Irish Aluminium Company

Irish Aluminium Company, commonly known as Iralco, was an automotive-components manufacturer established in Ireland in 1964 by Franz Pohl, a German entrepreneur. The business was based in Collinstown, County Westmeath, and developed a manufacturing role within the European automotive supply chain. Its products were supplied to vehicle manufacturers including Audi, Bentley, Ford, Volkswagen and Volvo, according to descriptions of the company’s activities in the late 2000s. The company’s history reflects the consolidation of independent automotive suppliers into larger ownership structures. In August 2008, Irish Aluminium Company was acquired by C&F Automotive Limited. This transaction placed the business within a broader automotive-components group while retaining its manufacturing base in County Westmeath. A later ownership change took place in 2018, when the company was sold to Decotek Automotive Limited. At the time of that sale, the operation employed approximately 390 people, indicating that it remained a substantial regional manufacturing employer. The name Irish Aluminium Company is now principally historical. The Collinstown operation continued under Decotek Automotive ownership, and Decotek Automotive was reported as still operating at the site in 2023. The available reference material does not identify the company’s specific component models, detailed production technologies, financial performance, or a separate consumer-facing product brand. Its significance lies instead in its role as an Ireland-based supplier serving major European vehicle manufacturers and in the continuity of its manufacturing site through successive corporate owners.

Irish Aluminium Company, also known as Iralco, was established in 1964 in Ireland by Franz Pohl, a German entrepreneur. The company located its manufacturing activities in Collinstown, County Westmeath, where it became part of Ireland’s industrial and automotive-supply base. Rather than selling finished vehicles or consumer products, the company operated as a business-to-business supplier of automotive components. By 2008, it was producing parts for several major European vehicle manufacturers, including Audi, Bentley, Ford, Volkswagen and Volvo. The available historical material does not specify the individual component families, production volumes, customer contracts, or technical processes used by the company. It does, however, place the business within the international supply networks of prominent automotive brands. A major ownership transition occurred in August 2008, when C&F Automotive Limited took over Irish Aluminium Company. The acquisition changed the company’s corporate ownership while the Collinstown manufacturing presence continued. The business was later sold again in 2018, this time to Decotek Automotive Limited. Approximately 390 employees were associated with the operation at the time of the sale, making it an important employer in the local manufacturing economy. Following the 2018 transaction, the Irish Aluminium Company name became primarily a historical identifier for the operation. Decotek Automotive retained activities in Collinstown, and reference material indicates that the company was still operating there in 2023. The available sources do not establish whether the original legal entity continued independently, was renamed, or was fully integrated into Decotek Automotive. Accordingly, the former company is best described as a defunct or superseded corporate brand associated with an ongoing automotive-components manufacturing site.

• 2023

  Collinstown operations remain active under Decotek

  [1]Irish Aluminium Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Decotek Automotive was reported as continuing operations at the Collinstown site.

• 2018

  Sale to Decotek Automotive

  [1]Irish Aluminium Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Decotek Automotive Limited acquired the company. Approximately 390 employees were associated with the business at the time of the sale.

• 2008

  Acquisition by C&F Automotive

  [1]Irish Aluminium Companyen.wikipedia.org

  C&F Automotive Limited took over Irish Aluminium Company in August 2008.

• 2008

  European automotive supply activity documented

  [1]Irish Aluminium Companyen.wikipedia.org

  By 2008, the company was producing automotive components for manufacturers including Audi, Bentley, Ford, Volkswagen and Volvo.

• 1964

  Company established

  [1]Irish Aluminium Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Franz Pohl established Irish Aluminium Company in Ireland, with manufacturing activities based in Collinstown, County Westmeath.

A business-to-business automotive-components manufacturer serving European vehicle producers rather than a consumer-facing brand.

• Automotive manufacturing

  Automotive components

  The company manufactured components for the European automotive industry. Reference material identifies customers or vehicle manufacturers including Audi, Bentley, Ford, Volkswagen and Volvo, but does not provide enough detail to identify particular component names, specifications, or product families.

• 2018

  Sale to Decotek AutomotiveM&A

  Background

  The company remained an automotive-components manufacturer with a workforce of approximately 390 employees at the time of the transaction.

  Action taken

  Decotek Automotive Limited purchased Irish Aluminium Company.

  Aftermath

  The former Irish Aluminium Company site in Collinstown remained part of Decotek Automotive’s operations, which were reported as continuing in 2023.

  Source

• 2008

  Transfer of ownership to C&F AutomotiveM&A

  Background

  Irish Aluminium Company was an established automotive-components producer serving European vehicle manufacturers.

  Action taken

  C&F Automotive Limited took over the company in August 2008.

  Aftermath

  The Collinstown manufacturing operation continued under new ownership.

  Source

1. 1Irish Aluminium Companyen.wikipedia.org