All the latest products and services news

Kilsaran has announced the acquisition of Galway-based precast company Oran Precast.

Kilsaran Precast will now operate out of two locations, Oranmore in Galway and Kilsaran’s existing facility in Co Kildare, with the combined production servicing both the Irish and UK markets.

Kilsaran commissioned its first precast plant in early 2021, offering a full-service solution from building design and manufacture through to installation. This acquisition now gives Kilsaran the ability to provide a full complement of precast elements from walls and floors to stairs, columns, and beams.

Oran Precast’s current management team will remain and lead the combined business, with Derek Duffy becoming the managing director of Kilsaran Precast and John Dooley becoming the commercial director for the combined entity.

David and Derry McKeown, co-CEO’s, Kilsaran, said: “This investment by Kilsaran allows us to provide a complete precast solution for our customers and comes at a time when there is a significant shift in the construction market towards offsite construction. We look forward to working with our new colleagues in Oran Precast as we integrate the two businesses for further growth and investment.”

Derek Duffy said: “We are extremely proud of how Oran Precast has evolved and grown to become one of Ireland’s leading

Kilsaran announces acquisition of Oran Precast precast manufacturers supplying precast components to numerous high-profile projects in Ireland and the UK. I would like to thank the dedicated team in Oran Precast who have established the business to what it is today. I look forward to the growth of our combined business, Kilsaran Precast over the coming months and years.”

SKILLKO LEARN – DIGITAL INDUCTIONS, ONBOARDING AND CONTINUOUS LEARNING MADE EASY

Skillko has just launched its new digital inductions, onboarding and learning management system (LMS), offering Skillko Learn on its award-winning training and compliance management platform. This latest product addition to the platform aims to revolutionise the way companies within the construction and utility sectors manage their resources and training.

Skillko Learn solves the problem of spending multiple hours inducting and onboarding new starters or subcontractors, as well as making this process completely paperless, removing even further administration. Furthermore, the LMS offering allows companies to create custom eLearning courses or upload toolbox talks and send them out to their staff to complete on their mobile devices or computers.

The Skillko team has been working with its customers to build out this new offering to solve the above-mentioned problems now and into the future.

STREAMLINE ONBOARDING Brendan Maloney, co-founder and CEO, Skillko, comments: “Skillko was developed to eliminate known problems in resource training compliance and management. Our latest product, Skillko Learn, allows businesses to streamline onboarding and inductions of new staff members and contractors, along with creating internal eLearning courses and company briefs. Skillko Learn, along with Skillko Compliance, allows a business to manage the full life cycle of resource training management and compliance specific to the construction and utility industries.”

Skillko client David Sloyan, Director, Roadbridge, comments: “We have been incredibly happy with the return on investment and benefits we have seen through using the Skillko platform to date and are very excited by the benefits we are already experiencing with its latest feature release, Skillko Learn.”

This latest product release includes various benefits such as paperless staff onboarding, automatic staff profile creation, uploading custom induction videos, creating custom eLearning courses and automatic certificate creation.

Skillko Learn is now available on the Skillko platform, along with Skillko’s other product’s Skillko Compliance and Skillko Trainer.

The modular construction of the

The ICE side grip hammer results in less downtime during exchange of the side-grip inserts for various profiles.

Anew side-grip piling hammer that saves civil engineering contractors time and money has been launched in Ireland by specialist construction services supplier Groundforce.

The Dieseko Group ICE attachment, for which Groundforce is the sole distributor in Ireland, has already proved its worth on several jobs where it has negated the need for contractors to employ a specialist piling contractor to install long sheet piles.

Available to hire exclusively from Groundforce, the side-grip piling hammer is robust, easy to fit and operate and can install sheet piles up to 10 metres long.

Designed to be simple, rigid and reliable, the hammer was developed from an extensive study on similar attachments as well as input from operators who best understand their requirements.

The result is a unique linear side-clamping system that gives a more efficient clamping load transfer for sheet piles and H-beams up to 330mm and casings up to 550mm. The maximum weight of the drivable piles depends largely on the excavator, as the side clamp of the side gripper can handle profile weights of up to 7,000kg, exceeding the limit for most excavators equipped with a side gripper vibratory hammer.

Groundforce customers who have recently used the new attachment have been impressed with its capabilities.

Andrew Hatton, Project Manager, Farrans Construction, says: “The ICE side grip hammer supplied by Groundforce allowed us to install a large cofferdam on a very restricted site on a bank on the river Lee in Cork city. Without it, we wouldn’t have been able to install the sheet piles with our own crew.”

Ryan Buckley, owner of Castworks Ltd, comments: “This is a very impressive attachment, plenty of power and very easy to operate. We used it to install 10-metre sheet piles in Wexford for John Sisk & Son, and we look forward to using it again on the next job.”

Joseph Lenihan, General Manager, Groundforce, comments: “This attachment is a game-changer for the Irish market, never before could our customers install a cofferdam themselves if the length of sheet pile exceeded 8 metres, but now they can.”

Groundforce launches side-grip piling hammer designed to save time and money

To learn more, visit www.vpgroundforce.com/ire

Wavin launches Tree Tank solution for urban spaces

Wavin has announced the launch of its innovative TreeTank solutions to support climate-resilient cities and bring nature into urban environments. The TreeTank ensures trees can be easily and effectively integrated into urban areas without disrupting vital infrastructure.

By incorporating more trees into designs, city planners and local authorities can improve local air quality, reduce the growing urban heat effect, boost biodiversity and improve wellbeing. Trees can also play a key role in urban stormwater management, reducing the volume of rainwater entering the old drainage networks of many towns and cities in Ireland.

Trees should be considered a key component of any sustainable drainage system (SuDS), however, engineers struggle with the conflict for roads and paths that require the compaction of the ground and trees that require an uncompacted growing medium to allow sufficient space for tree roots.

The planting of trees has long been a burden for those working in planning and infrastructure, with several common issues cropping up when using traditional banks or pits at the side of the road. Unpredictable growth can lead to trees damaging adjacent pavements, roads and even nearby buildings. The lack of space for tree roots to grow safely and productively also impacts trees’ health, reducing the positive impact they can have on the area.

Wavin’s new TreeTank root chamber system provides space within which the uncompacted growing medium is placed whilst providing sufficient support for pedestrian paths and walkways. The modular system manufactured from 100% polypropylene with a service life of up to 50 years is adaptable to any situation. The Wavin TreeTank directs roots away from the surface and deep into the ground.

Wavin has trialled its TreeTank through several pilot projects alongside contractors and provincial authorities across Europe, and the solution is now available in Ireland.

John McPeake Technical Sales Manager, Wavin Ireland, commented: “At last, landscape architects and engineers have a real solution to accommodate trees in urban areas, and the TreeTank is another tool for SuDS drainage systems in the battle to prevent climate change.”

The innovative Wavin TreeTank.

BROGAN GROUP DELIVERS ACCESS SOLUTIONS FOR IRELAND PAVILION AT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

Irish family-owned Brogan Group provided access solutions to help build the Ireland Pavilion at Expo in Dubai, as well as 26 other national pavilions. The worldwide expo, which opened its gates at the start of October, sees 192 countries showcasing their nation through bespoke pavilions until 31 March 2022.

The Irish theme ‘Island of Inspiration’ was chosen to celebrate the Irish scientific, the fantastic and a global Ireland’, which Brogan Group itself is an example of, with divisions in Dublin, London, Dubai and Saudi Arabia.

BROGAN GROUP SCAFFOLDING EXPERTISE Brogan Group used its scaffolding expertise to help construct this national ‘beacon’ designed by Office of Public Works’ architects led by state architect Ciarán O’Connor and assistant principal architect Ger Harvey, with inspiration from Irish Neolithic and western medieval architecture in the design.

The Irish pavilion is one of many that Brogan Group worked on as a part of the expo build. The company provided access solutions to build 27 national pavilions and eight public service projects, including lifting the centrepiece Al Wasl Plaza dome, which stands 130 metres wide and 67.5 metres high.

MAST CLIMBER AND HOIST ACCESS SOLUTIONS In recent years, Brogan Group has been at the forefront of the growing demand for mast climber and hoist access solutions in the Brogan scaffolding around the Ireland Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai Irish market, utilising its extensive experience in powered access, combined with traditional scaffolding, working on some of the most significant construction projects in each region.

Speaking about Expo 2020 Dubai, Rory Connolly, General Manager, UAE, Brogan Group, said: “It has been an honour helping build the World Expo’s celebration of unique architecture, culture and inspiring innovations across the globe, an event that has been going on for 170 years, and this year in Dubai it welcomed 192 nations. Thanks to all our team for their efforts on delivering access on such a varied and time-sensitive project.”

FOSROC CELEBRATES 50 YEARS IN IRELAND

Leading construction specialist chemicals manufacturer Fosroc has just celebrated a 50-year milestone of providing solutions to the Irish construction industry, with product sales dating back to 1971.

As a global manufacturer of highperformance chemicals, Fosroc supplies a broad range of specialist building products with a focus on concrete and cement.

As sales flourished in Ireland during the 70s, Fosroc established an Irish-based salesforce. The importance of locationspecific knowledge and high availability for site inspections was recognised to ensure clients in Ireland and Northern Ireland received the highest standard of service in terms of technical product expertise, training and supply turnaround. This localised approach proved to be much more beneficial for clients.

Fosroc has been involved in many successful Irish projects over the years, with products used for industrial, public and commercial constructions, major transportation and utilities infrastructure. Examples of iconic Irish projects where Fosroc supplied products include Dublin airport, Luas, Aviva Stadium, Downpatrick Racecourse, Stormont wharf and Hawlbowline jetty, Ardnacrusha dam and Parteen weir in Tipperary.

Fosroc continues to work closely with its Irish distributor network, including key partners Anchor Bay Construction Accessories, MacNaughton Blair, Murdock Civils and Total Pipeline Specialists.

Fosroc’s comprehensive and tailored construction solutions include concrete admixtures, concrete repair and refurbishment, waterproofing, joint sealants, protective coatings, grouts and anchors, industrial flooring and cement additives.

A Fosroc solution being applied at Dublin airport.

irish construction news

M A G A Z I N E D I G I T A L S O C I A L constructionnews.ie

Keep up to date with all the latest Irish construction news, features and much more on our website constructionnews.ie and social media platforms

Scan QR code to sign up for free E-newsletter Scan QR code to subscribe to Irish Construction News