NEWS
Commenting on a visit to the Medite Europe plant in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Minister of State Shane McEntee TD, stated that he was impressed with the company’s innovation in developing new MDF Products, adding that Medite "is a real example of what can be achieved with consistent commitment to anticipating and meeting market requirements".
AMS Joinery of Maidstone has been working on a Victorian town house in Notting Hill in London which has undergone a full refurbishment to bring the property back to its former glory. As the new home of a London property developer, the owner had specific designs in mind intended to retain as much of the properties period feel as possible. One of AMS Joinery’s tasks was to manufacture and install a large No. 10 Downing Street-style front door to the newly renovated property; a job for which the stability and durability of new Medite Tricoya MDF, the ground-breaking new panel product from a joint development agreement with Medite Europe & Accsys Technologies.
At this time of year, a visit to Santa’s Grotto is as much a part of the festive experience as last minute shopping and the Christmas turkey, and this year the Blanchardstown Centre - Ireland’s largest shopping centre and premier destination for shopping and leisure – turned to Medite FR to bring to life a new Grotto for Santa Claus and his helpers.
Timber Expo 2011 saw Accsys Technologies and Medite Europe Ltd launch Medite® Tricoya®, the first major innovation in the wood panel industry. This unique, extreme, durable fibreboard has an expected life span of sixty years and will lead to a new generation of wood based panel products for exterior and wetted use.
FSC certified Medite MDF and SmartPly OSB set the scene in an office interior geared towards the ‘new way of working’ in Swung House in The Hague. The carbon-neutral building offers flexible work space solutions for home-based business owners and independent professionals. Interior architect Odette Ex decided to break away from a traditional office design and opted for a stark and striking loft-style interior with a contemporary look.
Coillte Panel Product and Accsys Technologies have announced that the production of ground-breaking Medite Tricoya®, the world’s first ultra-high performance medium density fibreboard (MDF), is underway, and is expected to enter the market in the coming months.
Since 2006 the Medite 2016 Forum has met to discuss and debate issues pressing the timber industry. Now halfway through its 10-year programme a range of industry insiders met in association with the Timber Trades Journal (TTJ), in a roundtable discussion to examine the challenges ahead in the run up to 2016.
Medite FR (flame retardant) MDF has been specified by Searcy’s, the upmarket quality driven catering company, for the Searcys Champagne Bar at Paddington Station in London.
Birkenhead’s Woodside Ferry Terminal has opened a major new feature at The U-Boat Story, a life-size replica of a conning tower of the German U-boat U-534. The interior was created from a series of 12mm cut to size Medite FR (flame retardant) MDF panels, overlaid with digital printed images to replicate the submarine interior.
Being the first to stock Medite’s new Ultralite MDF isn’t enough for JP Corry. As one of the largest builders’ merchants in Ireland with 17 branches across Ireland and a complete building supplier for both the trade and the public, JP Corry has used the new ultra-lightweight MDF from Medite as the basis of a new product display area at their head offices on Springfield Road, and in the construction of their central exhibition stand at the recent Self Build Show at the King’s Hall in Belfast.
The new KPMG headquarters in Amstelveen is home to Medite FR – a flame retardant MDF panel – that is helping play a leading role in creating a sustainable and user-friendly working environment for the high-profile accountancy firm.
Westfield Stratford City, the retail gateway to London’s Olympic Park, is set to become the UK’s second largest shopping mall, and the largest urban shopping centre in Europe. As an anchor store, the new 200,000 sq ft Marks & Spencer department store is currently undergoing its full retail fit-out, ready for opening in September 2011. As one of the most environmentally efficient retail centres in the UK, Westfield Stratford City has been designed to achieve excellence in environmental sustainability, with some of the most stringent guidelines imposed on its construction and ongoing management.
Dr Ed Suttie, Director of the Timber Division at BRE (Building Research Establishment), gave a speech presenting BRE test and evaluation results which conclude that Medite Tricoya®, a ground-breaking new composite panel product from Coillte Panel Products and Accsys Technologies, could meet demands for a desired service life of 60 years when used in exterior applications. Dr Suttie’s speech was preceded by Gerry Britchfield, managing director of Coillte Panel Products, who updated the audience on recent product developments and outlined future plans for Medite Tricoya®.
The UK Green Building Council, a ‘campaign for a sustainable built environment’ uniquely brings together those involved in the planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of buildings, along with NGOs, academic institutions and government agencies. As the number one source of “green” information, events and activities for the built environment, 2011 saw their greatest involvement to date with the biggest ever Ecobuild, and the UK-GBC turned to the timber trade and Coillte Panel Products to provide sustainable timber and wood products for their stand and seminar theatre.
Geoff Rhodes, Coillte Panel Product’s marketing and business development director was invited to participate in Kingston University’s ‘Talking Shop’ programme of informal events on Kingston’s stand at this year’s Ecobuild. These intimate short debates and workshops by academics and invited guests took place amid the organised chaos of the biggest Ecobuild event to date and explored the challenges of sustainability as they relate to design, the built environment and beyond.
Forming part of the “City of the Dead” exhibition at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin, the 12 metre long wall respectfully bears just some of the inscriptions, tributes and epitaphs found on the headstones from the graves of the 1.7 million people buried at Glasnevin.
Natural Scenics, a leading brand in scenic materials offering ‘realism in miniature’, has a new series of display plinths designed specifically to add even more realism to finished models, for collectors of aircraft, agricultural, buses, cars, civil engineering, model bikes, trucks and trains. These display plinths, created with the same skill and care as the models for which they are made, use FSC certified Medite Premier MDF as their core.
In December, the first delivery of Coillte Panel Products’ new FSC certified Medite Ultralite MDF in Ireland went to J P Corry in Belfast.
The latest output from the Medite2016 Forum - the unique ‘think tank’ of industry leaders and academics - is a forecast for 2011 and beyond.
Six bespoke transport crates have been made with Medite Ecologique MDF by one of Ireland’s leading conservation and restoration specialists, Conservation|Letterfrack, for the transportation and storage of six unique 17th century tapestries.
Earlier this year, Hard Rock International opened its new $223 million, 360-room Hard Rock Hotel Singapore, part of the $4.4 billion Resorts World Sentosa on Sentosa Island. The 49-hectare Resorts World Sentosa is Singapore's first integrated family resort destination, and the Hard Rock Hotel is one of the six unique destination hotels at Resorts World Sentosa.
The first delivery of Coillte Panel Products new FSC certified Medite Ultralite MDF arrived in the UK from Clonmel in Ireland this week. This shipment, to Creffields (Timber & Boards) Ltd. in Reading, is the first of many orders since the launch of Medite Ultralite last month. This shipment is one of the 150 weekly trailer loads which leave Medite’s state-of-the-art facility in Clonmel supplying the UK market with quality Irish product.
The Queen of the Netherlands, Queen Beatrix, is to open the new DeLaMar Theatre in Amsterdam on Sunday 28 November, marking the end of a very special project for Dutch bespoke interior and furniture maker De Luit Interieurbouw. Approximately 2,500 m2 of flame-retardant Medite FR MDF was incorporated in the acoustic ceiling and wall panels of the two theatre spaces now housed within the DeLaMar Theatre. This Dutch theatre project is a fine addition to the many concert halls, opera houses and radio and TV studios in England, Ireland, Denmark and France, which have specified Medite FR flame-retardant panels.
There is now an ultra-light MDF worthy of the Medite brand, and the Medite name on an ultra lightweight MDF panel is a fact not to be taken lightly. Following Coillte Panel Products’ €15m investment at its Clonmel site, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with responsibility for Forestry, Sean Connick TD and local TD Mattie McGrath visited the Medite plant in Clonmel this week for a preview of Medite’s latest MDF product into the European market, Medite Ultralite.
As part of an initiative to ensure the Brighton Centre remains up-to-date and competitive, a programme of essential maintenance and improvements to the look and feel of the conference and entertainment venue are underway, with Medite FR (flame retardant) MDF from Coillte Panel Products playing an integral part.
There is now an ultra-light MDF worthy of the Medite brand, and the Medite name on an ultra lightweight MDF panel is a fact not to be taken lightly.
Starbucks Disneyland Paris store is the company’s first in Europe to be built under a new global design strategy that elevates coffee heritage, reflects local character and reduces environmental impacts, and locally sourced FSC certified Medite Exterior MDF helped Starbucks meet its goals.
Coillte Panel Products - the panel products division of Coillte, the Irish forestry and forest products company - was one of three entries shortlisted for the highly competitive 2010 Excellence In Marketing award at the annual timber industry awards event. With an audience of over 360 industry leaders, the Timber Trades Journal 2010 Awards was held on 16th September at the Park Lane Hotel in London.
‘Vintage at Goodwood’, the annual music and fashion led celebration of creative British cool from the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s & 80s held in August, featured leading DJs, bands, collectors, purveyors of vintage clothing and vintage vinyl from each decade, as well as contemporary bands and brands inspired by Britain’s rich creative and cultural heritage.
The white threemast Tall Ship ‘Minerva’ is the flagship of the Netherlands-based À la Carte Cruises fleet, and one of the largest gaff schooners in the Netherlands. After undergoing extensive interior renovations prior to her fifth sailing season, the Minerva is the first ship to meet not only the requirements set by the Dutch Shipping Inspectorate but also conform to the new European legislation that took effect 1 July 2010: the new 98/18 certificate. The flame retardant Medite FR used in the renovations makes a considerable difference in terms of fire safety on board.
Designed by Capita Architecture, BBC Hoddinott Hall is the latest addition to the Wales Millennium Centre (WMC) in Cardiff Bay, and winner of a coveted Wood Award in 2009.
A fantastic array of new applications, specification and uses has been unlocked in the UK, Ireland and across Europe with the launch of Coillte Panel Products’ brand new range of thicker Medite MDF panels.
Medite Ecologique is a special MDF panel that appeals to the international museum world because it has a neutral impact. This is because this special MDF panel is made without the use of formaldehyde. The neutral impact of Medite Ecologique ensures that museum pieces can be exhibited safely and under optimal conditions. The Hermitage museum in Amsterdam is one of the recent reference projects in the Netherlands.
As part of the new interior specification of its store in Vallée Village in Marne-la-Vallée, France, Café Coton, the family brand specialising in top-of-the-range classic and sports shirts and accessories for men, chose Irish manufacturer Coillte Panel Products and their FSC-certified Medite FR flame-retardant MDF for their interior display shelving and furniture.
Last week, Accsys Technologies PLC ("Accsys") and Coillte Panel Products together unveiled the world's first Medite Tricoya® panel at the annual Ecobuild exhibition.
Following the recent completion of a successful industrial trial, Accsys Technologies PLC and Coillte Panel Products are delighted to unveil the world’s first Medite Tricoya® panel at Ecobuild 2010. This first trial panel marks one of the first true innovations in the wood composites industry in more than 30 years and potentially the beginning of the next generation of revolutionary wood based panel products for outdoor use.
Herten, the Netherlands – Coillte Panel Products has relocated the SmartPly office in Soest in the Netherlands to Medite’s office location in Herten, reflecting the close association between the two brands under Coillte Panel Products.
The Nationale Houtdag (Dutch National Wood Day) 2009, organised by the magazine Het Houtblad and held on 1st December, saw knowledge shared on forestry, wood, wood applications, engineering, maintenance and architectural design, and was focused on inspiring the audience of more than 300 architects, designers, engineers, and trade representatives. This year’s Dutch Wood Day was also a celebration of 100 years of the Association of Dutch Timber Companies, now the Royal VVNH.
Medite Exterior wood panels cover the facades of the new Relais Spa Val d’Europe in, the first environmentally friendly 4-star apartment hotel.
Medite - part of the panel products division of Coillte, the Irish forestry and forest products company - has long been at the forefront of ‘low formaldehyde’ innovation in Europe. Following a €15 million investment in new technology and equipment to improve MDF production facilities and refiner capabilities at its plant in Clonmel in Ireland, as well as meeting the E1 European standard, from January 2010 all Medite products will be tested and approved as being fully CARB 2 compliant; more than a year before the CARB 2 regulation becomes compulsory in the US.
In 2008, Coillte Panel Products donated SmartPly OSB and Medite MDF panels to South East Essex College of Arts and Technology in Southend, Essex, for the creation of a reusable exhibition gallery structure for the first ever design graduate show hosted by the College. Following on from last year’s inaugural show, the 2009 graduate show has proven another great success, and it was once again supported - literally - by Coillte’s panel products.
A new art work was commissioned by environmentally aware and innovative wood panel products manufacturer Coillte Panel Products. With a new office in Dartford, they wanted an art work which made a difference to both the space and the people who use it.
The forecast takes the form of a survey report and is essential reading at a time when most companies are looking at likely market demand for next year. The survey of the membership of the Medite2016 Forum sought their views on issues including prospects for 2010 and beyond, the nature of any recovery, the impact on the construction & timber industries and where the best market opportunities might be.
The new Civil Justice Centre in Manchester is the biggest court complex to be built in the UK since the Royal Courts of Justice in London in the 1870s, and fulfils its demanding brief to provide a sustainable building of civic generosity and European significance. Leader in specialist contracting, Mivan, was responsible for a c£8.5 million interiors contract for Bovis Lend Lease, and it was to Medite that Mivan turned to provide the high quality FSC certified MDF products specified.
Material specification for any project is important, but none more so than for use outside - exposed to the vagaries of the weather. Medite Exterior is a long-standing MDF solution for outdoor applications requiring panels, and one which HSP Garden Buildings Ltd. has been using for nearly 15 years.
Dickens World - part of the £62 million state-of-the-art visitor complex at Chatham - has been a great success since it opened its doors in 2007. The attraction, themed around the life, books and authentic times of the much loved author Charles Dickens, is at the heart of the regeneration of the Royal Naval Dockyards, now renamed Chatham Maritime.
The T1 Tower, designed by architects Valode & Pistre, is a remarkable office building; its silhouette, reminiscent of a yacht, is in perfect harmony with its counterparts in La Défense business district. The very first tower of La Défense’s ‘sustainable generation’, the T1 Tower’s interior resembles a ship’s mast and the two catering levels have been constructed using over 1,000 m2 of Medite FR flame-retardant MDF.
11th June 2009 – Today at the Irish Embassy in London, Titan Wood (part of Accsys Technologies PLC) and leading MDF manufacturer Medite Europe Ltd. (part of Coillte Panel Products, a division of Coillte) met the Irish Ambassador His Excellency Bobby McDonagh and Mary Coughlan, Tánaiste and Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to sign a joint development agreement which will push the boundaries of wood product innovation.
Accsys Technologies PLC (“Accsys” or “the Company”) today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Titan Wood Limited (“Titan Wood”), and Medite Europe Limited (“Medite”) have signed a joint development agreement to commercialise an economically viable, non-toxic, and stable medium density fibreboard (“MDF”) panel made from Tricoya® wood elements (“Licensed Products”).
Coillte Panel Products’ ongoing major programme of investment and development at its leading MDF brand Medite recently attracted the attention of the long established British Laminate Fabricators Association.
Geoff Rhodes, Marketing & Business Development Director of Coillte Panel Products, has been interviewed recently by international trade press and has pointed to key MDF developments in Europe and beyond.
Medite Ecologique MDF was an essential part of the interior specification for the first brand-new Marks & Spencer ‘green’ store, located at Silverburn Retail Park, on the outskirts of Glasgow.
Formaldehyde, a component in the raw material of the resins used to bind wood fibres by wood based composites industry, has long been subject to debate. With continued and growing interest in ‘healthy buildings’, product emissions and indoor air quality, this is now a major live issue for panel products in Europe, the USA and Japan, all of which have developed their own standards in response.
Coillte Panel Products’ ongoing major programme of investment has led to market leading developments at Medite, and the launch of a new product range of thicker Medite MDF panels.
In January, the Copenhagen Concert Hall (KonsertHuset), designed by leading French architect Jean Nouvel, opened its doors. In this masterpiece of architecture and acoustics, Medite FR, a flame retardant fibreboard, plays a dual role, with the specialist medium density fibreboard (MDF) forming an essential part of the three underground recording studios and adjacent control room in terms of both fire safety and room acoustics.
As part of a continued programme of engagement with the designers of tomorrow, Coillte Panel Products - the Irish forestry company’s forest products division based in Dartford - has been working with South East Essex College to set their BA (Hons) Interior Design students their first live project challenge of the year.
Over 25 years, and marking the anniversary of the first production of Medite MDF in Europe, Medite announced in September 2008 that they had produced and sold 6,000,000m3 of Medite MDF. With so many different end uses, Medite MDF panels have found their way all over the world and into some very unusual places, so to celebrate the anniversary, Medite created a limited run of specially branded commemorative hand samples and asked their clients, customers and associates to photograph their branded sample in the most unusual, unexpected or amusing location possible.
Medite Premier, part of Medite Europe’s extensive range of high quality MDF, has played a key role in the provision of self-contained, “pod” style meeting rooms at the offices of leading international legal practice Norton Rose. Their new London headquarters, housed at the 13 acre award-winning business estate, More London, recently won British Council for Offices (BCO) regional and national 2008 awards for Fit Out of Workplace.
Over 25 years, and marking the anniversary of the first production of Medite MDF in Europe, Medite announced in September 2008 that they had produced and sold 6,000,000m3 of Medite MDF.
In 2008, leading accountants and business advisors BDO Stoy Hayward made a significant move; relocating all London employees (previously based in a number of locations) to one office at 55 Baker Street. Specialist interior design division, Bennett Interior Design, was commissioned to deliver a design concept that reflected the values held by BDO Stoy Hayward, helping to assure its position as a leader in its professional field.
In 2006, to celebrate its 30th anniversary in Europe, Medite - Europe's leading brand of MDF - launched a 'future-gazing' project called ‘Medite 2016’, looking at how the industry will develop and change by 2016. This initiative takes a hard look into the future of wood products through a wide range of independent professionals from a cross section of industries - from government ministers to artists and designers - and this November a conference designed to address the UK government’s 2016 deadline for zero carbon homes, was held for over 140 leading industry delegates at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
At this year’s Medite 2016 Wood Futures – Countdown to Zero conference, BRE’s Director of Materials, Paul Gibbon was delighted to present Joe Kennedy, Managing Director of Medite Europe Ltd, and part of Coillte, with their Environmental Profile Certificate.
Architect/designers Catherine LeTéo and Thierry Blet celebrated the opening of Galerie LeTéo&Blet on 25 September at 5 rue Casimir Delavigne in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. Entirely constructed with environmentally-friendly and flame-retardant Medite FR wood panels, the gallery features their new jewellery collections displayed on furniture made with the same material.
At the moment, a bright orange bus, driven by Bento Mol, is leading a convoy of vehicles that are heading towards Beijing to encourage the sportsmen and women there and to support the charity Right to Play. Before the journey started, the bus was given a special ‘vehicle makeover’ in the 8th edition of the popular Veronica TV programme ‘De Grote Beurt’ [The Big Event]. Coillte Panel Products sponsored the charity by providing Medite MDF and Smartply OSB panelling.
Since its launch in 2002, entries into the Wood Awards have used all types of wood products, from sumptuous hardwood paneling and awe inspiring softwood structures, to a vast range of engineered wood panel products fundamental to many timber oriented projects. In acknowledgement of this last group of wood products, this year the organiser of the UK’s premier awards for the use of wood in buildings and furniture, Michael Buckley, recommended the introduction of a new Special Award, “Best Use of Wood Panel Products” in recognition of the increasing importance of materials such as MDF, OSB, plywood and particle board; the unsung heroes of today’s sustainability conscious design and construction sectors.
The new Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar is a truly inspirational project. The exceptional quality of the building - designed by world-renowned Sino-American architect IM Pei -location and positioning of the new Museum will make it a catalyst for the development of Doha as a cultural and educational centre of excellence in the Middle East when it opens in November this year.
A ‘building within a building’ was the idea behind the oval reception unit in new regional Aventus training centre (ROC) in the Netherlands.
Second year BA (hons) Product and Furniture Design students at Kingston University had a real challenge this term. The leaders of Kingston’s fast expanding and unique course worked with Coillte Panel Products – the Irish Forestry Boards’ manufacturing division, producing Medite MDF and SmartPly oriented strand board – to develop a relevant and challenging project for the 40 students, so with design, planning and construction of the London 2012 Olympic Games already well underway, it was the ideal arena for the students to compete in.
South East Essex College’s School of Art and Design needed a cool and contemporary modular exhibition base for the work of nearly 50 students graduating with BA (Hons) degrees in Digital Animation, Fashion Design, Fine Art, Graphic Design and Interior Design. Coillte Panel Products has a long record of working with students and colleges across the UK - from Newcastle to Kingston-Upon-Thames - and their premium MDF and OSB products by Medite and SmartPly provided exactly what was required.
Gold medal winner at Chelsea Flower Show with Medite Exterior
Barry Mayled, a medal winner on four previous occasions at Chelsea, two of which featured FSC certified Medite Exterior - an MDF panel developed specifically for use in most external applications, has this year created an attractive and functional rooftop garden which can also be enjoyed after dark, with particular appeal to amateur astronomers. “The Sky at Night” garden comes complete with sliding roof and powerful optical telescope, 'galaxies' of flower beds, rocket-shaped conifers and twinkling stars created by thousands of pounds worth of computer-controlled lighting set into a plant-covered wall.
In a programme of ongoing investment and continued commitment to quality and excellence, Medite Europe Ltd. will install two new complete EVO 56 Defibrator systems this year.
MEDITE FR, flame-retardant MDF proved to be the perfect solution when it came to cladding the walls of Dubai International Airport.
Medite FR flame-retardant MDF Euro Class B panels have been extensively used for wall panelling and ceilings in one of Paris’s most prestigious office developments, one of the first in France to be awarded High Energy Quality certification.
Medite, Europe's leading brand of MDF, has announced a 'futures' project looking at how the industry will develop and change by 2016. The Medite 2016 Forum is being launched at a gathering of European timber, construction and furniture industry leaders, at the Design Museum, in London.