Operating out of Blanchardstown, Co Dublin, XL Mechanical Ltd offers its clients a bespoke contractor service which is tailored towards the fit-out industry. Building Ireland touched base with company founder Christopher Crowley to learn about the ins and outs of the business, its current projects and hopes for the future.
Business is good these days at XL Mechanical Ltd and the plan for Managing Director Chris Crowley and the rest of the team is to try to use this momentum to push forward and continue the steady growth achieved throughout the year.
Set-up in November 2020, the company today employs 15 full-time staff from its base in at North West Business Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.
It’s a team which has the combined skillset, experience and knowledge to deliver a unique and quality service for its clients with each and every project it undertakes.
Building Ireland caught up with Chris Crowley recently to discuss exactly what his company specialises in and hear about its plans to diversify the company’s portfolio to include a push towards the residential market in the months ahead.
“As a contracting business, on the mechanical end of things, we very much set around the fit-out industry. That’s where we were first attracted to and that’s where the business was structured around,” outlined Chris, who himself has 20 years’ experience in the industry.
“I suppose, why I’ve done it is because of my previous experience in my last employment – I spent five years setting up a mechanical contracting business with somebody else. Through that, the fit-out industry was the one that attracted me the most therefore then, when I set-up my business, that was the avenue I went down.
“We do anything from small to large scale office fit-out. That’s our primary business and that ranges from plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, ventilation, BMS Systems, renewable energies, we can offer a full design & build service and we have recently started to move towards the new build avenue with regards to the residential side of the business as well.”
Coupled with strategic partnerships with some of the industry’s leading brand names, XL Mech Ltd also offers its clients full service and maintenance of all mechanical systems.
The company’s experienced team of staff comprises of fully qualified technicians, holding the latest F Gas and RGI accreditations.
Having set-up two years ago this November, XL Mech Ltd was born in the midst of unprecedented times.
The Covid-19 pandemic, and the government lockdowns which followed in order to try and combat the spread of the virus, impacted businesses nationwide at the time.
Chris Crowley’s venture had only been up and running a month before the Irish government imposed a lockdown which lasted the best part of 21 weeks.
Needless to say, it was a challenging start for XL Mech Ltd.
“It was extremely difficult (getting off the ground), obviously,” stated the Managing Director. “The business was officially registered on November 30, 2020 and three weeks later we went into a lockdown until May.
“So, I struggled and it was a very big struggle financially. You get an investment and through that investment it dissipates when you have no work coming in. So, for the first six months of my business it was very tough, but I used it as an opportunity network and push new business with existing clients that I’d built over the years of experience.
“As soon as we came back in May then, the business took a huge U-turn and we have been absolutely flat out since.”
So far, 2022 has been going according to script for the company as business has been booming up to this point.
June did see somewhat of a dip, but Chris says he’s very much confident going forward.
“This year has been excellent,” he enthused. “It has been extremely busy and we have invested in a strong team of employees to meet the demand of the current market. We are very proud of the team that we have at our disposal and the lads all carry the same level of professionalism which has been so essential to the rapid growth of the business to date.
“With regards to the industry at the moment, I am seeing a slight reduction in the amount of tenders and live projects, in saying that, it’s still busy. However, I do foresee potentially a little bit of a lull but, with my experience in sales, I’m plugging that gap and I am confident that we will continue to emulate the growth incurred during the first half of the year.”
Right now, XL Mech Ltd is immersed in a handful of projects in and around the capital and the plan for Chris and the rest of the team is to endeavour to keep them coming.
“We’ve a lovely project that we just finished for a client called Mac Interiors for ‘Work Day’,” he outlined. “We have also just finished two other fitout projects called Japanese Tabacco and Ericsson and we are extremely proud of the end result for all project, as are our clients.
“We’re also finishing a project for Krispy Kremes, which is their first flagship store in the Central Plaza. It’ll be the first store where they cook doughnuts on display for the public.”
All of that considered, the burning question is what has been the secret behind the rapid success of XL Mech Ltd thus far?
How has a small start-up grown into a thriving venture in the space of just over 18 months?
For Chris, it comes down to three qualities in particular that his company has aimed to adapt since ‘Day One’.
“My clients are in fit-out and I’ve structured my business around catering the fit-out industry,” he said.
“The people that I’ve hired are very professional individuals and they have all embraced the characteristics that I believe are essential to deliver quality projects, within programme and budget for our clients.
“We also have very talented individuals working for us with regards to on the ground installing. I’ve headhunted every employee that works with me – I haven’t gone through the market – so everyone is headhunted for their skills.
“I would say quality of service, reliability and competitive pricing as well, along with having a good knowledge of the industry.”
Looking towards the months ahead for XL Mech Ltd, Chris says he’s as optimistic as ever going forward.
The company is currently looking to recruit new staff as it continues its expansion and is also keen on a move towards the domestic market, as he outlined.
“If we can maintain the kind of level that we’ve had for the first six months (of 2022), I’d be happy.
“We want to sharpen up the marketing aspect of the business as well, improving the likes of our website, brochures and branding.
“Making a play for the residential market would be a big part of it and obviously continuing to grow within the fit-out industry with new clients.
“They would be my aim,” concluded the MD.
XL Mech Ltd
Unit 1 NW Business Park,
Blanchardstown,
Dublin 15
D15 NYH4
Mobile: 087 098 8884
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, November 2022, Vol 8 No 11
