Westmeath County Enterprise Board Awards 2011

INNOVATION, BUSINESS ACUMEN AND HARD WORK LEAD MULLINGAR BUSINESS TO WIN ANNUAL BUSINESS AWARD

Mullingar based business Soltec Ireland Ltd was the winner of the annual  Westmeath County Enterprise Board Awards and subsequently went forward to win the regional final of the Enterprise Awards and is now one of 8 short-listed businesses competing in the National Enterprise Awards.

Established in 1994, Soltec Ireland Ltd is one of the countrys leading providers of hazardous waste management. The company, founded by Michael Corcoran provide hazardous waste collection throughout Ireland in the form of used solvents, paints and acids.  At its state of art production facility located in Mullingar, these substances can be recycled through distillation processes and sold back to their original user or made into other products including paint thinner and cleaning agents such as degreasers.  
The company has grown from humble beginnings to now being a leader in its field and provides a vital service to high profile customers such as Swords laboratory, Élan, Lufthansa, Team Aer Lingus and Shell.
Soltec owner, Michael Corcoran worked in a variety of different business when he left school.  During a deep recession in the 1980’s, he was made redundant and was unable to find employment, but he saw this as an ideal opportunity to start his own business.
Michael developed a motor parts business working from his van which he grew to a level where he could afford to rent a small premises and employ one member of staff in Mullingar. From there he built an industrial building in Mullingar Business Park, employed three extra staff members and continued to grow the business to a high level which also included expanding and opening a unit in Longford town.
It was through his involvement in the motor trade that he could see the use and disposal of solvents was becoming a hot topic for the future and with nobody else offering a disposal service in Ireland he opened a new solvent recycling business in 1994 called Soltec (Ireland) Ltd. This business was set up in a small industrial unit located in the grounds of the motor factor business. It employed one person who collected waste solvents from the Westmeath area and processed them in a small machine known as a distillation unit which recycles waste solvent to a reusable product.
 This new service and production capability soon became extremely popular in Westmeath and throughout Ireland. The production, collection and distribution soon out grew the unit.  As the business grew and new markets developed Michael sold his motor factor business to concentrate solely on Soltec Ltd. In 2006, significant investment in the  business allowed for an  increased capacity and the development of export markets in Europe and Africa.
In addition to the recycling of hazardous waste, Michael has developed innovative new products from the waste by product.  A number of these products have received patents and now product development is a key part of the overall business.
As this is a highly regulated industry Soltec have an EPA Waste License and have obtained waste collection permits for Ireland. The production process is also regulated to ISO9001:2008 Quality Standard, ISO14001 Environmental Standard and also through its EPA License. 
Soltec offer complete traceability to its customers regarding the treatment and location of their waste streams under the Waste Management Act 1996 & EPA Act 1992.
Speaking about the winning business, Christine Charlton, CEO of Westmeath Enterprise Board spoke highly of Michael Corcoran.   “Soltec Ireland Ltd were chosen as the winner of our award due to their continuous innovation and investment in their business which has led them to become market leaders.  Michael, through careful market research and responsiveness to his client group has secured key market opportunities.  This together with hard work, professionalism and an in-depth knowledge of his sector has led him to this successful position.  We wish him all the best in the National Enterprise Awards and are delighted that he is representing Westmeath”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Nominee, Cormac Finnerty pictured from left with, Ms. Christine Charlton, CEO, Westmeath CEB, Ms. Frances Guckian, Chairperson, Westmeath CEB, Cormac and Rachel Finnerty, Ms. Patricia Callan, Director, Small Firms Association.

Nominees, Maeve & Michael O Healy Harte, pictured with Ms. Patricia Callan, Director SFA, Ms. Frances Guckian and Ms. Christine Charlton, Westmeath CEB.

 

 

 

 

 

Nominee, Bernard Flynn of Mullingar Crystal, receiving his presentation piece from, left, Christine Charlton, Frances Guckian of Westmeath CEB and Patricia Callan, Director, Small Firms Association.

Critical Healthcare Ltd

c/o Seamus Reilly & Dr. Ann Cusack

Comagh Business Park

Kilbeggan

Co. Westmeath

T: 0579333111

E: wecare@criticalhealthcare.ie

W: www.criticalhealthcare.ie

      www.Rolli.ie

 Critical Healthcare employs eight people full time and one part time person at their premises in Kilbeggan. Operating for the past nine years, the business offers a comprehensive range of medical supplies to the pre-hospital market, ambulance and all emergency care providers.

Their product and service offering includes:

- Wholesale distribution of medical supplies.

-The manufacture and installation of oxygen pipelines in ambulances.  All emergency vehicles are provided with a pre-delivery inspection certificate on completion of the oxygen installation.

- An ambulance preventative maintenance and emergency breakdown service.

- Installation of emergency equipment for use by HSE professionals.

 

Fifth AvenueFace & Body Clinic

T/ a 5th Avenue

c/o Grainne & Karen Keegan

Lurrig House

Austin Friar Street

 Mullingar

T: 044 9343621

E: grainne@fifthavenue.ie  

W: www.fifthavenue.ie

Sisters, Grainne & Karen Keegan opened Fifth Avenuein 2008 after identifying a niche for affordable luxury spa treatments. Grainne previously ran her own beauty salon business in Mullingar.Fifth Avenueis a Day Spa Facility based in Mullingar town providing a tranquil, relaxed environment where clients can avail of a broad range of specialised spa treatments for stress relief, relaxation and general well being.The facility offers private treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy pool, specially designed relaxation room.  As well as catering for individuals, the day spa can cater for groups with a specially dedicated relaxation area available for private parties and corporate bookings.The business employs five full-time people and four part-time people.

 

Mairin Gallagher

T/a The International College of Hair and Beauty by Mairin G

32 Mount Street

Mullingar

Mairin identified a niche in the market to train beauticians and hairdressers having operated a successful beauty salon business, Profile Nail and Beauty Clinic in Mullingar.  Mairin established the International College of Hair and Beauty by Mairin G offering part-time and full-time CIBTAC Diploma Courses in Beauty. In hairdressing, the college offers City & Guilds accredited courses in all aspects of hair dressing including colouring, cutting and styling. The college has also designed combination courses to allow students to avail of training in both hair and beauty.The college currently employ three full time and three part time employees.

 

Mind’s I Graphic Design Ltd

Cormac Finnerty

23 Marlinstown

Mullingar

Co. Westmeath

T: 044 9332929

E: info@mindsi.ie

W: www.mindsi.ie  

Upon retirement from International Athletics, Cormac pursued a career in Graphic Design before establishing Mind’s I in 2002 specialising in corporate identity & logo design, brochure and marketing literature, website design & maintenance, conference & exhibition materials, illustrations & 3-D visualisations. In addition, Mind’s I offer an in-house digital printing service for small runs of flyers, brochures, invitations, posters and business cards.With exciting plans in the pipeline, Mind’s I currently employ two people full time and one part time person.

MOHH Academy

Maeve & Michael O’Healy-Harte

Arcadia Centre

Coosan

Athlone

Co. Westmeath

T: 09064 76166

E: info@mohh.ie

W: www.mohhacademy.ie 

MOHH Academy, a hairdressing college, was established in Athlone earlier this year providing hairdressing courses for beginners, improvers and qualified stylists. Currently employing two full-time and two part-time members of staff in addition to the promoters, the business also hires in the expertise of professional trainers.  The promoters are also directors of MOHH Publishing Ltd and are the publisher of the ‘Hairdressing Career and Training Information Book’ and ‘Irish Hairdressing International’ magazine. Maeve also runs a hairdressing salon in the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone catering for hotel residents.

 

Mullingar Crystal Ltd

c/o Jacqueline & Bernard Flynn

Unit 8 Zone C

Mullingar Business Park

Mullingar

supplies personalised, contemporary crystal awards, trophies and prizes directly to the corporate and sports club sector. The business has invested in cutting edge technology which allows them personalise each award supplied. In 2008, Mullingar Crystal introduced ‘crystalprint’, a system whereby a colour logo or a photograph can be engraved into the crystal.Mullingar Crystal has recently partnered with TV3 and The Star newspapers in their respective awards and is currently exploring a number of exciting opportunities. The business employs three full time and one part time staff member and has local, national and international customers.

 

 Robotic & Drive Services Ltd

C/o Ken & Sharon McNevin & Stephen Nolan

Forest Park

Mullingar

T:  044 9379733

E:  info@rdservices.ie  

W: www.rdservices.ie

Established in 2005, RD Services assemble, supply, install and service robotic and variable speed drive systems and control and safety systems to businesses. The business has expanded into the refurbishment of robots and has developed a new training facility to train people in robot programming and maintenance. Robotic systems are now used in most manufacturing industries while variable speed drives control the speed of motors and machinery used on manufacturing plants.RD Services currently employ three people full time and one person part-time in addition to contract staff.