Irish engineering company planning expansion to Portlaoise operations

An Irish engineering company that specialises in data centres is looking to expand its operations at J17 in Portlaoise. 

The Kirby Group has applied for planning permission to build a light industrial unit with a footprint of 2,976 metres squared at the Portlaoise site. 

The Limerick headquartered mechanical and electrical firm struck a €1 million land deal with Laois County Council in 2022 to develop a big manufacturing and training facility on a prime site in Portlaoise.

At the time the company had a reported 2021 turnover of €400, 1,200 staff and had planned to employ around 50 people at the Laois facility, but the company has enjoyed expansion since.  

Kirby Group Engineering had a €630 million turnover in 2023. It describes itself as a leading mechanical and electrical engineering contractor operating across Ireland, the UK and Europe, and directly employing over 1,600 skilled professionals.

The company provides full mechanical and electrical contracting services as well as specialist high voltage (HV) and medium voltage (MV) design and construction services to clients across a number of different sectors including Data Centres, Life Sciences, Industrial, Commercial, and Substations and Renewables.

In 2022, Laois County Councillors gave council management the green light to sell 3.42 hectares of serviced land at the J17 National Enterprise Park near Portlaoise, beside the M7 motorway.

The Kirby Group now intends to increase its operations in Laois by expanding that base.  The planned extension to their existing premises at Site 1 and 2, J17 includes associated roads, carpark, and service yard to the north and adjoining their existing facility 

The proposed expansion would house similar operations to the existing facility. The plans include a proposal to install solar panels over its full area of the roof of the proposed new industrial unit.