Coillte Panel Products is currently producing 600,000m³ of OSB and MDF, 90% of which is exported and, said managing director Gerry Britchfield, is in a strong position to take advantage of economic recovery when it comes. He added that the group’s ownership of the fibre and the continuity of supply that that guarantees would bolster its fortunes still further.
And, he said, some uplift is already being witnessed. “We’re seeing good, steady price rises in both MDF and OSB,” he said, acknowledging that this was in the context of recovering from a very low base in 2008/09.
Security of supply has become critical for customers, he said, but product innovation has also helped the company gain market share.
On the SmartPly front he points to SiteProtect, an OSB hoarding product that is coated in a smooth, durable, heavy-duty exterior cross-linked polymer surface treatment. Since its development it has been one of the perimeter security hoardings chosen by Tesco for its construction sites and it’s also currently encircling the development of a 5,200m² events and exhibitions venue at the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent.
Modified MDF panel
Perhaps the most alluring product development for Medite is the modified MDF panel Tricoya, developed in partnership with Accys Technologies plc which successfully brought Accoya modified softwood to the market.
Tricoya has been produced on a commercial basis as a trial run at Medite’s Clonmel plant and the results thus far are extremely encouraging, suggesting that it could have a service life of many decades in a variety of exterior applications. However, cautioned innovation director Joe Kennedy, “there is still a lot of validation and market analysis needed and it will require a significant capital investment to take this project forward to the next stage”.
“The technical challenges are surmountable,” added Gerry Britchfield. “The big question is if there is a substantial enough market for it to justify the expenditure.”
Other market demands are easier to quantify. Product extension has included the development of a 45mm Medite panel, extending the range of thicknesses currently available in the Premier range from 32-45mm.
In addition, the whole Medite range became CARB 2 compliant in January.
New tecnhology
These developments have been possible thanks to €15m of investment in new technology over the last couple of years, including two Metso defibrators, which boosted fibre production and conditioned it to a much higher standard, while reducing energy consumption. A Classi cleaner system is a more recent addition. “This classifies the different wood material by size and quality resulting in a more consistent, homogeneous product, said Medite operations director Pat Beardmore. “It enables us to use more species.”
The future looks bright for both SmartPly and Medite and, by extension, the country. “The development of high value technical products for export will be fantastic for Ireland,” said marketing and business development director Geoff Rhodes. “Staying ahead and having competitive advantage is in our DNA. Combined with our forest resource it puts us in a very strong position.”
