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Crossing the Atlantic in Pursuit of Excellence
Trips bear testament to Tobermore's standing in terms of global innovation
Tobermore’s quest for quality took staff members across the Atlantic recently to two leading world events in America.
Last year, Sales Manager Craig McBride was invited to present a paper to the 8th International Conference on Concrete Paving in San Francisco. It was the first time an Irish company was asked to make a presentation at this prestigious event.
In a second major trip to America, Transport and Despatch Manager Phillip Whiteside travelled to four US states in four days on a unique whirlwind study tour.
Both trips were testament to Tobermore’s standing in terms of world innovation and development in paving.
During his trip to the US, Craig presented a paper entitled “Permeable paving used at retail developments in Ireland”, to delegates from companies drawn from countries across the world.Permeable paving is an integral part of most sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) and Tobermore pioneered the concept in Ireland when we introduced the Hydropave permeable paving system six years ago.
Since then, it has been used at numerous major schemes across the country, one of the most recent being the new Marks and Spencers' in Newtownabbey.
Tobermore's Craig McBride delivers his presentation at the World Paving Conference in San Francisco.
Permeable paving is increasingly required by planners and the environment agencies, who wish to ensure that new Greenfield Developments do not increase the threat of flooding and pollution to rivers and watercourses. There can also be significant cost savings over traditional drainage methods, where attenuation of storm water is required and this has prompted many of the new supermarket chains to opt for the Hydropave system for their new developments.
"Tobermore has been at the cutting edge of new product development, especially in the design of new products which have an environmental benefit and can help provide sustainability for future developments”said Craig McBride
Craig adds “we have worked very closely with Professor John Knapton, who has carried out a lot of research on the efficiency of permeable paving systems and has helped to design many of the systems where Hydropave has been used. It was a tremendous acknowledgement of Tobermore's standing internationally that we were invited to present this paper at such a prestigious event."
John Knapton - Consulting civil, structural and highway engineer, writer, broadcaster & speaker.
Phillip Whiteside’s unique whirlwind study tour of the States was part of the company’s continued endeavour to push up standards of customer care. The logistical know-how tour, organised by the Centre for Competitiveness, was a chance for local companies to learn from US corporate heavy-weights.
During the trip, Phillip met with top members of engineering and manufacturing giant Caterpillar, as well as international personal care and healthcare outfit Kimberly Clarke, plus Michelin, which sells tyres in 170 countries around the world.
“It was an extremely busy trip but very interesting and worthwhile. I was able to look at general logistics and distribution ‘Best Practice’ by some of the best-known companies in the world. We had benchmarked against the best companies in Ireland and it was great to do it against the best in the world." Said Phillip:
David Henderson , managing director of Tobermore said: “Our managers regularly participate in study trips and are able to develop new ideas and bring back cutting-edge knowledge as a result. The calibre of the companies that are participating in these trips make them an extremely attractive opportunity for us."
