Timber-frame housing firm to create 100 jobs with 5m Macroom plant

David Clerkin

The company said the 40,000sq ft plant would treble its existing capacity and allow it to boost staff from 150 to 250.

The plant, which is located on the site of the former General Semiconductor facility, will be fully operational in November. General Semiconductor closed in 2001, with the loss of 670 jobs.

Cygnum said the plant was necessary to cope with increasing demand. The Lisarda-based company, which was set up in 1997, expects to generate sales worth E15m this year and hopes to break through the E20m barrier next year.

“Timber frame is now a very sophisticated form of construction,” said Cygnum managing director John Desmond.

“We attribute much of our success to our heavy investment in the latest technology and highly-skilled personnel in disciplines such as engineering, architecture and Computer Aided Design technology,” he said. “This ongoing investment will keep us at the leading edge of the industry and help drive our growth in the future.”

Cygnum changed its focus in recent years and now derives 70% of its business from developing of full housing schemes. It previously concentrated on one-off housing.

“This trend reflects a shift to timber frame by some of the country’s best-known developers and construction companies,” said Mr Desmond.

“In addition, the commercial and public facility market is expanding for timber frame and, in recent years, we have supplied full timber-frame units for apartment blocks, schools, offices and commercial developments, including a seven-screen cinema,” he said.

The potential of timber-frame housing was recently underlined by the E90m takeover of Monaghan-based timber-frame housing specialist Century Homes by Cavan building materials group Kingspan.

State forestry agency Coillte has also invested heavily in timber-frame technology and has formed a joint venture to exploit the market.