Clarke Steel Fabrication in Co Longford offers its clients the complete design and build service when it comes to steel fabrication. Building Ireland caught up with company owner John Clarke to find out more.
Based in Killoe, Co Longford, Clarke Steel Fabrication operate from a 10,000 square foot workshop, along with a one acre storage yard and they specialise in design, fabrication, erection and cladding of industrial, commercial and farm buildings.
Their central location allows them to service clients throughout Ireland. John and Mary are the company’s co-directors and the former outlined what they’re all about.
John Clarke established this steel fabrication business in 2004 after more than 30 years’ experience in steel fabrication and mechanical fitting.
Initially the business focussed on farm buildings and architectural metal work. With the upturn in the economy in 2006 the business branched out into heavier steel fabrication to include the manufacture and erection of structural steel for industrial, commercial and agricultural buildings.
In the space of 13 years, Clarke Steel Fabrication has built up an impressive portfolio along with some loyal clientele, including Gem Construction in Longford, Kilcawley Construction (Sligo), Purcell Construction (Galway), PJ McLoughlin & Sons (Longford), Embassy Contractors (Meath), ESB Networks and Longford County Council.
The company offers a complete design and build service from the smallest steel project up to large scale projects containing in excess of 200 tonnes.
“When we are awarded a contract we produce a 3D model and general arrangement drawings of the structure,” John explained.
“These are then submitted to the client’s engineers. Once approval is received we then produce fabrication drawings using STUCAD 3D software which is linked directly to our Voortman beam drill line and our FICEP punch and shear plate machine.
“Each individual member is assigned a unique identification mark which ensures full traceability for quality purposes and to simplify the erection process. The fabrication is then carried out by our trained fabricators and certified welders. It is then painted in our paint shop to the client’s exact specification. It is then transported to site and erected by highly skilled steel erectors.
“We managed to survive the downturn in the economy in 2008, We were lucky to be awarded the steel work sub contract for the restoration of St. Mel’s Cathedral which was destroyed by fire in 2009 and this was a big help to us at a time when work was scarce.”
He continued: “From 2013 onwards the economy seems to have improved considerably and at this stage we decided to invest in extending our fabrication facility and installing CNC processing equipment.”
The business has recently been awarded CE accreditation to execution class 2 which became a legal requirement in 2014 for all EU member states.
“Right now, business is going well “said John. “We have a number of different projects on including a School building in Co. Meath, Sports complex in Co. Mayo and Applegreen Service Stations for Embassy Contractors. And we look forward to future projects in 2017.”
Clarke Steel Fabrication
Address: Corlea, Longford P.O, Co. Longford
Tel: 043 33 24569
Mobile: 087 2701775
Web: www.clarkesteel.ie
Email: [email protected]
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, February 2017, Vol 3 No 2
