Laois company to double its workforce with multi million euro investment

A Laois company is planning to more than double its workforce with a multi million euro investment in its Portlaoise base. 

Located in Junction 17 National Enterprise Park, Portlaoise since 2023, Alpha Drives & Switchgear employs 25 people and produces electrical equipment for a range of industries. 

Construction is currently underway on a 38,000 sq foot extension for a manufacturing assembly area which is expected to be completed in nine months.  The expansion is focused on growing the electrical switchgear department. The additional space and capacity will allow the company to take on larger and more complex projects. 

“The Phase 2 expansion represents a €3.5 million investment, fully funded by the company. We are proud to say that most of this investment is being spent locally – John Conlon Construction, a Portlaoise-based contractor, is managing the build and all materials are being sourced from local suppliers. Following completion, we hope to create up to 30 new jobs,” Alpha Drives & Switchgear Managing Director John Dwan said. 

“We were originally located in Clonminam Business Park before relocating to our current premises at J17, National Enterprise Park. So, the company has always been in county Laois.” 

Alpha Drives & Switchgear is thriving, thanks in no small part to its location in Laois.  “Portlaoise has proven to be a very strategic location for us. Its central position in Ireland and excellent road infrastructure provides ideal access to key regions nationwide, giving us logistical advantages and increased flexibility when serving customers across multiple sectors,” Mr Dwan explained. 

The company supplies a wide range of industries including data centres, wastewater, food and beverage, and the chemical/pharmaceutical sectors.

“Our diverse product offering – backed by our strong partnerships with Siemens, Flender, and Innomotics – allows us to deliver tailored solutions for a broad variety of industrial applications. In addition, our custom-built control panels are designed to meet the specific needs of any customer or process,” said Mr Dwan. 

The second phase of its development at Junction 17 has been made possible due to the company’s ongoing success. 

“Phase 2 involves a significant expansion of our existing building to further develop our switchgear assembly capabilities. As part of this upgrade, we will also invest in new automated equipment to improve production efficiency and reduce build times,” Mr Dwan stated.