Drill Firm Looks to Green Solution in Pipeline

A Fermanagh drilling company is investing more than £600,000 to develop its environmentally friendly method of laying sewer mains for export markets, creating 12 new jobs in the process, according to the Belfast Telegraph Web site.

Conwell Contracts, a family run business, is being backed by £60,000 of investment support from Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund.

The investment will enable Conwell to purchase specialist attachments for its auger boring machine, to allow it to provide trenchless drilling across a broader range of terrain, and will fund an extensive marketing campaign, the web site said.

Conwell Contracts currently employs 20 at its Brookeborough base and the investment will see a further 12 posts created, including two managerial positions over the next two years.

Christopher Conwell, managing director of Conwell Contracts, said: “This investment is the springboard for our ambitious plans to significantly increase turnover, in particular our export sales to the Republic of Ireland.

“As a specialist in the niche area of trenchless drilling, we have identified a number of market opportunities and Invest NI’s support is already helping us to take advantage of these. By moving forward in export markets and utilizing state-of-the-art equipment, we will maintain our high level of expertise and innovation, further consolidating our position as a leader in the industry.”

Alastair Hamilton, chief executive of Invest NI, added: “Conwell Contracts has identified a niche service area which, as the principles of sustainable construction become embedded in infrastructural projects, should result in strong performance by this local firm.”