You might know them as Newell Roofing Products, but in 2021, this long-established family business changed its name to reflect its incredible growth, expansion and diversification.
Having built a reputation as one of Ireland’s leading producers and suppliers of roofing and construction products over 40 years, the business had outgrown its roofing roots and rebranded as Tecron.
Today, Tecron continues to build on solid foundations. This one-stop shop for accessories such as insulation, pitched roof felts, fastening systems, outlets and adhesives, is further enhancing its reputation for manufacturing and reliably supplying a wide range of modern, high-performance waterproofing and construction systems nationwide, including to some high-profile projects.
Recent notable customers include Center Parcs in Longford, The Curragh Racecourse in Kildare and Debenhams in Limerick, which were all supplied with Fatra PVC Membrane from Tecron.
But Tecron is more than just a supplier. The team pride themselves on being a specialist, professional partner with the single aim of making projects easier for clients. And that is really what makes them an Irish success story.
Delivering quality products by way of exceptional service has always been the Tecron way. Peter and Aileen Newell set up the business in 1983, in the backyard of their Galway home.
The business has grown significantly since then, driven by constantly accumulating commercial experience and an unwavering commitment to service, quality and value for money. It’s a formula that’s in the business’s DNA.
Today, Tecron’s HQ in Carnmore, Oranmore means the team are well-placed to access both the East-West (M6) and North-South (M17) routes and the island of Ireland. The premises have been extensively upgraded to a state-of-the-art, 50,000 sq. ft. facility and the business continues to innovate to stay ahead in the fast-moving construction industry.
As well as rebranding in 2021, the business also acquired a new Managing Director, Pat Hopkins.
Pat says: “I may be MD but it’s still very much a family business. Since joining the business as Sales Director in 2016, I’ve worked closely with fellow-directors, Barry, Maggie and Helen Newell, whose parents are the company’s founders.
“We’re supported by a strong and experienced team that is growing all the time – by 40% at the last count! We’ve also invested heavily in our manufacturing facility over the past five years. For us, the Covid-19 pandemic presented an opportunity to refocus and reassess where we were going. One of the best decisions we made was to rebrand with a view to grow and expand the business.
“We’ve rapidly found our niche by deliberately transitioning to the very specialised waterproofing market. Our focus is very much on roofing and construction products which we supply both nationwide and to the UK. Our sales team and delivery fleet capably cover the 32 counties at least weekly.”
Pat also notes: “We carry out technical inspections after installation is done and technical submittals for our products.”
Tecron produces and supplies a range of roofing and construction products, including Single Ply Roofing (Fatra), Bitumen Waterproofing, Liquid Applied Waterproofing, Green Roofing Systems, EPDM Roof Membrane, Hot Melt Membrane System, Hard Metals (Zinc, GreenCoat PLX and Aluminium), Rooflight Systems and all the accessories.
“The roof of a building sometimes goes unnoticed. However, it’s the most important part as it keeps the whole building watertight – something we as Irish people really understand the importance of.”
The trend towards Single Ply roofing in Ireland has continued for the past decade and today it’s the first choice for many commercial and residential roofs. Specifiers like its combination of durable resistance and light weight. Tecron partners with Single Ply producer Fatra in the Czech Republic to offer their complete range. It’s an adaptable product, making it suitable for a diverse range of roofing applications and, crucially, can also be the ideal choice for more specialist projects.
Some things haven’t changed, however. Tecron continues to offer Bitumen Waterproofing – a system that’s been tried and tested for almost 100 years. Their broad range of bitumen membranes provide solutions for an unlimited range of applications. And as you would expect given their clear commitment to quality, Tecron’s Bitumen Waterproofing boasts exceptional life expectancy, resistance to damage and high-performance adhesion. Quick installation couldn’t be easier as the material is simple to apply using a choice of torch-applied, mechanically fixed or adhesive methods.
Liquid Applied Waterproofing is another waterproofing solution that is growing in popularity. Tecron partners with the world-renowned Carlisle Building Products to offer the Arboflex range of liquids, whose material properties include being airtight and waterproof on a range of substrates. Once again, it is quick and easy to install.
Another Carlisle product that Tecron offers is the Hertalan EPDM Roof Membrane rubber roofing system which makes permanent flat roof, façade and building waterproofing easier than ever thanks to easy-install and durable features. Plus, thanks to a long service life of over 50 years, Tecron’s recommended EPDM rubber has an excellent eco balance and can also be recycled in an eco-friendly manner.
For specialist projects where design is a priority, Hard Metals are a great option. The visual effect of a metal roof adds an additional aesthetic, whether it be NedZink zinc roofing and cladding products, GreenCoat PLX or Aluminium. All are available from Tecron stock for rapid delivery.
And if green, sustainable options are key to your project’s values, Tecron offer a Green Roofing solution. Partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, a green roof is a practical and popular way to bring nature into a city or urban environment – and offers substantial benefits not only for a building but also public health and wellbeing. A green roof can also enhance a building’s rainwater attenuation, provide additional insulation and become a habitat for wildlife.
Of course, in general terms, green credentials and sustainability are a priority for most businesses – and that goes for Tecron too. They’ve taken time to carefully consider their systems and processes and created a ‘Green Checklist’. Much more than a tick box exercise, this checklist is ever evolving and has already enabled implementation of ideas that include smarter buying, paperless ways of working, sustainable lighting, reducing plastic in the supply chain and increased recycling.
As Pat has already noted, the Tecron team continues to grow – by an incredible 40% in the last few years. It’s testament to the business’s commitment to its people and focus on creating a working culture where people can be their best. Sensible working hours and great training opportunities are just two of the things that attract great people to work with Tecron.
Dylan Gough is one such new joiner and already he’s impressed with the set up: “I’ve joined a forward-thinking, family-run business and I’m excited about what we can achieve. I look after customers across the country and it’s a role I thrive in because the business looks after me.”
Sales and Operations Manager, John O’Malley, works at the beating heart of Tecron’s dynamic business and gave us an insight into what drives Tecron’s success: “As well as a comprehensive service commitment that underpins everything we do, we’ve defined our philosophy for the next five years and outlined a clear commitment to investing in our team. That’s already bearing fruit. I get to work with an enthusiastic, energetic and motivated team that delivers results every day. They might not always see it or be aware of it, but each and every one of our customers benefits enormously from the culture we’ve created as a team. Engagement, communication, direction and transparency enable easy implementation of structures that ensure we’re organised, driven and motivated.”
Tecron
Carnmore,
Oranmore,
Co. Galway
H91 D294
Telephone: 091 353 545
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.tecron.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, June 2023, Vol 9 No 6
