Quinn opens £2.5M cement export hub in Warrenpoint

'We believe this investment will help sustain and grow jobs at Quinn Cement and underpin economic activity on both sides of the border and in the South of England.”

Dara O’Reilly, chief finance officer (CFO), Quinn Industrial Holdings Ltd (QIHL), made the comment at the opening of a new £2.5M cement export hub at Warrenpoint Harbour in Co Down last week.
The opening marked a 10-year deal between Quinn Cement and the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority. Final commissioning of the new facility was completed at the end of last month, following an investment of £2.5M.
The export hub, which has an operational capacity of 7,500 tonnes, will be dedicated to the export of bulk cement from Quinn Cement operations in Ireland. “By having this facility in place, we expect to be able to grow related sales in the UK, improve the quality of service offered and therefore increase output at the Ballyconnell plant by the same amount.
“We are continuing to target 10% annual increase in exports across the full range of products that are produced in Ballyconnell and Derrylin.
“There are 10 full time positions associated with the introduction of this new facility. These are spread across the delivery chain including production, transport, sales and service activities,” said Mr O’Reilly.
Some 124 new positions created have been created by QIHL, the parent company of Quinn Cement, since December 2014, bringing the current employment level to 781.
The latest investment is a key pillar in Quinn Cement’s growth agenda for its GB operations and compliments a £1.3 million upgrade to the Quinn Cement GB import facility in Rochester, Kent.
Mr O’Reilly added: “This is an important and timely development for the business ahead of Brexit. It will allow Quinn Cement to strengthen our supply chain for bulk product, accommodate more flexible transport from our production facility in County Cavan and enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of our operations on both islands. It also represents an endorsement of our working relationship with Warrenpoint Harbour Authority who have been extremely good to work with.'