SAM Mouldings adds the FSC to list of credits 2003

Antrim-based SAM Mouldings has achieved FSC certification in an 'almost seamless process', according to Alasdair McGregor, who carried out the assessment for BM TRADA Certification Ltd.

The company, founded 12 years ago by Managing Director Sam McCrea and his wife Julienne, Director of Business Excellence, is the market leader in medium density fibreboard (MDF) mouldings in the UK and Ireland.

'Targeting FSC certification was to some extent customer led, with enquiries from key accounts in the UK,' said Mr McCrea. The company had already carried out its own market research however and was aware that more people were looking for chain of custody certification. 'And in reality we were already sourcing only FSC-certified material but had not taken the final step ourselves.'

The company last year upgraded its quality management system to ISO 9001:2000 with BM TRADA, whom they invited to work with its management team to introduce FSC. 'Very little change was required in operating procedures to integrate a chain of custody process,' said Alasdair McGregor. 'The two systems dovetail perfectly and the annual audit will be able to be carried out at the same time, a benefit that appeals to SAM in its drive for ever greater efficiency.'

'Achieving FSC is also an important part of the company's environmental strategy', said Julienne McCrea. 'We believe it is important to preserve the world's forests through good forestry practice. FSC certification means that we can be seen to be demonstrating our responsibility.'