Irish companies strike $5m in US deals


14 Jul 2010

Irish technology firms dominate the announcement of new US deals totalling US$5m, all of which were struck during the course of the Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s three-day economic visit to the US this week.

Among those firms announcing new US contracts was Ireland-based Accuris Networks. The company, which specialises in roaming interworking and device management technology, inked a deal worth a combined value of US$2.7m with three leading US wireless services providers. 

Meanwhile, Bord na Mona’s US subsidiary, Bord na Mona Environmental Products US, which provides water reuse, wastewater and odour-control treatment technologies, announced a partnership agreement with All Tech Environmental (All Tech).  The agreement, which was arranged by Wastewater Technologies Inc (WTI), provides for the supply of proprietary technologies that will be used to treat wastewater in commercial and residential development markets that require nitrogen and phosphorous removal to high-performance permit levels, water reuse, and high-strength waste applications. The companies have already established a pipeline of projects valued in excess of US$3m. 

Ireland-based Airtel ATN, which is a supplier of aeronautical telecommunications network (ATN) software to the global aerospace industry, also struck a deal to provide key data link software, avionics test equipment and development services to several US- based companies and research organisations involved in the design and implementation of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) NextGen Air Transportation System (ATS) program.  Airtel ATN expects the contracts to result in revenue of about US$1m in 2010. The company is already involved in providing similar products and services to the European Union’s EUROCONTROL Link 2000+ program.

Cowen praises Irish success in US

The Taoiseach praised Irish companies for their continuing sales successes in the US market.  He also commended those that recently established US operations: “It takes confidence and courage to expand during challenging economic conditions. By creating a presence in the US, these companies are validating the competitive strength of their products and services and highlighting the importance of this market to their global business.  Most importantly, through their commitment to the US market, they are supporting employment at home.

“These companies join many other Ireland-based companies with established operations in the US, making Ireland the 13th largest investor here. This sustained investment trend aligns well with our National Development Plan which recognises the importance of export-led growth in top sectors such as ICT, life sciences, international services, industrial and consumer products, and educational services,” he added.

Enterprise Ireland also announced today that since the beginning of 2010, 32 Irish companies have opened offices in the US. Eight of these firms established an office in New York where they join 39 other Irish companies with a presence there.    

The US accounts for more than 20pc of total exports from Ireland.  Ireland is 13th largest investor in the US with 82,000 Americans employed by more than 220 Ireland-based companies across all 50 states. 

Article courtesy of Businessandleadership.com