Thinking of investing in a new farm building? If so, be sure to give farm and industrial buildings specialists Norris Bros Ltd a call.
Established in Stradbally, Co. Waterford in 1981, Norris Bros Ltd is one of Ireland’s leading structural steel and cladding businesses, providing building solutions to the industrial, commercial, leisure and agricultural sectors. The company has a proven track record and is recognised for its technical expertise, high-quality workmanship, customer service and value-for-money, which has led to a large volume of repeat orders from a wide range of clients throughout the country.
The family-run business employs only the best and most experienced draughtsmen, fabricator welders and erectors. Norris Bros Ltd erected thousands of farm buildings over the past 34 years which are as good as the day they were built.
The company was set up by siblings John and Nicholas Norris, along with John’s wife Frances, in 1981 to meet the demands of the agricultural sector.
The supply and erection of farm buildings has been an important part of their business ever since. The company supplies and fits all types of agricultural buildings, such as dairy units, beef units, slatted units, milking parlours, calf sheds, grain stores, lean-tos, storage units for hay, straw, machinery, equestrian units etc.
Norris Bros Ltd is an approved installer for several farm cladding manufacturers, including Tegral Metal Forming, Duggan Profiles and Kingspan. It supplies and fits all types of cladding, including Agribuild, Colourgalv, Fibre Cement and Profarm, and ensures that relevant product warranty documentation is provided.
Employing 35 people directly and another 20 constant sub-contractors the business operates from a 35,000 sq. ft. purpose-built fabrication facility in Englishstown, Stradbally, which has a capacity to fabricate in excess of 150 tonnes of steel per week. No job is too big or too small for this thriving business which is fully CE certified, complies with all health and safety legislation, is fully insured, REA compliant and uses only the best quality materials.
Explaining the history of the company, John Norris says: “Our father Tom was involved in the farm buildings business before us, so it was almost inevitable that we would follow him into it. We’ve been at this all of our lives.
“The company has grown over the years to incorporate the commercial and industrial sectors. These have actually outgrown our agricultural division, which now only accounts for about 10 per cent of our overall business. But it’s something we continue to market strongly and place a strong emphasis on because it was our ‘bread and butter’ when we started out. Many of our best and most loyal customers are farmers, and we enjoy being able to serve the farming community.
“We pride ourselves on the quality of our workmanship and the products we use. We only use the best steel, cladding and timber products. While we have completed many commercial contracts all over Ireland, we generally don’t go outside the Munster and south Leinster areas when it comes to the farm buildings side of the business.”
Norris Bros Ltd operates its own fully automated in-house saw and drilling line, together with its own shot-blasting and priming facilities. The company’s qualified draughtsmen operate the StruCAD/StruMIS 3D modelling and nesting system, with its automated integrated systems ensuring full traceability and identification of raw materials through fabrication and erection. The Norris Bros Ltd drawing office is network-linked to a fabrication unit, allowing fabrication drawings to be downloaded electronically to the saw and drilling line, and construction drawings to be issued to the erection team.
With their own shot blasting equipment and dedicated spray shop, the Norris’ ensure that a high-quality finish is consistently achieved. All steel is shot-blasted in-house to S.A.2.5. The company works closely with its manufacturers to ensure that the most appropriate and durable product is used at all times. Other finishes that are offered include Intumescent painting, finish-coat painting and galvanising.
Transportation to site is carried out by Norris Bros’ own trucks and trailers, and by direct contract hauliers to ensure on-time and cost-effective delivery.
Erection is carried out by the company’s own team of experienced and qualified steel erectors. Certification of all equipment and machinery used on site is always kept up-to-date. Safety on site is a number one priority and this is reflected in Norris Bros Ltd excellent safety record. All erectors have received necessary training as required by the safety, health and welfare at work regulations, and all are equipped with necessary certified personal protection equipment.
Among the commercial/industrial projects completed by Norris Bros Ltd in recent years include ESB Substations at Moneypoint (Sean Lacey Ltd), Tarbert (BAM Building Ltd) and Ballynahulla (Adman Ltd), Boston Scientific Neurovascular Facility for PJ Hegarty, Janssen Pharmaceutical Extension to P1 Facility for PJ Hegarty, GSK Dungarvan Additional PP Packaging Capacity Project for PJ Hegarty, New Recycling Facility for Biffa in Belfast for PJ Hegarty, IDA Advance Factory in Waterford for Walls Construction, WIT Multipurpose Arena for John Sisk, Schools Bundle 3 (numerous schools for BAM Building Ltd), CUH Link Bridge Project for Cumnor Construction, Arkady Feed Bulk Store at Ringskiddy for BAM Building, Glanbia Grainstore Portlaoise for Quinn Reddin, Highfield Hospital in Swords for JJ Rhatighan, Tech Group Extension at Mulhuddart for Ardmac Ltd, Dunshaughlin Community School for JJ Rhatigan, Carrigaline Community School for Mythen Construction, Cloughjordan Enterprise Centre for O’Gorman Construction, St. Ailbes School Tipperary for Semiton Ltd, N11 Arklow/Rathnew PPP Scheme Amenity Building for BAM Building, Bretts Grainstore Callan for McCarthy Bros, Loretto School Balbriggan for Burns Construction, NRA Deport in Kilkenny for Glenman Ltd.
And they’re just the tip of the iceberg!
As a fully accredited CE certified structural steel fabricator, Norris Bros Ltd is approved to erect farm buildings which are part-funded by EU grants.
John concludes by saying: “While farm buildings are generally getting bigger, their design hasn’t changed all that much. We are grateful for the business we’ve received from countless farmers since 1981 and look forward to catering for their building needs for many years to come.”
Norris Bros Ltd
Englishtown,
Stradbally,
Co. Waterford.
Telephone: 051 292215/291222
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.norrisbrothers.eu
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 3 No 2, March 2015
