Interview with Paul Carron

Why did you apply for a job in the company?

When I was in college, I applied for one of the graduate engineering positions at the company through the recruitment opportunities offered via my college. There were positions in Cement or Glass and as part of the process we were taken on a tour of the Glass Plant initially and then Cement. After the tour of the cement plant my choice was made. Incidentally I was offered a job at a different company on the same day I was offered a role at this company, but my mind had been made up after the tour of Cement.

Tell us about your progress to date in your role?

I started in a graduate role in September 2000. I progressed from that to a management role and on to an Engineering Manager role. Over the years my Engineering Manager role developed further, taking on more responsibility with each variation of the role. This year, I have been given the opportunity to take up a new challenge to lead the decarbonisation and sustainability of the Cement plant.

Describe your current role at Mannok?

Decarbonisation and sustainability are a huge challenge, not just for me but for the business as a whole. While I was aware of the whole decarbonisation discussion, it was very much in the background of my previous role. However, when you can focus on it, it becomes clear how big of a task this is, not just for us but for every industry worldwide. Already we have been introduced and exposed to many different people and technologies, all working towards industrial decarbonisation. The priority for us at the moment is to maximise our alternative fuels and source alternative forms of energy. Following on from that we have major commitments to reduce our CO2 emissions by 2030 and be carbon neutral by 2050. To help us achieve this, we have a few projects at contractual/ order stage and several in planning.

What is the most exciting project you have worked on at Mannok?

I have been involved in every major shutdown, breakdown and the majority of CapEx projects in Cement. Each one was different and each one had its own significant challenges. For me the one that stands out is the gearbox failure in the raw mill main gearbox in June’21. We had been monitoring an issue for a while and we had plans and preparations in place in the eventuality of a failure. However, you never know how it’s going to go until you are actually dealing with it. When the gearbox failed, it failed at the worst possible time as cement and clinker stocks were low.

We removed the gearbox and stripped out 140 tonnes of gears and bearings and rebuilt and reinstalled the gearbox in just 12 days. The plant was back in production in 14 days from point of failure. The fastest this job has been done anywhere else in the world is 3-4 weeks. For me that job stands out as a positive representation of our teamwork and planning, and it highlights the talent, capability and the commitment of our workshop team and the contractor that was involved.

What do you like about working at Mannok?

Life in Mannok has its ups and downs like everywhere else. But every day is a school day if you are prepared to be open and willing to constantly learn. For me the people that I have worked with make the biggest and lasting impression on my work life. I consider myself very fortunate to have worked with and learned from great people like Micky Rowan, Pat O’Callaghan and of course TP Feehan our General Manager, to name but a few of them.

What excites you about Mannok’s sustainability ambitions?

Well, it’s part of my new role for a start! The world is changing, and we as a company have no choice but to be part of that change. Now, we could sit back and tag along for the ride or we can be proactive and lead from the front. I think the ambitions and the road map that has been set out, give clear indication as to what our intentions are, which will transform the nature of the business into the future.

Do you have any advice for someone thinking about a career in Engineering?

Engineering as a career can be very rewarding, especially if you are open to different challenges. Always strive to be the best you can be at what you do. Keep an open mind and be willing to learn from everyone around you. Lots of problems can be solved by listening to the people on the ground. Always have a plan B. A lot of people know what engineering is about and a lot of people think they know. When you leave college with your degree you need to realise that engineering can follow many paths. It’s not about any one thing or niche. It may take you a while to realise what you are suited to. A design engineer in the motor industry, for example, will have a completely different set of challenges to a design engineer working on heavy industrial plant. I was fortunate enough to be exposed to different industries early in my career, so I had a good idea what direction I wanted to take.

When you are not working, where will people find you or what will you be doing?

In the garage working on my own or someone else’s rally car.

Interview with Mark Gilmore

Why did you apply for a job in the company?

I found the company’s ambitious plans to become more sustainable very interesting and attractive, and, having worked in the construction product manufacturing industry previously, the job appealed to me as it was well aligned to my background.

Describe your current role at Mannok?

My role is one which contributes to the present and future. Daily, I work with the production of clinker/cement, ensuring the process of converting raw materials to a finished product is done effectively and efficiently. I also help with the research and development of our new cement manufacturing projects which are designed to reduce our carbon emissions and are set out in the Mannok sustainability strategy.

What is the most exciting project you have worked on at Mannok?

Working alongside FLSmidth on the development of their FUELFLEX has been an exciting and rewarding project as it is a world first solution to adapt an existing plant. It has required interdisciplinary collaboration both within Mannok and with our partners on the project. We are now able to realise the benefits of this project, further displacing fossil fuels and reducing our emissions.

What do you like about working at Mannok?

Working with good people, and with the different challenges that come up daily when managing processes on such a large scale, there is great variety in my role.

What excites you about Mannok’s sustainability ambitions?

Mannok is attempting to address the challenge of decarbonisation head on, the company produces building materials which are essential to our everyday lives to provide shelter and warmth. Portland cement is here for the foreseeable future, therefore, globally we need to tackle the challenge of how it can be made more sustainably. Mannok has set out a clear pathway of how it intends to rise to this challenge.

Do you have any advice for someone thinking about a career in Engineering?

Engineering is very wide ranging, with many different disciplines and even within each discipline, there are roles that may be desk-based, lab-based or out on-site. Therefore, there is something that can appeal to everyone.

When you are not working, where will people find you or what will you be doing?

Spending time with family, socialising with friends and getting out around the forests and lakes of Fermanagh.

Interview with Reece McIlhatton

Why did you go for a job in the company?

When I was searching for a role in Engineering, a recruitment agency recommended a Reliability Engineer role at Mannok to me. I asked the recruitment agency to contact Mannok and highlight that I had absolutely no experience in the industry or the role. This didn’t put Mannok off considering me as a potential candidate.

During my interview, I felt it wasn’t going well at all and I was worried about my lack of experience, but Mannok assured me full training would be provided, informed me of the type of progression I’d be encouraged to take and what the future vision for my role is.

After my interview, I was offered this role. I accepted the Engineering opportunity at Mannok, as I felt it was important to be working for a company that was setting realistic expectations, providing training/support, and having a clear career progression pathway.

Tell us about your progress to date in your role?

My progress has been upward; I am learning so much. I covered an Energy Engineering role when I first started employment, until another graduate started in September. I am now working in my Reliability Engineering role, and it was useful for me to have some knowledge of Energy Engineering as both Energy and Reliability Engineering complement each other.

Describe your current role at Mannok?

Currently, I am developing a reliability database for the Plant. To do this, I perform thermal imaging on motors, bearings, couplings, gearboxes, hydraulics, etc., during their operation, and I record the readings. Temperature is a good indicator if something isn’t working how it should and if there is a potential problem arising.

During shutdown, I perform measurements and tests on mill segments, drive couplings, sealing blades, crusher wear, etc., and record the results. This enables me to keep track of the wear on parts, I then compare this with the tonnage to predict when these parts will need to be replaced or repaired.

What is the most exciting project you have worked on at Mannok?

To be honest, since it’s a new industry and a new role for me, I find all of it exciting. I’m constantly learning which keeps me interested, and the equipment required to make cement is totally mind blowing.

What do you like about working at Mannok?

My daughter was born in January and time with my family is important to me. Since joining Mannok, my work-life balance is the best it has ever been. In a previous role at another company, I was travelling 3.5 hours per day and covering 700 miles per week, now I travel less than an hour per day.

I also enjoy working with the people at Mannok, everyone I have encountered has been more than welcoming to me.

What excites you about Mannok’s sustainability ambitions?

The fact the name Mannok came from “Fear Manach” shows just how much the company values its heritage and community. There are some extremely interesting projects in the works to become carbon neutral by 2050, which I hope I can be involved in.

Do you have any advice for someone thinking about a career in Engineering?

In all honesty, my degree was tough, and I think it aged me by about 15 years, especially the final year. A degree in engineering is earned and requires hard work. For me, all the hard work was worth it, as I am now in a role I enjoy with lots of career progression ahead of me.

If you’re a hands-on person, who enjoys finding out exactly how things function and being involved with projects that are impactful, then engineering could be an ideal career choice for you.

When you are not working, where will people find you or what will you be doing?

I spend as much time as possible with my family, especially my better half and four kids, who have somehow replaced me in my own family. As mentioned, I have an eleven-month-old daughter that has me wrapped around her teeny tiny finger, so most of my time is spent being bossed about by her and I absolutely LOVE it. And if I’m not with family, you’ll probably find me in the gym as I’m a competitive bodybuilder.