The steel supply specialists

For more than a quarter of a century, Dublin-based D Kennedy Steel Supplies Ltd has been providing a quality service to its ever-expanding customer base. Company director Darren Kennedy explains more.

Servicing the steel industry for the past 26 years, D Kennedy Steel Supplies Ltd continues to go from strength to strength.
Based in Palmerstown Village, just off the M50 and only a few minutes from Dublin city centre, D Kennedy Steel is an Irish-owned, family-run business, which can cater for all your steel needs. The company offers a wide range of products and services at very competitive prices, with no order being too big or too small. It prides itself on its high level of service and friendly staff.
“We supply steel to building projects, engineering companies and to the general public throughout Ireland,” explains D Kennedy Steel Supplies director and transport manager Darren Kennedy.

“We’ve come a long way over the past 26 years, and a lot of that is down to the service we provide. Our customer-base is growing all the time and that is a great thing to be able to say in the middle of a recession.”
The company, which incorporates a small steel fabrication business, was established in 1983 by Dan Kennedy, who has since handed over the reins to his two sons, Darren and Daniel. The steel is sourced from all over Europe and is shipped to ports at
Belfast, Warrenpoint and Rosslare and brought back to Palmerstown before being distributed throughout the country.

“We have a three-and-a-half acre site with a large workshop and yard where we stockhold the steel. Palmerstown is a great location because it’s close to the city and is just off the N4 and the M50. We can easily service the rest of the country from there,” Darren says.
D Kennedy Steel supplies large tonnage of various steel types, including Beams, Columns, Channels, Mesh, Tube, Box, Sheet, Flat, Angle, Round and Square, to major building projects and to the rapidly growing national infrastructure network. One such project is the new suspension bridge over the River Suir in Waterford. A key element of the N25 Waterford city bypass national road project, it is the State’s longest cable-stayed bridge, running 465 metres long with a span of 230 metres.

The company strives to ensure prompt delivery and a top-class service. Its distribution is catered for by its own fleet, which consists of nine vehicles, including four trucks and two 45-foot trailers.
“We have two Isuzu trucks, one Mercedes and one Scania. Our two trailers are Dennison and Weightlifter. The rest of our fleet is made up of 4x4s and commercial vans,” Darren adds.
A top-of-the-range Mercedes Actros takes pride of place among the D Kennedy Steel fleet. This vehicle has won a remarkable 30 awards at various Irish truck shows, including Boot To The Headlight and Peak Truck.

Darren proudly reveals: “It had four firsts and one second at Boot To The Headlight in Goffs this year. It won Best Owner Driver, Best Interior, Best Livery and Best Mercedes.
“It won four prizes at the Peak Truck in Belfast last year and has won 11 at the South East Truck Show in Enniscorthy in the past two years. It also won two categories at this year’s National Truck Show in Ennis and four at last year’s event.”
Darren explains that great pride is taken in the appearance of each and every one of the D Kennedy Steel fleet.
“Saturday is our designated cleaning and polishing day, but it’s not unusual for the trucks to get a wash or two during the week as well. We’d be hauling into mucky yards and building sites most of the time, so you have to keep on top of the cleaning.
“Also, we have found that it’s good for business to have well turned-out and immaculately presented trucks. It’s good PR and reflects well on our company.”

D Kennedy Steel offers a wide range of services serving both the industrial and private sectors. These services include: delivery of both large and small goods with vehicles to suit all needs; cutting service; guillotine and press brake facilities; general fabrication.
The company has experienced significant growth in recent years and that trend is expected to continue next year, despite the recession.
“Business has increased four-fold in the last seven years. We’ve just taken on a new salesman, Mervyn Rooney, and we hope to increase business by another one-third next year. We’ve invested heavily in our equipment and plant, and that’s paying off for us. You have to take the bull by the horns in times like this.
“While the demand for steel is down 60-70% in Ireland, the one good thing to come out of it is that steel prices have halved,” Darren says.
D Kennedy Steel has an excellent team of employees, who skills, experience and courteous manner ensures that the company continues to grow.

“All 12 of our staff have played their part in our ongoing success and growth. One of our drivers, Mick Burns from Belfast, is with us 20 years. Bernard Quinn in sales & accounts and our workshop foreman Gavin Eiffe are with us a long time too.
“We consider ourselves very fortunate to have such experienced, reliable and dedicated staff,” the affable Dubliner concludes.
For more information about D Kennedy Steel Supplies Ltd, telephone 01-6260399, fax 01-6231327 or log onto www.dkennedysteel.ie Business opening hours are from 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.