Irish wood processors and timber frame manufacturers may be targeting the UK market, but the traffic isn’t all one way. A number of UK operations have been enticed over the Irish Sea, not just with cargoes of product, but also with manufacturing facilities. Donaldson Timber Engineering decided to enter the Irish market around a year ago and, in March this year, opened a purpose-built 20,000ft2 plant in Mountmellick, Co Laois, next to the main M7 north/south access route.
Since then Donaldson Ireland has delivered products from Donegal to Cork for projects as varied as 900-house developments to single garage roofs. Projected sales targets have been exceeded by 30%.
Donaldson Ireland now claims the most modern truss plant in the ROI and has invested in the latest computerised equipment and specialised handling gear for really heavy trusses. Manufacturing capacity is 2,500 trusses per week and all are made to IS 193 standards. This capacity and quality – and short lead times, often under two weeks – have helped Donaldsons penetrate the busy residential building market in Ireland, particularly the timber frame sector which provides the bulk of its strong customer base. Current customers include MBC Cahir, Cygnum Cork, Scotframe Hillsborough, Lenister Modern Living and Quality Timber Frame Newry – and more partnerships are being forged.
General manager Brendan Flanagan believes that several additional factors in the company’s approach have been well received in Ireland. “As dedicated roof truss manufacturers we can focus purely on supplying our customers’ needs and people like that. Many other truss manufacturers are also involved in timber frame manufacture. We are not.”
From spring next year Donaldson Ireland will extend its portfolio to include supplying Finnjoist I-joists and engineered floor products. In anticipation of this the company has already established a specialist cutting line in the factory.
Gang-Nail Systems Ltd, part of building and software development group Eleco plc, has also made inroads into the Irish market since its open web floor joist system Ecojoist secured Irish Agrément Board (IAB) accreditation. The accreditation makes Ecojoist the first open web floor joist system to be approved in this way for use in Ireland and ensures the product is now recognised by Homebond, the ROI equivalent of the NHBC. These “stamps” of approval give it an edge, according to managing director Ian Ashby.
“We have a strong influence in the Irish market as far as roof trusses are concerned,” he said, “but thus far I-beams or engineered floors haven’t really taken off in the Irish market. Now they’re starting to and IAB accreditation gives us a huge advantage.”
He described existing Gang-Nail customers Boyne Roof Trusses and Cork Roof Trusses as “champing at the bit” to take Ecojoist on board and said numerous sites had already been secured.
Tangible benefits
Paul Kenny, managing director of Boyne Roof Trusses, said he didn’t have to think twice about recommending Ecojoists to his clients: “Progressive builders can see the tangible benefits which readily convert into real cost savings,” he said.
Fellow licensee Brian Humphries, managing director of Cork Roof Trusses, has been similarly swayed. “The use of Ecojoist can reduce expensive call backs during the maintenance period,” he said. “The end result is greater efficiency.”
UK timber engineering connector company Cullen Building Products has also been conducting business in the ROI for several years and has a substantial customer base. It too has made its presence more permanent by moving into Kells, Co Meath.
Ideally situated to service Northern Ireland and the Republic, the facility opened on October 1 this year. However, the current building is only an interim measure and is scheduled to be replaced next summer by a new, purpose-built 10,000ft2 depot.
“With the increase in demand for our products, further fuelled by the general growth in timber engineering throughout Ireland, it made sense for us to open up here,” said Cullen’s managing director Doug Cullen.
“This was the only way we could continue to ensure that we were close to our Irish customers and provide them with the service they deserve.”
To demonstrate its commitment to the Irish market, the company has initiated a new product development programme specifically to meet National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) regulations.
The first innovation resulting from the programme is the ST-PFS-50 which can resist uplift forces of 3.0kN. The product has been approved by the NSAI and exceeds Homebond specification.
