Based in a small village in North Tipperary, Cross Fabrications Ltd has grown into a leader when it comes to manufacturing high quality products. Building Ireland spoke with founder and Managing Director, Paudie Meehan to learn all about what is very much a thriving venture down in the Premier County.
Business is good these days at Cross Fabrications Ltd and the plan for its owner and founder Paudie Meehan is to try and keep things that way right through to 2022.
Based in Ileigh Road, Borrisoleigh, Co Tipperary, the company employs 10 full-time, ranging from office staff to metal fabricators, and has grown from strength to strength since its inception 18 years ago.
It provides clients with a comprehensive range of services from general fabrication to a more specialised product, with its hands-on Managing Director involved in every job from design right through to the finished product, overseeing all work done.
Building Ireland touched base with Paudie Meehan recently to find out more about the business and its current projects down in Tipp and across its borders.
“We’ve been very lucky with the pandemic and lockdowns in that we’ve had essential work to keep us ticking away,” he explained.
In recent years, Cross Fabrications Ltd has moved into an impressive new 19,000sq foot premises in Borrisoleigh, which has allowed the business to grow alongside its clients.
The company carries out projects for various clients in the water industry and construction every year, and Paudie explained that there are a handful of different projects on-going for these clients at the moment.
“Right now, we’re doing a job for a local Bakery and a large pipe work project in Lee Road Cork.
“A lot of my work before was based in and around Dublin but we’re doing less travelling now, which is great.
“We’ve been lucky enough here over the past year. Yes, our turnover was down a bit last year but what do you expect?
“With everything that has gone on with the pandemic, you’re not going to get the same amount of business but the second half of the year (2020) was crazy busy and this year looks the same.”
Indeed, business is flourishing at the moment at Cross Fabrications Ltd as they continually work out what the client wants and deliver it for them.
Customer satisfaction remains the one and only priority for the business almost two decades on from its inception.
So, the burning question is what has been the secret to continued success for Cross Fabrications Ltd after all these years?
According to Paudie, providing a service that is consistent in quality goes a long way in this line of work.
“I think it’s down to the service we give them (clients). Sometimes you could get a call for work that needs to be done right away and I always try and accommodate them,” said the Managing Director.
“You’re only as good as your last job and if the customer is not happy with the work you’ve done, he’s not coming back to you. So, we give good service and try to stay competitive with our prices.”
Of course, the company’s high levels of repeat business and referrals come down to the fact that they are professionals who care about build quality and client satisfaction.
Since ‘Day One’, the aim at Cross Fabrications Ltd has been to deliver a friendly and approachable service and professional project management and the company will listen to your ideas and help you come up with something perfect.
“We provide 3D Cad drawings for design and approval, we also have our own laser cutting machine which allows for shorter lead times on jobs, especially for emergency work. The company has an EN1090 standard.”
From its headquarters in Borrisoleigh, the company employs the best Trades people, invests heavily in their training and education and also ensures that the highest standards of health and safety are applied throughout their organisation. They have recently taken on a full time Draughts man to aid in design and production.
“We are very lucky that we have a very experienced team employed here and most of the lads have been with the company for years, therefore having vast experience in the trade.”
Looking towards the coming months, Paudie hopes that things will stay the same for the business and that there will also be a drop in material costs which has been affecting the industry since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Hopefully, workwise, things will stay steady,” he said. “As long as prices of materials level out because they are up around 30 per cent in the last couple of months. As long as they don’t get too expensive, we will hopefully be fine.
“You’d be cautious these days with everything that’s happening, but hopefully things will be fine and we’ll be back to some sort of normality soon.”
Paudie would like to take this opportunity to thank its customers and suppliers for their continued support and its staff for their dedication, skill and hard work.
Cross Fabrications Ltd
Ileigh Road,
Borrisoleigh,
Thurles,
Co Tipperary
E41 CT82
Tel: 0504 50005
Mob: 087 228 9547
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, September, Vol 7 No 9
