Coillte hosts unique showcase for Irish timber products at UK Timber Expo.
Tuesday 25 September 2012
Today sees Coillte, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland, host a range of Irish construction sawnwood exporters at this year’s Timber Expo in Coventry. Timber Expo is the premier show in the UK for all those involved in the timber sector or those looking to build with this versatile and sustainable material. There are expected to be over 150 timber companies exhibiting with over 5,000 visitors are expected, including architects, specifiers, engineers and contractors plus central government departments and local authorities.
The Timber Expo will be the largest showcase of timber technology ever seen in the UK. The Expo represents an important opportunity for the Irish timber sector to engage with customers and drive exports to the UK, a key strategic objective for Coillte, and consistent with Enterprise Ireland's remit to match Irish capability with international opportunity.
Overall the total value of forest products exported from Ireland in 2011 was €286m. This includes pulp and paper products, wood based panels and sawn timber. Over the period 2007 to 2010 Ireland’s markets share of UK sawn softwood timber market grew from 4.23% to 6.34% - or almost 50% over that four year period. In 2011 €64m of sawn softwood timber was exported, while €174m of wood based panels (87% of all panels manufactured in Ireland), were exported.
Among those attending from Ireland with Coillte are some if its customers - Murray Timber, Glennon Brothers, and Grainger’s Sawmills. Coillte Panel Products will also be present – launching their new product ‘Toughply’. ToughPly is the latest OSB product from SmartPly and is is FSC certified, CE and EUTR compliant, there is no need to prime and with zero added formaldehyde and approval for structural use and at lower price than alternatives.
Participation in the Expo is also supported by Enterprise Ireland.
Coillte Director of Sales and Marketing Richard Lowe stated ‘ since the downturn in the construction sector Coillte has been very much focussed on supporting our customers in developing important new markets. For the fourth year running we are hosting a stand for Irish sawnwood exporters at the Timber Expo. We see this event as an important showcase for the excellence of Irish timber products and is part of our ongoing awareness campaign for sawnwood in the UK market. The Irish forestry and forest products sector itself employs approx 12,000 people and we are confident that this year’s Expo will drive new opportunities for our sector.’
ENDS
For further information please contact Martin Mackin or Sile Murphy at Q4PR – 01-4751444 or mobiles 087 8145030 / 086 0288132
Further details available at http://www.timber-expo.co.uk/
