Established in 1999 by John McCourt, MPTD is a leading supplier of thermoforming tooling in Ireland for the plastics industry and caters for a wide range of sectors.
Roscommon-based Midland Precision Tool and Die (MPTD) Ltd. is Ireland’s leading supplier of thermoforming tooling for the plastics industry.
A client of Local Enterprise Office Roscommon, MPTD has received various supports over the years and more recently has availed of mentoring and a Business Continuity Voucher.
“We have been kept very busy throughout the recent months as we have been supplying various pieces for PPE and tooling to the medical industry”
Like the majority of companies across Ireland, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic was felt at MPTD, but founder John McCourt says the company has kept going by providing high volume production tooling for the manufacture of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).
“We have been kept very busy throughout the recent months as we have been supplying various pieces for PPE and tooling to the medical industry,” he says.
“Our production levels were not reduced at all – in fact the only issue we had was in the transport of our products during the period when there were travel restrictions and checkpoints.
“But the drivers carried letters with them from customers which proved we were an essential business providing necessary medical equipment.”
“By being aware of this before it happened, we were able to adapt to what was needed and focus on providing all the necessary products for the medical sector as work in other areas was slowing down”
It continues to be business as usual for the seven staff at the Roscommon plant and McCourt says he knew that the company needed to be on top of things when the lockdown began.
“Before Brexit hit us, customers were on to me looking for 12 months’ supply of certain products and it was the same pre-Covid, so I knew something was happening before it really took hold,” he says.
“I got the lads together and said although I didn’t know what was going to happen, we needed to try and be prepared as everyone would be affected in some way or other. By being aware of this before it happened, we were able to adapt to what was needed and focus on providing all the necessary products for the medical sector as work in other areas was slowing down.”
Since its founding, MPTD has received several grants from its Local Enterprise Office, and McCourt says this has been very helpful as it is a competitive industry to be in. And he would advise others to make sure to understand that hard work and determination is key when it comes to survival.
“I had grants from my Local Enterprise Office on several occasions over the years including a Feasibility Study Grant and ongoing grants to buy machines,” he says.
“If I could give any advice to other companies, I would say that the engineering business is not easy, but stay firm and be strong, and you should succeed.”
In 2001, Enterprise Ireland awarded MPTD with the National Enterprise Award 2001, and the company went on to represent Ireland in the world finals in April 2002, competing with over 40 countries.
By Stephen Larkin
Published: 4 September, 2020
