The farming community relies on high quality equipment in order to carry out their daily duties and to the get the best out of their stock.
There is a wide range of farming equipment on the market today but few can rival the quality products and extensive range that Cork based company O’Donovan Engineering have to offer.
For this month’s edition of Irish Tractor & Agri, we profile the family run firm based in Coachford, Co. Cork.
O’Donovan Engineering was started in 1978 by husband and wife team Damien and Marion O’Donovan. Today the Company has 37 full time employees and supplies its products and services to customers all over Ireland and the UK.
“We started the business in 1978 because, as a farmer myself, I could see there was a desperate need in the market for safe handling equipment, I am passionate about the design and manufacturing and Marion is a great organiser and leader. Together with the help of our staff and family we were able to build the company you see today” said Damien O’ Donovan “We started producing galvanised products which were unheard of that time, but would become common place on every farmyard in the country.
“My brother Dermot came on board in 1983, and from there we have continued to grow and provide an excellent quality product and service to our loyal customers.”
Through the experience obtained over the years, the company has developed a reputation for producing the best products for the agricultural, veterinary, industrial and commercial sectors, specialising in equipment for the livestock handling and feeding sector.
Damien pointed out that they also cater for other industries. “We continue to bring our technology and customer base to new levels, offering a diverse range of goods, components and service to all leading industries in agriculture, construction and manufacturing.”
O’Donovan Engineering not only manufacture their own brand of equipment, but they are also a main agent for a number of the leading manufacturers around the world.
“Our aim is to provide a quality product and achieve customer satisfaction with a dedicated customer care service, while we are also looking to establish growth in each market in which we are currently involved.”
Damien has not lost his passion for innovation in the intervening years. “Animal behaviour still fascinates me, there are so many elements to consider in design, and we are always observing, learning and thinking of better ways to do things. We have a test farm on site which can be observed live from engineering department. Like a nanny cam! The kids behave differently when you are not in view and so do animals. We have learned over the years that it’s all about the small details which the customer may not appreciate or see when buying the product but would be lost without. From the sales and design stage right through to after sales service all staff spoke of their belief that with good design and superior quality you can achieve a more functional, safe and efficient solution. The fact that it’s not just an off-the-shelf-product that you’re getting but a custom design which will strive to meet any requirements that a customer may have. “Our in-house manufacturing and the large stocks we carry give us the necessary flexibility to satisfy each and every need in a time that is acceptable.”
The Company have five sales people on the road nationwide who meet and work with customers to design their handling and housing units. Nothing beats experience and the sales team have over 100 years of experience between them and in their own words they “have seen it all”.
The company realises the importance of innovation which is at its core. Speaking about the company Marion O’ Donovan said “we have never forgotten where we started, our factory is located in Coachford and we highly value the continued support from the local community which has been essential to the growth of the company. In the current climate it is essential to create and retain new jobs, and continue to develop industry in our community”.
The success of the company can be gauged by the amount of repeat custom that they have on their books. “The end users of our products are the farmers and a lot of them choose our products over other brands. We would have a lot of repeat custom, many of who have been doing business with us, since the start and we are very grateful to all our customers.”
Damien insists that continued investment is important in order to maintain the high standards that their customers have become accustomed to over the years.
“We have invested heavily in new machinery as we know that it is important to keep up with the latest technology to help us produce an even better range of products.”
Of course, none of the success would have been achieved were it not for a reliable and highly efficient workforce. “We would have a very experienced workforce, many of who have been with us for over 20 and 30 years now. They have played a huge part in the success of the company. We endeavour to make sure that the customer is always happy with the product that they purchase. From the design stage right until the job is completed, we work with the customer to ensure that they are happy with the work we are doing.” O’Donovan Engineering Ltd. is also an ISO 9001:2000 Quality Accredited Firm. Quality is the foundation on which O’Donovan Engineering has built its reputation as a manufacturer. “We constantly analyse customer feedback, delivery times and our price, thus ensuring we continue to deliver customers with the highest quality products and service.”
O’Donovan Engineering is an environmentally friendly company too – eco accredited – and are continuously endeavouring to reduce their carbon footprint. “We strive to continually reduce our environmental impact by driving efficiencies within each of our departments. We endeavour to recycle and use recycled products where possible.”
O’Donovan Engineering are busy year round attending trade shows and agri-events in Ireland & Europe to meet customers and display their equipment while at their premises in Coachford, they have a display area, which is open daily, and their test farm showcasing all products.
O’Donovan Engineering’s experience sees them provide a quality service and product, while their ability to complete a project on time has also earned them rave reviews and this looks set to continue for many years to come.
O’Donovan Engineering Co. Ltd
Coachford – Co. Cork – Ireland
Tel: +353-21-7334066
Fax: +353-21-7334520
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.odonovaneng.ie
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 3 No 1, January/February 2015
