Donegal based Fabri-Clad Engineering Ltd has many years’ experienced in being a cladding and sheeting supplier to the industrial and agricultural market.
Since being first established in 1986 under its former name WDL, the company has experienced many changes over the years, but one thing that has remained the same is their dedication to customer satisfaction.
As the years have rolled by, the business has evolved from being a steel stock holder and delivery service to its core now which is manufacturing in house, single skin sheeting in a range of finishes and profiles which are roll formed and cut to length as required.
They also roll form galvanised multibeam purlins in house, to required lengths complete with fixing holes, while another service includes folding flashings and trims to order, also gutters both insulated and single skin up too 8.0 meters in length.
As agents for insulated cladding, and all aspects of cladding and roofing materials, Fabri-Clad is a one-stop shop for all your cladding needs.
Servicing Donegal as well as the north-west of Ireland, their customer base has grown considerably over the years and their reputation for providing quality products precedes them.
Managing Director Michael Roulston has been involved in the business for many years and in 2013, he took sole ownership of the company. Through continuing the business ethos of producing quality products and offering an excellent customer service and adding his own innovative ideas, Michael and his experienced team have managed to bring the company forward in the last few years.
“This has always been a very progressive company and investing in the business was something that there was always a great emphasis placed on and that is an area that I have continued to focus on since taking over,” said Michael.
“In 2007, we bought 2 roll forming machines for producing cladding and galvanized purlins. We also purchased a long bed folder that can fold flashings up to 8.0m. We have certainly diversified more into this area in the last few years and concentrated on supplying lot of commercial customers and contractors. Roll forming is a massive part of the business and in 2012, we invested in a new roll forming machine that is 24 metres in length, which was twice the length that we had or any other business in the country. This produces a sheet under less stress, which is a well formed good lapping sheet,and helps give us an edge over our competitors. Two years ago, we purchased a double bender long bed folder and without doubt this has probably been our best investment to date. There is no other machine like it in these parts anyway.”
Michael revealed that the majority of the customers would be working in the agricultural sector as they supply a number of engineering firms that focus on that area.
“We have a diverse range of customers, many of who would be working in the agricultural sector, particularly in the poultry industry where our materials are used to construct chicken houses.”
The majority of materials used by the company are sourced from reputable firms across Europe and as far away as South Korea.
“We’ve done a lot of research on where the best quality materials are and we would order them six months in advance. I’ve always tried to source higher-spec materials and we feel that we have achieved that. The aim then is to produce to the customers’ requirements and that is something that we feel we are achieving at the moment also.”
As a preferred external envelope contractor to their many clients, Fabri-Clad Engineering Ltd have competitively tendered and safely and successfully executed numerous prestigious projects across a diverse range of industrial and agricultural developments.
Combining experience, training and innovation, their vision is to remain and continue to grow and improve as a first choice provider of full envelope solutions to the construction sector. “We aim to ensure that this vision is realised by listening closely to client requirements, continually investing in the training of our employees and delivering to expectation, in a safe, economical and timely manner.”
Their team bring the same expertise and attention to detail on all projects providing guaranteed quality to all our works.
“Our broad range of products include market leaders and some of the most innovative and up to date materials you could choose for your building, that are fully certified, with serious consideration being given for sustainability and the environment.
“We pride ourselves in delivering complete external building envelope solutions. This involves our participation in a professional team process working closely with product manufacturers to ensure that their expectations are met.”
Michael revealed that the success of the business would not have been achieved without the hard work and dedication of their experienced employees.
“There are ten employed here, some of who would have many years’ experienced with us. There are highly trained in what they do and without their expertise, there is no way the company would be where it is today.
“The aim now is to bring the company forward and hopefully expand further down the line. As it stands, we are working six months ahead of ourselves, which is a great place to be. I do feel that as long as we continue to work closely with our customers than we will be in a good place for the foreseeable future.”
Fabri-Clad Engineering Ltd
Trentabouy,
Drumkeen,
Ballybofey,
Co. Donegal
Tel: 074 91 34922
Fax: 074 91 34923
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 6 No 5, August 2018
