ENGINEERING GROUP C&F plans to create 250 jobs in Galway over the coming two years after developing a wind turbine that can generate power in low wind speeds.
The expansion will bring the workforce at the Athenry-based group to 1,300 across five countries. C&F founder John Flaherty said the firm’s new turbines would be able to harness wind power at lower speeds than existing technology.
“We are going into the markets with revolutionary new technology in wind power,” he said, adding that the move was part of the firm’s strategy of “preserving jobs and preserving cash”.
Mr Flaherty wants the new turbines to be affordable for domestic, small business and agricultural users.
C&F is in the process of investing €20 million over four years, with the wind turbines representing the firm’s first foray into making products it has designed itself.
The new jobs will be in areas including design, engineering and sales, with the growth to necessitate a 6,503sq m (70,000sq ft) expansion to C&F’s 16,723sq m (180,000sq ft) Athenry plant.
Mr Flaherty established C&F 20 years ago to make industrial equipment and tools, subsequently growing the company into a global contract manufacturer. Customers for the firm’s existing products, which range from computer casings to server racks, include multinationals such as IBM and EMC. The firm was also behind last year’s rescue of Westmeath car parts manufacturer, Iralco.
Mr Flaherty, a toolmaker by trade, said the wind turbine plan had emerged as the firm’s traditional business was coming under pressure.
“We’re not immune to the global contraction in business,” he said, arguing that manufacturing the best way for the Republic to emerge from recession.
“Part of the reason the world is in turmoil today is that people lost value for manufacturing,” he said. “No true wealth is generated unless you have manufacturing or production.”
Mr Flaherty, who was named Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year for 2008, said C&F can afford to manufacture in the Republic because it is efficient.
“Ireland needs to shake the trees and start being innovative and competitive again,” he said.
The new turbines are the result of an idea for an alternator developed by a C&F employee, John Jefferson.
They are capable of generating power from wind speeds as low as 1.2 metres per second, compared to the industry norm of 3.5 metres per second.
This should allow them to deliver power over 350 days in the year, about 100 days more than the current average.
Two of the new turbines will be used to power the on-shore race village attached to next month’s Volvo Ocean Race arrival in Galway.
C&F plans to export about 70 per cent of the turbines made in Galway, mostly to continental Europe.
A plant to service the US market is expected to take shape on the US east coast next year. C&F already has manufacturing facilities in China, the Philippines and the Czech Republic.
The most recent accounts for the company show a €4 million profit for 2007, with 2008 numbers expected to show growth of about 25 per cent.
The firm has started to “reap the benefits” from its investment in Iralco, according to Mr Flaherty, who sees the automotive market “starting to pick up again”.
