The Cooley peninsula is very much Louth's GAA heartland these days with the two local rivals battling it out each year for the Joe Ward Cup. Apart from class football, the area has also developed a stellar reputation in the field of precision engineering thanks to Bellurgan, a local company with strong GAA ties. The axis of power in Wee County football is almost visible as it dissects the beautiful Cooley peninsula. Between them, fierce local rivals St Patricks and Cooley Kickhams invariably scoop all the major senior honours on an annual basis and this was no different in 2007 as the celebrated pair once more came head-to-head in the county final. As Cooley and the Pats dominate both league and championship, the peninsula in general is abuzz. The locals are enjoying the excitement. In their midst is an award-winning precision engineering company that serves as one of the biggest employers in the area. Unlike most in this football-crazy territory, the company in question maintains a neutral stance, enjoying the success of both local teams. Located in Pats territory, Bellurgan was founded by former Cooley Kickhams footballer Bernard Carroll almost 30 years ago and counts numerous supporters of both clubs amongst its almost 70 strong staff. Together, they work in harmony. Cooley player Jason Malone is a sales rep with Bellurgan, while Pats secretary Martin Keenan oversees the stores. As current MD Suzanne Carroll notes: "We have connections with both clubs and are very proud to be from this area." Bellurgan manufactures high-precision metal, alloy and plastic components and assemblies. The company focuses on four key markets: Medical Device, Automotive, Electronic and Aerospace. The genesis of the company occurred towards the end of the 1970s when founder Bernard Carroll identified a niche in the market for a machine spare parts supplier to the local manufacturing industry and in particular to the growing number of US multinationals establishing a presence in the north east region at the time. Bellurgan began as a commercial enterprise in 1978, delivering precision engineering products and services to a number of multinational and indigenous manufacturers operating in Ireland. The company ethos was founded on partnership, engineering excellence and world class production methodologies. After a settling in period, relationships and trust began to grow and it wasn't long before Bellurgan was offered opportunities to go from line support to producing components and sub-assemblies. This first milestone positioned Bellurgan as an integral part of its customers' supply chain. The influx of electronic companies into Ireland added to sales and enabled Bellurgan to embark on a strategy of steady investment in plant and equipment, skilled workforce and systems, establishing a state-of-the-art precision machining facility specialising in CNC milling and turning in medium volumes. During the 'eighties and 'nineties, Bellurgan's client base expanded throughout Ireland. Bellurgan's apprentice toolmakers became regular winners of the National Apprentice Tool-making competition and the Louth company was recognised as the 1000th to be registered to ISO9002 standards by the NSAI. In the 1990s, Bellurgan's growth strategy was twofold. Founding MD Bernard Carroll identified building a capability in high volume turning as a potential gateway to the US market, using existing customer relations as a stepping stone. A five-year plan was instigated in 1996 to establish a high volume turning facility, with further investment in plant, equipment, workforce and systems. In record time, Bellurgan secured customers in the electronic and automotive sectors. Investment in the latest Swiss sliding head and multi-spindle lathes reduced cycle times and helped forge a competitive advantage. Meanwhile, Bellurgan recognised that as well as developing the high volume turning business it was important to find new markets within the medium volume CNC milling and turning sector to offset over-reliance on the electronics sector. Growth in the medical device market was identified as a potential opportunity and, following a concentrated sales campaign, Bellurgan was awarded a major contract to manufacture components for one of the world's leading medical device manufacturers. Component applications included respirators, ventilators and regulators. With sales approaching six million euro, Bellurgan entered the new millennium in a very healthy state. But the electronic bubble burst after the company recorded its strongest-ever sales month in March 2001. With half its forecast wiped out overnight, the company faced major new challenges. Bernard's daughter Suzanne had taken over as MD and reacted rapidly in conjunction with a strong management team (including siblings) to rescue the company and finish the business year with no losses. During the intervening six years, Suzanne has overseen further remarkable growth and success. Since 2001, Bellurgan has seen sales increase by an average of 12% per annum. The company made a strategic decision to proceed with developing a new facility in 2002. In July 2003, the operation relocated to a purpose-built 25,000 sq. ft. office and factory space. The following December, the company received the Excellence Through People Award. Continuing to focus on a need for a balanced industrial portfolio, Bellurgan signed a four-year contract with a manufacturer of seat adjuster mechanisms for a Fortune 500 company operating in the automotive sector in 2004. This contract is worth approximately one million euro per annum and enabled the company to increase its turning capacity, make further investment in Swiss turning technology and commit to achieving TSI6949. A 5,000 sq ft extension was added to the facility in 2006 as Bellurgan continued to invest in the latest machining technology, attracting almost one million euro worth of new business from a leading aerospace company. The new account once more made further growth possible and Bellurgan ended the 2006 year with seven million euro in sales, 46% of which were exports to the US, Europe and Asia. Today, Bellurgan employs almost 70 people at its facility in the Cooley peninsula. This number tends to vary due to the proactive apprenticeship and training programs undertaken on an annual basis. At the state-of-the-art facility, Bellurgan has assembled specific industry focused teams of highly capable, talented individuals and experts fully qualified to meet specific component and assembly solution requirements. Bellurgan enjoys a number of accreditations and awards and is highly respected within several industry and SME sectors in Ireland. They have received international praise and recognition for their customer focus ethos, a forward planning approach to innovation, investment and growth, and a continual ambition to delight rather than satisfy customers. The combination of skills and expertise amassed in Bellurgan is unrivalled in Ireland as the company continues to offer its customers a unique level of service through a highly motivated and skilled workforce, proven professional managerial experience, sophisticated equipment and machinery, and modern production facilities. Tweet

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