Renowned for its expertise in the manufacture, supply and erection of farm and industrial buildings, Newtowngore Engineering continues to go from strength to strength as manager and director Anthony Mimna explains.
Based in Newtowngore, Co. Leitrim, the long-established family business has earned a reputation for producing top-quality agricultural and industrial structures along with providing a wide range of steel products and services to a nationwide customer-base. Newtowngore Engineering specialises in general industrial construction, including building fabrication / steel framed buildings; agricultural buildings, including dairy, beef and sheep units complete with fittings; one-off fabrications; all aspects of steel fabrication and welding services; and the supply and installation of all types of roofing systems.
The company’s origins can be traced back to 1969 when brothers Tommy and Joe McCartin – who is a former TD, Senator and MEP – started out as McCartin Brothers, building many piggeries as well as running their own mill. Newtowngore Engineering was formed in 1986 and is fronted by managing director John McCartin along with directors Anthony Mimna and his aforementioned father, Joe. John is also well-known in political and music circles, and is a director of Mannok Build Ltd.
Newtowngore Engineering currently employs 28 people who are a mix of steel fabricators, welders, erectors and administration staff. Most have been with the company for many years and hail from the surrounding area.
“We’ve traditionally been one of the largest employers in what is a very rural area. Newtowngore is on the Leitrim-Cavan border and Longford is only down the road,” Anthony explains.
“We’re very lucky to have such dedicated and highly-skilled staff working for us. They take great pride in their work and have played a major part in the company’s growth over the years.”
Newtowngore Engineering can make, supply and erect farm and industrial buildings anywhere in Ireland. It can work off architectural and engineer’s drawings, providing detailed fabrication drawings as required. Alternatively, the company’s inhouse design team can help clients come up with anything from simple to complex designs for whatever structure they require.
“We pride ourselves on giving our customers what they want. Our products are manufactured to the highest standards and to your exact requirements. We’re a one-stop shop for all your farm and industrial building needs,” Anthony adds.
The steel that goes into making a Newtowngore Engineering building is shot-blasted in its workshop before being primed and painted. The state-of-the-art workshop is kitted out with bandsaws, brake presses, pipe benders, pipe notchers, welding machines, guillotine, iron worker and a new CNC plasma cutter.
In addition, the Co. Leitrim concern supplies cladding, galvanising, gutters, downpipes, flashings and capping. Customers can call into its store and order any of the above or steel-related products such as sheet metal, flats, angle, RSJ’s, box and tubing, bolts, nails, tek screws and fittings of all descriptions. All steel can be cut to length as an added service.
Furthermore, Newtowngore Engineering supplies gates, barriers, crushes, doors, penning and water drinkers for all of its farm buildings. The company specialises in covering in yards and awkward spaces along with re-roofing and repairing existing buildings. It also makes entrance gates, railings and almost anything made from mild steel.
The family business’s main suppliers are Barrett Steel, Kennedy Steel, Heiton Buckley and IITC (steel), ECC Timber Products, John McHale Sawmill and Crowe’s Sawmills (timber), EQC, CPF (Profiles), Gustclad and Irish Rollforming (cladding), Toolfast and GWS (power tools and accessories) and Cork Plastics (downpipes). Only the very best products go into making its buildings!
Newtowngore Engineering is a certified supplier of CE marked structural steel to the requirements of EN 1090 up to and including Execution Class 2 (EXC2), which covers the fabrication of all farm and industrial buildings, and structural steel used in general construction. Since July 2014, under the Construction Products Regulations (CPR), it has been a legal requirement that fabricated structural steelwork delivered to construction sites must be CE certified.
“Anyone who isn’t CE certified shouldn’t be in this business. Farmers can’t apply for grant aid if they’re not dealing with a CE certified company,” Anthony points out.
The company boasts a large and loyal client-base in both the farming and industrial sectors. As an essential service to the agricultural sector, it remained operational during the different Covid-19 lockdowns and has been inundated with inquiries from farmers ever since.
“Pre-Covid, our business was 60% agri and 40% industrial. It’s now 90% agri and 10% industrial. The increased demand for farm buildings is being driven by generous grants and bigger dairy farms. We had a number of large dairy unit projects in construction during the pandemic which had to be completed. We continue to be very busy erecting new dairy and sheep units.
“With Covid having had a major impact on the availability and cost of building materials, we have also been busy re-pricing jobs in order to secure them. It’s a very challenging time for everyone in business.”
While Newtowngore Engineering tends to stick to the Midlands and West when it comes to erecting farm and industrial buildings, it fabricates steel for customers all over Ireland. Some of the high-profile industrial projects it has been associated with are Grangegorman Campus, St James’ Hospital extension, NUI Galway, Athlone Community College, Sligo Racecourse, North Star Hotel in Dublin, Medtronic in Galway, University Hospital Galway, Ard Precision in Galway, Natus Manufacturing in Galway, Cill Chomain GAA in Mayo and Shercock Athletic Centre in Cavan.
In summary, Newtowngore Engineering is committed to providing a top-quality product and service at the most competitive price. All of its buildings are solid, secure, attractive in appearance and are built to last a lifetime.
The company would like to take this opportunity to thank its clients and suppliers for their continued support.
Newtowngore Engineering
Newtowngore,
Co. Leitrim.
Telephone: (049) 4333232
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.newtowngoreengineering.com
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 10 No 1, January/February 2022
