Tanaiste opens Tile Manufacturing Plant in Arklow £6.5 Million investment to create 170 jobs - Harney

Tánaiste Mary Harney, today (Thursday 16th September 1999), officially opened Vitra Tiles (Ireland) Ltd. The company, which is the only ceramic tile manufacturer in Ireland, is a joint venture between Qualceram PLC, the Arklow based bathroom manufacturer and Eczacibasi, Turkey’s largest industrial manufacturer of building materials.

Speaking at the official opening the Tánaiste said, “Eighty jobs have been created since the first phase of operations was announced last July and a further 90 positions will be created with the completion of phase two operations by the end of next year.”

"Arklow has been a priority in terms of jobs and investment in the aftermath of the demise of the town’s pottery industry. Today sees the coming to fruition of phase one of the Vitra Operation. I am delighted to be associated with this joint venture between Qualceram and Eczacibasi, who with the support of Enterprise Ireland, are investing approximately £6.5m to create 170 jobs in this joint venture in Arklow over the next three years. Considerable investment has already been made in buildings and refurbishing of the old Noritake facility and I understand that over 60 people are currently employed in the plant,” the Tánaiste said.

The Eczacibasi Group is one of Turkey’s largest industrial conglomerates with over 8,000 employees and interests in a wide range of areas such as pharmaceuticals, building materials, and bathroom ware and tiling which is represented by the Vitra brand.

“Qualceram, the joint venture partner with Eczacibasi in the Arklow project, is an excellent example of an Irish owned company which, from small beginnings in 1988, following the purchase of the vacant Armitage Shanks plant in Arklow, has gone from strength to strength. The company manufacturers a range of high quality ceramic and acrylic bathroom ware and employs about 160 people. It has identified opportunities for strategic partnerships with other companies to grow sales and develop new products and markets and is one of the very progressive breed of new Irish enterprises, now a significant feature of our rapidly expanding economy”, the Tánaiste said.

The Tánaiste said "The establishment of this joint venture in Arklow is a further endorsement of the efforts of the Government and industrial development agencies’ such as Enterprise Ireland to encourage the development and expansion of industry outside major cities such as Dublin. Balanced regional economic development is a key Government objective. Several factors influence the decisions of investors on the location of projects; however, the availability of an educated and skilled workforce, infrastructure and a favourable business environment, are key factors in attracting industry."

According to Gerry Murphy, Director, Industrial Products and Europe, Enterprise Ireland, “We have a long association with Qualceram Plc and now with Vitra Ireland Ltd. We are fully committed to growing strong, vibrant and locally controlled businesses that trade internationally. Strategic alliances, business partnerships and collaboration has become a real strategic option for many Irish companies and we would encourage more Irish companies to choose this route in order to succeed in today’s fast moving global business environment”.

The Tánaiste congratulated everybody involved in helping to secure this new industry for Arklow and she wished the Vitra Tiles Ireland plant every success for the future. “The new Vitra Tiles plant and ongoing expansion by Qualceram in ceramic and acrylic bathroom products, should generate 440 jobs in both plants by end Year 2001. These and other developments are providing much needed employment in the Arklow area and are extremely welcome,” she concluded.