MJ Quinn Ltd - A company with a cool attitude to refrigeration

M J Quinn Ltd., specialise in the design and manufacture of high quality refrigerated bodies from its state-of-the-art premises in Athenry, Co Galway. John Loughran discovered that while this progressive family run business has its roots planted firmly in a bygone era, it is very much a contemporary success story.

Managing director, Tom Quinn can boast a strong family connection with the transport industry that stretches back more than 200 years. Tom’s great grandfather was originally a blacksmith.His grandfather James (Jnr) and his father Michael John specialised in horse drawn carts. In 1997 Tom’s son Micheal joined the family run business - a fifth generation Quinn to keep the proud family tradition alive.

With the advent of the tractor, the Quinn name became synonymous with the production of agricultural trailers for all sorts of applications. Cattle trailers, calf trailers etc., were the mainstay of the business. In the mid 1980’s a local dairy approached the company with a view to producing refrigerated bodies. It proved to be a defining moment for the family.
By their own admission, the first few refrigerated bodies produced were basic, yet functional. However, extensive research and development throughout the late 1980’s and the 1990’s into design and manufacture coupled with a constant assessment of components and production techniques has brought the company to a different plain.

Nowadays Tom and Micheal split managerial responibilities between, but both adopt a “hands on” approach to the business. Tom looks after job and work charts, stocks of raw materials and staffing while Micheal concentrates of panel production, the assemby of the bodies, sales and marketing. In a tight-knit family run business flexibility is the order of the day.

The company’s dedication to excellence paid off in 1997, when it achieved A.T.P. certification (class C international standard) for its refrigerated body. The tests were carried out by Cambridge Refrigeration Technology, over a five day period to determine the quality and thermal efficiency of the body.
The certificate allows the company (the first Irish producer to gain the A.T. under international licence to produce refrigerated bodies for the storage and transportation of perishable food stuffs.

The company has specialised in the production of refrigerated bodies since receiving ATP certification and in the last 18 months it has made a number of important external and internal design changes to improve the strength, rigidity and thermal efficiency of the body. At present, the company can produce two complete units per week but in batch circumstances, this figure can be significantly increased.

Built to the highest standards in terms of quality and workmanship, the MJ Quinn fridge is ideally suited to Irish road conditions. The company pays special attention to the door, door frame and door seals to minimise downtime. The door and door frame are built from stainless steel and all rubber seals are attached. The body is built with leakproof and forklift proof floors to ensure the body will have a life span of at least 10 years with the minimum of maintenance.
The company has recently embarked on a euro 400,000 investment in plant and equipment and has acquired a new panel saw, vacuum press and additional fabrication equipment.

This investment will enhance the company’s production capabilities (trebling its weekly output over the next five years) and bring it in line with other major European manufacturers. With the arrival of the new plant and equipment, the company could probably double production overnight.

However, the small issue of maintaining imperiously high quality standards must also be addressed. The company feel a gradual increase in output over the next five years will ensure quality standards are not compromised. As part of the expansion programme, the company will more than double the size of its existing facility later in the year.
The company has filled contracts for renowned companies such at the Kerry Group, Wexford Creameries, Corrib Foods, Pallas Foods, Tolan Foods, Dairygold, Tullamore Frozen Foods, Fyffes and numerous small frozen food distributors in the recent past.

These companies have been quick to see the benefits of the MJ Quinn product and are now counted amongst the company’s most loyal customers. Tom and Micheal have long since realised the importance of generating repeat business through a dedication to product excellence.

The company’s dedication to “in house” design and manufacture, its ability to keep abreast of technological developments in the marketplace and its ability to meet tight production deadlines are just a few other of the reasons why the Quinn name will continue to prosper in the refrigerated body building market for many years to come.

For further information contact Tom or Michael on Tel: 091-844053 Fax: 091-844796 E-mail: mjquinn@eircom.net