Building for the future
December 31, 2009Ireland's construction industry may have led the way when it comes to the economic plummet but Monaghan firm Kingspan Century Ltd is well placed to withstand the worst rigours of the sector's problems. With the shift towards more sustainable, environmentally-friendly products in the building industry ongoing, Kingspan Century is leading the way when it comes to the manufacture and installation of timber frame housing.
Gary Treanor, the company's Director of Product and Business Development, has a unique perspective on the health or otherwise of the industry. Currently nearing the end of his second year as chairman of the Irish Timber Frame Manufacturers' Association, the Monaghan man is also a member of the Building Regulations Advisory Body, having been appointed in 1997 by former Minister for the Environment Dick Roche.
"It's a difficult market now but Kingspan Century are holding our own," he says. "We had a large market share in the boom times and with a drive towards more sustainable products, we'll be aiming to increase that share in the future. A lot of people building their own homes may not be aware of the new requirements for thermal regulation but timber-frame houses take a lot of those problems away.
"Timber frame gives excellent insulation and a very high degree of airtightness. It's sort of a one-stop shop - very little can go wrong and it takes minimal supervision from the occupant because everything is prepared in advance and erected by our qualified personnel on site."
A chartered engineer by trade, Treanor is responsible for the technical side of the Kingspan Century operation having been with the company for the past 11 years. The acquisition of the successful Century Homes company, established by Monaghan businessman Gerry McCaughey, by the multinational Kingspan in 2005 brought a change but it is one which has given an extra string to the company's collective bow.
"Century Homes was always a very strong company and that was probably what interested Kingspan in the first place," says Treanor. "Before 2005 was a buoyant period for the industry and the company went from small to huge in a short space of time, with exponential growth year on year, and I think it was a good fit for Kingspan. Having been a family-owned and run company for a number of years, we're now part of a large plc. That has its own complications and advantages but a number of the people who occupied management positions with Century Homes remain in the business and the core strengths of the company remain the same. We have a strong focus on customer service, we're constantly adapting and innovating our products and we aim to keep the business progressing successfully in what is a challenging environment at the moment."
That challenging environment now means a global outlook for everyone at the company, with the operations of parent company Kingspan taking in projects in north America, Australia and central and eastern Europe as well as Britain and Ireland. "We'll be looking at markets in the rest of the world," says Gary. "Britain and Ireland have contributed greatly to the success of Kingspan but the objective is to expand into new markets elsewhere in the coming years."
Traditionally Kingspan's principal product was insulation, but with the move into timber-frame housing and a new development, at a purpose-built factory across the border in Portadown, focusing on sustainable energy, all strands of the company in Ireland go together hand in hand.
Says Gary: "Insulation was always the core product for Kingspan and that, along with the renewable energy and solar panel operation in Portadown, links in well with the business of Kingspan Century to manufacture more energy-efficient homes. There's a good synergy to the whole operation."
With regard to sport, Gary played for Sean McDermotts in his youth while his children Gerard, Niamh and Jack turn out regularly for Tyholland juveniles. His wife Michelle is currently assistant treasurer of the Tyholland club, having spent time on the backroom staff of the Monaghan county ladies team in the past.
Gary's own playing career later took him in the direction of rugby - he still turns out in the front row for Monaghan RFC - and he has been hugely impressed by the progress on a global scale of another Monaghan man: Tommy Bowe.
"The year he's had with Ireland and the Lions," he says, "Tommy is a source of great pride to everyone in Monaghan. He comes from a fantastic family and success hasn't changed him a bit - he still devotes a lot of his time and effort to local events, whether it's rugby, GAA or his old Harriers athletics club. He really is world-class at this stage, although I'm not sure if that would sit well with him - he's a very modest, down-to-earth lad."
Whether it's with Monaghan RFC or the exploits of Bowe & Co with Ireland, rugby might take a lot of Treanor's sporting focus but he retains a close interest in events on the gaelic fields too. To that end, he's full of praise for county manager Seamus McEnaney.
"It's great to see Banty back for 2010," he says. "Seamus has done a great job and I'd say there isn't a manager in the country who has the same universal support as he has within the county. One job's he's particularly good at is bringing people in to help out, such as the appointment of Paul Grimley - if he can bring a bit of what Kildare had under Kieran McGeeney to help Monaghan in Division 1, then that will be very encouraging.
"Division 1 is the level of football Monaghan need to be playing at if they are to win another Ulster Championship. They haven't had the best of draws, with Derry or Armagh up first, but you have to beat the best at some stage and playing in Division 1 will help them prepare for that. It's been too long since 1988, and hopefully this team will be able to bring home some silverware. They deserve it."
For more information on Kingspan Century's products and services, visit www.kingspancentury.com. Tweet
