New Member: Universal Graphics Ltd Joins the IWIN Network! For 25 years, Universal Graphics Ltd. has been Ireland’s leading branding solutions provider, known for their exceptional vehicle graphics and signage. Now, they’re making a bold leap into a new frontier: interior branding solutions - and we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome them to the IWIN network! This exciting move brings their expertise in creating memorable visual experiences into the world of commercial interior fitouts, allowing businesses to transform ordinary office spaces into environments that inspire teams, impress clients, and embody brand culture. A visit to UG’s offices and a chat with their design team leader Eunan McEntee quickly shows how they can transform any workspace with their print graphic and lighting solutions. Barry Murray , CEO of Universal Graphics, puts it best: "We’re taking everything we know about branding and applying it to workspaces. From complete office fit-outs to custom branding elements, our mission is to create environments where teams want to work and businesses want to thrive." Universal Graphics handles everything, from initial design to installation, ensuring a seamless experience for businesses looking to elevate their spaces. And with their proven track record of working with some of Ireland’s most prestigious brands, we’re confident they’ll bring the same creativity and innovation to the world of interior design. At IWIN, we see huge potential for collaboration between UG and our commercial fitout members, and we’re excited about the dynamic solutions this will bring to the market.

I had a very interesting visit to one of our IWIN members, P&L Group , in Trim, Co. Meath, where I met with directors Gerard Lee and Tom Potterton . What stood out during the tour was their impressive joinery facility, which allows them to maintain "in-house" control over their fitout projects and enables them to take on even the most complex custom joinery elements. But what truly sets them apart is their ability to handle large-scale, complex projects. With a client list that includes many of Ireland's top 20 construction companies, P&L Carpentry Group has worked on landmark projects like Leinster House. They also successfully work directly with the client alongside main contractors, helping streamline project delivery. Their team of over fifty people ensures that each project is managed and delivered on time and within budget. They’ve also made some smart investments recently, such as a 5-axis CNC machine to enhance their joinery capabilities, and they utilize a custom-built mobile app on-site to provide real-time updates to clients and contractors—keeping everyone in the loop. Their progressive approach is further demonstrated by their adoption of an ERP system (Crow’s Nest) for resource management. With over 20 years of experience, strong relationships with subcontractor partners like Essexford Joinery and Turin Components , and a growing list of international projects, P&L Carpentry Group is definitely a company on the rise.

Attention IWIN members. If you are interested in adopting robotics and automation technologies into your manufacturing process IWIN have teamed up with FANUC Ireland, Adelphi Automation Ltd and Clerkin Consulting to bring our members to a showcase event on Oct 29th 10am to 12:30pm at Fanuc Headquarters in Maynooth. The event is free to attend by simply registering your interest via the link below. If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact me. https://ireland.fanuc.eu/ Th i s event will showcase Automation case studies and opportunities right across the building products manufacturing industry, including Wood/Timber and Architectural Joinery. Live demonstrations of Fanuc's leading Robotic products will be shown on the day, along with the opportunity to network and learn with your industry peers who are similarly passionate about driving sustainable productivity in their organisation.

Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting MEDITE SMARTPLY in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, and meeting with some of the team there, including Rory Rice , Liam Ryan and David Murray . I also had the opportunity to tour their impressive plant where I got to see first-hand the scale and complexity of their MDF production. Medite is a major player in the MDF and OSB market supplying Ireland, UK, Benelux Countries and the US. They employ over 300 skilled technicians who keep their highly sophisticated machinery running smoothly across both plants in Clonmel and Waterford. What really sets them apart is their commitment to innovation and sustainability. As part of the Coillte Group, they source their raw materials from sustainably managed forests in Ireland and by converting timber into MDF, they help store carbon in building projects for generations. One of Medite’s standout products is Medite Tricoya Extreme, an outdoor MDF guaranteed to last 50 years. It combines durability with machinability, offering huge potential for various applications. Medite is also leading the way in preparing for the formaldehyde regulations coming into effect in 2026, investing in cutting-edge CARB2-compliant technology and expertise to ensure their products meet the highest standards. With a flexible and fast supply chain, Medite has positioned itself as a reliable partner for many of our IWIN members, delivering high-quality products quickly and efficiently.

I had an eye-opening visit to Coillte Nursery in Ballintemple. Listening to the energetic and passionate Ronan O'Keeffe on a tour around the beautiful Carlow countryside, it is hard not to come to the conclusion that the future of construction lies in timber. With 400 acres dedicated to germinating and processing 30 million trees annually for the Irish Forestry Industry, we have a sustainable resource to meet our construction and joinery needs for generations. The end product is suitable for a wide variety of timber frame construction. Also domestic companies like MEDITE SMARTPLY transform this plentiful supply of home grown raw material into high performing versatile building material such as high quality MDF, Tricoya and OSB. Through innovative cross-pollination methods, the nursery team has significantly improved tree quality, resulting in faster-growing, denser, and straighter trees with fewer irregularities. A more carbon-hungry tree that will effectively sequester carbon for generations is the result. Interestingly, one of the techniques in use at the nursery is called "grafting" which involves wrapping a sapling in a branch of a mature tree to trick it into producing seed in less than a year as opposed to 20 years in a natural environment. This radically reduces the amount of time it takes to evolve more effective variants. The forestry industry's impact on sustainability goals and net-zero targets is significant. Embracing timber as a primary construction material can play a crucial role in achieving a more sustainable future.