Co-Presidents at EPAL: Dirk Hoferer and Jarek Maciążek are the new Presidents of the European Pallet Association (EPAL)
On 24 June 2022, the EPAL General Assembly unanimously elected Jarek Maciążek and Dirk Hoferer as the new Presidents of EPAL. Robert Holliger, who had been President of EPAL for twelve years, did not stand for re-election.
Düsseldorf, 04 July 2022 – The General Assembly of the European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL), held on 24 June 2022 in Zurich, has elected Dirk Hoferer and Jarek Maciążek as the new Presidents of EPAL. They will lead EPAL for the next three years as Co-Presidents. They have both been Vice Presidents of EPAL and have been active on behalf of EPAL Deutschland and EPAL Polska on the Board in recent years and contributed to the steady growth of the EPAL European pallet pool through their considerable personal commitment.
“I am looking forward to take on the responsibility for the continued positive development of EPAL with my Co-President Jarek Maciążek,” says Dirk Hoferer. “We have been involved with all of EPAL's key projects for over ten years on the EPAL Board and Presidium and will continue our close collaboration as Presidents of EPAL. One of the key areas of our work will be to extend and further improve the significance of the open EPAL exchange pool for the circular economy, climate protection and the sustainability goals of retail and industry.”
With Jarek Maciążek and Dirk Hoferer, EPAL now has two highly experienced representatives of the pallet industry at the helm. For many years, Jarek Maciążek was on the board of the Polish company PalettenWerk, one of the largest pallet producers in Europe. Dirk Hoferer is the owner and Managing Director of the German company Treyer Paletten GmbH, one of the first EPAL licensees.
“EPAL’s strength lies in the direct involvement of companies who, as licensees, are active producers and repairers of EPAL pallets and EPAL box pallets,” explains Jarek Maciążek. “This allows us to ensure that every decision EPAL takes on the organisation of the EPAL European pallet pool is in line with the interests of our customers from the retail and industrial sectors who rely on the EPAL European pallet pool for goods and transport logistics. This will be the yardstick for the work of Dirk Hoferer and myself during our time as Presidents of EPAL.“
Dirk Hoferer and Jarek Maciążek are following Robert Holliger who led EPAL as its President from 2010 to 2022 over four terms in office. During this time, the number of EPAL Euro pallets produced rose from approximately 65 million per annum to more than 100 million in 2021.
“The EPAL Euro pallet pool developed into the largest open pallet exchange pool in the world while Robert Hollinger was in office,” says Dirk Hoferer and Jarek Maciążek. “Our aim is to follow this successful path and to establish EPAL as a modern association and an essential element of sustainable goods and transport logistics. On behalf of the EPAL Board and members of EPAL, we would like to thank Robert Holliger for his generous commitment to EPAL over many years.”
As EPAL Vice-Presidents, Jarek Maciążek and Dirk Hoferer had a close and confidential working relationship with Robert Holliger over the years. The election of Dirk Hoferer and Jarek Maciążek thus ensures continuity in both EPAL's work and the organisation of the EPAL Euro pallet pool. Robert Holliger has been appointed as an honorary member and honorary president of EPAL by the EPAL General Assembly.
About EPAL:
As an international association, the European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL) is responsible for organising the EPAL Euro pallet exchange pool. EPAL Euro pallets are the cornerstone of industrial and retail supply chains in Europe. The EPAL brand stands for quality, safety and sustainability in logistics.
There are currently approximately 625 million EPAL Euro pallets and approximately 20 million EPAL Box pallets in circulation making the EPAL Euro pallet exchange pool the biggest open pallet exchange pool in the world. More than 1,500 EPAL licensees produce and repair EPAL Euro pallets and other EPAL load carriers globally.
As a non-profit organisation, EPAL does not pursue any commercial interests. Founded in 1991 as the international association for exchangeable Euro pallets, EPAL is currently active in over 30 countries through national associations and representatives. The central focus of EPAL’s activity is the organisation of the international EPAL Euro pallet exchange pool and the quality assurance of the production and repair of EPAL Euro pallets, EPAL Box pallets, and other EPAL load carriers.
The EPAL Euro pallet exchange pool, with its principles of reuse, exchange, repair and recycling, has been an exemplar for a sustainable circular economy for more than three decades. Wooden EPAL Euro pallets make a significant contribution to protecting the climate. They store CO2, prevent waste and improve the carbon footprint of users in industry, retail and logistics through reuse, exchange, repair and recycling.
For further press information:
European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL)
Andrea Engels
T +49 (0) 211 98 480 48 93
M +49 (0) 172 69 325 95
andrea.engels@epal-pallets.org