Loughnane Concrete relies on BKT tyres
Established in the 1950s for the purpose of supplying sand and gravel to the Irish market, Loughnane Concrete now owns a quarry and concrete plant on a 65-acre site in Birr, Co Offaly, which is faced with complex challenges and difficult weather and landscape conditions on a daily basis.
Christy Loughnane, managing director at Loughnane Concrete explained: “Today we can say that we have a solid customer base in the fields of civil engineering, construction, and agriculture. Yet, over the years we have had to deal with enormous changes in the marketplace and have encountered some complex moments ranging from environmental and regulatory issues, as well as a lack of skilled labor, to periods of economic recession, including the most severe one in 2010 that almost cornered us.”
In addition, there are the typical complexities of the environment the company operates in, namely the quarry, where it is essential to have reliable equipment and means that meet all safety requirements without compromising productivity whilst being able to minimise downtime.
This is why the company has invested heavily in state-of-the-art machinery and maintenance operations, leading Loughnane Concrete to rely on BKT tyres, which are exclusively imported and distributed in Ireland by Agrigear.
“We mainly use three loaders and four dumpers for our operations, but this is an environment that puts a strain on our equipment in all aspects,” Loughnane continued. “So, on the suggestion of our distributor well over 10 years ago now, we decided to rely on specific BKT tyres for the mining sector. Today, we can say that we are extremely satisfied with their performance and the high quality of the BKT products.”
Loughnane Concrete has specifically chosen tyres from the Earthmax range: the Earthmax SR 50, made of a special cut-resistant compound that reduces wear while ensuring increased durability; the Earthmax SR 30, which offers excellent traction, stability, and durability thanks to multi-ply steel belts and a rigid block design; and finally, for transport, loading and grading applications, the Earthmax SR 41 providing many hours of operation as well as puncture resistance, and comfort.
Besides ensuring the safety of its operations and working environment, Loughnane Concrete puts another major issue at the centre of its business activities, namely sustainability – in line with the green energy transition process undertaken by county Offaly as a whole. Indeed, the company is a supplier of road materials for the construction of wind turbines that will contribute to the creation of several wind farms.
“What we do is trying to play our part by collecting the water that comes out of the construction site in special basins to be reused in our material cleaning plant,” Loughnane added. “The water employed for the cleaning process is then pumped into settling ponds and reused again. We care about the environment around us and the well-being of the people who live in this area.”
Despite a historically male-dominated environment, Loughnane Concrete has also championed the value of inclusion by welcoming the arrival of Rachel Dermody, who has been part of the company for five years now. She is qualified in driving heavy equipment such as dump trucks and loaders and is currently practicing for her excavator driver’s license.
“I think the biggest challenge has been with myself, especially because not everyone is used to seeing a woman in such work settings. But as soon as you start to feel comfortable in your job, then it all gets easier. I believe that anyone having both persistence and determination can do it,” said Dermody.
She also pointed out the improved comfort of modern machinery, starting with that provided by BKT tyres, which make the equipment more comfortable and really optimal in terms of traction.
“Compared to a few years ago, machinery is easier to operate and much more stable. I feel much safer even though we operate on rough and steep terrain, especially on the bottom of the quarry. In this regard, the tyres help us a lot by giving us the reliability and comfort we need,” Dermody concluded.
For more information on the BKT range, contact Agrigear on (042) 966 6444.