New Ford Fleet for EMCA
Cootehill based firm EMCA recently attained a major maintenance contract with Irish Water and workers will now hit the road in style in a fleet of 15 new Ford vans, provided by Autoparc Cavan. The control and automation company took delivery of the new vans last Friday. Managing Director Paul Clarke explained they provide the software to automate systems.
“We were front line essential workers, so we worked all through the lockdown and we never actually had to close,” he said.
“We worked mostly in water and waste water for Irish Water and the local authority here and we employ just over 50 employees. We are after winning a framework with Irish Water for four counties - Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim and Longford. It is five-year contract for the maintenance works, so that should boost employment numbers,” explained Mr Clarke.
“We have a great workforce and very dedicated staff and there is staff being continuously progressed on up through the ranks, with new staff coming on behind. We have a lot of young people starting with our company,” he added proudly.
“Brexit has a big affect on everything we do. The price of things has soared and deliveries, we can’t get them. Deliveries includes raw material for the panels we build. Anything that has to go through the UK is just a nightmare at the minute,” he outlined of the impact of Brexit on the company’s operations.
EMCA is currently importing raw materials from Denmark and Germany and some from America.
The company’s financial controller, Donal O’Reilly, added: “It has been a tough 18 months for everybody but, with the opening up in the last few weeks, things are positive from a financial point of view. After the next six months, things should start picking up pretty strongly again.
“The small to medium industries have driven this country for some time and have been the bedrock of local communities. I don’t see that changing... When things open up again, hopefully people will support those businesses.”
Autoparc One Stop Shop
Enda Crowe, sales executive at Autoparc, said the 15 Ford vehicles included Transit Connects, Customs Transit 350s and the Transit 350.
He pointed out that Autoparc has been dealing with EMCA since July 2017 when they purchased 12 vans and they have purchased additional vans in the interim.
“We look after their servicing and DOE, so we are the one-stop-shop for them. It is great to see a local company doing well after Covid, as things begin to ease up. They have brought plenty of employment to Cootehill and Cavan as well,” added Mr Crowe.
“It is great for us here at Autoparc to complete a bulk sale like this to EMCA and a great advertisement for us,” he said.
The sign writing on the vans was carried out by Mel's Signs Cavan and Andrew Gould from Crossdoney did the ply lining fit-out inside the vehicles.
Mr Crowe revealed that Autoparc’s online business remained strong throughout lockdown and the ‘click and collect’ sales and delivery business held up very well.
He says that business is looking good for the remainder of this year. “Two years ago was mighty – last year was better and this year is already better again,” said Mr Crowe.
The dealership is accepting trade-ins and Autoparc is “open for business”.