The Malta Furniture Manufacturers Organisation (MFMO) has organised an exhibition showcasing a cross section of products by different craftsmen and woodworking factories in the Maltese islands.
The exhibition at St James Cavalier in Valletta, entitled Working in Wood - A Maltese Tradition, is open until May 13.
"For centuries, Maltese craftsmen have been working in wood, building anything from ships to wooden balconies, from doors to church pulpits, from carts to fine furniture, using both imported and local woods. This woodworking tradition is still very strong.
"Despite competition from imported furniture, the Maltese craftsman is still flourishing, building traditional architectural woodwork and beautifully made furniture to the highest standards and to customer specifications," the organisation said.
"Whether working in small workshops or large and modern factories equipped with computerised machinery, Maltese tradesmen are delivering quality, diversity and innovation using the best raw materials and accessories available on the market.
Most products are custom made, mostly out of solid wood in various styles and finishes."
MFMO is planning to involve students from the Institute of Art and Design in its future initiatives, with the aim of stimulating innovative practice.
The organisation was set up in 2001 with the aim of bringing together local furniture manufacturers sharing common goals and interests.
It also protects the interests of the industry by acting as a lobby group.
It has had a number of initiatives, including the development and running of a training programme and the development of a certification system that fosters quality management practices among furniture manufacturers.
These efforts parallel the organisation's export promotion initiatives through an alliance with Malta Enterprise.
The MFMO today
MFMO is working on a number of initiatives to be of further service to its members:
• gathering statistics to look for better rates of insurance, based on a collective approach;
• continuing efforts to establish a collective purchasing system of raw material;
• an update of the website;
• contact with the Malta College of Arts Science and Technology and the Employment and Training Corporation on training needs;
• publication of a weekly bulletin to keep members informed;
• update from Malta Enterprise on export opportunities, including a daily bulletin of tender alerts from the EU;
• working with the Innovation Relay Centre network to provide link to the latest technological innovations coming from all over Europe;
• working hand-in-hand with Malta Enterprise on projects such as technology mapping and MARIS;
• contributing views on matters related to national policies;
For further details, contact Mario Calleja, business executive on tel. 2398 0191 or e-mail: info@mfmo.com
The exhibition at St James Cavalier in Valletta, entitled Working in Wood - A Maltese Tradition, is open until May 13.
"For centuries, Maltese craftsmen have been working in wood, building anything from ships to wooden balconies, from doors to church pulpits, from carts to fine furniture, using both imported and local woods. This woodworking tradition is still very strong.
"Despite competition from imported furniture, the Maltese craftsman is still flourishing, building traditional architectural woodwork and beautifully made furniture to the highest standards and to customer specifications," the organisation said.
"Whether working in small workshops or large and modern factories equipped with computerised machinery, Maltese tradesmen are delivering quality, diversity and innovation using the best raw materials and accessories available on the market.
Most products are custom made, mostly out of solid wood in various styles and finishes."
MFMO is planning to involve students from the Institute of Art and Design in its future initiatives, with the aim of stimulating innovative practice.
The organisation was set up in 2001 with the aim of bringing together local furniture manufacturers sharing common goals and interests.
It also protects the interests of the industry by acting as a lobby group.
It has had a number of initiatives, including the development and running of a training programme and the development of a certification system that fosters quality management practices among furniture manufacturers.
These efforts parallel the organisation's export promotion initiatives through an alliance with Malta Enterprise.
The MFMO today
MFMO is working on a number of initiatives to be of further service to its members:
• gathering statistics to look for better rates of insurance, based on a collective approach;
• continuing efforts to establish a collective purchasing system of raw material;
• an update of the website;
• contact with the Malta College of Arts Science and Technology and the Employment and Training Corporation on training needs;
• publication of a weekly bulletin to keep members informed;
• update from Malta Enterprise on export opportunities, including a daily bulletin of tender alerts from the EU;
• working with the Innovation Relay Centre network to provide link to the latest technological innovations coming from all over Europe;
• working hand-in-hand with Malta Enterprise on projects such as technology mapping and MARIS;
• contributing views on matters related to national policies;
For further details, contact Mario Calleja, business executive on tel. 2398 0191 or e-mail: info@mfmo.com