From May 2021, Engineering Industry Ireland members have engaged in a detailed process of preparing for the future. The result of this process is our new Strategy 2022 – 2025, Engineering a better future.

Equipped with a strong, clear vision of where we need to be and how we can best get there, our approach is broad in its intent. We are keenly aware that one size does not fit all and we are confident that our approach caters for the many varied requirements of our members.

Dominant subsectors

The Irish engineering industry is a strong vibrant sector within manufacturing and services across both Irish and foreign owned firms. 

Industrial Automation

Eight of the top 10 global automation companies have operations in Ireland. Engineering is an essential element supporting this increasingly important sector. Automation is central to all manufacturing and process control.

Precision engineering

The sub-sector is largely made up of companies manufacturing a very broad range of precision sub-components for large multinational manufacturers. A number of niche product manufacturers have been highly successful; there is a strong innovative mindset in this sub-sector with a significant number of the companies in precision engineering also developing their own products and product ranges.

Agricultural machinery

Agricultural machinery has evolved into a very strong sub-sector within engineering sector. The sub-sector generates exports of over €100 million. Irish agricultural machinery tends to be more durable and built to a higher specification than machinery from some other countries due to the quality of Irish land; as a result the products tend to perform superiorly on land in other countries.

Materials handling

The sub-sector is dominated by a small number of highly capable companies producing world-leading products and represents exports of over €150 million. These companies service a wide range of sectors including manufacturing, transportation, retail, construction, and quarries.

Energy and environment

Ireland hosts a number of companies setting new standards in technological design, production, and maintenance of wind turbines. Engineering companies support the effective management of electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical power and others provide energy and automation digital solutions for efficiency and sustainability.

Process engineering

The sub-sector is made up of companies who manufacture process equipment including high value-added modular skid units used by many of the world’s leading chemical and biopharma companies, and large bulk storage tanks for a broad range of applications including mining, food, pharmaceutical and medical technologies.

Automotive

Ireland plays host to many household automotive companies, as well as innovative tier 1 suppliers. The sub-sector has a small number of successful niche subcomponent manufacturers supplying both the automotive and aviation industries. Companies in precision engineering and metal fabrication are active in these sectors.

Metal fabrication/processing

There are a large number of companies fabricating a very broad range of metal products for the construction, agriculture, industrial, marine and transit industries. This sub-sector is also a source of highly innovative products.

Engineering services

Engineering services firms are critical enablers of digitalisation as organisations demand advanced IT solutions such as engineering analytics, internet of things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI) to gain an edge over their competitors and maintain the momentum of the company. The engineering and construction services industry is expected to be one of the most dynamic industry sectors in the coming years