TTP TAKES THE LEAD ON QUALITY PLEDGE

Treated Timber Products (TTP) has raised the bar on standards by becoming the first company to sign our Quality Pledge, a platform where treatment companies can commit to excellence.

The company made the move after a period of careful consideration “because we, as the pole treating industry, need to stand together to promote a quality product and the companies that produce it,” said TTP Head of Sales and Export Marketing, Callum Holley.

“Poor treating standards by a handful of producers have hurt the reputation of the wooden pole,” he said. “In many cases the blame is placed on the wooden pole in general and not on the sub-standard treatment. We simply cannot stand by and let this happen any longer.

“I have personally seen this happen in many African countries where concrete and steel poles are now being used after the early failure of poorly treated wooden poles. If we do not stem the current flow of rubbish poles flowing into Africa we run the risk of all being out of business in the next few years. Let’s not allow that to happen.

“On the other hand, if we can persuade customers to take quality as seriously as price, the future is very bright for the treated wooden pole. If this Pledge can go any way towards solving these issues it will be a massive benefit to TTP and the industry.”

The Pledge outlines six principles to ensure quality. Fulfilling all of these will reassure clients that your product is the best they can buy, and will endure over time. This will help to ensure the sustainability of your business and with it, the sustainability of our entire industry.

“It is ‘absolutely fantastic’ that TTP has signed the pledge, signalling the company’s commitment to sustainability and quality” Bertus said.

“We believe this is an important step forward for our industry.”

“The commitment was made by the company’s top management, so it will be reinforced throughout the whole business. We are very excited to start rolling out aspects of the pledge with TTP.”

TTP’s commitment is also significantly important because it shows that companies realise that one can’t focus on only one aspect of quality assurance; instead, a holistic approach is needed, Bertus pointed out. There are six elements to the pledge which, together, ensure sustainability.

These elements are: Compliance with the relevant legislation; satisfying quality standards; safeguarding the environment; maintaining the recognised treatment process; quality control and monitoring, and harvesting timber from sustainable forests wherever possible.

“We have noticed that our customers are studying the pledge well before signing,” Bertus observed. “We appreciate this, because it means that they are taking it seriously, and when they sign it, they will take the commitment seriously.

“We wish to reassure our clients that the pledge was not designed as a marketing ploy. It is the outcome of considerable thought about how best to consolidate all the knowledge we have gained over the years as a service provider into a single programme that incorporates all the necessary steps for ensuring a top-quality product.

“We are very excited to explain the pledge further to other reputable companies, and to help them roll it out.”

TTP is the oldest and largest pole treater in Africa and the southern hemisphere “and would not still be in operation if we did not take standards seriously,” said Callum. “We take pride in supplying the highest possible quality product at competitive prices.”

“I am hoping that by signing the pledge, TTP will be recognised as a company that takes quality very seriously,” he added. “I am excited about the prospect of a core group of treating companies, known for their superior quality, being promoted on this basis to customers throughout the continent. This will hopefully result in more orders coming to these companies and as a result, a stronger reputation for the wooden pole for many years to come.”

“Dolphin Bay has been a trusted supplier to TTP for many years, and we have always enjoyed a good relationship with Bertus and his capable team. We look forward to working together with them to offer an even higher quality product to the market in future.”