Magherafelt firm roll out £2m expansion

Magherafelt-based Roll Formed Fabrications have announced a £2m expansion plan which will see the company "increase its capability and overall ability to compete for business particularly in export markets”.

The project is expected to provide 110 new skilled and semi-skilled jobs over the next three years in addition to the 48 currently employed by the company.

Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, made the announcement during a visit to its Moneymore Road factory in Magherafelt alongside Maureen McMullan, Managing Director of Roll Formed Fabrications, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Henry Group.

Sir Reg said: “This expansion will see the company, part of one of Northern Ireland’s most successful entrepreneurial businesses, add value through volume production in its factory which makes Off-Site Constructed Amenity Pods, such as en-suite bathrooms, in a format for contractors to install directly in hotels and other large buildings.

“Roll Formed is one of the first to offer this service in the British Isles and will also benefit from experience gained from the introduction of ‘fast-track’ building techniques that are becoming increasingly popular with builders.

Commenting on the investment Roll Formed Managing Director Maureen McMullan said the project was in line with the group’s strategic focus on diversifying into general construction work in the United Kingdom and other markets, clearly demonstrated the company’s adoption of one of the key recommendations of a recent study of the future of the construction industry.

She said: “We are essentially using our manufacturing knowledge to offer an additional product and a new service to an industry which is facing increasing pressures from customers for faster construction of buildings and is also having to cope with a serious shortage of skilled tradesmen.

“Our en-suite bathroom pods are single pour concrete structures manufactured within a factory environment that ensures the highest quality standards. Each pod is fully kitted out with sanitary ware, shower and electrical connections and arrives on-site as a sealed unit.

“In an industry where time and weather play such an important part, our pod reduces the time lost on-site due to adverse weather conditions and further reduces the overall time on site."

Roll Formed Fabrications was established in 1984 to manufacture a range of composite insulated panels, roof sheeting and structural steel for the local construction industry. It has since developed markets in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

Earlier this year, the company accepted an offer of Selective Financial Assistance of £385,000 from the former Industrial Development Board towards the costs of this investment.

(MB)