Steel & Roofing Systems Ltd is a leading steel fabricator and supplier of roofing and cladding systems based in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny. Managing director Michael Whelan explains more.
From humble beginnings in 1988, Steel & Roofing Systems Ltd (SRS) has become a household name in the Irish structural steelwork and cladding supply sector. The company specialises in design fabrication and erection of all types of structural steelwork and farm buildings.
Committed to providing innovative and effective engineering solutions, SRS has the capacity to produce up to 250 tonnes of structural steelwork per week, which makes it one of the largest steel fabricators in the market. The overall quality of SRS’s products and service is widely acknowledged and respected, and is backed by over 40 years’ experience in the industry. The company constantly strives to exceed client expectations on quality, service and cost.
Michael Whelan set up Steel & Roofing Systems after spending 13 years working for Duggan Steel in Kilkenny. He recalls: “When Duggan’s stopped fabricating steel at that time, I saw an opening in the market and decided to go for it. Our aim was to fabricate, supply and erect structural steelwork, roofing and cladding to an ever-increasing market.”
The Paulstown native, whose wife Annette is also a director in the company, started out with six staff. At the height of the construction boom, the figure had shot up to 120. When the recession hit, however, he was forced to scale back and now employs 50.
SRS offers a wide variety of services to its clients, including supply and fabrication of structural steelwork, roof and wall cladding, composite metal decking, shear stud welding, steel treatments and design and drawing. The company has achieved the highest level of CE Marking: FPC EXC4 BS EN 1090-1 (Execution Class 4).
SRS’s highly-trained workforce can fabricate and erect structural steelwork for any purpose, from simple beam and column structures to complex truss configurations. The Co. Kilkenny firm supplies and fits all types of cladding, including composite cladding systems, architectural cladding systems (incorporating integrated windows and curtain walling) and single ply EPDM roofing membrane. It goes without saying that all projects undertaken are completed to the highest standard and specification, and are fully insured.
The fact that SRS is one of the few contractors that can carry out the structural steelwork fabrication and erection, as well as the roofing and cladding, ensures tight quality control and no miscommunication issues between several different parties.
All of SRS’s design and detailing is carried out by fully qualified draughtsmen using 3D modelling softeware – Stru-Cad and Tekla. These software packages are tailor-made for modelling structural steel and for production of fabrication drawings and any other necessary information. A full 3D model is developed by the draughtsmen, incorporating all details required, such as bolts, stiffeners and connection plates. Once fabrication drawings of the individual components have been produced, the design team can then produce general arrangement drawings for site assembly.
SRS operates from a 60,000 sq ft purpose-built workshop in Castlecomer where fabrication, welding and design is carried out. The premises are ideally located to offer an extensive range of products and services throughout Ireland. It also allows easy access to ports for export. The company has made significant inroads into the UK market in the last five years and has also successfully delivered overseas projects in the Middle East, Tunisia and Russia.
“Most of our work is concentrated in the southern half of Ireland and in the UK,” Michael explains.
“We’ve been working in the UK since 2010 – just after the recession started in Ireland – and it’s a growing market for us. Our first overseas project was for Kodak in Moscow about 20 years ago. We’ve also worked in Abu Dhabi. Distance is no object to us. We’ll go wherever the work is.”
SRS is a member of BCSA (British Constructional Steelwork Association) and is approved for contracts up to £2 million. Here in Ireland, the company has successfully completed numerous projects, ranging from commercial / retail, industrial and education to leisure / accommodation, healthcare, pharmaceutical, transport and agriculture.
Among the most high-profile projects the company has delivered are: Smithlands Business Park, Kilkenny; Spencer Dock, Dublin; Nutgrove Retail Park, Dublin; Kildare Civic Offices; IFSC Office Development, Dublin; Waterford; Sheehy Motors, Carlow and Naas; AXIS Business Park, Tullamore; Mansion House Roof, Dublin; Blanchardstown IT; Carlow IT; Health Sciences Centre in UCD; Ormonde Hotel, Kilkenny; Limerick Racecourse Stand; Hermitage Clinic, Dublin; St. James’ Hospital, Dublin; Medtronic, Galway; M1 Gantrys; M6 Toll Plaza; Dublin Airport (Terminal 2).
Current projects include new Supermac’s outlets in Moneygall, Tipperary town and Loughrea, and a 110,000 sq ft facility for Abbey Machinery in Toomevara. SRS recently completed structural work of 35 new units at Kildare Village and is about to commence a major project in Cork University Hospital (CUH).
SRS prides itself on the level of services it provides for its clients. This has led to many repeat customers. Michael and his team listen to their customers’ needs and are always willing to go the extra mile that is required in order to deliver quality solutions. Every project they undertake, regardless of the size, is given the same level of attention to detail to ensure unrivalled customer service.
The company also places a strong emphasis on health and safety. It actively reviews and promotes its health and safety policy on site and in the workshop to ensure a safe working environment for all involved in the construction process. A full-time health and safety officer, who monitors, enforces and demands the highest standards of health and safety, is employed. SRS is currently working towards achieving accreditation in OHSAS 18001 – Health and Safety Management.
When it comes to design, production and construction, SRS is a leader in providing structural steel solutions.
Steel & Roofing Systems Ltd (SRS)
Kilkenny Road,
Castlecomer,
Co. Kilkenny.
Telephone: 056-4441855/6/7
Fax: 056-4441860
Email: michael.whelan@
Website: www.steelandroofingsystems.ie
Taken from Building Ireland magazine Vol 2 No 1, Spring 2016
