Offering unrivalled electrical installation and facilities maintenance services for over sixty years, Alexander Bonar & Co. Ltd. is one of Northern Ireland’s most sought-after commercial / industrial electrical contractors. We travelled to their Ballymena, County Antrim head office and caught up with managing director Alex McAuley to find out more about this exceptionally diligent and extremely busy family-run operation.
The name Alexander Bonar & Co. Ltd. is synonymous with excellence. Since 1954, this renowned commercial and industrial electrical contracting specialist has been providing exceptional solutions on key projects north and south; through dedication, innovation and application earning a reputation as proven market leaders in their chosen field.
With the latest methods and techniques engaged by highly-trained and vastly-experienced personnel, all projects are completed to the highest industry standards, on time and within budget. Alexander Bonar & Co. Ltd. are members of NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting), RECI (Registered Electrical Contractors of Ireland) and Constructionline as well as being certified to BS9001 and Safe-T-Cert standards.
By consistently insisting upon and delivering the very highest standards, the company is going from strength to strength more than six decades since its inception, working for a number of prestigious clients, including leading main contractor O’Hare & McGovern Ltd.
The business was established by the eponymous Alex Bonar in 1954. Alex McAuley joined in 1969 and has been MD for the past 20 years. His four sons are also involved in the family business: Stephen, Paul and Martin are contracts supervisors while Danny oversees CAD drawings. Other key team members include Jonathan Rea, who looks after the Safe-T-Cert, ISO 9001 certification, and is responsible for looking after Electrical Support Services within Northern Ireland’s main power stations and general maintenance contracts.
“We’ve concentrated on commercial and industrial work since the very beginning,” the managing director notes. “When Alex started out he was working on a lot of schools, hotels, shopping centres etc. and that’s still our main line of work today.
“The majority of our work at the minute is on shops and power stations. O’Hare & McGovern have the contract for all the Boots stores across the island of Ireland and we do all the electrical installations for them on those projects, which is a very large volume of work. We’re also working in two power stations in Ballylumford and Kilroot for AES UK & Ireland.”
Gainful employment is generated for a crew of 25 across the island and all personnel are highly skilled, efficient, experienced and motivated, priding themselves on the constant provision of quality workmanship that does justice to Alexander Bonar & Co. Ltd.’s exemplary track record. A fleet of eight modern, well-maintained and fully-kitted company vans ensures prompt and dependable solutions at all times.
Regarding the key to his company’s ongoing success, Alex cites attention to detail and taking a keen personal interest in every job as crucial. Even though he has been involved in the company for almost half a century, he keeps a close eye on every project and makes himself available to clients, guaranteeing transparency and seamless communication from start to completion.
“Our commitment to our customers is of prime importance and we form a lasting relationship to achieve their goals.”
Offering a full range of services encompassing fire and security alarms, CCTV and covering every aspect of the electrical installations spectrum – lighting, cabling, data, etc. – Alexander Bonar & Co. Ltd. is a one-stop shop for the complete package of electrical contracting need, handling everything in house.
Looking to the future, the personable managing director is confident that this outstanding family business can continue to thrive. “There is always scope to grow and we will take whatever work comes our way,” he states. “We’ve worked on numerous healthcare units, hotels and factories and have the capacity to provide our expertise to any commercial or industrial project. We did a little bit of residential work in the early days but don’t really go down that road anymore.
“We’re keeping our eye on the ball and we are constantly upskilling and retraining to make sure we can give the most modern service possible. There’s more technology and newer techniques being introduced all the time and you have to keep up with those developments in order to provide optimal solutions.”
Of course, the construction sector across Ireland entered into a severe economic downturn eight years ago and the effects were hard-hitting for every company associated with the building industry. But the signs are encouraging that we are turning the corner again.
“There seems to be a bit of a pick-up again but it’s still only spurts and bursts,” Alex concludes. “The downturn would obviously have affected the volume of work we were doing but we weathered it well because we have a good reputation and we work for very good clients. We’re very fussy about who we work for.”
They’re also very particular about how this work is carried out and that’s one of the many reasons why Alexander Bonar & Co. Ltd. is still going strong after all these years.
Alexander Bonar & Co. Ltd.,
Site 9,
Unit B4
Pennybridge Industrial Estate,
Ballymena,
County Antrim,
BT42 3HB.
Tel: 028 2565 2449
Fax: 028 2564 1838
Email: [email protected]
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, November/December 2016, Vol 2 No 7
