There have been a number of exciting new developments at The Formwork Factory, the leading supplier of quality affordable formwork systems and equipment to contractors across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Building Ireland touched base with founder and proprietor Charlie McCarron to find out more about his progressive, industry-leading operation, which will henceforth be known by the abbreviated name TFF.
TFF Formwork Solutions / The Formwork Factory may be a relatively new company, having been established as recently as 2022, but it is backed by decades of experience and expertise as founder and hands-on director Charlie McCarron has worked in the industry all his working life.
An authority on all things formwork-related, the vastly-experienced Donegal man set up his own company three years ago to provide contractors with high-quality, value-added formwork systems and equipment. Charlie strongly believes that clients should receive a complete formwork solution from a single provider, so he has brought together a large range of products and expertise under one roof to offer a ‘one-stop shop’ solution for all temporary works requirements.
Quality is paramount with TFF solutions but the real clincher – and the reason why more and more contractors here in Ireland, the UK and increasingly on the continent are switching to The Formwork Factory’s products is that they also offer unbeatable value for money as Charlie has used his industry contacts and vision to develop professional and efficient in-house manufacturing capabilities.
Thus, for formwork contractors who want proven, high-quality, fully-certified formwork systems but at a fraction of the cost of the competition, TFF is the obvious first and only port of call…
TFF add value by giving customers solutions that are cost effective for their projects and match their business. By using the latest technology and equipment, they aim to afford the client the best overall value with regard to time, labour, logistics and safety, whilst remaining competitively priced.
TFF value the health and welfare of staff and clients above everything else and only provide safe systems of work, supplying equipment that is quality checked and fully fit for purpose. All new equipment is designed and manufactured to adhere to the highest international standards, while used equipment goes through rigorous checks prior to sale.
To consistently ensure the reliable performance, excellent finish and worker safety of clients and their teams, the team at TFF continuously monitor the quality of both new and used formwork so that customers can retain complete confidence in the quality of all systems and equipment supplied.
To this end, The Formwork Factory has accumulated an exceptional track record for excellence and through proven delivery and word of mouth their reputation for quality and value continues to spread at home and abroad, resulting in a steady and rising volume of business from both repeat customers and new clients alike.
“We’re the one-stop shop for all formwork solutions and we’re currently spreading our service beyond Ireland and the UK to also include Europe,” Charlie reveals. “You have a lot of multinationals out there providing this service and also the smaller independent lads. We’re providing the same quality service as the multinationals but at a much lower cost.
“We’re in the process of setting up a European partnership which will enable us to roll out our systems across Europe. Six of us met at a show in Germany in April and – although this is still in its infancy as we speak – decided to form a formal partnership which will allow me to significantly expand my market.
“For the first time, we recently sold materials directly to one of these lads in Italy, so it’s an obvious path to take. We can deliver these formwork systems competitively in any country in Europe and having a European presence going forward is going to give me security if the UK or Irish markets are quiet.”
As for his own industry journey, Charlie is a carpenter by trade, who was heavily involved in countless major projects around the capital, including the redevelopment of Croke Park (a particularly nice one to be associated with for the man who is currently chairman of St. Colmcilles GAA Club in Meath. The driving force behind TFF is also a partner in rapidly-growing recruitment and labour placement company Talcon Group, which is fronted by Donegal football captain Patrick McBrearty.)
Charlie worked with a multinational formwork provider for a number of years and was a partner in another formwork systems distributor for ten years before setting up his own company in 2022, capitalising on his industry insight and experience to quickly establish strong markets in Ireland and the UK.
TFF have an experienced team of engineers and technicians with unrivalled experience in the design, supply and assembly of formwork. They have developed a network of partners and manufacturers who supply modern formwork systems direct to site from the factory, enabling them to source and supply these systems at a much more competitive price. As we speak, TFF are also opening a new UK yard in Luton, north of London.
“We manufacture products and bring them in from manufacturing facilities in Turkey, Dubai and the Far East. We also use manufacturing facilities in Austria and Italy. The product we manufacture uses material which is 100 per cent compatible with what the multinationals are providing. To the layman, I’d explain it by saying that they are the Tesco and Dunnes Stores of formwork but we are the Lidl and Aldi. Our systems are own-brand products, which are of the same quality as the branded formwork but you don’t charge contractors anywhere near the same price.
“We’re also moving into the permanent formwork market and are about to sign a contract with Prime Stairs, who provide permanent formwork solutions for stairs, where all the formwork stays in place. They produce their systems in Romania and have their own development wing. They have extra capacity to provide more product to the industry and I’ll effectively be their agent for the UK and Ireland.”
TFF supplies all the leading formwork contractors in Ireland and the UK, including renowned Irish companies such as MR Concrete, Trimformworks, Kwik RC Frames, Ballygorman Contracts and GDC Construction.
“Our market is predominantly Ireland and the UK and through the imminent new partnership we’ll also be expanding across Europe,” concludes Charlie. “We’re tipping away nicely. In the UK, there have been changes to planning laws in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster and these have slowed things down. There are 240 properties that have been held up and these are all over eight storeys high. It’s tight from now until the end of the year but all these projects will come through eventually and I expect things to really take off in Q1 2026.
“Ireland is steady but the government has to get more investors in. There’s an oversupply of commercial and office space in the Greater Dublin area but they are really going to have to do something about the housing situation, while nobody can gauge where hospitality is at right now.
“From our own point of view, we have a great product and, having expanded our market to now cover Ireland, the UK and Europe, we’re looking forward to continued growth and success.”
The Formwork Factory is moving from their current location in Drogheda to a new purpose-built facility in Slane. For further information, log on to www.theformworkfactory.com
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, September, Vol 11 No 10
featured, The Formwork Factory
