12.04.2007

New operations man at UpRight

UpRight International the Dublin based producer of Alloy Scaffold towers has appointed
Pat Kennelly as head of engineering and manufacturing.
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Pat Kennelly

Kennelly, 44, has spent 26 years working in increasingly senior engineering roles at Glen Dimplex, Pratt & Whitney and Lotus.

As a senior development engineer for Lotus, Kennelly helped develop the twin turbo V8 engine for the Lotus Esprit and assisted in the development of the world’s highest volume engine for General Motors.

He is also no stranger to the international scene having lived in mainland Europe and worked for organisations in the USA, Asia and Europe.

Kennelly takes responsibility for both the Engineering and Manufacturing functions. With two-thirds of the employees under his wing and a production facility of 11,000 sq metres (120,000sqft).

The company says that his first task will be to develop a more customer focused operation and knit engineering and production into a seamless function.

Kennelly says “We need to embrace technology, and drive a production facility that can compete with the best in the world. In taking this role I can see that UI are committed to investing in the business and have a workforce who can embrace change and are keen to deliver the best for their customers”.

Vertikal Comment

Having sold off its powered access business UpRight International has undergone massive changes in the past 12 months.

While the company has more than doubled its non-powered access business in the last three years it faces significant challenges in the years ahead as some of its customers shift to the new forms of lower cost powered access equipment popping up.

More of a challenge though will be keeping ahead of the low cost producers that are looming on the horizon from places like China.

UpRight has built its leading international position on the back of technology, that even today allows it to produce a tower frame in a fraction of the time it takes those who weld; While being able to sell the resulting product at a premium.

Maintaining such manufacturing and design differentials is, along with its marketing and distribution efforts, the only way the company (or the European industry for that matter) will stay ahead of producers from low cost-labour regions.