US company Lancaster Laboratories is to create 100 high-level jobs in Dungarvan, Co Waterford.
The investment follows the company’s acquisition of local company Microchem Labs in 2007.
The jobs will be created over five years and the investment is supported by IDA Ireland.
Lancaster Labs is a provider of scientific and validation services required by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Following the acquisition of Microchem in Dungarvan, which will become known as Lancaster Laboratories Europe, the firm has greatly enhanced its ability to support the requirements of companies in Europe and Asia.
The services currently offered by Microchem will compliment the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, medical device and environmental testing services at Lancaster Laboratories. Lancaster Labs will market the services offered by the Irish laboratory, both to its existing clients with operations in Europe and to new European customers.
“The acquisition of Microchem is a major step towards helping us realise our goal of becoming the premier provider of analytical services worldwide,” said Timothy Oostdyk, chief operating officer of Lancaster Laboratories.
“We wanted to expand our laboratory services in Europe and looked for a well-established company with a strong reputation for quality and service and a culture that aligns with ours. We found that company in Microchem, whose current services complement ours and greatly expand our ability to provide scientific services to our global clients.”
Microchem was established in 1986 in a 10 sq metre premises at the owners’ home. It has grown to be one of Ireland’s leading independent test and research laboratories and currently employs 100 people and offers microbiological, chemical and environmental analysis and quality validation services to the pharmaceutical, medical technologies, food and chemical industries in Europe and Asia.
By Niall Byrne
