Expansion and investment to create 114 new jobs in Northern Ireland

1 Feb 2013

A company’s stg£3.4m expansion and another firm’s stg£6.57m investment is to create 114 new jobs in Northern Ireland.

Dungannon, Co Tyrone, company EDGE Innovate, a designer, manufacturer and distributor of equipment used in the recycling, materials handling and quarrying industries, is to expand over five years, resulting in the creation of 84 jobs.

Craigavon, Co Armagh, company JW Kane Precision Engineering is investing stg£6.57m in business development activities to advance its technical, management, finance, marketing and skills capabilities, leading to the creation of 30 jobs.

EDGE Innovate’s new positions are to range from design engineers to skilled shop floor operatives, and international sales and marketing personnel.

JW Kane Precision Engineering will use its investment to add 11,000 sq feet of manufacturing space to its premises, purchase state-of-the art machining centres, and undertake companywide training to address skills gaps, in addition to recruiting the 30 new employees.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said EDGE Innovate’s focus on export marketing and new product development will help to enhance its position within the global marketplace and achieve the sizable export sales it has forecast over the next six months.

“EDGE Innovate operates within an important industry for Northern Ireland and its investment not only adds to Co Tyrone’s international standing in the materials handling sector but will provide skilled jobs across a range of positions in this rural area,” Foster said.

Of JW Kane Precision Engineering, Foster said its investment marks the next step on its journey to becoming part of the global aerospace supply chain.

“Aerospace is a rapidly growing industry and one that is a priority area for the economy,” said Foster.

“This project fits with the Northern Ireland Aerospace Strategy, which aims to move local companies up the supply chain by helping them build the capability required to undertake high value-added activities.”

Invest NI has offered support of stg£421,500 to EDGE Innovate and support of almost stg£900,000 to JW Kane Precision Engineering, both partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Tina Costanza
By Tina Costanza

Tina Costanza was a journalist and sub-editor at Silicon Republic. She came to Ireland from Canada, where she had held senior editorial positions at daily newspapers in Ottawa and Toronto. When she wasn’t saving dangling participles, she was training for 10K races or satisfying a craving for scones.

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