ECC welcomes Irish forestry minister to mill

Mr Hayes was given a tour of the plant by managing director PJ Fahy and Aurivo co-op, which founded the plant together in 1992. Since then ECC has invested more than €35m in the mill.

When Irish demand collapsed during the global recession, ECC expanded its UK export business and established its second UK office in Hadleigh, Suffolk, managed by head of sales Martin Oxley. This year the UK team was expanded with the appointment of David Reubins.

Now exports to the UK account for more than 80% of the company’s output, the equivalent of 25 artic deliveries a day.

In 2011 ECC invested €6m in an added-value planing and fencing line and there are plans for further major capital projects, including expanding kiln-drying capacity and upgrading the green saw line.

Mr Hayes complimented the company on its success story and held it as an example of the type of success possible among rural domestic manufacturing companies. He paid tribute to ECC’s management and staff for their positivity over the past seven years.

He also acknowledged Coillte, whose CEO Gerry Britchfield was also present as ECC’s main raw material supplier.