Coillte remains bullish on timber frame

Coillte believes a market for luxury modular timber frame homes still exists in Ireland despite its exit from a joint venture with Austrian company GriffnerHaus. The state-owned Irish forestry company sold its stake in Griffner Coillte to its joint partner, which is to abandon manufacturing in Ireland. A spokesman said 32 people would be made redundant and the site in Mullingar, which opened in 2003 with the promise of 250 jobs, was in line to be vacated. A handful of staff would remain in Ireland in sales and support roles, but all manufacturing would move to Austria. Coillte owned 70% of the company and the sale now gives GriffnerHaus full ownership. No details of the financial deal were disclosed. Coillte said the sale had been part of a review of operations that had already resulted in the sale of other businesses. “This is a non-core activity and the volumes have not been there to justify that kind of commitment,said a Coillte spokesperson. “We still feel there is a market for high quality, top spec timber frame homes, and they are selling, but the volumes are insufficient.” GriffnerHaus spokesman Thomas Schmid said: “GriffnerHaus is committed to the Irish market and to serving current and new customers.”