Precast concrete is used in a number of products and has been part of our landscape since the early 1900s.
Products include retaining walls, building and site amenities, agricultural products, water and wastewater products as well as many more.
In Ireland, there are a few companies that specialise in the manufacture of precast products and for this month’s edition of Building Ireland, we profile one of the leading firms in this sector, Quinn Precast.
A subsidiary of Quinn Building Products which was established in the 1970’s, the name has become synonymous with the manufacture of a wide range of premium building materials including high-performance rigid insulation, aerated thermal blocks, cement, hollow-core precast flooring and stair systems, and a range of related aggregate building products.
The company’s motto is service excellence coupled with a passion for quality and this is at the core of the business.
Their aim is to provide an unrivalled technical support to architects, designers, engineers, contractors and building owners.
The company is constantly evolving through technical innovation, and is now at the forefront of providing pioneering, cost-effective, construction solutions designed to meet the needs of any construction project.
With a basic philosophy of producing high quality products and offering first rate service at competitive prices, Quinn Building Products is committed to its employees and its customers and is proud to be showcasing best practice in manufacturing for the UK, Ireland and beyond.
The Precast division has gone from strength to strength over the years and Structural Design Engineer Thomas Dunne spoke to Building Ireland about the products that they manufacture.
From their base in Derrylin, Co Fermanagh, Quinn Precast manufactures Hollowcare Flooring, Plate Flooring, T-Joists, Stairs and Landings.
The customer base has grown considerably over the years with their work being carried out both in Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe.
“We are quite busy at the moment and there are a number of projects ongoing. In 2016, we worked on projects such as Foyle School (Herron Bros), Antrim Community School (O’Hare McGovern), while we have also worked on projects for PJ McLoughlin and Sammon Construction,” said Thomas.
Over the past few years, the erection of a number of new schools both here and the U.K has kept the company busy.
“Definitely, the schools have picked up the slack and kept us busy. Following the recession, things were fairly quiet, but the construction of so many schools has certainly helped us.”
Working directly with the Engineer on most of the projects, the Quinn team can ensure that every specification is met.
There is a significant advantage when building with precast concrete products, according to Thomas.
“All components are cast off site and this allows for a quick assembly, saving time over on-site mould construction and pouring. It is extremely structurally efficient as it can be made to the exacting specifications of the build to any size or shape.”
Quinn Precast concrete is precision mixed using other Quinn Building Products materials, offering superior strength and durability to traditional wet concrete.
“Our products are manufactured to the highest standards possible and we have all the necessary accreditation to do so.”
The density of precast concrete also assists in sound reduction, ideally suited to domestic builds and has the added benefit of being highly impact absorbent. Precast concrete is tough and durable and has excellent exposure and fireproofing properties.
The Hollowcore Flooring produced by Quinn’s are machine cast concrete slabs with tubular voids extending the full length of each slab, creating a light weight building unit, saving money on materials and transport costs.
“The hollow core flooring would be our busiest area and all products are conform to current European, British and Irish standards.”
This flooring is suitable for both domestic and commercial buildings and is supplied in standard lengths yet are available in a variety of depths ranging from 150mm to 400mm.
Re-investment in the business is an ongoing process as Thomas revealed that they have made major changes in 2016.
“The stair and landing manufacturing operates from a new plant built in 2016, while two new block lorries and three artics have been added to the fleet. The management knows the importance of investing in the business and all the latest technology is used.”
The Quinn Precast Plate Flooring system was developed following an increasing demand from the construction industry for a composite flooring system with good span/depth ratio, which is fast to install and does not require on-site propping.
Quinn T-joist provides the perfect solution when floor slabs must be reinforced where hard core fill is in excess of 600mm. They also act as an ideal alternative solution when site restrictions prohibit the use of hollow core and a suspended concrete floor is required.
The company is a specialist in bespoke precast concrete stairs and landings, with an experienced team and technically advanced manufacturing facilities.
Quinn Precast Stairs and Landings are machine cast using high quality raw materials from other Quinn Building Products divisions. The Quinn design and manufacturing facility can cater for a large variety of staircase configurations as all orders are made on custom built moulds to clients requirements.
“Business is good at the moment and our production has increased year on year in the last couple of years. Most of our work would be going to Dublin where the majority of the work is taking place.”
Contact Details:
Quinn Precast
235 Ballyconnell Road, Derrylin, Co. Fermanagh,
BT92 9GP
Tel: 08000 322 122 (UK)
Tel: 1800 322 122 (ROI)
E-mail: [email protected]
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, February 2017, Vol 3 No 2
