2020 was a year that none of us could have predicted, and none of us will forget.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a lasting impact on every industry across the globe. According to Construction Information Services (CIS), the COVID-19 shutdown has had a €17.9bn impact on the Irish Construction industry due to halted project work, with a further €2.7bn loss due to stoppages in Northern Ireland.
In spite of this, Kilsaran has continued to grow as a leading innovator in construction in Ireland. As 2020 draws to a close we’d like to take the opportunity to look back at some of the highlights of this year.
January
Kilsaran hosted a CPD Essential Learning Series Seminar at Smock Alley, Dublin, with over 150 construction professionals in attendance.
February
Kilsaran acquired N&C Enterprises’ Bagged product division, in which landscaping stone, sand, gravel, aggregates, dry products and more were incorporated into Kilsaran’s existing product portfolio and rebranded under the Kilsaran name.
March
The Kilsaran offices, showroom, and depots were closed due to the COVID-19 shutdown. These locations began to re-open gradually from April.
April
Kilsaran launched Kilsaran Connect, a series of webinars to assist people across all areas of the construction industry in continuing their professional development and upskilling during the nationwide lockdown.
May
Kilsaran published their first EPD’s (Environmental Product Declarations) for some key product ranges (Paving: Newgrange & Clima Pave, and Masonry Mortar). Environmental Product Declarations (EPD’s) provide independent verification of a product’s environmental impact across a range of different parameters, from global warming potential to eutrophication, acidification, ozone depletion, and natural resource depletion.
July
Several Excavator Operators from Kilsaran’s regional operations teams were awarded a QQI Level 5 vocational qualification for Quarrying. These operators demonstrated themselves to be highly skilled, safety conscious, and a valuable asset to the region’s operations.
August
Kilsaran celebrated the team of staff responsible for designing, creating and distributing the stunning Kilsaran product brochures.
September
September saw the launch of the new Merrion paving range, which coincided with the opening of a new state of the art Hermetic Press Paving Plant at the manufacturing facility in Dunboyne Co. Meath.
October
Kilsaran announced their move into the Precast market, an exciting addition to Kilsarans well-established product range. A new precast concrete manufacturing facility in Brownstown, County Kildare will open in early 2021.
Kilsaran were named winners of two Main Awards at the Irish Concrete Society Awards, held at the end of October. Kilsaran received awards in the Infrastructural and Elemental Categories and received a Highly Commended position in the Building Category.
November
November saw the unveiling of a brand- new floor screed plant, Irelands first exclusively dedicated production facility of BBA certified Cemfloor leveling screed.
December
To end the year on a high note, Kilsaran officially announced several new appointments to their Senior Leadership Team in December.
Sean Keohane was appointed to the Board of Directors; James Christian was appointed Head of Sales Concrete Products & Aggregates; Alan Donohoe was named Head of Sales for Paving & Walling; Graham Cumberland was named Head of Sales KPRO Facades & Mortars; and James Murphy was named Business Development Manager for the Precast division.
Now that’s what we call… Ideas Taking Shape.