Coming up on 40 years in business, Woodfit Ltd has developed itself into an award-winning specialist joinery from its base in the Midlands. Building Ireland spoke with company Marketing Manager, Fergal Costello, to find out more about this unique business.
Based in Athlone, Co Westmeath, Woodfit Ltd has developed an excellent reputation for its craftsmanship and skills through the past four decades.
The family run business was awarded ‘The Irish Joinery of the Year’ in 2003 and continues to designate a specific manager for each project from start to finish, while ensuring a professional high quality service to its customers across a broad sector range.
Fergal Costello has been the Marketing Manager at Woodfit for the past year and has quickly come to learn what they’re all about.
“We have around 40 direct employees, with two main sides to the company; acoustic panelling and custom joinery,” Fergal explained.
“We started off as a bespoke joinery and then began to move up and work in the commercial sector, growing steadily over the years. Now we work on a lot of high profile projects for big brands, blue-chip companies and the OPW.”
Woodfit was originally founded by Jim Denby back in 1979 and is now one of the leading specialist joinery’s and bespoke furniture manufacturers in Ireland. The company has steadily grown and expanded throughout the Middle East, India and Europe building up an association with suppliers and manufacturers, in addition to intensifying their own manufacturing facility.
“There have been three main drivers of our success over the years; quality, dependability and innovation.”
Woodfit is renowned for their high level of quality delivering on large scale projects in the commercial sector both here in Ireland and overseas. “Our quality standards are demonstrated by the amount of repeat business we get. This has been a very real driver of growth for us.”
Through investment in research and development, Woodfit push the boundaries and develop solutions that meet the design needs of architects and designers. Whether helping an architect work out the details of a complex project, or developing innovative acoustic panelling products, their commitment to technical excellence and innovation has seen them thrive.
Under the leadership of brothers Anthony and Peter Denby, Woodfit relocated its headquarters in 2000 to a 25,000 square foot facility in Athlone, which they have since developed to 60,000 square feet. The manufacturing plant has the most up to date plant and equipment in modern joinery production including computerised cutting and machining centres. This impressive set-up is complimented by a highly skilled team of draftsmen, engineers and technicians.
“We are set-up to work on projects of scale and complexity with the quality standards and attention to detail that our customers expect. It shows through in our portfolio and pride in our work is what keeps driving us forward!”
In the early days, Woodfit specialised in kitchens, wardrobe and wall units and went on to extend into the manufacture of Irish bars all over the continent, including in Switzerland, Italy and Spain.
Over the years, they have increasingly moved into the commercial sector, with key projects including The Botanic Gardens and The Irish Marine Institute. As acoustics became an increasingly important issue for architects, Woodfit developed a range of solutions, with key early projects including two world renowned venues, The Helix Concert and Convention Centre at DCU and Wexford Opera House.
This move in to acoustics saw Woodfit develop a strong presence in overseas markets, helping to harden them against fluctuations at home.
“We work with partners in the UK, US, Middle East and South America to deliver projects ranging from large scale fit-outs to highly customised concert halls and hospitality spaces. Sala Cecilia Meireles in Rio de Janeiro is a great example of the latter, where we completed acoustic and joinery fit-out work on the renowned chamber music venue. This project was won as a direct result of our similar fit-out in Wexford Opera House, so we’re doing something right!”
The home market has not been forgotten, however, and the resurgence in the industry has seen Woodfit secure some high-profile projects over the last three to four years.
“Some big projects in the last couple of years have been the refurbishment of Knock Basilica, the fit-out of Eaton house and the fit-out of Dardistown Crematorium. We’ve also got a lot of great work near completion, a big custom fit-out at Meath County Council, the fit-out of the new Irish Central Bank, several new court buildings, just to name a few!”
So why do such prestigious clients continue to choose Woodfit first?
“I think we have strong capabilities in that we can deliver quality on large scale projects from the most complex to the most detailed,” Fergal stated.
“For example, the project we’re working on at the Meath County Council building involves producing a large twisting “lantern” type structure. The level of skill required is massive and I can assure you that the attention to detail on the project will be perfect.”
Given the caliber of talent within the company’s workforce, it’s no surprise Woodfit is setting the bar so high when it comes to their projects. Employing top quality craftsmen has been something of a tradition for the Denby’s ever since Jim first founded the business and his sons have been sure to follow suit.
“We have very skilled crafts people,” said Fergal. “when you find them, you have to hold on to them and that’s what we’ve done here.”
Great to hear.
Woodfit Ltd
Address: Moydrum Road, Athlone, Co Westmeath
Tel: +353 (0) 90 6478555
Facsimile: +353 (0) 90 6479220
Web: www.woodfit.ie
E-mail: [email protected]
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, January 2017, Vol 3 No 1
