Comment | 3
COMMENT
150 years is a long time and it seems mind-boggling that TTJ has been around for that long. Starting in a small office near
Fleet Street in 1873, it began reporting on the massive trade of wood products and was quickly in demand. Over the years the trade has
changed immensely, both in terms of the products offered,
the companies operating in the sector and, of course, the use of mass communications to do business. The closing of a deal over a pint in the City Road, London is a thing of the past now and a touch of the button is all it takes. Forest certification, engineered wood products and
modified timber are just a few of the changes seen over the years. And TTJ has changed too. Interactive digital publications and regular e-bulletins have been added to printed copies to give more flexibility to readers, while events in the form of the annual TTJ Awards have been a feature in recent decades as an important meeting point for the UK timber products sector. Quite how the UK timber trade will look in another
50 years is an interesting question. It is something that probably every generation of wood traders has asked themselves at some point. But wood as a material is clearly going to be central to
people’s needs in the future with its myriad of qualities, be it aesthetics, green credentials or performance. We hope that the industry will continue to prosper and innovate and our aim will be to continue to cover developments in the decades to come! In this special anniversary issue of TTJ we have a look back in time at the TTJ’s history, share some of the
TTJ – the voice of the timber Industry
milestones also being celebrated this year by others in the timber trade, find out how women in the industry have been succeeding and spotlight the TTJ Awards 2023, which will be an anniversary celebration. Please make sure to come along, it will be great fun. Elsewhere in this issue, we cover the subject of
Artificial Intelligence (AI) – something creating waves, but attracting both positive and negative views. Who is programming the AI is an often asked and valid question and can it be manipulated? Ten-25 managing director Ian Oldrey says in
“traditional” industries, like the timber trade, AI may not have historically played a vital role. But he says in this era of rapid technological advancements, it’s becoming more and more important to embrace the benefits AI brings – to optimise operations, improve efficiency, and even enhance ever-important sustainability efforts. ERP systems, he adds, already use AI to take on tasks
that have previously required human intelligence to complete. And AI engines are being introduced to provide predictions and forecasting by using historical sales data, market trends and external factors. Very interesting. Hopefully, it can be useful when
employed properly and the nightmarish comparisons with Skynet in the Terminator films will remain just science fiction!
GROUP EDITOR
www.ttjonline.com
► MARKET UPDATES Regular market reports covering chipboard, fencing and pallets, plus plywood and OSB. We look at supply and demand, pricing and factors influencing the market
► COUNTRY FOCUS – BRITAIN Our annual focus covering the UK forest products sector. We talk to the mills and find out what their hopes are for the the market for British-grown timber for the remainder of 2023 and beyond
► PLUS REGULARS
► SECTOR FOCUS – PORTS & SHIPPING We look at how ports and shipping lines have coped with the extreme demands on them
Latest UK and world news; technical news; comment from industry figures; and latest appointments.
www.ttjonline.com | July/August 2023 | TTJ
► TTJ AWARDS SUPPLEMENT Our annual TTJ Awards supplement detailing this year’s event, in this 150th TTJ anniversary year, with information on our sponsors
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