Sponsored

Keeping the standards high for infrastructure projects

Roadform specialises in infrastructure works and has developed a reputation for handing over projects with a high-quality, on-time and on budget finish

Roadform is a self-performing contractor and has a portfolio of its own equipment which has been built up over many years

Building and civil engineering contractor Roadform has just commenced an exclusive site development project at Carrigane, Ovens, Co Cork. The Mallow-headquartered company is also working on a new state-of-the-art 111-bed care home in Carrigaline, due for completion in 2023.

Embracing diversity and inclusion, the company is now recruiting for the following roles in Cork: senior quantity surveyor; accounts administrator/bookkeeper; excavator drivers and groundworkers.

The business was formed in 1998 by Martin Murphy, initially as a sole trader hiring out large earthmoving equipment on natural gas pipeline projects. It then expanded to subcontracting civil works on new sections of inter urban motorways across the country, some of which included the M1 Drogheda bypass, Kildare bypass and the Ballincollig bypass in Cork.

As the business expanded, Roadform Ltd was formed in 2003 and diversified into most sectors of construction over the years. “We specialise in infrastructure works and we offer clients a turnkey service for all types of developments. We have worked on many challenging projects over the last 24 years and we have built a reputation for handing over projects with a high-quality finish, on time and on budget to our clients,” Murphy said.

Roadform currently employs 30 people who are supported by its supply chain when required.

“We recently completed the civil works package for the Cork Mid-West Bundle Sewerage Scheme which involved the construction of new wastewater treatment plants, sewer networks and associated infrastructure works at the villages of Ballymakeera, Coachford, Dripsey and Innishannon,” Murphy said.

“This project was part of a €27 million investment in the Cork mid-west area by Irish Water in partnership with Cork County Council.”

In 2021, Roadform completed the Bandon Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade project. The works involved the upgrade of the existing plant, construction of a new pump station and associated infrastructure works. The project represented a €14 million investment from Irish Water.

Roadform Ltd is a self-performing contractor and has a portfolio of its own equipment which has been built up over many years. “We directly operate and maintain over 500 items of plant, tools and equipment and so we have everything from power floats to 40 ton excavators at our disposal when we need it,” Murphy said.

“We continually invest in upgrading our fleet of plant and equipment and we just added another next generation Caterpillar excavator to the fleet during the week. These next generation excavators have the industry’s highest level of standard factory-equipped technology to boost productivity and fuel efficiency and are equipped with 2D grade control, height, depth, slew and weight limiters,” Murphy added.

“We have also recently invested in automated and remotely controlled items of plant. This gives us greater control to manage our project delivery while giving our clients an unrivalled service at the highest levels of quality and safety.”

Roadform Ltd operates an integrated HSQE management system to support the ongoing operations and development of the company, and to meet the expectations of its clients.

“We are committed to continuous improvement and maintaining the highest levels of quality, safety and environmental performance and pride ourselves on our high standards and proven HSEQ record,” he said. “Our management systems are certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 international standards and we are also an A rated Safe-T-Cert accredited company.”

Murphy mentioned how exciting a place Cork is to do business thanks to its excellent community across the construction industry and others.

“In recent years, it has experienced a lot of development and it has a very healthy business environment as a result,” he said.

“From global established operators to bustling tech start-ups, the city is very much entering a new phase. With so much development of infrastructure and commercial and residential property planned for the coming years, we are excited to see where it will take us.”

Roadform has overcome various challenges over the years with the recession period from 2008 being the most challenging time for the company and its staff.

“Our customer base in Ireland was completely wiped out and so were most of the contracts we were involved in,” Murphy said. “In order to keep the business afloat and keep the bills paid, we made the difficult decision to move operations to the UK.

“After knocking on a lot of doors up and down the country we eventually won a few contracts and I commuted over and back for a few years until the industry started back up again here. While in the UK, we carried out the civil works for Fullabrook Wind Farm in Devon which, upon completion, was the largest onshore wind farm in the UK,” he said.

Roadform Ltd is a company deeply rooted in the community in which it operates. “Many of the staff and workforce employed by the company live within local communities, and we actively endeavour to support local supply chain and service providers,” he said.

“We recognise our responsibility to the local communities in which we operate, to support good causes and positively engage in grassroot activities to benefit the communities in which we live and work.”

Over many years, Roadform Ltd has been a proud patron of a number of charities in the Cork region and nationwide. “It is our way of giving back to the people and organisations that need it most,” Murphy said.