INVESTMENTS TOTALLING €45.5 million by four companies involved in research and development were announced yesterday. The investments will create 26 jobs.
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan said the investments were being supported by the Government through IDA Ireland and will significantly enhance the level of RD, innovation and green technology capabilities at the Irish operations.
The investments are:
Wexport Ltd., part of the LEO Pharma Group is to immediately invest €10 million, with plans for a further €10 million at a later date, at its site in Little Island, Cork. It involves the establishment of a RD centre in Bioprocessing technology in addition to a doubling of production capacity.
Merit Medical Systems, Inc., which produces proprietary disposable medical devices for use in interventional and diagnostic procedures in hospitals worldwide, is to invest over €20 million at its Galway facility for RD of a new product and to extend the range of a number of existing products.
Sanmina-SCI Corporation, a global electronics design and manufacturing services provider, is to invest €10 million in its operation in Fermoy, Co Cork, for the expansion of its RD into higher value activities.
Baxter Healthcare SA is to invest €5.5 million in installing and commissioning a 3MW Combined Heat and Power plant (CHP) in Castlebar, Co. Mayo over the next two years. The plant will consist of two gas-fuelled CHP units, capable of generating 3MW of energy, allowing the company generate 75 per cent of its annual energy needs at a lower cost.
