The Bender Group has been renowned for electrical safety technology since 1946 and is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Since the UK team took over the management of the region in 2014, the company has produced its strongest performance to date.
The UK and Ireland team design, supply and install industrial and healthcare solutions incorporating Bender technology. Their turnkey hospital projects include the design, commissioning, and service of medical IT power (IPS), uninterruptible power supplies, Merivaara operating lights and tables, clinical pendants, theatre control panels and PACS consoles.
Across Northern Ireland and the Republic, the Bender Ireland team deliver entire projects from start through to completion. The experienced team support more than 100 NHS and private hospitals with technical advice, sales, installation and contractual annual 24/7 maintenance, rapid response call-out and repair services.
Chris Simmons, Country Manager, Bender Ireland explains: “As a result of our efforts, Bender has seen substantial growth in Ireland over the past decade and that looks set to continue, thanks to our excellent performance and strong relationships with our customers. “With our growing customer base and support from Gareth Brunton, Bender UK Managing Director, we felt the time was right to establish Bender Ireland and provide further investment locally to develop a stronger presence here and to further improve the speed of response and local specialist technical knowledge.
“As a business unit, we have the autonomy to do what is right for our customers, while having support from Gareth and the team at Bender UK in Cumbria.”
The Bender Ireland team have worked on numerous major projects. They upgraded operating theatres at Beaumont Hospital with theatre control panels and Merivaara Q-Flow™ LED operating lights. Based on positive clinical feedback, Q-Flow operating lights have since been installed across several more hospitals in Ireland, with further installations planned for 2021.
Bender Ireland, in partnership with Mercury and BAM Ireland, are providing all the specialist power protection for the new Children’s Hospital, Dublin - the largest medical project in Ireland for 20 years.
Chris’s team includes engineering, project management and sales. Lesley Forward is the most recent Bender Ireland appointment. As Business Coordinator, Lesley is the main day- to-day contact for all service clients and brings with her a wealth of FM management experience.
Brian Coffey, Bender Ireland Project Manager said: “Over the past twelve months we have provided critical support for our healthcare customers during the COVID pandemic and while these fast moving projects often present challenges, I am pleased to say we have completed and met all schedule dates as expected.”
Looking ahead the Bender Ireland team will continue to expand their skills and local capabilities. The introduction of new products such as the CP9 24” theatre control panel and the new PACS console further strengthen the ability to support medical professionals in Ireland. Both of these products have already been selected for the latest theatre project in Ulster and Musgrave Park Hospital in Belfast, due to complete April 2021.
Merivaara operating tables, exclusively distributed by Bender in Ireland, have been accepted onto the HSE National Framework, ensuring a complete clinical offering is available to all HSE customers. This framework has led to a noticeable increase in clinical trials of the operating tables and a rise in the number being purchased.
Demonstration stock for Q-Flow Operating lights and the Grand Promerix Operating Table are available to support theatre equipment purchasers and surgeons who are keen to experience the award-winning Merivaara product range before making a final decision. Currently, the main focus of the Bender Ireland team is on healthcare, but the aim is to extend the supply of electrical safety technology into industrial markets including data centres, eMobility, process and control applications.
