The evolution of mechanical systems, whether it be in the home or the commercial sector, has opened up new avenues to mechanical businesses.
Advancing technologies have brought about many changes in the industry and companies have evolved in keeping with these advancements. One such business is Kilkenny based Blanchfield Heating whose many years of experience sees them a leader in the field of expertise.
First established in 1994, by the late Jim Blanchfield and his son Ronan Blanchfield and some years later Catriona Blanchfield and Brian Blanchfield, this family run business has earned a solid reputation for providing specialist commercial, industrial and healthcare mechanical services to the building industry. Over the years the company has worked on many prestigious projects involving complex mechanical installations to include Plumbing, Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Cladding, HVAC, Air Conditioning, Design Service, Medical Gases, Renewable Technologies, PVC Pipework, Co-Ordinated Drawings and Maintenance.
Ronan Blanchfield, General Manager, stated that across all aspects of the business, the company has experience in both design and installation and is able to undertake complete management of any project from initial planning, design and estimation through to completion.
“The experience that we have gathered over the years has allowed us to offer an efficient service at competitive prices. Our customer base includes some of the top building firms in Ireland and we would do a lot of repeat business for them.”
Of course, the key to every successful business is its staff and Blanchfield Heating has always appreciated and valued its employees. The majority of our highly experienced team are long term direct employees who manage projects on behalf of our clients to the strictest codes of integrity and professionalism and Ronan revealed that they are very fortunate on this front.
“We employ around 35 people here. There is a big emphasis placed on our work force who are very experienced and flexible in the type of work that they do.”
Ronan stated that there were plenty of opportunities for employees to progress through the company.
“Apprentices are taken on annually and there are certainly opportunities to go further in the company. Our contracts manager Justin Hannon has been with us since the mid-nineties and he has worked his way up the ladder ever since.
“It is hard to rival the experience that we have and we can take on any job in the knowledge that it will be done to the customers’ specifications.”
Blanchfield Heating pride themselves on doing the majority of the work themselves, with very few sub-contractors being brought in.
“We would mainly employ direct labour, which we feel is the best policy with regard to quality control and customers’ issues can be addressed swiftly.”
As stated, Blanchfield Heating has evolved over the years and from focusing mostly on domestic installations in the early years to moving more into industrial services installations and this has seen the company going from strength to strength.
We are committed to continuous improvement together with ongoing training at all levels keeps us at the forefront of the latest technology and management techniques. Some examples of our latest updates in technology include BIM and Revitt software.
Obviously, just as was the case for every company involved in the construction industry, Blanchfield Heating went through a quiet period, but Ronan stated that there has certainly been an upturn in the last year or so.
“Between 2008 and 2013 business was quieter than what we were used to, it was a trying time, however, by keeping tight control of our costs we worked our way through it and we feel that we are a stronger Company coming out the other side. For the past 18 months, there has certainly been a huge upturn in work. We are currently working on a new secondary School in Longwood, Co. Meath, Mount Juliet Golf Clubhouse in Thomastown, Kilkenny, Adamstown VEC in Wexford, to name but a few. We have recently completed projects on Paediatric Isolation Unit at Waterford University Hospital, Seafield Golf and Spa in Wexford and Walsh Distillery in Carlow”
Ronan added that they were always actively seeking new work and the chance to expand further. We are actively seeking and tendering for work and we’re confident that with the experience we have, we can do the job as good or even better than most of our rivals.”
The company’s mission statement best sums up what Blanchfield Heating is all about as they strive to improve on an already exceptional service.
“Blanchfield Heating is a customer services driven company.
The aim of this company is to provide optimum customer satisfaction in all aspects of our business, from service calls to contract projects using continuous communication and technical expertise.
“Our goal is to provide high quality work carried out within programme guidelines and budget.
“We feel that emphasis on co-operation and on safety in the workplace are factors that are desirable to the successful completion of projects.
“We have the structure in place to provide service to you from the design stage, through the installation stage and onto the service stage of your mechanical systems project. Our maintenance division, Blanchfield Mechanical Maintenance Ltd, offers a well established small works service which encompasses general maintenance and servicing of equipment such as gas and oil boilers, chillers, pumps and controls covering the full range of mechanical services.”
Blanchfield Heating
Address: Unit 5, Kilkenny Enterprise Centre
IDA Business Park, Purcellsinch, Kilkenny
Phone: +353 (0)56 7750371
Fax: +353 (0)56 7750376
Email: [email protected]
Taken from Building Ireland magazine, May/June 2016, Vol 2, No 2
