Aluminium Federation (ALFED) member, Architectural & Metal Systems (AMS) based in Little Island, Cork, Ireland, is the country’s sole producer of aluminum façade systems and bespoke extrusions for a variety of end users.
Ireland is AMS’s biggest market, however, the company and their customers collectively ship fully finished aluminum extrusion profiles and ready-made façade systems all over the world. The company installed a new extrusion press earlier this year and is currently in the process of installing a new horizontal powder coating line to expand their finishing capabilities.
Company Background
Founded by Chris Martin, Dave Rawlings, and Pat O’Hara, AMS is a testament to resilience and innovation. With their collective experience in the aluminum industry during the 1980s, the three founders identified a gap in the market for stocking and selling aluminum in southern Ireland. After a decade working in the non-ferrous industry for another company, they decided to venture out on their own.
When it was launched in January 1990, AMS operated from a 6,000 sq ft warehouse. The company began by selling unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (UPVC) window systems imported from Germany and aluminum extrusions primarily sourced from the UK. The initial five years were fraught with challenges. The global impact of the Gulf War in August 1990, coupled with debts and the closure of their financing house, made profitability a struggle. However, the founders remained steadfast in their commitment to the business.
A significant transition occurred in 2001, when AMS moved to Little Island, Cork, and evolved from a company that sold aluminum to a manufacturer of aluminum itself. They purchased an expansive 86,000 sq ft facility, formerly a Sea Ray boat factory, and grew their team to 22 employees. Despite the uncertainty following the September 11th attacks in the U.S. later that year, AMS continued to forge ahead.
In 2002, the company installed its first horizontal paint line, marking the first time they had control over one of their own processes. This milestone was a turning point for AMS, and they’ve continued on a forward trajectory. Since 2019, the company has spent over €42 million ($45.4 million) to upgrade its facilities. This includes the purchase of two buildings on adjoining lots, which house AMS’s dispatch warehouse and sheet metal fabrication. Additionally, two purpose-built buildings house a new extrusion press line from GIA Clecim and a new anodizing line from Surface Aluminium Technologies (SAT).
To learn more, please visit: Ireland’s Extrusion Powerhouse Upgrades with New Press and Surface Treatment Capabilities – Light Metal Age Magazine
