JFC Manufacturing, led by John Concannon, MD, has officially launched a new division, JFC Marine, producing navigation safety products such as marine marker buoys and solar marine lanterns. JFC's main business is manufacturing plastic products for the agriculture, aquaculture and construction sectors.

Concannon said that 15 to 20 new jobs will be created in the next couple of years.

“We are optimistic about the opportunities in this market,” said Concannon. “The marine navigation aids and market buoy market is a new sector for us, our products have been well-received and we have been able to compete on price, quality and novel design.”

The buoys, which range in height from 2 m to 10m high, are now in use by mariners, coast guards and port authorities in Denmark, Norway and as distant as Cameroon.

The JFC group currently employs 240 people.

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“We are now capable of adding new technologies and sensors to our buoys to provide real-time information to pilots at sea, information such as wave height, wind speed and water currents,” Concannon explained. “The word ‘fear’ does not exist in the JFC vocabulary. We seek continuous improvement and progress – onwards and upwards. We have tendered for contracts worth millions in the last 18 months and to win some of these contracts will take time.”

JFC Manufacturing was founded by John Concannon (pictured, right) in Tuam, Co. Galway. JFC Marine is headed up by his son Colin Concannon (pictured, left) who has been involved in the business for over a decade.

JFC’s main business is manufacturing plastic products for the agriculture, aquaculture and construction sectors. JFC Manufacturing Ltd booked a net profit of €1.4m in 2013, with net worth advancing to €33m. Year-end debtors amounted to €23m.