The Accoya stand at Ligna
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Questions by Ian Gillam
Answers by Benjamin Thockok, Accoya Technical Sales Manager
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How is Ligna going for you, how are you finding the experience?
A perfect show for us, we have a very strong demand for the products we are presenting. We have a relatively small booth, we’re a bit hidden here and people are finding their way. We are two guys on the booth at all times and we always have people waiting to speak with us.
Benjamin Thockok, Accoya Technical Sales Manager
What sets Accoya apart from its peers?
We call it ‘changing wood to change the world!’ So our USP is really about changing life cycles, today sustainability is one of the biggest topics we have. In the building industry, some 40% of the carbon footprint comes form this sector, and what we do is extend the life cycle of the (wood) product – this product (Accoya) is used in every application outdoors. As the demand for wooden products, sustainable products and renewable products grow, Accoya is well placed to develop in many markets
What’s the future looking like for Accoya in the UK?
For us it’s a really big market, we have over 200 manufacturers work with Accoya in the UK and we’ve set up an approved manufacturers programme to help them in sales and marketing support – to spread the word of the Accoya products.
Traditionally, the UK market is strong in windows and doors, but we feel there is considerable demand for other exterior applications such as cladding.
An example of this being the new Google HQ at King’s Cross London, where Accoya was a specified material for the facade and other uses which demonstrated the qualities of our product, where and how it can be used.
Innovations-wise, what is the future looking like for Accoya?
We’ve developed a sustainable and high-performance wood product guaranteed for 50 years of outdoor use and 25 years in-ground or freshwater. A new innovation for us is Accoya Color Grey. This a surface-to-core coloured grey Accoya product. Because it is coloured through to the core, the grey colour cannot flake or wear off, making it ideal for decking and cladding. The initial market focus was DACH; we have since expanded to North America and more recently the Nordics and France with the UK to follow.
