High-tech Manufacturing
Why Locate in Ireland?
Ireland is internationally well regarded for the calibre of our manufacturing operations. In less than a generation, we have progressed from having virtually no global manufacturing base to being lauded as the place where products and processes are enhanced and where existing corporate records in timeliness, quality and operational metrics are broken and continuously improved upon. As a nation, thanks to the production expertise in our multinational clients, we have raised the bar for international manufacturing standards.
Manufacturing is the bed-rock on which the growth in Ireland’s FDI was founded.
Historically, it has been a significant segment of our investment portfolio and it will continue to remain so into the future. The Hi-Tech manufacturing sector will be characterised by increased international competition and enhanced output volumes due to investments in technology and automation. Globally, manufacturing jobs, as a percentage of total employment, will continue to decrease even in lower cost locations.
Mirroring the rest of our economy, manufacturing is also in transition. Higher technological investment and higher value products will be the hallmark of future manufacturing operations in Ireland. These operations will be knowledge, capital and skills intensive characterised by a participative innovative culture where management and staff continuously collaborate to drive innovation, productivity, agility, learning and adaptability.
In order to catalyse these changes, IDA Ireland, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland, is supporting an industry consortium approach on a range of applied research initiatives under the new Competence Centre programme envisaged in the Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation (SSTI) and the recently published report on the High Level Group on Manufacturing.
A Research Focus
A broad range of topics are being evaluated for potential funding including:
- Advanced Manufacturing Productivity.
- Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing.
- Composite Materials.
- Advanced CMOS Circuit R&D.
- Applied Nanotechnology.
Optimising the strength of our current manufacturing position and focusing on these research areas will help us positively differentiate the future Irish manufacturing offering. Ireland’s future High Technology manufacturing value proposition is best captured in four distinct categories that IDA Ireland intends to pursue with vigour.
Ireland's Manufacturing Value Propositions
Capital and Skills intensive operations
These would include pharmaceutical, bio-technology and medical device projects and semiconductor wafer fabrication in ICT.
Production of High Value products
These operations are characterised by robust and rigid standards of good manufacturing practice compliance that best meet international regulation and strict intellectual property protection.
Demand Fulfillment operations
These activities are at the hub of supply chain management where proximity to market or inventory management is crucial to enable a rapid response to short-term demand spikes and emerging market trends.
Pilot or short production runs
These operations focus on new product introductions or production runs aimed at clinical trials or pilot production batches in life sciences, and testing whether volume manufacturing solutions are needed to support demand for new ICT products.
High Calibre Operations
Cameron Corporation, of the US, one of the world’s leading providers of oil and gas pressure control equipment and services to the global oil and gas exploration industry, is to significantly develop and expand its existing manufacturing and R&D facility in Longford Town, with the support of IDA Ireland. It will create 140 high quality jobs over the next five years in engineering and support activities, including R&D, IP Management and Logistics Management. In addition, €15 million will be invested in new buildings and equipment. Cameron is a great example of how a company evolves by taking on additional knowledge-based activities to have a crucial advantage over international competitors.
KCI, a leading medical technology company, has established its Global Manufacturing Operation for advanced wound-care products in Westmeath. Incorporating KCI's V.A.C. Therapy proprietary technology, it clinically helps wound healing while reducing the total cost of serious wound treatments. Catherine Burzik, KCI’s President and CEO, said The new Operation will play an integral role in the growth of our global business going forward.
Baxter International Inc. one of the world’s leading healthcare companies, will invest over €75 million as part of a strategic programme to establish a development and innovation capability, enhance therapies for the treatment of patients with renal failure and introduce new technologies and higher value products at its manufacturing plants in Castlebar and Swinford, Co. Mayo. Robert L. Parkinson, Jr. Chairman, CEO and President said, We are constantly striving to advance the treatment of life-threatening diseases like kidney failure, immune disorders, cancer, and others to improve lives. This strong sense of a higher purpose permeates our organisation and drives continuous innovation and improvement. The team in Ireland can be very proud of their achievements and I have every confidence that success will continue for years to come.
Merck & Co Inc., the global healthcare company and seventh largest pharmaceutical company in the world, is establishing a new €200 million strategic vaccine facility at Carlow Town, having acquired the 65 acre IDA Business and Technology Park. The project will support Merck’s expanding global business in human vaccines and biologics. They will employ a highly skilled and technically sophisticated workforce across all areas of management, quality control, production, engineering, R&D and administration and will create 170 new high quality jobs by 2011. Dr John McCubbins, V. P. Global Vaccine manufacturing for Merck & Co. Inc. said of their decision, we are confident the necessary skilled people, support infrastructure and track record in implementing projects of this scale exist - that is why we chose Ireland.