QPANI changing name to MPA Northern Ireland

QPA Northern Ireland to rebrand as Mineral Products Association Northern Ireland

THE Quarry Products Association Northern Ireland (QPANI), which was formed in 1998, has taken the decision to change its name to Mineral Products Association Northern Ireland (MPANI), with effect from 1 January 2019.

QPANI is the trade association for the mineral products sector in Northern Ireland with 87 members employing just over 5,000 people contributing almost £700 million to the Northern Ireland economy. It has been an affiliate of the MPA since 2009 and now, after a full consultation process, the members of the Association have given their unanimous support and endorsement for it to rebrand as MPANI.

Gordon Best (pictured), director of QPANI, said: ‘Our move from QPANI to MPANI was endorsed by our members as they believe the time is right to take this important step. The reference to Minerals in our new title recognizes the fact that our membership base is wide and varied across our industry in Northern Ireland, representing the extraction and processing of hard rock, sand, salt, lime and chalk into products that support and sustain our quality of life.

‘Importantly we are also recognized by government, both locally and centrally, as a minerals sector. We have an excellent working relationship with the MPA, and indeed all MPA regions across the UK, and with our colleagues in the Irish Mining and Quarries Society (IMQS) in the Republic of Ireland.’   

Nigel Jackson, chief executive officer of the MPA, said: ‘QPANI has been a valued and important member of both QPA and latterly MPA, ensuring that our work is genuinely national taking account of issues across the UK.

‘QPANI makes an important contribution to our policy thinking and is a professional and energetic association in its own right. We are absolutely delighted that it has decided to adopt the MPA name, which will strengthen the important ties between our two organizations.’