EJ Access Solutions Ltd in Birr (formerly Cavanagh Foundry) lost its metal access cover business when production was transferred to France with the loss of approximately 70 jobs in 2016. The American owners of the company wished to develop a composite access cover manufacturing facility in Birr and requested the support of IComp who advised on the most appropriate process for the manufacture of bespoke, high added-value composite access covers.
Enterprise Ireland awarded EJ an Innovation Partnership grant for R&D work by IComp. The company received further support from the Irish Development Agency. Dr Walter Stanley of UL was the IComp Principle Investigator and his team successfully completed the necessary product and tooling design, down-selection of materials and process development. IComp provided on-going support throughout both the transfer of the technology to a newly installed production line in Birr and commissioning of the plant. Production of bespoke access covers is proceeding apace, creating new high quality jobs with more to follow very soon. Expansion into international markets continues, as well as ongoing marketing into Irish companies and organisations. EJ is developing new access cover ranges for different markets.
Dr Norah Patten, as IComp Project Manager and Ireland’s Scientist-Astronaut Candidate with Project PoSSUM, officially opened EJ’s new Composite Manufacturing Facility at Birr on 17 October 2019. For this auspicious occasion, the America owner and family members attended alongside dignitaries including the local TD Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy who is on the Government’s Climate Change Committee and now fully appreciates the value of composites to both the Irish economy and the fight against global warming.
