ESTABLISHED IN Ballybane, Galway in 1989, the CF Manufacturing Group has progressed from being tool designers and manufacturers for multinational companies in the domestic market to a global solutions provider to the sheet metal industry.
Sales revenue for CF Group has risen consistently over the last five years and in 2007 reached $53 million in Ireland and $100 million internationally.
In the absence of a significant cash investment, Flaherty believes that the extraordinary growth of the firm was achieved through shrewd financial management, close examination of potential cost improvements, commitment to new technology and best manufacturing process, and above all, a vision to be the best in service, customer relationships and innovation.
The company has expanded its Galway interests to a purpose-built facility in Athenry and CF Group overseas operations include the UK, Czech Republic and the Philippines with another operation opening in China in July 2008.
CF Group employs a total of 984 people and contributes around $11 million (€7 million) in wages alone from its Galway operation.
It has further significant impact on the Irish economy; sourcing raw materials, hardware, packaging, transport services, plant equipment and consumables from some 17 indigenous suppliers around the country.
Product/Service:CF Group's core business is product and tool design, tool manufacture and metal production.
However, its success is based on its unique service offering to its clients, working very closely with them in product design and re-engineering, thereby delivering a bespoke solution to their needs.
Essentially, the company has progressed from being tool designers and manufacturers to becoming a total solution provider in its markets.
Customers: CF Group supplies its service to clients as nearby as Galway and as far away as China, Australia, the USA, Africa and many countries in central and western Europe.
The company counts some of the world's largest multinational companies amongst its client base, providing products to a range of sectors including information technology/storage racks, domestic appliance, mobile refrigeration, air conditioning, power tools and contract manufacturing/electronics. Clients include household names such as IBM, EMC, APC, Ingersoll Rand, Glen Dimplex, Sanyo and Hitachi Koki.
QA: John Flaherty
What vision prompted you to start up in business?
Being a qualified toolmaker, I recognised an import substitution opportunity to build a business in Ireland that provided tools and client service to match or exceed what was generally then available to multinationals operating in Ireland.
Which personal attributes do you think have contributed most to your success?
My enthusiasm, energy, persistence and determination to pursue targeted strategic opportunities!
Had we stayed local to Galway, the business would have stagnated as some of our initial clients deployed operations out of Ireland.
We could choose to "fold or follow!"
By looking for opportunities to supply them internationally we established a successful international business.
Express the biggest challenge you see your industry facing?
Cost competitiveness: the economies of China, India and eastern Europe will challenge the dominance of western Europe and the USA, beyond any measure of impact that is now generally apparent to the western economy.
The industry type which CF serves will operate out of these fast-growing powerhouse economies.
Our business will compete globally from within these emerging economies.
