MANFACTURING:NEW PRODUCT innovation could prove a lifeline for Drogheda's loss making soap and cotton wool maker Irish Breeze.

This €4m turnover company has invested more than €500,000 developing WaterWipes (currently available in Boots pharmacies) a water-based chemical-free baby wipe. The baby wipes market in Ireland and the UK is worth €250m a year.

"It was a huge technical challenge to produce a wipe that is 99.9 per cent sterile water," says company founder, Edward McCloskey. Irish Breeze employs 30 people and has an R&D team of three.