Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke will officially open the new facility at Midland Steel in Portlaoise today. The €16 million facility will see the full automation of the rebar cutting and bending process, providing off-site manufacturing of a finished product ready for concrete placement.
Positions Created at Midland Steel Facility
The positions include engineering jobs, robotic technicians, estimators, BIM modellers, mechanical and electrical technicians, and steel fixers. These jobs will be created over the next three years.
FasterFix Technology Revolutionises Construction
The company says the new FasterFix enables developers to achieve a 75% reduction in total build time, requiring 80% less onsite labour. Among the projects Midland Steel has used the new technology in is the Harcourt Plaza in Dublin 2. Building contractors, John Paul Construction, said it experienced a 75% reduction in the steel fixing programme on the new development.
A Proud Moment for Midland Steel’s Family-Owned Business
"The official opening of our Portlaoise SMART facility marks a pivotal and proud moment for our family-owned business," said Tony Woods, Founder of Midland Steel. "The FasterFix modular rebar technology, which we have developed, offers significant benefits for construction projects by reducing installation times and lowering capital costs," he added.
Minister Burke Welcomes the Innovation
Minister Burke has welcomed the announcement. "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," he said.
Midland Steel’s Rich History and Future
Originally operating as Midland Formwork in 1990, Midland Steel was founded in 1998. The firm has been involved in the supply of materials in the development of residential, commercial, health, and sporting facilities in Ireland and the UK. One of these was the Aviva stadium in Dublin, while the firm also helped develop the GAA's headquarters at Croke Park and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. It has also worked on the Shard in London and Rolex in New York. The company's headquarters are based in Mountmellick, and it also has operations in England and Scotland.
