New timber treatment plant launched in west Cavan

Woodford Timber Products last week launched a new wood treatment plant and product range known as Super Post and the Super Post range.

The former is the standard rounded agricultural fencing post seen throughout most farms; while the latter comprises square rails for the equine industry and for the motorway industry also.

The launch comes against a backdrop of the ban in the sale of creosote treated products, which came into effect on April 30 last year. This meant that timber product manufacturers had to find a new sustainable product with the same functions.

Located in Skellan near Ballyconnell, Woodford Timber Products employs between 40 and 45 people. It has sourced a solution in Tanasote copper oil and is home to the first treatment plant of its kind in all of Ireland.

Minister Heather Humphreys cut the ribbon on the new initiative last Wednesday (November 20) with customers, suppliers, staff members, local political figures and some who installed the plant in attendance.

Mark Richardson works in the family business as the sales manager and explained the benefits of Tanasote copper oil.

“It has been proven now that it is the new alternative to creosote,” he explained. “It’s giving us very similar values in terms of longevity.”

“We saw an opportunity and a niche to exploring it further and investing into a new treatment facility plant.”

Products have been on the market for the past 12 weeks and feedback so far has been “very very positive”.

“Farmers out there now and contractors, they want a product that they can rely on,” Mark said.

The raw material is “all imported kiln dried pine”, which is then submerged in “this hot copper oil vessel” and is pressurised. The products’ initial “very bright emerald green colour” has raised questions from customers. However Mark assured that over time it will mellow into a golden, honey-brown colour. The product comes with a 25-year warranty.

He says it “stacks up very well" against alternatives and will appeal to contractors and farmers.

“They want a new product, a new solution, that’s going to last, give them longevity and some peace of mind that when they put this in the ground that it's going to be there for a considerable amount of time.

“The general feedback was positive and people were happy to hear of this new product coming on board.”