Dublin-headquartered Jones Engineering expects turnover to exceed €1.9 billion in 2026, a record, as it capitalises on the global build-out of data centres. The mechanical and electrical contractor, which specialises in large-scale projects for the technology and life sciences sectors, reported 2025 turnover of €1.6 billion and operating profit of €170 million.

Turnover rose from €1.28 billion in 2024, about 25 per cent growth, while operating profit climbed 65 per cent for a margin of 10.6 per cent. Wages and salaries came to just under €243 million, and the accounts record 2,741 staff in 2025, up from 2,501.

More than half of revenue now comes from overseas, and Jones says momentum has continued into 2026, with a pipeline of work extending into 2027 and beyond.

Founded in the 1890s, Jones was acquired in 2022 by Cathexis Holdings, a privately owned Houston holding company run by chief executive William Harrison, in a deal that saw longstanding chairman and majority shareholder Eric Kinsella leave the business.

Chief executive Stephen McCabe said: “2025 was another strong year for Jones Engineering, with increased turnover reflecting the continued growth of our international operations.” McCabe added: “While we remain the market leader in our sector in Ireland, our business continues to evolve and diversify, with international markets making an increasingly important contribution to our overall growth.”

McCabe said the focus remains on “delivering complex, high-value engineering projects and continuing to expand our presence across Ireland, UK, Europe and the Middle East.”

The structural driver is soaring demand for artificial intelligence, which is powering the global data centre boom, with PwC’s recent global data centre outlook projecting record AI infrastructure investment through to 2050.

The directors note inflation pressures linked to macroeconomic conditions and say: “Our global operations are exposed to heightened geopolitical tensions, with ongoing conflicts across the world affecting lead times on certain materials.”

For the sector, Jones’s record forecast shows a mechanical and electrical contractor scaling delivery capacity as data centre and life sciences programmes extend into 2027 and beyond.

Source: irishtimes.com / constructionnews.ie / joe.ie / civilandconstruction.ie