Sanmina-SCI to invest €10 million in its operation in Fermoy, Co Cork, for the expansion of its R&D activities

The many years of successful operation in Fermoy are a credit to the Irish management team and workforce. This track record of success was a critical factor in the Corporation’s decision to make this investment in Fermoy.

Seamus Grady, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Medical Operations for Sanmina-SCI

Sanmina-SCI Corporation, a global electronics design and manufacturing services provider, is to invest €10 million in its operation in Fermoy, Co. Cork, for the expansion of its R&D into higher value activities, which will create a number of new jobs in highly skilled R&D positions. The investment, supported by Government , through IDA Ireland, involves a number of R&D projects for new products and services.

Fermoy is designated as a flagship facility within Sanmina-SCI for the design and manufacture of electronic medical devices and is one of the largest medical operations within the Corporation.  Sanmina-SCI provides product contract design, development and manufacturing services to original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s) in technology-related industries.

This investment will bring to 460, the number of people working on site at Sanmina-SCI in Fermoy .  The site was established in 1988 by SCI and in 2002 it became Sanmina-SCI following the merger of Sanmina and SCI Systems.  Subsequently, a strategic decision was taken to transition the site from a provider to the general electronics industry to one focused on the medical technologies industry. Integral to Fermoy’s success has been the growth of R&D to support customers’ requirements – a capability which this latest investment will considerably enhance.  

The Tánaiste said “This investment underlines the importance of Sanmina-SCI Fermoy as a world-class medical device manufacturer.  It will lead to the acquisition of new skills and capabilities at the site and will open up the potential for new business, while strengthening its strategic importance within Sanmina-SCI.  It will further consolidate the facility and existing workforce in Fermoy and will increase its already significant contribution to the local and national economy.”

The R&D for new products will involve the design and development of the next generation of medical devices for a number of current and new customers on site at Fermoy. The R&D team will also develop a range of services activities , which include;
expertise in all aspects of medical regulatory compliance; to take a customer’s product vision and design the entire manufacturing process from prototype to a product ready for high volume manufacture; and to follow up on new business, mainly focused on medial devices and alternative energy technology.

Commenting on the announcement, Seamus Grady, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Medical Operations for Sanmina-SCI said: “The Fermoy facility is a flagship site for Sanmina-SCI, and has developed deep-rooted relationships with its Medical Device Customers over several years.  These Customers require higher value added services from their Manufacturing partner than in the past, and this investment better positions Sanmina-SCI Fermoy to capitalise on those opportunities.  It will also enable Sanmina-SCI to engage in higher value R&D collaborations with new Medical Device OEM’s.  The many years of successful operation in Fermoy are a credit to the Irish management team and workforce. This track record of success was a critical factor in the Corporation’s decision to make this investment in Fermoy.”

About Sanmina-SCI Corporation

Sanmina-SCI Corporation, headquartered in San Jose, California, has nearly 80 manufacturing sites globally and has 41,000 employees in over 20 countries. It serves clients in the fields of communications, computing, multimedia, semiconductors, aerospace, medical applications, and automotive technology.  It provides “end to end” manufacturing services for these clients (including consulting, design, engineering, logistics, new product introduction, assembly, machining, and fabrication). It had revenues of US$7.2 billion for the year ended 31 September 2008.  

For further information:
Robert O’Rourke
VP and Plant Manager
Sanmina-SCI Ireland Ltd.
Rathealy Road
Fermoy
Co. Cork
Tel: +353 25 82400
Fax: +353 25 82401

IDA Ireland –
Gillian Lawless,
Press & PR,
Tel : 01-6034190 
gillian.lawless@ida.ie