Despite being just seven years in existence, Ecopipe Ireland has carved a niche for itself in the Irish construction sector and they had cause to celebrate at this year’s Plumbing & Heating Awards. Building Ireland caught up with Managing Director, Mac McCague.
The inaugural Ireland’s Plumbing & Heating Awards, in association with Calor, proved a major success as over 400 people packed into the Round Room at the Mansion House, Dublin in June to celebrate the very best the industry has to offer.
The leading installers, contractors, merchants, people, projects and products were all recognised at the gala awards night, with guests entertained by host, Risteárd Cooper, the leading Irish actor and comedian.
Jacqui Fairley, Publication Director of Plumbing & Heating Magazine, which organised the awards, said, “We want to thank everyone who entered the awards and congratulate all the finalists and winners. Our independent panel of judges had a difficult task selecting the winners from what was an exceptional number of high-quality entries.
“We also want to recognise the essential support of our sponsors for helping us host such a great night. We’re already looking forward to the next awards in 2019!”
It was a night to remember for Managing Director Mac McCague and the Ecopipe Ireland team as they took home the Plumbers’ Merchant of the Year (9 branches or less) accolade.
With over 30 years’ experience in the industry, Ecopipe Ireland has mastered every aspect of the business and only supply the finest products to trade professionals. The ever burgeoning business has been supplying the heating and plumbing trade with an extensive range of products ever since it was established in 2010.
“It’s nice when you receive an award from your peers,” acknowledged Mac when looking back on their award success. “The award reflects the growth and range of the quality products and services that we provide our clients and we’d be recognised as a company that the trade likes to deal with.”
Open Monday to Saturday (7am to 6.30pm), Ecopipe currently has 12 employees on its payroll and their extensive product range covers boilers, plumbing, heating, parts, fittings, bathrooms and stoves.
“Our staff members are very clued in when it comes to this industry. Our northside and southside managers both have 20 years’ experience. It always helps to have a friendly staff working in the business and I’d like to thank them for their efforts because without good staff, you’re at nothing.”
When tracing the roots of the company, it’s evident that the contacts that Monaghan native Mac established in a previous life as Commercial Director with Heatmerchants gave him a head start when it came to setting up Ecopipe Ireland.
“My remit as Commercial Director was dealing with Heatmerchants’ suppliers. When I was setting up Ecopipe I approached Italian manufacturer Tiemme and started distributing for Tiemme in Ireland.”
Tiemme Raccorderie is renowned as an international leader in the production and marketing of plumbing and heating components.
“We started off as a specialist in underfloor design and supply with Tiemme working out of our warehouse in Ballyboughal. A year later we opened a branch in Stillorgan, operating as a heating and plumbing suppliers, dealing in everything from boilers to spare parts etc. Then in 2015 we added a trade counter in Ballyboughal.
“We purchase a lot of goods locally like most other merchants but what we do differently is that we also import and distribute the Tiemme range complete with Irish fittings and adapters. Their multi-layer pipe is one of the fastest growing products in the industry at the moment and the trade comes to us because of those fittings.”
In addition, there are over 30,000 gas and oil spare parts available from Ecopipe, with the majority available for immediate pick up or else next day delivery to site. As they have built relationships with distributors throughout Europe, they can place special orders for any unusual item you may require.
They have built a reputation throughout Ireland for their excellent customer service and satisfaction and are continuously looking for new innovative ways to improve their customer experience and efficiency of their business.
For instance, last year they launched their new online shop (www.ecopipeonlineshop.com) where customers can get quotations and prices at the click of a button.
“We also have an app that was set up two years ago that our customers can download from the App store,” Mac added, “and energy credits are available on the app.”
Not content to rest on their laurels, Ecopipe Ireland has ambitious expansion plans in the pipeline.
“Last year we started a Commercial Project division and successfully completed a 20 bedroom extension at the five star Dylan Hotel on Baggot Street. That involved sanitary ware, stoves and tops imported from Italy.
“We have a few more projects in the pipeline while we are also planning on opening another one or two branches in the Dublin area next year.”
Expect to see Ecopipe Ireland’s curve continue on an upward trajectory for the foreseeable future.
Ecopipe Ireland
North Side
Ballbriggan
Sallowood View
Ballyboughal
Co. Dublin
Tel: (01) 843 3506
South Side
70 Saint Lawrence Park
Stillorgan
Co. Dublin
Tel: (01) 210 9970
Website: www.ecopipeonlineshop.com
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, December 2017, Vol 3 No 11
