Based in Dromore, Co. Tyrone, Kenwell Engineering Ltd is a leading supplier and erector of agricultural, industrial and commercial buildings. Although a relatively new company, the family-run business has vast experience and expertise in delivering steel work and cladding for large-scale projects.
While Kenwell Engineering Ltd has only been trading since 2014, the Kenwell name has been synonymous with the steel work sector for four generations. Charles Kenwell had over 40 years’ experience in supplying quality steel framed buildings and cladding before joining forces with his son Gareth in the new venture. The company, which also has Clive Davis as a director, has grown to employ 17 staff comprising steel erectors, welders, fabricators, office and yard personnel.
“Our team is made up of skilled local people that have many years of experience in the agricultural, industrial, commercial and quarry plant industries. With this experience, we have been able to diversify and undertake projects such as trailer chassis fabrication, conveyor manufacture, stairs, platforms, walkways and so on. We have many strings to our bow now,” Gareth explains.
“Business is going well and this has enabled us to increase our workforce from eight to seventeen in the last two years. We are focused on the development of a range of commercial equipment, together with the supply and fitting of structural steel for agricultural and industrial purposes, which continues to be our core business. We also offer design consultancy services.”
Dedicated to delivering quality products on time and on budget, Kenwell Engineering has achieved CE marking for structural steel up to Execution Class 2, which covers the fabrication of most of the structural steel used in Ireland and the UK. This accolade followed a significant program of investment in a factory production control system that covered stock management, skilled personnel, fabrication equipment and consumables along with the implementation of a regime of continuous inspection and testing of welding and painting procedures.
The company has also achieved 1SO9001, 14001 and 18001 accreditation which solidified its dedication to quality, environmental impact as well as health and safety. Kenwell Engineering ensures that its pricing is competitive, working to the highest quality standard and delivering the project to the agreed milestones. Discretion and confidentiality for the client is always assured.
There are four main divisions within Kenwell Engineering, namely Industrial & Commercial Steel Structures, Own Products, Sub-Contracting and Kenwell Agri. For over a decade, the contractor has been delivering steel work and cladding for large-scale industrial projects, including gantry rails, shops, churches, schools, quarry stores, office, manufacturing and warehousing facilities.
One of the company’s best-known innovative products is a K100 Static screener which is used for screening top soil, compost, pea gravel and wood chip. The Sub-Contracting division supplies and supports the crushing, screening, washing, oil, gas and agricultural industries.
Kenwell Agri covers projects from re-cladding to large-scale dairy and poultry buildings. This division was officially launched at the Spring Farm Machinery Show in Fintona, Co. Tyrone last January and accounts for about 40 per cent of Kenwell Engineering’s overall business. Farm products such as feeding and dividing gates are also supplied by the company. The customer can ensure they can be well catered for.
Kenwell Engineering is a one-stop shop for all your farm building needs. From its state-of-the-art production facility in Dromore, which was officially opened by the then Northern Ireland Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Jonathan Bell in 2015, the contractor supplies everything from steel and cladding to guttering and agricultural products. It designs, plans and builds from the ground up and is synonymous with sheds that are well designed and built to last. The design team is led by experienced chartered engineers who can tailor to each client’s requirements.
Mr Kenwell says: “We supply and fit all types of farm buildings, including milking parlours, beef units, slatted sheds and grain stores. We look after every stage of the build except for digging out the foundations. We have found over the years that most of our customers prefer to look after this aspect themselves. We have our own steel erection squads who are insured for up to 15m above ground level. All design and 3D drawings are done in-house.”
The production facility consists of a 200m² cutting shop, a 550m² weld shop, a 300m² shot blasting department, a 550m² paint shop, a 400m² assembly shop, office, canteen, storage block as well as a three-acre storage yard. Opening hours are from 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday-Thursday and from 8.30am to 3pm on Fridays.
Among the industrial / commercial projects Kenwell Engineering have completed include The Ecos Centre in Ballymena, the Tropic Ravine Botanic Gardens in Belfast, Broadbridge Primary School Sports Hall in Eglinton, Home Bargains in Derry / Londonderry, Campsie Veterinary Centre Omagh, Tesco in Peterborough, South Eastern Regional College in Bangor, a large warehouse in Mallusk and Beatty Fuels bagging plant in Ballinamallard.
Gareth concludes by saying: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank our clients for their custom, and Invest Northern Ireland for their support and guidance which has been vital in enabling us to bring the business to where it is today.”
Kenwell Engineering Ltd
Straduff Quarry,
94 Drumlish Road,
Dromore,
Co. Tyrone,
BT78 3BT
Telephone: 028 8289 8689
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.kenwellengineering.com
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 5 No 7, October/November 2017
