Broughan Engineering Ltd in Tullow, Co. Carlow designs, engineers and manufactures a wide range of high-quality, bespoke agricultural trailers. Established in 2000, the company is run by brothers Paul and Patrick Broughan with the help of their sister Carole, Paul’s son Adam, and 30 highly-skilled and professional staff.
From humble beginnings, Broughan Engineering is now manufacturing 15 trailers a week for customers in Ireland and the UK. Dump trailers and low loaders are especially popular at present due to a buoyant construction sector. The company’s products are distributed through 10 dealers in Ireland and one in the UK.
“Coming from an engineering background, we were approached by a local agri contractor to make a silage trailer. That led to us being asked to make a dumper and then a low loader. That’s how it all started,” Paul explains.
“Our growth can be attributed to our top-quality range of products, excellent staff and dealers who handle sales in a very efficient manner and guarantee complete customer satisfaction. We’re currently supplying 60% of our products to the Irish market and 40% to the UK market. We’d rather look after our existing dealers than export to France or further afield because they have helped to make us the business we are today.
“We also enjoy a great relationship with our suppliers who ensure that only the very best materials go into making a Broughan trailer.”
Broughan Engineering’s range of high-quality grain, silage, bale, flat, cattle, dump trailers and low loaders speak for themselves. The range of grain, silage and root crop trailers are available from 16-24 tonne tri axle with 10-stud commercial axles on spring suspension. The cattle trailers are built in all sizes from 16ft-32ft tri axle. These come standard with sides and chequered plate floor and ramp. A slurry tank, dividing gate, side markings and crash bars also come as standard. Due to the price of aluminium, the firm have paused making their aluminium cattle trailer but hope to be able to again once material prices soften.
The heavy-duty bale trailers are built in all sizes. They come standard with steel checker plated floor and 10-stud commercial axles with commercial spring suspension.
“The trend is towards bigger silage trailers,” Paul says.
“They’ve typically gone from 20ft to 22ft or 24ft tri axle. It’s down to bigger tractors and the need for a greater capacity. That extra 2ft can make a big difference.
“Extendable bale trailers, which have a one-metre extension on the back, are very popular. There is a big demand also for dump trailers which have loading ramps underneath. We’re always innovating and currently have a 24ft tri axle positive steer grain trailer with hydraulic extension being tested by a customer. Again supply of options can be limited due to the lack of parts required, something we hope would change soon.
“When you’re on the workshop floor all day like Patrick and I am, you see everything and that’s where you get your ideas from.”
Today’s consumer requirements vary greatly, often requiring a bespoke design approach to suit each customer, which is a highly valued attribute of the family-business. The company motto ‘where quality comes first’ shines through the superior workmanship in every aspect of the finished product.
Each trailer is manufactured to specific customer requirements and can include optional extras such as air brakes, roll over / easy cover, grain chute, beacons and extra lights if required. Chrome rams, which are long-lasting and rust-free, are supplied as standard on all Broughan trailers. With its combination of high hardness, strength and toughness, Hardox steel has proven itself as the abrasion-resistant steel of choice for extending the service life of equipment, proven by the durability and reliability of Broughan dump trailers.
Hardox steel can act as a load-carrying part in many applications due to its unique combination of hardness and toughness. With Hardox wear plate, Broughan dump trailers have the added benefits of wear-resistance, strong and lightweight, all at the same time.
Even though standard trailers are still available, more and more customers are looking for a customised option which Broughan Engineering can provide.
“Most of the trailers are bespoke nowadays. It would be lovely if everyone wanted the same trailer, but that’s now how it works! One of the many reasons for this is due to customers liking to choose their own tyres, which have gotten bigger over the years. Everything about the trailer must be customised to suit the contractor or farmer so that he can do the best and fastest job with it. Versatility is also a big thing,” Paul adds.
The Co. Carlow company is continually investing in upgrading and sourcing new equipment. To be a leader in trailer manufacturing, all trailers must be sandblasted before entering the spray unit. With this in mind, the Broughans invested in a large-scale sandblasting unit a few years ago. Once trailers leave the production area, they enter the blast room where they are blasted using high-quality steel grit. The blast room is fitted with a state-of-the-art applied blast machine.
More recently, the company installed two new spray booths at its 62,000 sq. ft. facility and also invested in a new automatic saw and plasma cutter.
As an essential service, Broughan Engineering remained fully operational during the Covid-19 crisis.
“Other than having to take public health measures such as social distancing, mask wearing and hand sanitising, the pandemic didn’t impact on us or our business because farming doesn’t stop,” the affable company director says.
“We’re always looking to grow and expand, but it’s difficult to do that at the moment because of a severe shortage of skilled workers. Our main products have served us well. No other company will give you the same level of service and manufacturing quality that we provide.”
As Broughan Engineering continues to go from strength to strength, Paul and Patrick would like to take this opportunity to thank their customers, dealers, suppliers and staff for their continued support.
Broughan Engineering Ltd
Coppenagh,
Tullow,
Co. Carlow.
Telephone: 059 9163697
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.broughanengineeringltd.com
