Business is flying at KLM Utilities
19/12/2024
Specialising in turnkey utility solutions, KLM Utilities Ltd is a fast-growing company boasting an exceptional fleet of trucks, trailers, excavators and other plant. Managing director Leo McGinley explains more.
Celebrating five years in business, KLM Utilities has evolved into one of Ireland’s leading utilities and civil engineering firms, undertaking substantial cable, fibre infrastructure and associated works for the telecommunications, pharmaceutical and data centre sectors. Its clients within the public domain include TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) and NTA (National Transport Authority).
Of Donegal parentage, Leo McGinley was born and reared in Glasgow before relocating to Dublin in 1998. He gained a wealth of experience in the utility sector before deciding to go out on his own.
“My father Tony moved to Glasgow in 1976 to work in utilities. That’s where the interest came from,” Leo says.
“He returned to Ireland in the mid-1990s and I followed him a few years later. I started off driving small machines such as mini-diggers and gradually worked my way up. I set up KLM Utilities in 2019 and haven’t looked back since. We have a lot of work on our books and are going from strength to strength.”
Operating from Greenogue Industrial Estate, Rathcoole, KLM Utilities runs a 23-strong fleet of artics, eight-wheel grab lorries, eight-wheel tippers, twin-axle tippers, concrete lorries, tar lorries and road sweepers. The company brought along its flagship Scania 770 and 730 tractor units to this year’s Full of the Pipe Truck Show in Mondello Park. With their striking all-black livery, they were the centre of attention.
“We always take great pride in the appearance of our trucks and in particular Greig and Deglan were delighted to showcase the two artics at Full of the Pipe. They pull either a low loader or tipper trailer. Our fleet is a mix of Scania and DAF with one Volvo. How your vehicles look says everything about your company. If they are clean and well presented, it gives a good impression.
“All of our trucks, trailers and plant are regularly maintained and serviced to ensure there is no such thing as downtime. Because most of our trucks were bought in the UK, we don’t deal much with main dealers in Ireland. Tom Lynch of TLC Commercials in Dunboyne looks after our servicing and repairs, while we are also able to carry out smaller maintenance jobs ourselves.”
Leo’s biggest investment to date has been a Mercedes Vac-Ex which is a high-tech machine used for excavating around sensitive and live services on critical Infrastructure projects. “We bought it in 2022 and it is one of only about 20 in Ireland. It’s integral to our site investigation work in particular,” he points out.
With the scope of the work undertaken by KLM Utilities varying in type and size, it has a machine for every job. The company’s Caterpillar diggers (it also has one Kubota) range from three to 20 tonnes, while it also operates an assortment of rollers, dumpers and loading shovels. Another piece of kit is a JCB 3CX rubber tyre digger.
“We need all sorts of equipment and backup to meet local authority requirements and time constraints. You must be self-sufficient and in control of your destiny.”
It goes without saying that KLM Utilities’ greatest asset is its people. In this regard, Leo is joined by up to 100 direct and indirect personnel consisting of planning engineers, quantity surveyors, site management, admin staff, drivers, plant and general operatives, concrete finishing and tar reinstatement specialists along with maintenance personnel. All staff are committed to maintaining the highest Health & Safety and quality control standards.
“We are lucky to have a highly-skilled, experienced and reliable team who are supported and supplemented by the same tried and trusted subcontractors,” Leo adds.
KLM Utilities is proud to be at the forefront of the Irish utilities and civils works sector.
“We do high voltage ESB and fibre infrastructure throughout Ireland for the telecommunication, pharmaceutical and data centre sectors,” the affable Glaswegian explains.
“Our job is to get high voltage power and fibre network connections to our clients whilst complying with local authority guidelines. We build the fibre networks, laying pipes under roads, rivers, canals and railway lines.
“We’ve also carried out initial site investigation work from Swords via Dublin Airport to Dartmouth Square for the proposed Metrolink and for the NTA’s new BusConnects network. It’s great to be associated with projects of that size and scale.”
Leo would like to take this opportunity to thank his clients and suppliers for their continued support as well as his staff and subcontractors for their hard work, dedication and expertise.
KLM Utilities has come a long way in five years. Here’s to the next five and many more!
KLM Utilities Ltd
642 Jordanstown Drive,
Greenogue Industrial Estate,
Rathcoole,
Co. Dublin.
Telephone: 087 179 7596
First published in Irish Trucker magazine November/December 2024, Vol 27-6
