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.