Sights set on international growth

International expansion is the plan for Cootehill Precision Engineering as the company marks its 30th anniversary.

New equipment is being installed at the company’s premises on the Cavan road following the completion of a 3,000 square foot extension this year.

“Two new lathes have arrived. One came yesterday and one today. We’re continuing to invest in new equipment,” says founder Gerry McIntyre.

“It’s bigger capacity. It’s a bigger capability. It allows us to do bigger shafts, bigger diameter shafts. It allows us to cater for a different type of customer.”

The well-known engineering company specialises in precision machined components, from large batches of products to one-off parts.

It may be 30 years since Gerry and his late wife Caroline set up Cootehill Precision Engineering and, while he’s passed on the management of it to his son Aaron, he’s not going to stop any time soon.

“My son Aaron is running the business now and has been for the last couple of years. I’m still here, I don’t want to stop. I’m not going to stop. I love the job and you know what they say, when you love a job it’s not work!”

The new equipment being installed is only part of plans for the future of the local employer. Sights are set on international markets.

“We intend to go for bigger equipment,” says Gerry. “It’s larger capacity equipment to go after a different type of customer. That’s our aim over the next five to 10 years.”

While the company has gone from strength to strength, staffing is a problem it and many other local companies face.

Earn as you learn

Gerry feels young people are still being encouraged to progress to third level education, even if an apprenticeship or a trade may be more suitable for them and bring with it better prospects.

“We’re starting two new apprentices this month to train as toolmakers.

“If we train enough people, and we have over the 30 years, the hope is we’ll have enough of them out there. Some will leave you but at least, if they’re out there, there’s the possibility they’ll come back in later years.

“An apprenticeship can be sometimes frowned upon. Schools gear them up to go to college but colleges have an awful drop out rate in the first year alone.

“The difference is when you serve your time [as an apprentice], you earn as you learn.”