Merit Medical to create 100 new Galway jobs in expansion

1 Jul 2010

Medical devices manufacturer Merit Medical is to invest US$6.7m on an expansion that will include the purchase of a €1.4m site at Parkmore East and will generate 100 new jobs.

The expansion will involve Merit entering into the surgical pre-pack business in Europe and will establish Galway as the European centre of Merit’s operations.

About Merit Medical Ireland Limited

Merit Medical Ireland Limited (MMIL) set up in Galway in 1994 manufacturing guidewires and inflation devices used in hospitals worldwide. The company has been involved in Research and Development (R&D) since 1997 and today’s announcement includes the purchase of a €1.4m property in Parkmore East, Galway, allowing for unlimited organic growth of Merit’s Galway operations.

Announcing the jobs, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe TD described the investment by Merit Medical as significant for Ireland’s life science sector. “Ireland has a strong cluster of firms in the life science sector with eight of the Top 10 pharmaceutical and 15 of the Top 20 medical devices companies based here.

“The 100 new jobs will add to our reputation as a global leader for life science firms.

“Merit Medical has been in Galway for 16 years and the firm’s decision to expand and target research and development adds momentum to the Government’s strategy to move Ireland up the value chain and capture a greater share of the innovation market.

“’As well as the 100 new positions in the plant, the extension project will generate jobs in construction and supply services, which is important for the local economy in Galway.

“In addition to the 100 jobs that will be created as the result of this investment, Merit’s purchase of a site on which to build its new property will see an increase in employment in construction and services and will provide a further welcome boost to the local economy. On behalf of the Irish Government, I welcome Merit’s latest investment in Ireland and I look forward to supporting them in their continued development here.”

Merit chooses Ireland

Merit currently employs 250 people in Galway and when it was decided to venture into the surgical pre-pack market in Europe, a number of location options were considered, said Fred Lampropoulos, Merit’s chairman and chief executive officer.

“The success of Merit’s established operation in Ireland and the skill set of the existing Irish management team made Ireland Merit’s location of choice. I would like to thank staff and management at MMIL for their hard work and dedication and look forward to the successful implementation of this new project.”

The chief executive of IDA Ireland, Barry O’Leary, said Merit’s decision to locate this operation in Ireland demonstrates our attractiveness for companies investing and expanding in the Life Sciences Sector.

“Ireland’s reputation as a hub for life sciences continues to grow with eight of the Top 10 pharmaceutical and 15 of the Top 20 medical devices companies worldwide with operations here.

“IDA’s strategy, Horizon 2020, sets out to achieve balanced regional development, and today’s announcement for Galway builds on the strong medical device cluster in the West of Ireland,” O’Leary said.

John Kennedy
By John Kennedy

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years. His interests include all things technological, music, movies, reading, history, gaming and losing the occasional game of poker.

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