Egger UK has invested £110m in a new production facility at Hexham. Joint md Bob Livesey talks to Grahame Morrison

Has the chipboard shortage situation eased?
Certainly furniture manufacturers and users of chipboard have been experiencing a shortage of chipboard over the last year across the whole of Europe. The root cause of this undersupply is largely due to a lack of new investment in the industry over recent years. This can be largely attributed to the increased financial pressures including increases in raw material costs experienced by chipboard manufacturers.

Have melamine faced boards eliminated the need for veneers?
The sheer sophistication and quality of paper printing technology nowadays means that it is increasingly difficult to tell the difference between veneer and a reproduction.  Decorative melamine faced boards provide an economical way of exhibiting the natural beauty and
variety of wood.

Are we getting braver with colour in our furniture?
Design trends such as mixing and matching uni colours and wood grains as well as different materials is becoming increasingly popular in furniture design today. The emphasis at present is very much on individuality, often achieved by a fusion of both traditional and modern design.   

Is there a cross over in woodgrains from the kitchen to elsewhere in the home?
Yes, the use of woodgrains within the home is no longer primarily confined to the kitchen. All of the decors we develop are extremely versatile and can be used in kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and offices. The increase in open plan living spaces in today's modern houses has seen some of our consumers offering co-ordinated living room furniture to match their kitchens.

Has the increase in the 'linear' look had an impact on timber types/grain detail?
Horizontal lines are still very big news in contemporary kitchen design. The trend is all about a long lean look with streamlined units fitted with slender aluminium handles. Everything is neat and organised with integrated appliances. We have also seen the emergence of more natural decors with greater character.

How do green issues impact on chipboard production?
Egger pursues a far-reaching environmental policy and follows the strict ecological regulations laid down by the wood processing industry. This begins with the collection of timber from renewable forests and wood residues from saw mills, as well as good quality recycled timber sourced through our Timberpak subsidiary and other key suppliers.

Is there an alternative to chipboard production?
Medium density fibreboard (mdf) can be used as an alternative to chipboard. However, in many instances, mdf is used in applications where good quality chipboard would be fit for purpose at better cost levels.

What is the typical lifetime of a fashion colour?
We operate approximately two years in advance when it comes to forecasting new trends and creating new designs. We take our inspiration from other markets including the car, textile, fashion and consumer electronics industries. The actual lifespan of a decor colour is entirely dependent upon its overall popularity in the market place. White is still the volume product along with beech.

Okay then, what do you consider to be the next big thing?
Solid colours like cream, beige and cappuccino are still growing in popularity as there is continued demand for the 'brown and cream' theme.  However we see strong, bold colours beginning to make a comeback, although we don't anticipate the bright colours popular in Europe to make such a big impact in the UK.  Bright colours are more likely to be used as paint colours or in cushions.