Irish engineered wood panel manufacturer MEDITE SMARTPLY has announced a €75m investment programme at its Clonmel facility to support the next phase of MDF manufacturing operations, as the company marks 50 years of the MEDITE brand. The investment has direct relevance for construction and interiors supply chains across Ireland, the UK and Europe, where the Clonmel site serves as a primary MDF source.

Furniture News reported that the programme centres on the replacement and renewal of the production facility's existing biomass boiler system, alongside upgrades to fuel handling, dryer systems and associated infrastructure central to the site's manufacturing operations.

The Clonmel facility operates around the clock, producing approximately 400,000 cubic metres of MDF products annually. The biomass boiler system generates the thermal energy required to dry wood fibre during panel production, making it a critical component of continuous production line performance.

Neil Foot, CEO of MEDITE SMARTPLY, said: "MEDITE has been a long-standing part of the Clonmel community, and this investment, the largest current investment in MDF production in Western Europe, reflects our intention to continue manufacturing here long into the future. This is a significant commitment not only to the site itself, but to the skilled workforce, supply chain and wider regional economy connected to the factory. It ensures the facility remains competitive, reliable and capable of supporting future market demand."

Foot added: "By renewing critical infrastructure across the site, we are strengthening process control, supporting consistent product quality and investing in the long-term reliability of one of Europe's leading MDF manufacturing operations. As we mark 50 years of MEDITE, this project demonstrates our long-term confidence in the business, our people and the markets we serve."

The project will see leading European technology suppliers Dieffenbacher and Sunds Fibertech provide the core systems for energy generation, fuel handling and fibre drying operations.

The programme has secured planning consent through Ireland's Strategic Infrastructure Development process and includes measures covering environmental protection, waste management, water supply and ecological monitoring.

A significant element of the investment is the full elimination of natural gas usage at the site, with the facility transitioning entirely to renewable biomass as its primary heat source. The change is expected to materially reduce fossil fuel-related CO2 emissions and advance MEDITE SMARTPLY's Scope 1 carbon reduction commitments.

Access the full details of MEDITE SMARTPLY's €75m Clonmel investment programme.