Merit Medical Systems to invest over €20 million in R&D at its Galway facility

The Galway facility has a proven track-record for guide-wire products and inflation devices. 
The development of the new products will be a natural extension of the successful research done to-date in Galway and the Merit Corporation is confident that Galway’s R&D expertise will deliver success.

Fred P. Lampropoulos, Merit's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Merit Medical Systems, Inc., which produces proprietary disposable medical devices for use in interventional and diagnostic procedures in hospitals worldwide, is to invest over €20 million at its Galway facility for Research and Development of a new product and to extend the range of a number of existing products. The investment, supported by Government through IDA Ireland, will create 6 new jobs in highly skilled R&D positions. 

The Galway facility is Merit’s worldwide centre-of-excellence for R&D and manufacture of all guide-wire products. This latest R&D will increase Galway’s product range and add complexity and depth to its existing products.  The new products will make an important contribution to the work of healthcare professionals as they will contribute to the reduction of time a patient will have to spend in hospital. 

The Tánaiste said “This investment is a major vote of confidence in the Galway facility as the R&D is an integral part of Merit Corporation’s strategy for the development of new products.  The work, drawing on the existing knowledge and skills of the Galway R&D team, will lead to the acquisition of new skills and capabilities.  It will further consolidate the existing operations and workforce in Galway and will increase the facility’s already significant contribution to the local and national economy.”

The new R&D will focus on a number of activities: to create a process to produce a snare device that allows the recovery of foreign objects in the body; extend the range of devices that can be given a hydrophilic coating; extend the range of guidewires; and re-engineer the inflation device. The Galway facility will have sole responsibility for the snare device, which is based on guide-wire technology and is a quantum step for the Galway R&D team to develop. 

Fred P. Lampropoulos, Merit's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said
 “The Galway facility has a proven track-record for guide-wire products and inflation devices.  The development of the new products will be a natural extension of the successful research done to-date in Galway and the Merit Corporation is confident that Galway’s R&D expertise will deliver success. The work will demonstrate the facility’s competence in undertaking R&D for higher value products and will further enhance its reputation within Corporate.”

About Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
Merit Medical Systems, Inc., founded in 1987, employs 1,860 people at facilities in the US, The Netherlands and Ireland. It had sales in 2008 of $227 million and net income of $20.7 million.

Merit Medical Ireland Limited
The Galway facility - Merit Medical Ireland Limited - was established in 1994 and employs 260 people.  It carries out R&D and manufacturing of key products for Merit Medical Systems, such as guide-wires and inflation devices, and has a shared service operation.  It is responsible for providing general, financial and operational management to all Merit European operations. It has been involved in R&D since 1994 and has developed several products including InQwire guidewire, MAK and introducer wires.  It also manufactures the Basix Compaq inflation device and Haemostasis valves, for which Merit is the market leader with up to 50% of the world market. 

For further information please contact –
Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
Anne-Marie Wright,
Vice President, Corporate Communications
(801) 208-4167
Fax: (801) 253-1688
awright@merit.com