NI Engineering Firm Scoops Business In Sierre Leone

McCrory Engineering in Aughnacloy, Co. Tyrone has secured business in Sierre Leone for a unique mobile concrete batching plant in a deal worth more than £200,000.

The Tyrone company launched its MCM40 machine on the Invest Northern Ireland stand at the recent International Quarrying and Recycling Show at Hillhead, Derbyshire, the most important event in the global quarrying and recycling industry.

The company made the sale of its fully mobile concrete plant to a contractor working in the West African nation shortly after launching it at the show.

The contract for the innovative mobile batching plant was announced by Seamus McCrory, McCrory Engineering Director, and welcomed by Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI Trade Director.

Mr McCrory, commenting on the contract, the company's most recent in export markets, said: "The Hillhead show was tremendously successful in terms of new business leads generated for our machinery especially the new mobile plant, the first of its type in UK with unique features.

"As a result of this participation, we are now following up a series of very strong leads which could boost our business significantly outside Northern Ireland. This could mean further business worth over £2 million."

The new MCM40 machine is completely mobile and can be producing concrete within a few hours of installation. It has been designed and developed for easy transport by attaching to a tractor unit. Walkways, steps and other parts can be folded away quickly for fast transport to a construction site, where it can be deployed to produce 40 cubic metres of concrete per hour. The mobile plant is also fully compliant with worldwide road transport legislation.

Dr Kell said: "This is a very encouraging development for McCrory Engineering and a fast return on its substantial investment in developing innovative machinery. It has clearly strengthened its competitive edge particularly in markets which are continuing to grow and are investing in infrastructure.

"We were delighted when this export-focused company seized the opportunity provided by our stand at Hillhead to launch the new and unique machinery. It helped to highlight the commitment to innovation which underpins the construction, quarrying and recycling industry in Northern Ireland."

(CD)