Wind Power

Irvine based Windhoist is a wholly owned subsidiary of Irish crane hire company McNallys which first investigated the now pioneering wind power sector as far back as 1998. The erection of wind turbines, which fitted well with the company’s large crane hire business, has really taken off with personnel working as far afield as the Falkland Islands, France, Germany and Sardinia.

Specialised Service
"McNallys realised that, in order to compete in an already saturated plant and construction market, we had to offer a different service utilising some highly specialised and large cranes,” says Windhoist hire desk manager Fergal Prunty. “A large Liebherr crane might cost as much as six million Euros. “To ensure these cranes have continual work, it was an obvious move to look at the erection of the wind turbines and then to go one step further, with a comprehensive site management, turbine build and maintenance service.”

First Choice Supplier
The company originally worked from two sites in Dublin and Monaghan but have now taken on the new 6.0 hectare Irvine site where site manager Jack Neill oversees regular maintenance work and scheduled 500 hour servicing in the custom built workshop. Neill reports that the erection of wind turbines places special demands on the company’s crane fleet. "It’s a hard life for a crane. They work in a very hostile environment and are put under a lot of pressure. It is inevitable that hoses will blow,” he says. “That is why we work so closely with Pirtek Kilmarnock.” Neill explains that this is a continuation of a relationship with Pirtek that stems from the company’s native Ireland. “Our cranes were serviced by Pirtek Cork, Pirtek Dublin supplies our works yard, and Pirtek Belfast services the main depot. When we built the facilities in Irvine, Pirtek Kilmarnock was our obvious first choice,” Jack Neill concludes. “It turned out to be an excellent decision. Pirtek Kilmarnock provides a very quick response time and brilliant workman-ship. They are a really professional outfit with well-trained staff who replicate our unique, flexible approach to business. They are always our first choice supplier. I know I just have to lift the phone, and they are on site.”