Supplier Profile
State-of-the-art brush manufacturing machine.
A clean sweep across Ireland Like the GAA, established the same year, brush manufacturer Dosco plays a central part in Irish lives, with a cleaning product in every household. And new product and brand developments keep coming from this historic Cork family business. Since its foundation in 1884, Dosco has remained a 100% Irish owned family business and today is Ireland’s only brush manufacturer. The Hardware Journal speaks to George Kenefick, Sales Director and a 4th generation family member working in the business. From the start D O’Sullivan & Co (Dosco) focused on hardworking, quality cleaning products. 137 years later, keeping Irish homes spick and span is still at the core of everything they do. Moving with the times has always been the secret of longevity and Dosco has been busy enhancing range, packaging and product performance over the last couple of years.
Brushes with history The company was established by Denis O’Sullivan on Lavitt’s Quay in Cork City, moving at the turn of the twentieth century to Merchant’s Quay, now the site of Merchant’s Quay Shopping Centre. In the 1960s the business relocated to South Douglas Road, just outside the city, where it remains today. During those early days the premises were multi storey. All raw materials had to be hauled up to the top floors to be manufactured into the various products, then brought down to ground level for despatch. The first products were mainly brushes for road sweeping, shoes, for removing distemper from walls, cleaning firesides and chimney sweeping. The majority were made by hand, using tar to bind the bristles together before being inserted into the wooden stocks (heads).
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Dosco also had a textile department where heavy duty floor cloths and oven gloves were manufactured. Over time Dosco diversified into making a range of paint brushes. This success led to the establishment of a substantial manufacturing department within the factory. Dosco has seen incredible changes in society, in Cork City and across Ireland, and has lent a hand in supporting communities. The firm supplied products to assist in the clean-up operations after disasters, such as floods, fires and revolutions, but also to help prepare for celebrations.
The one and only At one time Ireland had several brush manufacturers. Now just one remains, enduring by retaining the qualities customers have always valued, while evolving to meet the needs of transformed homes and workplaces. “It is with great pride that we recognise that every home in Ireland has a Dosco product somewhere in it; be it in the utility, the bathroom, the shed, car or garden,” says George. “Now we are investing to ensure we continue helping keep Ireland ship-shape for the foreseeable future!”
New products and new look In 2019 the branding team redesigned the Dosco brand and all its packaging. The same year, Dosco relaunched its paintbrush range. The new and enhanced brushes incorporate big improvements, in particular better bristles and longer length stock to improve pick-up and paint release, ensuring the best finish possible. September/October 2021
