International engineering consulting group Cowi has acquired Punch Consulting Engineers, according to New Civil Engineer, strengthening its foothold in the Irish market and adding established buildings and construction engineering expertise to its existing operations across Ireland and the UK.

Founded in Limerick in 1973, Punch Consulting Engineers has grown into one of Ireland's leading multidisciplinary engineering consultancies, with offices in Dublin, Limerick, Cork and Galway, as well as Glasgow and Macclesfield. The acquisition grows Cowi's combined Irish workforce to more than 300 employees.

The deal builds on Cowi's expanding Irish presence following the opening of its Dublin office in 2025 and its involvement in major infrastructure projects supporting Ireland's green transition, including district heating and offshore wind developments.

Cowi said the acquisition "brings together two highly experienced engineering consultancies, combining Cowi's international scale with Punch Consulting Engineers' strong position in the Irish market, to support clients across Ireland and the UK."

The combined business is expected to create new opportunities for staff across both firms, providing access to wider international expertise and a broader pipeline of larger and more complex projects.

The acquisition reflects sustained consolidation activity within the Irish engineering consultancy sector, as international groups seek to deepen their presence in a market buoyed by significant infrastructure investment across energy, transport and the built environment.

Punch Consulting Engineers' integration into Cowi's network also positions the group to compete more effectively for cross-border mandates spanning Ireland and the UK as infrastructure programmes on both sides of the Irish Sea accelerate.

Read the full story on Cowi's Irish expansion and what this acquisition means for engineering consultancy across the region.