Strikebox to represent Westmeath at National Enterprise Awards
An engineering business from Mullingar will represent Local Enterprise Office Westmeath at this year’s National Enterprise Awards, in the Mansion House, Dublin on June 2.
John O’Reilly established Strikebox Engineering in Mullingar in late 2014. Its produce high finishe stainless-steel products such as chutes, hoppers, ducting and guarding for the pharmaceutical/ clean room sector.
It also services the biotech, brewing, beverage, chemical, food, dairy and process sectors, and in addition, offers CAD design services, prototyping, fabrication, fitting services and consultancy.
Now employing eight people, the directors of the business are John and Maria O’Reilly.
Strikebox Engineering competes against 30 other finalists from every local authority for a share of the €35,000 prize fund during national judging this month.
Categories this year include ‘Best Export Business,’ ‘Best Start-Up’ and ‘Innovation,’ in addition to eight regional awards.
There are also two new National Enterprise Awards – ‘One to Watch’ and ‘Sustainability/ Green’ award.
Companies from Westmeath have enjoyed success in the National Enterprise Awards in the past. In 2021, Bevcraft Group, supported by LEO Westmeath, was overall winner; and in 2003, Grouse Lodge Recording Studio in Rosemount won the National Title and subsequently the World Title.
Previous winners of the National Enterprise Awards include Irish Yoghurts (1998), Obelisk (2000), Simtech Aviation (2008), Digiweb (2004) and Design Pro (2013), Terra NutriTech (2018) and Pestle and Mortar (2019).
Christine Charlton, head of Enterprise LEO with Local Enterprise Office Westmeath, said: “The National Enterprise Awards are a great barometer for what the LEOs are doing and every year the standard is getting better and better, and we are delighted to have Strikebox Engineering representing us in the National Enterprise Awards final.
“It is a progressive company and we wish the team well. It is great to see a local company do so well.”