A Family Business Advancing with Smarter Concrete Solutions
Family-run builders providers and precast manufacturers JJ Bolgers have become the second company in Ireland to install a fibo Collect system, redefining how concrete production can serve multiple sides of a business.
The builders’ providers side of the company is led by brothers Jason and Shane Bolger, whose grandfather originally founded the company. Their uncle David oversees the precast yard, where fibo Collect will play a major role in simplifying and speeding up production.
One System. Two Operations.
What makes this installation unique is that the machine will serve both the builders’ providers yard and the precast manufacturing operation. Thanks to a robotic pivoting conveyor, the system can automatically switch between batching for customer collections or for internal use in the precast shed. Orders placed through the touch screen terminal are batched directly for customers, while a separate operator interface allows the precast team to take control safely out of reach from the public.
A Smarter Way to Serve Both the Yard and the Precast Facility
For the builders’ providers side of the business, fibo Collect opens up a new level of convenience and flexibility. Customers can collect concrete, mortar, and screed with no minimum order charge, and can buy as little as 0.25m³ per mix. There are three easy ways to pay: directly at the terminal using a card, in-store via barcode, or with a reusable RFID tag available to purchase in-store.
In a major step forward for customer service, Bolgers plan to offer 24/7 collections for those using card or RFID payments, an invaluable feature for contractors working on night roadworks or for those commuting to early jobs in Dublin, about an hour away. The consistency and quality of fibo Collect’s automated mixes mean contractors can pour immediately upon arrival, saving time on site while ensuring durability.
On the precast side, the benefits are just as clear. Previously, producing 0.25m³ of concrete for a mold meant manually mixing bags of cement, a labour-intensive process taking around half an hour. Now, with fibo Collect, the same volume can be produced instantly and to exact specification, with concrete delivered via the pivoting conveyor into a hopper in the precast shed.
Expanding Production with Smarter Mixes and New Batching Options
The Bolgers team currently produces four different concrete mixes for their range of precast molds, including patio slabs and blocks, and are already planning further automation. The next step is to install a simple control panel inside the precast shed with four buttons — one for each mix, allowing workers to batch 0.25m³ of concrete directly into the shed at the push of a button.
Looking ahead, JJ Bolgers are also exploring new ways to use the fibo Collect system for aggregates-only batching, customers will soon be able to purchase batched stone and sand mixtures conveniently in 1-tonne bags.
By combining their precast expertise with fibo Collect’s precision technology, JJ Bolgers are creating a more efficient, customer-focused operation, across two sides of their business, embracing the future of concrete production in Ireland.