About TechCreate
Our Story So Far
TechCreate DigiFab Ltd (known simply as TechCreate) is a laser manufacturing company built on curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to adapt. What began as a small makerspace in 2015 has grown into one of Ireland’s most dependable partners for high-volume laser cutting and engraving.
Today, all manufacturing takes place in our workshop in Cavan, while Straffan serves as the headquarters for LaserMaterials.ie — our materials supply brand. Alongside this, KidsCodingAcademy.ie continues our original mission to empower creativity and learning, now delivered nationwide through partner teachers.
What hasn’t changed is our commitment to craftsmanship and care:
Human attention. Production-grade precision.
How it Started
2015 — A Noticeboard in Maynooth
TechCreate began in an unexpected way. In late 2015, founder Matt Eve posted an advert for collaborators online and on a noticeboard in Maynooth University.
Colm Ward’s girlfriend (at the time now wife), Louise, spotted the ad and thought it suited him. She was right — Matt and Colm met soon after, got on immediately, and decided to build a business together. Colm joined as the first employee and later became co-director.
Opening in Clane, Co. Kildare
TechCreate opened its first location in Clane Business Park as a makerspace and creative hub. The idea was simple:
A place where anyone could learn, make, and use shared equipment — including a laser cutter and 3D printers.
We also ran maker sessions and kids’ coding classes.
But customer behaviour quickly revealed something important…
2015 — A Fast Pivot to Manufacturing
Within the first six months, people weren’t asking to use the equipment themselves — they were asking us to make things for them.
So we adapted and shifted from a public makerspace to a laser cutting and engraving service provider. This pivot shaped the entire future of TechCreate.
Our First Move
2017 - Saw us move to a slightly bigger unit at B9 Clane Business park. This was a first floor unit as well, you'd think we'd have learnt our lesson having to lug the laser down one flight of stairs and up another!
The business continued to evolve as we did a lot of off site educational digital fabrication workshops.
Growing the Business
2020 — A Big Move During a Strange Year
Just as Covid hit, a former gym in Straffan became available. It was a risk — but the larger space meant room to grow, expand production, and hold more materials.
At the time, we still had only one laser a Trotec Speedy 300.
The move allowed us to add more equipment, increasing capacity for larger commercial orders.
2020 — Becoming Ireland’s Thunder Laser Agent
Around the same time, we wanted to purchase a Thunder Laser machine for our own production. With Brexit approaching, the UK distributor didn’t want the hassle of shipping to Ireland, so we stepped in and became the official Irish agent for Thunder Laser, launching:
We now supply, install and support Thunder Laser systems across the country, while also using them in our own manufacturing workflow.
Today we operate:
- Thunder Nova 51
- Thunder Bolt Pro 32
- Thunder Aurora
- Thunder Bolt
These machines form the backbone of our production capability.
2022 — Launching LaserMaterials.ie
Brexit also made sourcing materials harder.
Rather than depend on uncertain suppliers, we started importing directly and created:
LaserMaterials.ie
Ireland’s dedicated laser materials supplier.
This was initially based in Acorn Business Park, Rathangan
Today, LaserMaterials.ie stocks 206+ SKUs, including plywood, acrylic, TruFlat panels, and specialty materials — supporting makers, schools, and manufacturers across the country.
Recent Chapters
2025 — Relocating the Workshop to Cavan
[IMAGE: New Cavan workshop exterior or interior]
After five successful years in Straffan, TechCreate’s manufacturing workshop relocated to a dedicated facility near Colm’s home in Cavan.
This move enabled:
- A streamlined production workflow
- A quieter, more focused environment
- Lower overheads
- Space for new equipment
- More efficient batch processing
Meanwhile, Straffan became the permanent HQ for LaserMaterials.ie, handling:
- Material storage
- Cut-down of large sheets to laser friendly sizes
- Packaging
- Order fulfilment
- Customer support
2025 — Kids Coding Evolves into KidsCodingAcademy.ie
For nearly 10 years, we ran kids’ coding and maker classes through TechCreate in Straffan and Clane. It became a core part of our identity — and something parents across Kildare still remember us for.
When TechCreate streamlined at the end of 2025 to focus fully on manufacturing, the coding programme evolved into a new brand:
KidsCodingAcademy.ie
Instead of running classes ourselves, we now partner with teachers nationwide, giving them the curriculum, resources, and systems to run coding classes locally.
This shift allows us to help far more children learn valuable skills than ever before.
Where we are Today
TechCreate is now a dedicated laser manufacturing partner specialising in:
- High-volume engraving
- Precision laser cutting
- White-label production
- Corporate gifting
- Awards & trophies
- Architectural and fabrication components
- Signage
- School & fundraising products
- Event & wedding décor
- Mobile laser engraving events
We operate with the agility of a small business and the reliability of a commercial manufacturing partner — delivering consistent, repeatable quality for clients across Ireland.
Looking Ahead
TechCreate continues to evolve with new equipment, expanded capacity, and improved workflows. Our focus remains simple:
Deliver high-volume laser manufacturing with care, consistency, and human attention.
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