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Holding on to the tail of the Celtic Tiger

Glenn Wood Tullamore has its foundations in the architectural joinery business established over four decades. Originally formed in 1978 by Bernard Glennon the business now has a board of directors and various shareholders, although the Glennon family is still very much at the front of the operation of the company. The company’s investment strategy includes its new manufacturing facility and advanced software provided by Planit Software.

Over the decades Glenn Wood Tullamore has provided award-winning architectural joinery for many business sectors, including public, commercial, industrial, leisure and domestic projects for clients in Ireland and overseas. Clients include many of Ireland’s leading architects and interior designers, partnering with Glenn Wood Tullamore to produce outstanding quality craftsmanship on a wide range of products. From initial brief to project completion, the company continuously strives to ensure each project achieves its maximum potential, with Alphacam and  Autodesk Inventor software supplied by Planit providing a crucial link in the project chain.

Glenn Wood Tullamore’s wide variety of premium products can be seen on both the interior and exteriors of Government buildings, pubs, hotels, financial institutions, and corporate headquarters throughout the length and breadth of the country. The company’s passion for perfection and its strong design culture combine to produce interiors and furniture in a vast range of styles. “We are justly proud of our achievements, which include a wide variety of high profile public and private projects that have been delivered within exacting time frames and to the highest possible standards,” says David McIntyre, project coordinating manager.

This commitment to quality and dedication to its clients has formed the cornerstone of the business. The year-on-year growth of the business since 1978 is a testament to its success, most recently culminating in Glenn Wood Tullamore commissioning the building of a new state-of-the-art facility, which incorporates a 58,000 ft2 workshop and ancillary buildings at Axis Business Park, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

The company, which employs around 50 people, moved into this impressive new headquarters in 2008 and it is from here that it has sought to expand its manufacturing process into the area of solid worktop surfaces. Additionally, through the years Glenn Wood Tullamore has established relations and formed strategic alliances with ancillary companies in the fields of glass, steel, electrical and stone, all of which add to the service, quality and systems that can be provided. “Working with a wide range of wood and numerous complementary materials enables us to provide a turnkey service when required,” says David.

Aware of the importance of good environmental practices and the associated wider green issues, Glenn Wood Tullamore has gone to great lengths to incorporate this aspect in the design of its new facility - resulting in most of the waste products generated being segregated and recycled.  A user of Alphacam for over 8 years, Glenn Wood had enjoyed the benefits of the software in terms of speed of throughput, accuracy of cut and material utilization. 

Early in 2009, the Planit sales manager for Ireland, Michael Pettit, approached Glenn Wood to talk about Planit’s status as a Value Added Reseller (VAR) for Autodesk Inventor. As a VAR, Michael was able to demonstrate the extensive technical capabilities of Autodesk Inventor for the work Glenn Wood Tullamore required, as David explains “in our meeting with Michael he clearly demonstrated that Autodesk Inventor would provide the level of technical capability we required with regard to presentation and design, and it would work seamlessly with our Alphacam Advanced CAD/CAM software to produce NC cutting data and sheet nests that are highly efficient in terms of both the machine time and material utilisation.”

Planit Software provided product training and full support, which David says “was a great help in allowing us to hit the ground running with using the software”. Michael Pettit, adds: “To maximise the return on the software investment, product training and technical support is vital. It ensures the ongoing success of the software implementation, increases the company’s adoption of the benefits available and minimises the time required before exposure to the end customer.  We were delighted with Glenn Wood’s feedback after the training, and their comments about ease of use and functionality with Alphacam”

As well as investing in the building and software, Glenn Wood Tullamore also upgraded its production capability with several new machines. These include a Weinig 6-head cutter, Weinig multirip, Homag 4-axis CNC router, Homag Brandt edgebander, and an Altendof panel saw, along with ancillary equipment. Says David: “We pride ourselves on implementing quality design, manufacture and installation systems by using the finest cutting edge technology, materials and experienced traditional craftsmen. Our craftsmen bring together extensive industry experience, proven technical expertise and a passion for perfection to create products tailored specifically to meet our clients’ needs.  Alphacam helps us to hit this goal every time.

“We are committed to achieving the highest standards through meeting customer requirements first time, and all of the time. This is achieved through continuous open lines of communication between our employees, subcontractors, customers and main contractors. In addition, we comply with all the applicable rules and building regulations pertinent at the time.”

It is because of these skills, knowledge and expertise that Glenn Wood Tullamore successfully tendered for the design, manufacture and installation of the bars and corporate boxes in the new Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road. Due for completion at the end of January 2010, Inventor was used for this project to provide visual images of all the work required, and then to translate those models seamlessly into Alphacam for manufacture.

“Each piece that we produce is created in our factory. Rigorous quality control procedures coupled with a single point of contact for each client and highly developed works practices are designed to guarantee the quality and scheduling on every project. Inventor has made a significant difference to us, allowing an increase in the use of CNC technology and automation. And, it has made an immense difference to our design capability,” says David .

Referring to the financial expression describing the period of rapid economic growth in Ireland 1995-2007, he concludes: “The ‘Celtic Tiger’ has been an exciting time for Glenn Wood Tullamore and, while the next decade looks very challenging, it will no doubt offer up many exciting opportunities.

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