Harmac announce 150 Jobs for Castlerea

Medical devices manufacturer, Harmac Medical Products, has announced an expansion in the company's operation in Castlerea, Co Roscommon.

Involving an investment of €1.7 million, this IDA-backed expansion by Harmac is set to create 150 new jobs over the next three years which will bring total employment to 250 on completion.

Recruitment is already underway for manufacturing, technical, operative and administration positions, with some 70 of those positions already filled.

Announcing the expansion Tánaiste Mary Harney said: "This is a significant development of Harmac's business in Castlerea and reflects very well on the success of the existing workforce. It is good news for Co. Roscommon and the surrounding area as it will increase the sustainability of the Irish operation. As a further investment for the IDA supported pharmaceuticals/healthcare sector in Ireland it continues the trend of 2002 which was exceptionally strong for the sector, with employment growing almost 4% and some very high value new investments negotiated."

Harmac's Irish operation supports the company's global business as a supplier to its expanding client base of world leading pharmaceuticals/healthcare OEM companies. Harmac produces a wide variety of medical products, laboratory devices, catheters, sub-assemblies and components.

The Tánaiste said: "The expansion follows the success of the Irish operation in winning significant new contracts to produce a range of higher value products for two major global healthcare companies. This will move the Irish operation into higher value product areas."

President and CEO of Harmac Medical Products, Inc., Mr John F. Somers, said: "This development is the result of the outstanding efforts which the Irish management team and workforce put forth over the last twelve months, together with our on-going close working relationship with IDA Ireland."

Mr Mick McEnroe, General Manager of Harmac Medical Products Ltd., added: "The success of the Irish operation reflects very well on the skills and commitment of the Castlerea workforce. We are very proud of what has been achieved. We have established a state-of-the-art operation offering a full range of design and manufacturing services to OEM companies involved in the pharmaceuticals/healthcare sector in Ireland, UK and Europe."

Established in 1998, Harmac's operation is one of the key employers in Co. Roscommon. In 2001, the Irish operation further developed its engineering expertise with a view to attracting new business and expanding its client base and this was instrumental in winning the two contracts which have resulted in this expansion.

Harmac Medical Products, Inc. a privately owned, US company based in Buffalo, New York, also has a third facility in Mexico.

(SP)