The construction industry has certainly taken a turn for the better in recent times as many building projects have begun around the country.
However, obtaining work in a company’s expertise, especially one of the most competitive industries, is not always the easiest to be involved in.
Experience and producing a high quality service to customers is an essential part of tendering for work, while the ability for any company to provide a wide range of services always gives them an advantage when it comes to attracting new business.
Offering so many services means that companies are able to bring their expertise to many different sectors.
One such company is Mayo based KD Group, specialising in a full range of mechanical and electrical services. Established in 2003 by cousins David and Kieran Staunton, KD Group has grown from a small family run business to a company that has grown in knowledge, skills and size. With this growth came the expansion of their workforce, they now employ sixty full-time employees, and the opening of a new office in Dublin. Kieran Staunton is one of the Managing Directors of KD Group. Kieran said,” We have braved a few tough years in difficult industry conditions and we have come out the other side of it. It makes you stronger and more determined to reach your targets. Over the next few years we aim to continue our hard work and to become one of the leading mechanical and electrical engineers in Ireland. With the help of our loyal and skilled team and a quality service, we will achieve this. We are committed to continue to build strong relationships with our main contractors and consultants, to provide excellent customer service to our clients and to promote a positive work environment for our employees.”
For this month’s edition of Building Ireland, we profile this family run business and speak with their Project Manager, Peter Staunton and Contracts Manager, Gordon Biesty about the success of the business. They put KD Group’s success down to their most valuable assets; their clients and their employees. They have a skilled, loyal, professional team who are foremost to the success of the company and they are dedicated to building a solid client relationship and guaranteeing a quality service. “We would have a lot of repeat custom throughout the many sectors that we work in. Quality and a skilled workforce is the key to the success of our business,” said Peter, Managing Director David’s brother. The quality of their service is backed up with International Certification. The company is registered and certified by QAS International for OHSAS 18001, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Every project undertaken by KD Group comes with the assurances that it will be completed to the highest international quality standards and it will be fully complaint with all safety, health and environmental legislation.
KD Group has experience in past and present projects in the Commercial, Education, Healthcare, Hotel and Leisure, Industrial, Residential, Mechanical and Electrical sectors. The ability to complete projects in these sectors is aided by the type of services they provide including; Mechanical and Electrical Services, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Plumbing, Natural Gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Installation, Gas Proving, Gas Detection Systems, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Installations, Air Conditioning Systems, Phoenix Control and Strobic Fan Installations, Air Handling Systems, Direct Expansion (DX) Systems, Heat Recovery, Medical and Process Gases, Compressed Air, Fire Fighting, Fire Suppression, Sprinkler Systems, Building Management System (BMS) and Controls, Leak Detection, Dust Extraction, Fume Extraction, Chemical Waste Installation, Water Purification Systems, Water Treatment, Boiler Maintenance, Close Control Environment Systems, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Fit-outs, Solar Tubes/Panels, Biomass Heating Systems, District Heating and all Forms of Green Energy.
Technology has been instrumental in the advancement of mechanical and electrical engineering and the latest addition of BIM has proven invaluable to KD Group. As the BIM model of each project generates a 3D model, it can pick up any design flaws that exist between the 2D drawings generated by the architect, structural engineer and services engineer. This is of benefit to all concerned as any issues discovered within the model can be resolved at an early stage of the project. “Some of the benefits of BIM on projects include reducing the cost, time and uncertainty of design and construction. KD Group has implemented BIM and Revit MEP in to current projects and will continue to do so for future projects,” revealed Gordon.
Gordon knows that to ensure the work continues to come in, they must have a tender package to impress their potential clients. “We offer a competitive tender package on every project, which is evident by the number of high profile projects completed in Ireland. There is certainly more work which is great to see but you definitely have to be cautious when it comes to making any big decisions or taking on new clients.” The ability to adapt to meet their clients’ requirements has been another reason for the success of the company over the 13 years in business. “A dynamic approach has been developed in order to meet our customers ever changing needs and requirements. The entire team has the responsibility of ensuring that all parts of the company carry out their commitment to the Quality Management System,” stated Peter. Some of the recent projects that KD Group has successfully tendered for include the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, the new Garda Regional and Divisional Headquarters in Galway and the Lough Lannagh Swimming Pool and Outdoor Pursuits Centre in Castlebar.
The Beaumont Hospital project, for KD Group, compromises of the complete mechanical and electrical chiller replacement. The installation, with KD Group as the main contractor, included all cranage, attendances and role of Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS), the complete supply and installation of two new 440Kw Chillers and associated pipework and plant equipment power and controls wiring. As well as replacement of the existing Air Handling Unit (AHU) chilled water coils in 4 Number Theatre AHUs. In the new Garda Regional and Divisional Headquarters in Galway, KD Group is providing the complete mechanical services installation. This building is approximately 11,200m2 over five levels (including the ground floor). KD Group is also working on the €11 million swimming pool and outdoor pursuits centre at Lough Lannagh in Castlebar. “We are also working on a number of projects in St. James’s Hospital in Dublin and other projects around the city,” added Peter.
Contact Details:
HEAD OFFICE
Unit 12 (b), N5 Business
Park, Moneen,
Castlebar , Co. Mayo
T: +353 (0) 94 9023858
F: +353 (0) 94 9023859
E: [email protected]
DUBLIN OFFICE
Unit 12, Park West Drive,
Park West Ind. Est.,
Dublin 12
T: +353 (0) 1 6296043/4
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, August 2016, Vol 2 No 4
