TIMBER
MEDITE SMARTPLY ENTERS NEW CUSTOMS PARTNERSHIP
Irish sustainable wood panel manufacturer develops partnership with Europe’s leading customs clearance experts to process more than 10,000 declarations a year.
S
eamless customs clearance operations are on the cards for Medite SmartPly, the subsidiary of Ireland’s state-owned forestry company Coillte, thanks to a new partnership with Customs Support Group Ireland. Medite SmartPly produces sustainable MDF and OSB panels from its manufacturing hubs in Clonmel and Waterford, close to Ireland’s major ports.
CSG has utilised its advanced AI capabilities to create an interface which integrates Medite SmartPly’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) system with its customs system. This blend of automation and human oversight extracts daily shipping data from logistics providers and inputs it into the ERP system, before CSG’s Customs EDI system creates, checks and validates declarations before submission.
The system also facilitates automated communication with hauliers, allowing Medite SmartPly to maintain its high-speed supply chain. Jerry Anglim, supply chain business development director at Medite SmartPly, said: “Partnering with CSG allows us to deliver products seamlessly and confidently, knowing
every customs procedure is handled professionally. “Medite SmartPly’s logistics model is built on precision, with tight schedules for truck arrivals around port access windows. Any delay in customs clearance presents a significant risk to our operation.
“The rapid turnaround offered by CSG has become a cornerstone of Medite SmartPly’s decision to partner with them.” Charlie Dawson, business development manager at Customs Support Group Ireland, said: “Businesses looking to improve their customs landscape need to understand that speed alone isn’t enough.
“It’s not just about being fast, but also about
FALLING TIMBER PRICES MASK MOUNTING PRESSURES
U
K timber prices have fallen by around 5% in recent months, driven by improved sawmill supply and stabilised imports. While housebuilders welcome the easing in costs, the first decline in two years, Think Timber is warning that this headline reduction masks growing financial pressure on specialist timber manufacturers, in particular staircase manufacturers.
Staircase manufacturing remains labour- intensive and highly regulated. Rising wages, energy costs, and compliance requirements mean gross profit on some staircases can be as low as £25, with net margins even tighter. A growing number of manufacturers have already been forced to close, increasing pressure on remaining suppliers and raising the risk of longer lead times and inconsistent quality.
“Lower timber prices are positive, but they don’t reflect the full cost of manufacturing specialist products like staircases,” says Gavin Brown, CEO of Think Timber. “Labour, compliance, and precision engineering costs have all risen, yet expectations around maintaining/ lowering pricing continue to move in the opposite direction. This puts quality and safety at risk.”
February 2026
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
Think Timber is urging the industry to look beyond short-term savings. The demand placed on staircase manufacturers is not currently aligned with industry needs, creating business pressures that risk undermining both quality and long-term value.
Engineered timber, for example, is largely absent from standard specifications despite offering opportunities for waste reduction, design innovation and long-term cost efficiency. High-quality materials not only ensure staircases are durable, safe and compliant but they also deliver better value over traditional, lower-spec timber. Think Timber warns that if the industry continues to push for lower prices without fully understanding the implications, production, quality and safety will come under strain. The business is calling for clearer, early-stage specifications on housing projects to allow manufacturers to plan effectively, reduce waste and deliver safer staircases. Proper investment in quality materials benefits builders, home owners and the wider sector. BMJ
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being razor-sharp on regulations. Right now, we’re navigating a minefield of shifting rules, suspended checks and evolving standards. ICS2 Release 3 is live, CBAM reforms are underway, and UKIMS still has grey areas around at-risk goods.”
“Add to that the EU’s steel tariff hikes, the US trade deal implications and possible delays with the EU Digital Regulation (EUDR), and it’s a lot to stay ahead of – and that’s just on the regulatory side,” added Jocelyn Burke, compliance manager at Customs Support Group Ireland. “Trading conditions are equally volatile, as labour shortages, ESG pressures and the ongoing housing crisis are all squeezing supply chains. My job is to ensure that every declaration we touch is not only fast but future-proof. That’s what makes our partnership with Medite SmartPly work – we’re not just reacting, we’re anticipating.” CSG has more than 120 offices in 14 European countries, 1,700-plus customs professionals and a pan-European digital platform, offering customs processing across the EU, United Kingdom, Switzerland and Norway. BMJ
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