Andor announce £6m expansion in west Belfast

Minister with responsibility for Enterprise, Trade & Investment, Ian Pearson, has announced that high-tech company Andor Technology is investing over £6 million in an expansion of its operation in west Belfast.

The Minister said that the investment was expected to see the company double its workforce, eventually taking on an additional 87 staff in Belfast within the next three years as new premises, equipment and processes expanded facilities at the firm’s Springvale plant in West Belfast.

Dr Hugh Cormican, Managing Director of Andor Technology said: “Our objective is to become recognised as a market leader in specialist scientific cameras for the nano-technology and life sciences industries. We will continue to invest in R&D and are also strengthening our sales and marketing capacity in the US, Europe and Japan.

“New manufacturing processes will facilitate a 400% reduction in total process time, increasing efficiency and help us increase productivity and profitability.”

The award winning company was originally formed in 1989 as a spin out from research at Queen’s University and maintains close links with the University. The firm moved to current location at Springvale in 1997.

The project, which has attracted Selective Financial Assistance of £989,500 in capital and revenue grants from Invest NI, will enable the company to exploit its lead in the electro-optical technology market.

Andor Technology designs, develops and manufactures specialist scientific cameras. The investment involves the company expanding within the Springvale Business Park and will provide increased manufacturing space and additional space for research and development.

Mr Pearson said: “Andor Technology’s strong commitment to research and development and to global marketing activities has resulted in steady and profitable growth for the company over the last five years.

“This major investment will help it to achieve the ambitious growth targets it has set for itself which are based on continuing product innovation and development. World-class companies such as Andor enhance Northern Ireland's reputation as a global centre of excellence in the leading edge technology required for the growing life sciences market.”

“My Department is committed to the economic regeneration of West Belfast and to this end has been working closely with the West Belfast and Greater Shankill Task Forces. I have been greatly encouraged by the work of the joint Chairmen of the Task Force, John Simpson and Padraic White and investments in the area by innovative, knowledge-led companies such as this, contribute to increasing the entrepreneurial culture and long term economic success of the area.”

Andor Technology is a locally owned company, which currently employs 83 staff in Belfast and 20 sales staff in US, Europe and Japan.

(SP)