Conwell Contracts specialises in a wide range of civil engineering work, mainly water supply schemes, which encompasses reservoirs and booster stations. The Brookeborough-headquartered company also do sewage schemes, including sewage pumping stations. These water and sewage networks are provided to local authorities all over the Ireland, including Cavan County Council, who have been a partner of Conwell since 2005.
The company specialises in directional drilling (which is essential in laying trenchless pipelines for water mains and sewage pumping mains) as well as guided auger boring (for the trenchless installation of sewers) and sheet piling works for cofferdams and trenches.
One of the main factors that has seen Conwell Contracts establish itself as a leader in its field is its ability to provide a mix of services in all these specialist areas, as well as having all the equipment required for deep-dig work, laying pipes to a depth of up to seven metres.
Conwell Contracts was formed by Christopher and Christine Conwell in 1995. Work at this early stage was mainly sub-contracted from Eugene Breen Civil Engineering (who is Christine Conwell's father). Eugene had been contracting to the civil engineering industry (predominantly NI Water Service and Plant Hire) for 20 years.
Christopher Conwell purchased the first directional drilling machine in 1999 and adding a second in 2002 to cater for the growing demand for trenchless installation of pipe by Northern Ireland Water. In 2003, Christopher & Christine Conwell employed Liam Breen as contracts manager and by 2006 Conwell Contracts became a limited company, now trading as Conwell Contracts UK Ltd & Conwell Contracts ROI Ltd.
Conwell Contracts Ltd is currently involved with contracts for Northern Ireland Water and County Councils in the Republic of Ireland, as well as group water supply schemes in Monaghan and Cavan. The company also carries out cabling and ducting for ESB Networks in Dublin and various other utilities work.
Investment in machinery has been vital to the company's ongoing success. Conwell Contracts Ltd now boasts three directional drilling machines, two guided auger boring machine, four pneumatic moles and a pipe bursting rig to complement the trenchless installation of pipes. This is supported by 20 excavators (ranging from 2.5 to 35 tonne), lorries, vans and a full range of tools and equipment ensuring Conwell Contracts can support all clients' demands.
Conwell Contracts Ltd is a family-run business, supported by long-term loyalty from experienced staff and sub-contractors, ensuring a competitive edge and the completion of all services to the very highest standards.
The first group water supply scheme carried out for Cavan County Council was at Quivvy, Belturbet in July 2005. This was followed by contracts at Annagh, Poles, Clifferna, Corlough, Portruan and Derryvony as well as Tydavnet in Monaghan. Conwell also completed the Crosskeys, Stradone and Mountnugent Sewage Scheme - a sewer network bundle for the three villages.
This entailed the construction of 4,143.00m of twin-wall polypropylene sewer pipe laid in the villages of Crosskeys, Stradone and Mountnugent by open cut method. Sewer pipe was laid within roads and fields at depths up to 4.5m, with the construction of all associated manholes and service connections included.
"We provide our own staff for pipe laying, auger boring, drilling, sheet piling etc. and all civil engineering works are carried out in-house," Liam notes. "On larger projects, we will hire in sub-contractors for fencing, pre-cast reservoirs etc. We employ 35 people and they are all specialised staff who play a big part in the success of the business."
The guided auger boring is the newest venture to be undertaken by Conwell Contracts and this departure could be a shape of things to come for the company. "We bought our first machine in February 2008 and bought a second in November 2009."
So is trenchless piping the way to go in future? Is that how all pipes will one day be laid? "No, it certainly won't take over but it's a viable option for pipelines that are deep, close to buildings, in poor ground or running through private property. It's common in built-up urban areas or across rivers, roads or railways etc. However, from a cost point of view, clients would ideally use open-cut wherever possible.
"But having the capacity to put down trenchless pipes makes us more flexible and adds an extra string to our bow. We own and operate our own equipment to enable us to get around these obstacles. This means we are in a position now to be able to put pipes down in any environment. No obstacle can get in our way and I think local authorities appreciate the full service we provide as a result."

Conwell Contracts Ltd.
Lismalore,
Brookeborough,
County Fermanagh
Tel: 028 89531296
Fax: 028 895 31933
Email: [email protected]
www.conwellcontracts.co.uk Tweet

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