Minister opens €16m factory in Portlaoise
The Woods family at Midland Steel in Portlaoise for the unveiling of a €16 million Smart Steel Fabrication Facility which is transforming the construction industry. From left: Darragh, Deirdre, Andrea, Keely Jackson, Conor, Paul, Tony and John. Photo: Alf Harvey
A NEW €16m cutting-edge factory was unveiled in Portlaoise today, promising more than 60 skilled jobs over the next three years.
Midland Steel’s smart steel fabrication facility, at the J17 National Enterprise Park in Togher, was officially opened this morning by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke.
The long-running firm, whose parent company opened in Mountmellick in 1990, says the Portlaoise facility will create 62 jobs within the next three years.
Roles will include engineering positions, robotic technicians, estimators, BIM modellers, mechanical and electrical technicians and steel fixers, all in a fully automated environment.
Midland Steel founder Tony Woods described the official opening of the Portlaoise facility as "a pivotal and proud moment" for the family-owned business.
He said: " I am particularly proud that our HQ remains in Mountmellick, where our business was founded in 1990, and our Portlaoise facility marks a significant step forward in the company’s expansion.”
The company says the Midland Steel manufacturing facility is the first of its kind in Ireland. With full automation of the rebar cutting and bending process, the facility allows off-site manufacturing of a finished product ready for concrete placement.
The factory’s special technology will bring a 75% reduction in build time for construction projects, with 80% less onsite labour. With the construction of 300,000 new homes by 2030 promised in the Programme for Government, the company hopes its modern methods of construction will position Midland Steel to support those ambitious targets.
Traditional manual steel fixing operations, involving loose bar cutting and bending to steel fixing on-site, have been replaced with pre-assembled FasterFix modules, designed and detailed by Midland Steel.
The FasterFix technology is transforming construction, both in Ireland and internationally, by offering a 75% reduction in build time, 80% less on-site labour and a 30% reduction in preliminary costs for clients.
Minister Burke said: “Midland Steel’s innovative FasterFix technology is already transforming efficiency in the construction industry at home and abroad and it is fantastic to see an Irish company making such impressive inroads across Europe and beyond."
The SMART facility allows seamless integration from 3D digital modelling to a finished product without any manual intervention, improving manufacturing capacity by 60% and making Midland Steel more competitive in the market. The facility achieves 0% waste and has reduced emissions.
The company said it expects strong revenue growth over the next three years, with an expected €35m increase driven by innovation and expansion. With established plants in the UK and Norway, the Laois firm is poised for further overseas expansion, delivering cutting-edge solutions to new international markets.
Originally operating as Midland Formwork in 1990, Midland Steel was founded in 1998 and has grown into a market leader in rebar solutions and continues to set new standards for the sector.
