Major Expansion for Alcon in Cork

The successful transformation of our Cork manufacturing plant from the production of large refractive lasers to small, complex intraocular lenses is a testament to the ingenuity of the highly motivated workforce we have in Cork.

Ed McGough, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing for Alcon

11/09/2008

Alcon Laboratories Ireland Limited
Minister Martin announces a further 186 new positions

View video on the RTE Website

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin TD today (Thursday 11th September 2008) officially opened the completed first phase for Alcon Inc., the world’s leading eye care company, of a €15.6 million expansion of its Irish operation – Alcon Laboratories Ireland Limited - at the IDA Business & Technology Park, Model Farm Road in Cork. The investment was announced in 2005 and was supported by IDA Ireland. In addition, the Minister announced today a further investment of €21.14m which will result in the creation of 186 additional positions to meet the growing global demand for Alcon’s products.

Alcon Inc. is the world’s leading eye care company and is involved in the development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment and devices, contact lens care and other vision care products that treat eye diseases. Alcon established in Cork in 2000 and is the first site outside of the US to manufacture Alcon’s leading surgical product – the AcrySof® intraocular lens - which is a prosthetic lens that replaces the eye’s natural lens following cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed surgical procedure in the developed world.

Minister Martin said “This is a fantastic day for Alcon and for Cork. We are here today celebrating the rapid completion and opening of its first phase of development and with it, the superb news that the company is going to further invest and create new job opportunities. Ireland is now a leader in the field of medical technologies with the biggest and the best companies globally in this industry setting up and expanding here. Alcon has been particularly pleased with the demonstrated ability of the Irish workforce to consistently meet stringent manufacturing and quality demands in a very short timeframe. Alcon is a real example of a company absorbing the skills and expertise and support mechanisms that Ireland has to offer and in turn making a substantial contribution to the Irish economy and to employment in the region.”

Ed McGough, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing for Alcon, said “The successful transformation of our Cork manufacturing plant from the production of large refractive lasers to small, complex intraocular lenses is a testament to the ingenuity of the highly motivated workforce we have in Cork. This is quite a success story and one that we are very proud of within Alcon. We are excited about the growth possibilities for this plant. Producing intraocular lens in Cork fits very nicely into our global strategy of producing the finished format of certain products as close to the final customer as possible.”

Alcon
Alcon’s Cork facility, which was established in 1991, was acquired by Alcon in 2000 following its acquisition of Summit Technology Inc. of the US, a manufacturer of laser systems for corrective eye care.

Alcon, Inc. is incorporated in Húnenburg, Switzerland, although its major operational office is in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. It develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment and devices, contact lens care and other vision care products that treat eye diseases. With the broadest product portfolio in the ophthalmic industry, it has 13,500 employees worldwide serving three product areas – pharmaceuticals, surgical devices and consumer eyecare. It has operations in more than 75 countries and its products are sold in over 180 countries. It is the world’s largest ophthalmic company, with sales of $5.6 billion and profits of $1.5 billion in 2007.

For further media information please contact:
Alcon: All enquiries -
Doug MacHatton
Vice President Investor Relations and
Strategic Communications
(817) 551-8974
doug.machatton@alconlabs.com

Department of Foreign Affairs
Jerry O’Connor, Tel 087 6630338; 01 7788835

IDA Ireland –
National Media : Ruth Croke, Press & PR Manager - Tel: (01) 6034200 /087 4195051
Regional Media: Brian Conroy, Area Director South Region – Tel (021) 4800210 /087 9517717