DESIGNER GROUP ACQUIRES FKM MECHANICAL

Designer Group has announced the acquisition of FKM Mechanical, the mechanical engineering business of the FKM Group for an undisclosed sum. Founded in 1945, FKM Mechanical has a strong track record in working on FDI projects. It has, in recent times, delivered projects for Abbot, Allergan, Boston Scientific, eBay, PayPal, Diageo and Ballymore’s Dublin Landings. Designer Group, with a total turnover of €262 million and over 1,000 employees, operates across Ireland and the UK as well as in Europe and Africa.

In Ireland, Designer Group has provided engineering expertise to major public and private sector construction and development projects. Public sector projects include the TU Dublin Campus at Grangegorman, the new Department of Health headquarters in Baggot Street, Trinity College Business School and ESB’s Head Office complex in Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin. Private sector projects include Capital Dock, IPUT Wilton Place, Bristol Myers Squibb in Blanchardstown, Abbott Ireland Diabetes Care in Longford and Donegal.

In the UK, Designer Group electrical and mechanical projects include The O2 Project Mint, Royal Academy of Arts restoration, Wardian Towers, Canary Wharf, Heathrow Terminal 3 upgrade and Birmingham Central Exchange Data Centre.

Announcing the acquisition Michael Stone, Founder and CEO of Designer Group said: ”We are very pleased to have acquired the FKM Mechanical business, together with its highly experienced team, from owner Matt Mohan. FKM Mechanical has a longstanding reputation in the Irish engineering industry for the high-quality work undertaken for leading domestic and international commercial and industrial clients. It has a particularly strong presence in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector which, when added to our existing work, creates a formidable team in this resilient sector.”

Matt Mohan, CEO of the FKM Group said: “I’m delighted that FKM Mechanical is teaming up with Designer Group. FKM Mechanical will be an ideal fit for Designer Group with common and complementary skills and experience. In recent years, it has become evident that the building services sector is opting for a combined mechanical and electrical offering, so this acquisition makes strategic sense. Over the coming months I will be working closely with the Designer Group team to deliver a successful integration, as well as continuing to focus the FKM fit out and facilities management businesses.”

Commenting on current trading, Michael Stone said: “Following a good 2019, the first half of this year was dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic. With construction sites closed for two and a half months, trading was significantly impacted.

However, we have a strong pipeline and projects are now moving ahead again as many multi-national companies catch up on their development agenda. While overall uncertainty lingers, the demand for our services has ramped up in Ireland and in international markets. For example, we are currently working on a large data centre project in Norway out of our London office and on Biomass Energy projects in Kenya and Uganda for Diageo out of our Dublin office. The integration of FKM Mechanical will undoubtedly add to the momentum.”

Michael McDonnell Managing Editor of Irish Construction Industry Magazine & Plan Magazine

Email: michael@irishconstruction.com      WWW.MCDMEDIA.IE