Press Release
Juuka, 8 August 2004
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show of the meeting, photos by Pekka Jauhiainen More pictures, photos by Reiner Krug More pictures, photos by Markku Saharinen |
Industrial Counsellor Reijo Vauhkonen new president of Euroroc
Euroroc’s Annual General Meeting was held in Finland for the first time. The current president, Joachim Grüter, will step down from his post to make way for Reijo Vauhkonen, who will succeed him in October.
Photo: Katri VuorjokiThe next president of the European federation of associations representing the natural stone industry will be Industrial Counsellor Reijo Vauhkonen. The current president, Joachim Grüter, will step down from his post so that Vauhkonen can succeed him in October.
The Annual General Meeting of the European & International federation of natural stone industries — Euroroc — was held in Finland for the first time. Representatives of the national organizations in the European stone industry met in Nunnanlahti, Juuka at the Finnish Stone Centre on Friday, 6 August 2004. The meeting ascertained that the next president of Euroroc will be the founder and vice-chairman of Tulikivi Plc, Industrial Counsellor Reijo Vauhkonen, as proposed by the Finnish Natural Stone Association. The Finnish presidency will commence with the meeting in Verona in October.
The main objective of Reijo Vauhkonen during his presidency is to improve the competitiveness of the European stone industry. "The stone industry is at a critical stage in Europe. The demand for natural stone is increasing, but an increase in imports from outside Europe and aggressive marketing will force European companies to redefine their business strategies," says Vauhkonen.
The Managing Director of the Finnish Natural Stone Association, Pekka Jauhiainen (left); president of Euroroc, Joachim Grüter; the future president of Euroroc, Reijo Vauhkonen; and Euroroc secretary general Prof. Gerd Merke in Juuka at the Finnish Stone Centre
Photo: Katri VuorjokiVauhkonen warns European companies not to dash off into a price war. "You cannot respond to the increase in imports by lowering prices and compromising profitability as you would eventually reach an impasse. European stone product manufacturers must invest in research and development: product-oriented development of stone products, refining stone delivery processes in co-operation with the construction industry, testing stone material and stone products as well as training both the professionals the industry needs and customers, such as architects, and increasing the general awareness on stone."
Vauhkonen thinks that other countries should learn from the Finns. "Led by the Finnish Natural Stone Association, the stone industry in Finland has jointly invested in R&D for years now. Lately, they have been concentrating their efforts on increasing the awareness of stone. The current year is the year of stone, whose central goal is to make construction professionals and ordinary people more aware of stone. Internationally, the Finnish Stone Centre is a unique centre for stone knowledge and training, whose stone testing laboratory is one of the most advanced labs in Europe."
According to the Managing Director of the Finnish Natural Stone Association, Pekka Jauhiainen, the Finnish stone industry has increased its international profile. "The presidency of Euroroc is an excellent opportunity to increase how well our stone industry is known internationally", says Jauhiainen. He emphasizes the need for European co-operation to secure quarring. "The main issue for preserving and developing the stone industry is the possibility to use own European stone assets. The provisions for quarring must be preserved. In this, the interests between northern and southern countries meet", emphasizes Jauhiainen.
