• 1966

  MDF first made in the USA, as the result of a technical accident.

• 1974

  American production of Medite MDF starts in Medford, Oregon.

• 1976

  MDF arrives in Western Europe.

  Medite MDF first imported into Europe from Medford, Oregon with small orders from a handful of companies in the UK and the Netherlands.

• At the beginning of the 1980s, with the assistance of the Irish Industrial Development Authority, plans are made for the construction of a manufacturing facility for MDF in Ireland. Irish managed forests are a rich source of thinnings of Sitka Spruce and Lodgepole Pine, perfect raw material for manufacturing the highest quality MDF.

• Agreement is reached to build a Medite MDF plant in Clonmel, County Tipperary, with a capacity similar to than the Medford, Oregon plant. It is envisaged from the outset that the plant will supply Western European markets.

• 1982

  First Medite European Sales Office opens in Linne, The Netherlands.

• 1983

  September First European production of Medite from Clonmel.

• 1984

  Medite HD, high density MDF, launched.

• 1986

  Medite opens its European Sales & Marketing Office in Southend, England.

• 1987

  Medite 313 launched.

• 1989

  Medite Exterior, the world's first exterior MDF, launched.

• Production rapidly grows, with Medite gaining new markets in France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and other European countries.

• Medite becomes the first MDF to be awarded a Kitemark (BSI).

• 1991

  Medite FR, flame-retardant MDF, is launched.

• 1992

  1,000,000 m³ of Clonmel-produced Medite is sold in Europe.

• 1993

  Start up of Medite continuous thin MDF press in Clonmel increasing capacity to 300,000 m³

• 1998

  Medite Exterior approved for use in D4 Category, BS4965.

• Medite used in London's Millennium Dome.

• 2003

  Second continuous press installed in Clonmel, increasing its capacity to 400,000 m³

• 2005

  Medite re-specifies its entire range to meet the changing demands of designers, specifiers and end-users for the 21st Century.

• 2006

  Over 5,000,000 m³ of Medite MDF sold in Europe.

• 2006

  Medite Europe is acquired by Coillte, the leading Irish-based forest estates and forest products company. Coillte is also a major influence in timber technology around the world and has worked with Medite Europe for many years as the main log supplier to the Clonmel plant. Medite Europe is proud to become part of the Coillte family and looks forward to consolidating and developing its leadership of the European MDF market.

• 2006

  Medite Europe celebrates 30 years of business in Europe with the launch of the Medite 2016 Project. This project looks forward to the challenges of the next 10 years for the timber industry. It includes the industry-wide Medite 2016 Forum and the publication of the Medite 2016 Compendium, a special collection of informed views from leading figures worldwide.

In the last 30 years, the MDF industry has come a long way. The next 10 are likely to be at least as challenging. What will the world be like in 2016? Issues of globalisation, international politics, energy, conservation, ecology and resources are all likely to loom large. Not to forget the increasing pace of technological change, which will undoubtedly lead to advances undreamt of today.

The Medite 2016 Project seeks to explore the question from the perspective of the MDF and timber industries. Through a series of events and a website, the Medite 2016 Forum will encourage participation in discussions from people of all areas of the industry.

We have published the Medite 2016 Compendium, a fascinating and thought-provoking collection of the views of leading figures from around the world, both within the timber industry and outside.