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Tony Duddy on Growing Mercury Engineering’s Life Sciences Presence Across Europe
Tony Duddy is no stranger to change. For the last 24 years, he’s been part of Mercury’s incredible growth trajectory. It’s a journey that’s seen Tony cut his teeth developing Mercury’s Technology Division, before moving to the role of Managing Director of Data Centre & Building Services, where he managed multiple complex projects across Ireland, UK, and Europe.
Throughout his career, Tony has built divisions from the ground up. Having graduated from UCD with a degree in Electronic Engineering, Tony’s first professional role was with telecoms company Eircom (now Eir). Twelve years later, he found himself looking for a new challenge. He saw a job opportunity in Mercury and was impressed with the direction of the company right from the start.
“Mercury has always had a clearly defined pattern of growth – define objectives, hone skills, scale up, move on, and repeat. This strategy has brought us to new locations and seen us grow on a massive scale.”
This approach has seen the larger business develop from €400 million to a revenue of €1.7 billion over a few short years. Now as Managing Director of Life Sciences, Tony is set to propel Mercury’s growth in the Life Sciences sector which is seeing a wave of exciting opportunities for 2024 and beyond.
“This year, Mercury is expecting strong growth in this sector, and we are gearing up and structuring to hit north of €300M by 2030,” expresses Tony. “Our extensive market research sees life sciences growing per annum through to 2030 and beyond. Knowing this, we are exploring opportunities in high growth regions such as Ireland, the UK, Benelux, the Nordics, and DACH. Thanks to our extensive operations in the data centre sector, these are regions where we are well established and have an excellent supply chain, making us thoroughly set up to quickly deliver for our pharmaceutical clients.”
“The life sciences industry is a demanding field that requires certainty, quality, and innovation, all delivered by a high-performing, skilled team. Mercury’s decades of experience and track record in this field allow us to confidently deliver, consistently and thoroughly.”
A COMMITTED LIFE SCIENCES PARTNER
In addition to progressing its position as a key player in the data centre sector, part of Mercury’s growth ambition is to further develop its presence in the Life Sciences market. The company’s agility and steadfast dedication to premium delivery, from high purity process piping works to electrical installation, has been proven again and again. With over 40 years of experience in the Life Sciences market, Mercury has a proud and successful history within the sector, working with eight of the top ten world leading pharmaceutical companies.
“Whatever the project, our focus is always on the client. Our commitment puts them at the centre of everything and positions us as a trusted strategic partner. This mindset is key when working with pharmaceutical partners. The life sciences industry is a demanding field that requires certainty, quality, and innovation, all delivered by a high-performing, skilled team. Mercury’s decades of experience and track record in this field allow us to confidently deliver, consistently and thoroughly.”
To meet client specifications, Mercury offers a wide range of specialist services which few other companies can match, including MEP, Fire, ICT and OSM all supported by our Front-End Engineering Solutions team, offering Design, and Design Assist, along with extensive 3D,4D, BIM Services, commissioning, and certification.
“What makes our pan-European approach possible is our state-of-the-art Offsite facilities which are capable of delivering carbon, stainless and high-purity process pipework wherever it is needed in Europe.
Mercury’s offerings in the Life Sciences arena also extends to providing leading Offsite Manufacturing capabilities that feature a large in-house, modern high-purity fabrication facility with experienced welders and bespoke training facilities.
With expansive OSA facilities that provide the company with an incredible reach across Europe and a robust supply chain that includes trusted partners across eight European countries, Mercury’s large-scale investment and geo-resilient approach allows the company to build and retain teams across all multiple regions, standardising processes wherever the project is located. This ultimately facilitates increased productivity and consistent quality control.
“We have a number of projects that we are delivering including key ones based in Limerick, Dublin, and Copenhagen,” says Tony. “What makes our pan-European approach possible is our state-of-the-art Offsite facilities which are capable of delivering carbon, stainless and high-purity process pipework wherever it is needed in Europe. We’re now investing €25M in OSM facilities in Germany which will further enable our delivery and expansion. As the main fabrication shop within mainland Europe, we will be able to add to the speed and performance that we are known for. And with hundreds of experienced staff manning these facilities, we’re able to ensure that we produce quality work that meets high standards.”
A widespread supply chain of 70+ modular construction partners, lean thinking, and quality control resonate throughout Mercury’s operations. By investing in its facilities and processes, the company has already reaped positive results. “Global pharmaceutical clients and their consultants have visited Mercury’s various fabrication and Offsite Manufacturing facilities and have been extremely impressed with our capabilities. This has led to ‘early contractor involvement’ (ECI) on exciting projects throughout Europe.”
“There’s a genuine outlook that everything is possible. Challenges never faze us. Yes, we have a ‘can do’ culture, but it’s firmly anchored in robust risk assessment and consistent internal support.”
A CULTURE OF INNOVATION
Underpinning these specialist skills is a collaborative spirit and a “make it happen” attitude that is embedded into each team.
“There’s a genuine outlook that everything is possible. Challenges never faze us. Clients ask us to take on a project in a new territory and before you know it, we have a full team together on the ground. Nothing holds you back and the team is always fully behind you. Yes, we have a ‘can do’ culture, but it’s firmly anchored in robust risk assessment and consistent internal support.”
Vital to Mercury’s success in a field that demands high quality performance has been its ability to oversee multiple services efficiently and methodically on projects and embrace innovations.
Mercury’s teams lead with a digital-first approach which sets them apart in terms of efficiency and guarantees the best results for the client. Adopting technological innovations and new ways of working to improve project productivity and delivery is “central” to ensuring that Mercury remains a powerful industry player.
“Quality is everything to us which is why we invest heavily in training, equipment, and facilities,” comments Tony. “Over the years we’ve proven that our OSA strategy and LEAN methodologies deliver on safety and quality and set Mercury apart as a dependable partner to our clients. Our teams’ agility, focus on quality, and willingness to utilise new methods has allowed us to stay ahead and deliver consistently in an ever-changing field,” comments Tony.
THE FUTURE OF THE LIFE SCIENCES INDUSTRY
Providing construction solutions on complex, large-scale projects which help deliver life changing advancements is what the company knows best. Tony affirms, “With growing projects and fast-expanding sectors come challenges, but we have the background, core skills, and fantastic teams who are ready for it.”
So, what does the evolving Life Sciences market hold for Mercury’s future? Tony is very clear on this: “With the expected growth in the number of pharmaceutical projects, we will expand our reach, bringing our specialist services further into Europe and beyond. Our goal is to fully understand and deliver for the customer. With our capabilities, we can get in deeper and develop even closer relationships with our clients. Effectively, we will become an intrinsic part of their team – always there for them.”
About Mercury
Mercury is the European leader in construction solutions. We build and manage complex engineering & construction projects for the world’s leading corporations. Our solutions help deliver technologies and life changing advancements that connect people, communities, and businesses, giving them the power to achieve incredible things. Our people have the courage to be innovative. Their determination and sharp focus enable us to deliver with certainty, time and time.
