BUILDING PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH PARTNERSHIP:
SMARTER SYSTEMS FOR A STRONGER INDUSTRY
Altrad Generation’s Graham Henderson flags the need for collaboration to deliver the construction Ireland needs. Increasing the supply of Irish housing is a complex challenge. It involves many areas, which not one company or organisation has the means to change independently: better regulation, consistency around investment and finance, technology, new approaches and attracting more younger workers are all needed.
To succeed and create lasting improvements we need a cultural shift towards greater collaboration and early engagement across the supply chain.
Too often, our industry operates in silos. Main contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and designers all work hard, but not always together. Productivity suffers when expertise isn’t shared, and when equipment partners are brought in too late to influence smarter planning and delivery.
At Altrad Generation, we’ve seen firsthand how working together with our clients transforms outcomes. When we’re involved from the outset, we can recommend design and product solutions that cut labour hours, reduce cost and improve safety, all while keeping projects on schedule.
Our Futuro ring system scaffold is a perfect example. Designed for speed, versatility, and precision, Futuro is over 60% quicker to erect and 28% lighter than traditional Tube & Fitting systems. Its modular, self-securing design allows semi-skilled teams to build faster, while maintaining uncompromising safety standards. From domestic sites to major infrastructure projects, Futuro enables crews to do more, with less effort and downtime.
Pair that with UNI Roof, our lightweight, modular temporary roofing system, and sites gain year-round resilience. With spans up to 50 metres, integrated rainwater management and quick hand, crane or roll-out erection, UNI Roof protects productivity from the elements. Its compatibility with all major scaffolding systems means it integrates seamlessly — reducing stoppages and safeguarding progress, even in Ireland’s most unpredictable weather.
The lesson is clear: innovation works best when we work together. By combining collaborative planning with modern, efficient systems like Futuro and UNI Roof, we can tackle many of the industry’s long-standing productivity barriers.
To resolve demand and supply challenges we need to rethink how we build together. It isn’t enough to pay lip service to collaboration; it needs to be the foundation of a more productive, sustainable, and resilient industry.
Whatever the weather throws at us, partnership and innovation will keep us building and giving Ireland the houses it deserves.
www.altradgeneration.com/en-ie
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Michael McDonnell Managing Editor of Irish Construction Industry Magazine & Plan Magazine
Email: michael@irishconstruction.com WWW.MCDMEDIA.IE