DELIVERING AT SCALE
Modular innovation is helping MSL Engineering deliver improvements in programme, safety and quality
From its headquarters in Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork, MSL Engineering is delivering large-scale mechanical packages across Ireland, Europe and the United States, combining modular construction processes, experienced teams and digital delivery to meet the demands of increasingly complex projects.
With over 45 years of experience, MSL has built its reputation in highly regulated sectors such as life sciences and process industries. Today, that same expertise is being applied at scale across the semiconductor and data centre sectors, where programme certainty, safety and speed to market are critical.
At the centre of this capability is the company’s 140,000 sq. ft fabrication facility in Ringaskiddy. Strategically located adjacent to the Port of Cork, the facility enables MSL to design, fabricate and deliver large modular assemblies for projects across Europe and beyond. As Engineering Director Dave Ronan explains, this capability is fundamental to how the business operates. “MSL operates as a true offsite manufacturing partner, not just a mechanical contractor. By shifting significant portions of work into a controlled workshop environment, we can deliver greater certainty in programme, safety and quality.”
The scale of this approach is reflected in recent projects. At Pfizer’s Grange Castle facility, MSL delivered, installed and tested 16km of pipework across 65 pipe racks within a 10-month programme, compared to an estimated 18 months using traditional on-site construction methods. In parallel, the company has been delivering modular pipe racks to Ohio for a semiconductor client, forming part of a wider programme that will see over 200 units fabricated and shipped from Cork.
Over the course of 2024 and 2025, MSL successfully delivered approximately 500 modular assemblies to projects in Ireland, Denmark and the USA with further shipments planned for Belgium, Portugal and Ireland throughout 2026. The company is also expanding its presence in the data centre sector, having recently secured a major project in Portugal, one of the largest Data Centre campuses currently under construction in Europe.
“With the continued growth of AI and digital infrastructure, data centres are a key area of focus for us,” MSL Commercial Director, Kevin O’Sullivan, notes. “While life sciences remains an important part of our business, we recognise the need to diversify and adapt to where the market is going.”
The benefits of modular construction are increasingly recognised across the industry. For MSL, the approach delivers measurable improvements in programme, safety and quality. By transferring work offsite, the company can reduce on-site labour requirements, easing congestion and reducing risk, while also achieving higher levels of consistency through controlled fabrication. However, while infrastructure, process and technology are key enablers, MSL’s leadership is clear that its success is ultimately driven by its people. “Having a strong site team is absolutely critical,” says Managing Director Brian McGrath. “The client will remember how a project is delivered, how it is handed over and how the entire process is managed.”
He is equally quick to highlight the importance of the teams behind the scenes. “What happens in our head office and workshop in Cork is just as important as what happens on site. Our fabrication and welding teams are second to none and they are the foundation that allows us to deliver consistently at scale.”
The integration between workshop, office and site teams enables MSL to operate as a single, coordinated delivery model, from early design and fabrication through to installation and commissioning.
“Very few companies in Ireland can do what we do from this facility,” Kevin O’Sullivan adds. “It allows us to take on larger, more complex scopes and deliver them with a level of certainty that traditional approaches simply cannot match.”
With a projected turnover of €115 million in 2026 and active projects across Denmark, Belgium, Germany and Portugal, MSL continues to expand its international footprint. However, the company remains disciplined in its approach, prioritising long-term client relationships and maintaining delivery standards.
By combining large-scale modular capability, a world-class fabrication facility and experienced teams, MSL Engineering is not just adapting to industry change – it is helping to set the standard for how complex mechanical projects are delivered.
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Michael McDonnell Managing Editor of Irish Construction Industry Magazine & Plan Magazine