Vulcan Machining upgrading to new premises
WORK is underway on the first factory be erected in the Ballysally Business Park at Railway Road Charleville for a long number of years.
The new 5,000sq.ft. space is for the Vulcan Machining Company run by Freemount, Charleville man, Eddie O’Dwyer and his son Kenneth. It is expected that the new facility will be in operation by next September and copperfastens Charleville’s reputation as the hub of stainless steel manufacture in North Cork.
The history of the Vulcan Machining Company goes back to the early 1980s when the former Golden Vale Engineering plant in Charleville closed during a downturn in the stainless steel manufacturing industry worldwide. The closure of the Charleville plant left a skilled workforce, and of two these decided to pool their resources and start up on their own.
Denis Murphy and Eddie O’Dwyer started what was Flotek Machining in the Railway Road industrial estate owned by Cork County Council. Eddie ran the plant while Denis Murphy moved on to other interests and their partnership lasted until 2001, when the pair decided to go their separate ways, leading to a change of name for the entity, and the advent of Vulcan Machining.
Vulcan Machining Ltd is a successful outsource manufacturer of high-quality stainless-steel components for the brewing, chemical, pharmaceutical, dairy and vessel fabrication sectors. They offer a full machining and finishing service plus rapid product prototyping.
They have a highly skilled and intensively trained staff in their current facility, designed to fulfil the demanding requirements of high-precision machining. The facility is outfitted with state-of-the art machinery that allows them to work with a variety of materials, including all grades of stainless, hastelloy and plastics.
Since its foundation in 1983, Vulcan Machining has implemented a policy of continuous investment in the most efficient machining technology available in the market. This, combined with innovative programming and cost-effective sourcing, ensures that they are capable of offering competitive solutions to a loyal and satisfied customer base.
Time and again they have proven that they can compete with the best in the industry. That is based on providing customers with very high-quality products, excellent service and on-time delivery.
“The new facility will enable us to expand our range of products and also to recruit new skilled staff to add to the five we already employ,” said Eddie. “I will be stepping back from the day to day management of the business from now on and my son, Kenneth, will be the front-line manager.”
Eddie paid tribute to the late D. B. O’Loughlin, who was the architect of the modern Golden Vale dairy company and the man who first introduced the manufacture of stainless steel products and steel fabrication to Charlevillle in 1956.
Eddie also included his former business partner, Denis Murphy, whom he credits with the expansion and development of the Golden Vale Engineering factory up to the time of its closure in 1983. “There is a huge debt of gratitude owed to Dave O’Loughlin and to Denis Murphy for their vision for the stainless-steel industry in the town and it’s through their efforts that Charleville is a major centre for the steel manufacture in Ireland today, with four thriving industries in the BCD Engineering Group, Flow Technology Ltd, Diesenvale Engineering Ltd, and Vulcan Machining, making a valuable contribution to the local economy through the employment they provide to the people of the town and area,” said Eddie.