Schweighofer prize-winner hopes for stronger lobbying on behalf of wood construction
15 September 2015This year, the winner of the €100,000 Schweighofer prize, which is awarded every second year, is Dr Erich Wiesner from Austria. The prize for achievement over an extended period of time is a tribute to persons or organisations that have served as examples for the whole European forest and wood industry.
Dr Erich Wiesner is the fifth generation to run the family business Wiehag and is still a key influence on the wood product sector both at home in Austria and amongst European organisations and EU programmes in the wood industry.
In Wiesner's mind, the honour he has received in this prize is directed at the whole wood product industry and he hopes the sector will engage in more co-operation than at present in both national and European lobbying.
The Wiehag company is considered one of the pioneers that has been instrumental in making the gluelam industry and the demanding wood construction related to it a hi-tech industry in the EU and making timber construction competitive with other materials.
Dr Wiesner feels there is a need for research information that supports the lobbying of the industry's interests, in order to be able to influence the development of construction regulations.
