One of Ireland’s leading grab hire companies

04/04/2024

AJ Grab Hire Ltd has been providing nationwide grab hire services to remove muck, topsoil, demolition material, construction waste and sand & gravel from both commercial and private sites since 2006. The Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan-based family business continues to go from strength to strength by providing a professional, reliable, friendly and value-for-money service.

With years of experience in utility works, site clearance, demolition and general haulage, AJ Grab Hire prides itself on being Ireland’s No. 1 grab hire company. Founder and managing director Barry Nugent is joined in the business by his wife Siobhan, son Joe and a top-class team of drivers, machinery operators and admin personnel. In all, 50 people are employed. ‘AJ’ stands for Amy and Joe, who are Barry and Siobhan’s two children.

Barry, whose father Dominic was in the transport business before him, owned and operated a fleet of tippers before going down the grab hire route. He still has a number of tippers in his 40-strong fleet which also includes tractor units and grab lorries. While the modern fleet is predominantly Scania, it also features DAF, Volvo and Renault. Barry’s trailers consist of flats, tippers and low loaders.

Due to a rigorous replenishment programme, the fleet is both fresh and immaculately turned out, with new models added virtually every year. To mark its 15th anniversary in 2021, AJ Grab Hire took delivery of a stunning Scania G450 XT 8x4 from McElvaney Motors with a Palfinger crane, Thompson grab body and Kelsa lights. Last year, DAF Distributors supplied a brand-new DAF CF 450 FAD 8x4 rigid unit which was also fitted with a Thompson grab body and a Palfinger Epsilon M125 crane and bucket.

Also in 2022, the grab hire specialist purchased a new Scania P410 8x4 complete with Gleeson body and Hiab Jonsered 1200RS crane with Kinshofer bucket, and a new Scania 650S twin wheel tag from McElvaney Motors. 2023 saw the arrival of a Volvo FH tipper from Irish Commercials, while a new Scania P410 XT with a Robinson grab trailer and Palfinger crane has been ordered from McElvaney’s for early 2024.

In addition, the Castleblayney company – which has a second depot in Ashbourne, Co. Meath – has an array of track machines, including JCB and Kobelco diggers ranging from three to 25 tonnes, and Komatsu and Shantui bulldozers. Damian Goff of Goff Agri Plant & Sales in Wexford was delighted to supply AJ Grab Hire with the first Shantui (DH17 C3) dozer in Ireland recently. Damian also recently supplied a DGM ET60 digger – which is his own brand – with Oriel attachments and Hand Engineering buckets.

All machines are maintained and serviced inhouse – with the exception of those under warranty – to ensure there is no such thing as downtime. No job is too big or too small for the highly-regarded family business which is fully insured and licensed, and works mainly for large utilities companies, including the ESB and National Broadband Ireland. The company is C2-registered and also carries all the relevant waste licenses and permits, while its drivers hold current Safe Pass certificates. Behind the wheel of every AJ Grab Hire truck is a skilful, dependable and courteous driver.

“We work for the ESB and National Broadband Ireland through Circet Ireland, Richard Nolan Civil Engineering and M&M Contracts. We also draw tarmac for SIAC Construction and have long-standing relationships with the likes of Breedon and Kennedy International,” Joe Nugent explains.

There is no such thing as a quiet time for AJ Grab Hire which has grown and expanded with its clients.

“Our customers have got bigger and the projects have got bigger. It’s all site work, mostly in utilities, and to provide the best possible service at all times, you need good equipment and good people. We’re lucky to have a very good team here. A lot of the lads have been with us for 10 years or more, and you can’t beat that bit of experience,” Joe adds.

“From removing rubble from a private residence to large-scale utility projects, we have you covered. We always go the extra mile for our customers with our one-stop shop service. We deliver projects nationwide in a timely, cost-effective and safe manner.”

AJ Grab Hire would like to take this opportunity to thank its customers and suppliers for their continued support as well as its dedicated team for their hard work and expertise.

AJ Grab Hire

Cornassonagh,
Shantonagh,
Castleblayney,
Co. Monaghan.
Telephone: 042 9745734

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.ajgrabhire.ie

First published in Irish Trucker magazine March/April 2024, Vol 27-1