Mantis Cranes, McMenamin Named Plant & Civil Finalists
Mantis Cranes and McMenamin Engineering are finalists in four categories at the 2026 Plant & Civil Engineer Awards, marking the event's 20th anniversary.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Openings & Closings
Mantis Cranes and McMenamin Engineering were named finalists in four categories at the 2026 Plant & Civil Engineer Awards. The awards mark the event's 20th anniversary and will be presented on November 19, 2026, at the Crowne Plaza in Belfast.
Why it matters
The shortlisting recognizes plant hire and construction projects across the UK and Ireland, including a new Industry Legacy - Family Business accolade. Finalist status highlights specialist crane operations and building retrofits in the regional construction sector.
Mantis Cranes is shortlisted in two categories and McMenamin Engineering in two, with the Little Island Bio Gas Plant in Cork representing an €80 million project. Winners will be announced at the November 19, 2026 ceremony, and the final results are not yet known.
The players
Plant & Civil Engineer Magazine
Plant & Civil Engineer Magazine organises the awards that recognise achievements across the plant hire and civil engineering sectors.
Mantis Cranes
Mantis Cranes is a crane operator with more than 25 years of experience serving projects across the UK and Ireland.
McMenamin Engineering
McMenamin Engineering is a construction firm shortlisted for Construction Project of the Year for its Falcarragh factory transformation.
The details
Mantis Cranes used a Gapo compact, remote-controlled crane mover to install a Potain HUP 40-30 self-erecting crane in a constrained bio tank area at the Little Island plant. McMenamin's shortlisted entry transformed a 1980s factory unit at the Údarás na Gaeltachta Industrial Estate in Falcarragh, Co Donegal, with new offices, a roofing system, air-to-water heating and daylight harvesting.
Timeline
2026: Finalists shortlisted for the Plant & Civil Engineer Awards, the event's 20th anniversary.
November 19, 2026: Awards ceremony held at the Crowne Plaza in Belfast.
Market Landscape
The Plant & Civil Engineer Awards, celebrating their 20th year, recognize firms competing across the UK and Irish plant hire and civil engineering markets. The new Industry Legacy - Family Business category signals a shift toward honouring long-standing family-run operators within that competitive field.
For customers of plant hire and construction firms, these shortlistings reflect recognized standards in crane operation and building retrofits. The awards signal which operators are being credited for specialist work that may affect project timelines and service quality.
The takeaway
Recognition in industry awards can serve as a useful signal when comparing specialist crane and construction contractors. Readers planning projects may find it worthwhile to review the categories each firm is shortlisted for.
What happens next
Winners across the four shortlisted categories will be announced at the awards ceremony in Belfast on November 19, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more company moves in the Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Construction Ireland.
