Jones Engineering are Looking to the Future

Jones Engineering are a leading mechanical, electrical and fire protection contractor operating throughout Ireland, United Kingdom, Europe and the Middle East. The original company was set up by Harry O’Neil in 1890 and to this day they have continued his vision of prioritising education, training and innovation. Over the last century they have grown sustainably in both size and reputation with a turnover of c.€650m+ and resources of over 3,500 people worldwide. Throughout their long history they have endured, volatile cycles and periods of near economic paralysis including post-Civil War Ireland, the recession following the Celtic Tiger and the current Covid-19 pandemic. They maintain that their continued growth and success as a group is down to the exceptional dedication, innovation and commitment of their people.

One of the industry leaders in the Data Centre sector, Jones Engineering have delivered over 800MW for the world’s largest tech companies over the last 20 years. Its 1,200-strong data-centre teams span 14 countries. One of their recent projects included the mechanical, electrical and sprinkler design and construction of a 60MW data centre in the Netherlands. Their highly skilled teams have a reputation for exceeding client expectations which has ensured they continue to work with the best blue chip companies in the business. Their portfolio of data centre locations is further evidence of their ability to compete on the global stage and includes; Germany, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Netherlands, Bahrain, UK and Ireland.

At home in the Irish market they have a number of recent high profile projects. These include the Exo building, which is Dublin’s tallest office building; WuXi Biologics facility in Dundalk, which has been described as the “Factory of the Future” by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar; and the National Children’s Hospital, the largest, most complex and significant capital investment project ever undertaken in healthcare in Ireland. They completed both mechanical and electrical works on the National Rehabilitation Hospital. According to NRH Clinical Director, Prof Mark Delargy, the new 120 bed hospital far exceeds expectations. It sets a new standard for accessibility and rehabilitation functionality for patients with significant disability while the staff benefit from delivering services in a new and innovative environment designed specifically around patients’ needs. The Janssen Sciences Plant Expansion, BioCork2, they worked on was awarded with 2020 ENR (Engineering News Record) “Global Best Projects” award in the Healthcare Category.

Already an international specialist in the provision of fast track Modular Construction, their new division; Jones Engineering Manufacturing allows clients to benefit from a more efficient process, where the potential of their project can be maximised all under one roof. Jones teams have decades of experience adapting to the evolving needs of their clients and this is no exception. The replication of modules and the increased utilisation of off site prefabrication mean they can prioritise speed for delivery and increase efficiency without compromising on safety or quality. This division is based in a 9,000m2 centre of Design for Manufacturing & Assembly (DfMA) excellence which has already seen modules successfully transported to Holland, Belgium, Finland, Denmark and beyond.

Jones was a sponsor of the recent Construction Industry Federation (CIF) Safety Week which ran from 19th to 23rd October. CIF Safety Week shines an important spotlight on safety. It provides a platform to share best practices and to work together to strengthen the industry’s safety culture. Jones marked the week in a number of ways. With the help of Theatre at Work they created two short films. One covers Plant and Pedestrian Safety and Working Safely at Height with a brief overview of Emergency Preparedness and the second addresses the topic of ‘We can all make good choices to improve our health and wellbeing’. These were shown across a number of sites during the week to facilitate socially distanced and safe workshops and will continue to be screened in the coming months. On a few selected sites they also setup the award-winning Serious Labs MEWP Virtual Reality (VR) Simulator in conjunction with Access and Forklift Training Services. This hands-on learning solution is designed to assess and remediate operators on boom, slab scissor, and rough terrain scissor lifts. The simulators allow operators to experience complex or high-risk workplace situations in a safe environment, while providing instructors with detailed, actionable performance feedback.

Jones also sponsored the Lean Construction Ireland National Virtual Conference which took place on November 4th. The theme of the event was “Lean Innovation – Inspiring our Future in Construction “. The aim of the event was to gather experts in the field of lean construction to both inspire, and challenge the industry to implement lean practices on their projects. Participants had the opportunity to learn from others how they can leverage the benefits of lean concepts to deliver quality projects that are safer, faster and more profitable leading to increased stakeholder satisfaction and value for money. Lean Construction Ireland is an all-island, independent, and voluntary not-for-profit association whose members passionately believe that Lean Thinking & Practices can enable and sustain enhanced effectiveness, efficiency, productivity, and profitability for the Irish Construction Sector, Clients, and Supply Chain. It is no surprise therefore that a number of Senior Management in Jones are involved in the not-for-profit organisation. As a company they have been applying LEAN principles for many years and recognising the benefits it brings to their firm, their clients and the industry as a whole. They have invested significantly in LEAN training with personnel being trained in the University of Limerick up to and including Masters level. This commitment has fostered their dynamic, knowledge driven and customer focused concentration on eliminating waste and creating value.

There is a major change due to take place with European standards for Fire Protection projects EN 12845. Colin Walsh, the Quality and Estimation Manager in the Fire Protection Division of Jones Engineering has joined the NSAI and the CEN (European standards committee) on a voluntary basis and is excited to be part of the committee rewriting these rules. When asked about his participation he said “When I heard this revision in standards was underway I immediately contacted the NSAI and CEN to see if I could be part of the process. I am in discussion with delegates from all over Europe, and I am representing Ireland in this endeavour. This is a voluntary project but it is very important to me to see these rules rewritten effectively.” Jones Engineering will be supporting him with time allowances as they recognise the importance of staff being involved in other aspects of the engineering industry and encourage their participation in these areas.

Jones Engineering have a tradition and culture of encouraging cooperation and partnership not just with staff and clients but also within the local community. Throughout these challenging times they continue to support local teams, charities, educational facilities, and clubs, both in Ireland and abroad, such as their recent support of the Barnhall Buffaloes. They are a fantastic tag rugby team for adults with special needs which emphasises fun and community participation. Another of their recent initiatives was the support of TU Dublin’s new centre of excellence in construction education. This is an important step for the future of Ireland’s construction sector.

As Jim Curley, CEO put it; “This multidisciplinary centre will break down the traditional silos that can exist between the creative and engineering disciplines and will ensure that our future leaders in the construction sector have the skills to deliver greater innovation and lead to more Irish construction and architectural firms competing successfully on the global stage.”

The Kinsella Scholarships for engineering students in Trinity College Dublin were set up in 2015 and have been awarded to a number of students every year since then. The 2020 scholarship applications were opened in October and the winning students will be announced shortly. Jones Engineering also provide scholarships in TU Dublin to both Engineering and Arts students. They believe that this engagement with the communities they live and work in means everyone can reap the benefits together.

Jones Engineering is moving ahead, embracing technology, diversity, innovation, working internationally and dealing head-on with the challenges of COVID, not just in Ireland but across Europe and beyond. “We are now focused on the short to medium term. Remaining fit and adaptable to deal with whatever comes next while holding onto the original values of our firm. Now is a time to take care of one another. We are all in this together.”

Jones Engineering are currently recruiting across a number of disciplines and a full list of vacancies can be found on their website: www.joneseng.com

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