________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
needs. This ensures SF solutions maintains product quality and delivers the best return on investment.
Background
Founded in 1981 in Grange, County Sligo, Ireland, SF Engineering began as a local enterprise focused on providing engineering solutions to local companies. Its early success was built on a commitment to precision engineering, customer-centric design, and functional innovation. These values continue to be the bedrock of SF today.
The company soon diversified, moving into fishing supplies and steel handling tools. These tools were cutting-edge for their time. Reducing processing labor costs, they became the precursor to SF Engineering’ s technological focus. Eventually SF branched out into the meat and poultry industry, gaining key partnerships and expanding its manufacturing footprint with specialist machinery. The business has continuously cemented its position as an industry forerunner.
By the early 2010s, SF had doubled its manufacturing capacity in Ireland and begun to formalize its global ambitions, particularly in the poultry sector. Strategic partnerships with companies like Ishida and Ceia helped SF expand its product portfolio.
Between 2012 and 2014, SF Engineering acquired a UK based company, Opal Food Processing Systems and moved into a new facility in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, UK, tripling its manufacturing capacity. This period saw the company secure major contracts, including one with the largest poultry factory in the Middle East, and sign distribution agreements with Eagle and Marelec, enhancing its capabilities in fat analysis and portioning solutions.
182