Merck set to create 70 jobs in Cork facility

Up to 70 new jobs are to be created at medical science and technology company Merck. The positions have become available following the official opening on Tuesday of manufacturing and R&D facilities at their key strategic site in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork.

Martin McAuliffe, site leader, says the speciality membrane facility (SMF) and chromatography media facility (CMF) represents a € 55million investment in Merck’s Cork operation, reinforcing the strategic importance of the Carrigtwohill site to the wider Merck Group.

“We are adding R&D capability to develop and scale up. A plant in the US is closing so the development of membranes will be done in Cork.We also do antibody development on-site. We will be adding 60 to 70 new positions initially with additional positions in the next 18 months.”

Mr McAuliffe stresses the company has a big footprint in the Carrigtwohill area and is considered a site of excellence by management internationally.

“It is a very positive company. We have great people here. It is seen as a place of energy and capability. We had the CEO of the company here last year and senior leaders are here for the opening. The new sites are great for the area with the knock on effect for service companies and so on.”

Merck has had operations in Ireland since 2010 and currently employs 700 people. Almost 400 specialist contractors were employed during the design and construction phase which commenced in 2014.

The new state-of-the-art facilities position the Carrigtwohill site as the membrane centre of excellence within the Merck network and provides the additional ability to manufacture specialised life science products for the market.

It is the intention that the speciality membrane facility will be the location of choice for the development and manufacture of all future Merck life science membrane products. The new chromatography media facility will provide the site with advanced technological capabilities, further strengthening the Irish operation as the main supplier to the Merck life science chromatography business.

Merck is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Its headquarters is located in Germany.