Keane finds success as sole supplier

After working as a mechanic and refrigeration technician, Mattie Keane has found his niche as the sole Irish trader of Kerstner Cool Jet Kits, the chemically-free insulation product. Mattie is also an agent for Coldchain Refrigeration supplying all over the west of Ireland.

Mattie Keane specialises in chemical free van insulation

Have you ever wondered about the work involved in transferring food from one place to the other? Ever considered the importance of maintaining health and safety when food is in transit? Or did you know that it is compulsory to refrigerate foods such as meat, chicken, fish, milk, sandwiches, salads and fruits while transporting from place to place so they will be of the highest standard when it arrives at the supermarket for you the customer?

Mattie is involved in this business over 20 years. He qualified as a refrigeration technician with Thermo King in 1977 in their Galway plant. While enjoying refrigeration work the indoor scene did not appeal to him. Mattie worked for a refrigeration haulage company combining his two passions: heavy vehicle mechanical work and refrigeration. It was at this stage he decided to start up his own business in Athenry under the name Athenry Refrigeration Service & Repairs Ltd.
Mattie made contact with the Coldchain Refrigeration Company, Naas, Co. Kildare. Coldchain manufacture their own units in Naas.

Mattie Keane at his premises in Athenry, Galway

Mattie is the agent for the west of Ireland, supplying and fitting Coldchain units from Donegal to Kerry.
"Coldchain units are still my best seller as it is a very reliable product, competitively priced. I would control 85% of the Galway market in refrigeration on vans. Initally starting off I had to put in long hours, working seven days for the first few years. My wife Rita and son Trevor are both involved in the business now. Rita looks after all the secretarial work and Trevor is a qualified heavy vehicle mechanic. We now have eight employed in the company, refrigeration technicians and heavy vehicle mechanics. We have two service vans on the road. One is a 24-hour backup service for refrigeration and the other is 24-hour backup service for light and heavy vehicles," he said.

Mattie Keane settles down to another day's work

Athenry Refrigeration Service & Repairs Ltd is a one-stop shop. The customer can have a full service and repairs to their van or truck while on the premises as well as refrigeration as the company has a garage repairing heavy and light commercial vehicles. The group looks after a number of companies such as Arrabawn Co-op, Cuisine de France/Pierres, Connacht Court group, Dan Ryan Truck Rentals, Divilly Meats Galway, John E. Colleran, John Curley Fruit Importers, Munster Foods Ennis, Co. Clare, Lundy Foods Ballina, Fyffes Galway, Clada Group, Milne Fruit & Veg, Birr. Co. Offaly and many more.

"MJ Quinn body builders are a neighbouring business, building bodies for refrigeration units and supplying all over Ireland. We would work closely with this company, referring business from one company to the other.
"I like a good challenge. I enjoy my work and relish the stimulation involved in my current position," he said.
A glance at the company website (www.athenryrefrigeration.com) reveals the reliability and efficiency of the service.
As the only distributors of this system in Ireland, there are extensive links on the company homepage including the Kerstner Cool Line and the various services and repairs which the company provides.

One of Mattie Keane's vans. Mattie has been established in Galway since the early 1980s

One of the examples (described on the website) is the coldchain product. The coldchain transport refrigeration is described as a "modular system" made up of condenser, evaporator and vehicle driven rotary compressor. The product can be installed into moulded roof sections while at the same time allowing total accessibility to all the electrical and refrigeration components. Models include the C2500 H: Chill Unit, the C2500 SE: freezer unit with system features including high-capacity evaporator blowers and a time saving installation design.
With a hard-working staff behind him, Mattie Keane can look forward to many more years of success in Athenry.