
Despite the fact that very much has been achieved in recent years, still a lot is to be done with respect to safety. Regrettable accidents with gates and fences still occur. At the same time the manufacturing part of the European fence and gate industry is still not organized well enough to have its interests well represented in the various committees that govern relevant EU-norms and -regulations. In these norms there might be more attention for the complete value chain. Especially the arrangements in these norms for fences or gates after they have left the factory, need further attention. Meulendijks called for a combined approach of EPPA and the relevant National Associations to persuade the responsible authorities to stronger enforce the adherence to the safety norms.
In the field of security, attention was given to the CEN/TC 388 initiative, a Technical Committee, formally installed by the relevant EU-authorities. This Committee is developing a universal system with which it is possible to classify a specific outdoor situation into risk categories. This first phase is almost done. In the second phase it will be made possible to classify proposed outdoor security systems (combinations of mechanical, electronic and software measurements) accordingly, so that they will fit the different levels of outdoor security risks. In the third and last phase this same methodology will be developed for individual security perimeter protection products, of which the systems in phase two are composed of.
Where her new ambition is to become a broad European Branch Association, EPPA states that the logical consequence will be that the quality level it represents will be average. Therefore, the very fact that a company is member of EPPA is no longer an indication for a higher quality level. On the other hand the ‘new’ EPPA is, along with the industry, aiming to create an objective and tested certification system for the quality of specific products. Especially in the welded mesh industry there is interest in such a certification for the higher quality level products.
EPPA furthermore wishes to contribute to an ‘innovation-friendly environment’. Although turnover in this industry shows a favourable development, various companies have lower margins as desirable. Innovation is the logical way to distinct oneself from other companies and to establish a good margin basis, Meulendijks argued.
Of course EPPA will properly communicate with her members. However it also wishes to establish an active formal relationship with the National Associations in the various EU-countries that take care of the interest of their national Fence & Gate branches. This relationship will be of high value, for both achieving goals on a European level and for the communication with various different nations and to understand what is going on. In addition, EPPA will aim to contribute to the esteem of the Fence & Gate Industry.
Finally, Meulendijks asked his audience to reflect and preferably conclude within the coming months on the high importance for the industry that many companies from their branch become an EPPA-member and play an active role herein.
The presentation was positively received by the 40 management representatives of many of the leading Fence & Gate Industries from Italy, Spain, Sweden, France, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
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