Furniture
Furniture generally represents between 2 and 4% of manufacturing sector production value in industrialised countries. In the EU it is one of the largest manufacturing industries, accounting for about half the world's furniture production. Raw materials range from wood to metal, leather and glass.
In 2002, for the first time since the recession that started in 1992/3 drove down demand, furniture production value in all EU countries either decreased (in the large countries) or at best stagnated (in small countries). The UK was the only exception, with a slight increase.
The EU furniture industry comprises 8,800 enterprises with over 20 employees and more than 80,000 with fewer than 20. Its focus has traditionally been local, but large international companies are already reacting by consolidating smaller local companies into larger enterprises. Globalisation is bringing price pressures. The challenge is to optimise capacity and lower production costs.
Voorne Partners has long experience in helping to implement the changes these developments demand.
