Gweedore metal firm plans to break into key international markets

A GWEEDORE metal firm has secured the safety kite mark award which will help launch it to the international market.

In 2005 brothers Brendan and Declan Ward started a metal pressings business- Irish Pressings' on the Gweedore Business Park.

Having gained valuable experience in pressing metal brackets for the automotive market while working with Kirchhoff Ireland and Germany, they decided to branch out, into business for themselves, and thus "Faisc Miotail Eireann Teo" trading as "Irish Pressings", was born.

The Kincasslagh brothers in association with Udaras na Gaeltachta acquired a vacant factory unit on the Gweedore Business Park and opened for business in January 2006.

A year down the road has seen many physical changes in the structure inside, outside and around the premises.

New machinery has been added, and recently a new Wood Burning heating and hot water system has been installed.

QUALITY

When they started out in business Declan and Brendan vowed that quality would be to the forefront of their business.

`They applied for the ISO9001:2000 before they had actually started production in the factory, and were delighted that they gained this standard, when the initial audit was carried out, a few months after the manufacturing process started.

Since then all the products they are manufacturing are subject to independent testing and certifying to European standards, which is carried out in the UK, on an ongoing basis.

Irish Pressings have also recently established a connection with "The Institute for Higher and Further Education" in Derry, who also carry out certain tests on materials and products, and help in the design and prototype of new products.

The most recent Quality Award gained by the company, is the acquisition of the "CE" mark for quality, which was presented by the current minister for "Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs", Mr Eamonn O`Cuiv, on his recent visit to the Business Park.

"This award will now allow us to market our products anywhere across Europe and will be of great benefit to us in the future, when hopefully the British and European markets open up for us," Declan said.

On the business front the company started manufacturing metal brackets used in the construction industry, and so far they have established a working relationship with well over one hundred customers, all around the country.

They have also recently become an approved supplier to the Associated Hardware group who trade under the Homevalue Hardware brand, and thus gaining access to over sixty potential new customers.

CONSTRUCTION

"The emphasis now is to expand the construction end of the business and establish a new direction where we are currently working with and sourcing potential customers in the automotive sector and any other areas that use pressed brackets in their business" continued Declan.

"The company is now equipped to provide a product design service to any potential customer. We offer 2D or 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) facilities and can offer completed designs in a very short time frame"

"We can also offer significant "Part Development" facilities, where parts and or prototypes can be developed in conjunction with a company. This can be done through the medium of a company providing drawings, basic information or samples".

"We are also in a position to have prototypes tested to ensure they reach the required standards"

Both Brendan and Declan have extensive experience in tool-making and they offer a consultancy to any company who may see metal pressings as a more efficient method for their business.

They also offer a service for the design and manufacture of tooling.

The comprehensive tool-room, equipped with a "state of the art" CNC machine centre, and wire erosion machine among others, and a fully equipped quality control room, makes this option attractive to any potential users of tooling, who need a speedy affordable solution.

With these quality awards, and the hard work currently being carried out by the Ward brothers and their staff, in Irish Pressings, the future looks bright for this young company.


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