Mid-Ulster construction company Oakleaf Contracts has announced a significant expansion of its operations with the launch of a dedicated modular manufacturing division, specialising in the offsite production of fully fitted, custom-built bathroom pods.
This strategic move marks a major milestone for the company, which is headquartered in Magherafelt with offices in Dublin and Sheffield.
Operating from a 65,000 sq. ft facility in the Lancaster area, the new division will specialise in the design and manufacture of self-contained, modular bathroom pods for the residential, student accommodation, hotel and healthcare sectors.
The pods are built in a controlled factory environment before being transported to a construction project ready for installation – complete with fixtures, fittings, plumbing, electrical components and finishes, thus reducing the amount of work required on site.
The new division will see Oakleaf Contracts, one of the UK and Ireland’s leading specialist dry wall partition and ceiling contractors, strengthen its position in the rapidly expanding offsite construction market and create new opportunities across the British Isles.
Indeed, Oakleaf has already picked up a major multi-million pound contract, on the back of the launch, to supply 3,300 modular bathroom pods for a large-scale student accommodation development at a leading English university.
Oakleaf Contracts Director Philip McCoubrey said: “The launch of our modular division represents an exciting new chapter for Oakleaf and enables us to combine our award-winning construction expertise with advanced and highly specialised offsite manufacturing capabilities.
“Offsite construction is playing an increasingly important role in meeting the demands of modern building projects and is an area that we’ve been looking to develop for some time.
“Our modular bathroom pods offer significant advantages in terms of reduced onsite labour, improved quality control, minimising risk and supporting sustainability objectives through reduced waste and more efficient manufacturing processes.
“The fact that we’ve been able to secure a contract for 3,300 pods so soon after our launch demonstrates both the strength of the opportunity and the confidence clients have in our approach. We look forward to building on this early success and developing long-term partnerships with clients across multiple sectors,” he added.
Headed up on the ground by Oakleaf Commercial Manager Nigel McCarthy from Hillsborough, the new modular division will provide immediate employment for 50 staff in the Lancaster region.
“This investment underlines our commitment to long-term growth and innovation,” said Nigel.
“By introducing modular manufacturing, we are broadening our service offering and positioning Oakleaf at the forefront of modern construction – providing integrated solutions that combine traditional contracting expertise with state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques to meet the evolving needs of the built environment.”
Founded in 2000, Oakleaf Contracts is a Northern Ireland-headquartered construction and manufacturing business delivering specialist contracting, interior fit-out and modern methods of construction solutions across the UK and Ireland.
With offices in Magherafelt, Dublin and Sheffield, and a total workforce of 90 full-time and up to 200 sub-contracted staff, the company has built a reputation for delivering complex, large-scale projects across the healthcare, hospitality, commercial, residential and technology sectors.
The Group’s expertise includes interior fit-out, drywall partitions, suspended ceilings, raised access floors, steel framing systems and specialist construction solutions.
Over the past 25 years, Oakleaf has successfully delivered projects for many of the UK’s and Ireland’s leading contractors and developers, including major healthcare facilities, transport infrastructure and commercial developments.
More information on Oakleaf Contracts can be found at www.oakleafcontracts.com.