Upgrade completed on MEDITE SMARTPLY’s OSB manufacturing facility

After over a year of transformative investment, the upgrade of MEDITE SMARTPLY’s OSB factory in County Waterford has been completed. This new world class drying, energy and screening system will enhance resource efficiency and asset reliability for SMARTPLY OSB. The crucial upgrade means that SMARTPLY OSB will have an improved output, at a time when demand is high, and is predicted to grow further throughout 2022. Since 2016, MEDITE SMARTPLY has been focusing on investment and product innovation. An initial investment of ¤59 million was made to the SMARTPLY facility which saw the creation of new forming and finishing lines with a new state-of the art continuous press. This was the beginning of the next generation of SMARTPLY OSB, the panels were smoother, flatter and underpinned by the brands strong environmental ethos. ¤44 million was invested for this latest significant upgrade to the drying, energy and screening facility. The completion of the upgrade is a very exciting stage of development for SMARTPLY OSB. The construction of the biomass energy plant ensures that SMARTPLY will operate on 100% renewable biomass material for process drying and heating. The completed upgrade follows the successful launch of SMARTPLY SURE STEP, a T&G structural OSB/3 panel with improved slip resistance and durability. This joins a range of sustainably produced speciality and technical products, from moisture resistance to flame retardance, demonstrating MEDITE SMARTPLY’s consistent innovation and contribution to the future of sustainable building. SMARTPLY products are made from sustainable, fast-growing timber, only using forest thinnings of new-growth pine and spruce, including the tops which are not used to make any other woodbased product. OSB panels are manufactured by compressing precisely engineered strands of woods with exterior resins at high temperature to create an outstandingly robust, and environmentally friendly structural panel suitable for numerous applications such as roofing, flooring, and timber frame construction. For more information on MEDITE SMARTPLY, visit: mdfosb.com

SMARTPLY SURE STEP, a T&G structural OSB/3 panel.

VARO OFFERS NEW RANGE OF HAND TOOLS, GARDEN TOOLS AND ACCESSORIES

Summer is approaching and Kreator, a Varo product line, is here to help your customers get their homes summer ready. Kreator’s broad range covers quality hand tools, garden tools and useful power tool accessories. The Kreator brand offers a large number of all-round hand tools, spanning many categories such as cutting, measuring, screwdrivers, pliers, saws, levels, and many more. “Kreator encompasses all the best-selling and sought-after equipment for DIYing as well as an extended assortment of more specialised hand tools for professionals,” says Jeroen Nys, CEO of Varo. Kreator also carries garden tools as well as sprinklers and garden shears. In fact, anything for watering your garden, trimming, pruning, planting or sawing. Accessories for power tools are also a key part of the Kreator product line: from drill bits, brushes, staples, nails and sanding paper to grinding discs, milling cutters and saw blades. Kreator accessories are perfectly compatible with the most commonly used brands. Kreator now offers a series of items for moving and storage such as transport carts, trestles, workbenches, and tool cabinets as well as lasers and safety products including eye protection, hearing protection, dust masks, and more. Kreator stands for quality material that’s essential to both professionals and hobbyists. So, no more excuses. Time to finish that summer checklist!

For further information, please contact Les Ashley, les.ashley@varo.com or directly on 087 440 8077,

www.varo.com