It was an exciting day in Junction 17’s National Enterprise Park as a Laois company officially unveiled its brand new €16 million facility.
Midland Steel, Ireland’s leading steel reinforcement company, exhibited its multi-million euro fully automated SMART steel fabrication facility in Portlaoise.
The plant was officially opened by Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke with local TD Willie Aird also in attendance.
This will create 62 jobs over the next three years. The job creation includes top-quality engineering positions, robotic technicians, estimators, BIM modellers, mechanical and electrical technicians, and steel fixers all functioning in a fully automated environment.
Midland Steel was founded by Tony Woods, who lives in Emo, and is the company’s CEO.
At a presentation in the facility today, he outlined how Midland Steel has grown over the years.
Originally operating as Midland Formwork in 1990, Midland Steel was founded in 1998 with a plant in Birr.
In 2004, Midland Steel created a factory at Bay View Business Park in Mountmellick.
By 2019, the company had exhausted that site in Mountmellick with further expansion no longer possible.
In October 2023, constitution began in Portlaoise and that has led to today where Midland Steel opened the first fully automated smart factory in Ireland.
Photo: Alf Harvey
The SMART facility represents a major investment in full automation of the rebar cutting and bending process, providing off-site manufacturing of a finished product ready for concrete placement.
Midland Steel’s FasterFix technology offers a modern method of construction for both housing foundations and concrete substructure and superstructure units.
Photo: Alf Harvey
This enables developers to achieve a 75% reduction in total build time, requiring 80% less onsite labour and providing 30% reduction in prelim costs for clients to set new standards for efficiency and productivity in the industry.
The new Midland Steel facility is part of an ambitious growth strategy, with plans to expand both its operational capacity and its global footprint.
The company projects strong revenue growth over the next three years, with an expected €35million increase driven by innovation and expansion.
With established plants in the UK and Norway, Midland Steel is poised for further overseas expansion, delivering cutting-edge solutions to new international markets.
Mr Woods said: “The official opening of our Portlaoise SMART facility marks a pivotal and proud moment for our family-owned business.
“The FasterFix modular rebar technology, which we have developed, offers significant benefits for construction projects by reducing installation times and lowering capital costs.
“FasterFix represents our commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation in the construction sector.
“This state-of-the-art advanced fabrication facility in Portlaoise enables us to offer exceptional service, increased capacity and even greater speed and savings to our clients worldwide.
“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.
“We are delighted to make this investment in the midlands region.”
With the Irish Government’s commitment to building 300,000 homes by 2030 as outlined in the Programme for Government document, Midland Steel’s innovative modern methods of construction, including FasterFix and Ready Mesh technology, are ideally positioned to support these targets.
Minister Burke said: “I am delighted to officially open the Midland Steel, state-of-the-art fully automated steel fabrication facility, here in Portlaoise.
“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 significant investment by Midland Steel in Laois not only reinforces Ireland’s leadership in Modern Methods of Construction but also creates highly skilled jobs in engineering, robotics, and BIM modelling —securing the future of our construction industry.
Photo: Alf Harvey, no reproduction fee
“I congratulate Tony Woods and his team on this milestone and look forward to seeing Midland Steel continue to push the boundaries of innovation in construction.”
Check out some great pictures from Alf Harvey throughout the article and below:
Photo: Alf Harvey, no reproduction fee
Photo: Alf Harvey, no reproduction fee
Photo: Alf Harvey, no reproduction fee
Photo: Alf Harvey, no reproduction fee
Photo: Alf Harvey, no reproduction fee
Photo: Alf Harvey, no reproduction fee
Photo: Alf Harvey, no reproduction fee
Photo: Alf Harvey, no reproduction fee
Photo: Alf Harvey, no reproduction fee
Photo: Alf Harvey, no reproduction fee
Photo: Alf Harvey, no reproduction fee
Photo: Alf Harvey, no reproduction fee
Photo: Alf Harvey, no reproduction fee
Photo: Alf Harvey, no reproduction fee
Photo: Alf Harvey, no reproduction fee
