Medtronic

“The Medtronic organisation in Galway has gone from strength to strength. Today, the site is one of the leading Global Manufacturing and Technology Development Centres within the corporation. Our success to-date is down to the core competencies and capabilities of our people and our relentless drive for excellence in everything we do. The core of the Medtronic Mission is to apply biomedical engineering to alleviate pain, restore health and extend life for millions of people each year, through our products and therapies. At the Medtronic Galway Site, all our employees are deeply committed to the Medtronic Mission and we take great pride in knowing that our contributions have such a positive effect on the lives of patients all over the world". Gerard P. Kilcommins, Vice-President of Global Vascular Operations & General Manager Galway Site

Medtronic is the global leader in medical technology- alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic develops and manufactures a wide range of products and therapies with emphasis on providing a complete continuum of care to diagnose, prevent and monitor chronic conditions. Every five seconds, somewhere in the world, a person’s life is saved or improved by a Medtronic product or therapy.

Medtronic was founded in 1949 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, by Earl E. Bakken and Palmer J. Hermundslie. Today Medtronic does business in more than 120 countries and employs 38,000 worldwide. The World Headquarters is in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Regional Headquarters include Switzerland and Japan.

Revenue for the year ended April 25, 2008: $13.5 billion.
 

Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management manages the full spectrum of cardiac rhythm disorders to improve long-term patient care. The solutions developed at Medtronic allow physicians to monitor and treat their patients' changing cardiac conditions throughout a lifetime.

CardioVascular develops products that are used throughout the vascular system and those used for arrested and beating heart bypass surgery. The business markets the industry’s broadest line of heart valve products for replacement and repair, plus auto-transfusion equipment and disposable devices for handling and monitoring blood during major surgery.

Neuromodulation offers innovative therapies for chronic pain, movement disorders, spasticity, overactive bladder and urinary retention, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and gastroparesis. Medtronic developed and leads the field of neuromodulation, the targeted and regulated delivery of electrical pulses and pharmaceuticals to specific sites in the nervous system.

Spinal and Biologics offers products that treat a variety of disorders of the cranium and spine. Through the introduction of INFUSE® Bone Graft and Minimal Access Spinal Technologies, the business has distinguished itself as a global leader in less-invasive surgical techniques.

Diabetes offers insulin pump therapy, continuous glucose monitoring systems, related disposable products and diabetes management software, making Medtronic a world leader in diabetes management.

Surgical Technologies develops and manufactures minimally invasive products and techniques that treat a wide range of ear, nose and throat conditions. It also provides operating room equipment designed for neuro and spinal surgeons for their use in image-guided surgery and navigation.

Physio-Control, a Medtronic company, makes external defibrillator/monitor/pacemaker products for in-hospital and out-of-hospital use.
 

Medtronic has been present in Ireland since 1999, having acquired a cardiovascular business established in Galway in 1982.

Medtronic’s Galway site is a centre of excellence for the development and manufacture of a number of the company’s key medical technologies for the treatment and management of cardiovascular and cardiac rhythm diseases. Today over 2000 people are employed in Ireland with most of the company’s employees working at the state-of-the-art facility in Galway, including over 100 dedicated to research and development. The company has R&D links with third level institutions throughout Ireland.

Medtronic also has a sales and shared services office in Dublin which opened in 2002 and represents key businesses within Ireland.
 

Ireland is recognised as a global centre for world class manufacturing of high-tech medical devices. Access to highly skilled personnel, with expertise and experience in quality-driven, advanced manufacturing techniques is hugely attractive to companies investing here.

New product innovation drives the future of the medical technology business. Ireland’s academic climate gives access to highly-trained medical technology research and development experts and world class third level institutions. A large proportion of the products manufactured at Medtronic’s Galway site result from R&D carried out at the facility with excellent results.

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