TREACY TURNS THE SOD FOR EXTENSION TO TOPFORM, GORT.

Mr. Noel Treacy T.D., Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce today (Friday 26th November, 1999) presided at the official turning of the sod for the laying of the foundation, to mark the commencement of the new extension to Topform, Tubber Road, Gort, Co. Galway. Minister Treacy said that the new extension to the company's factory will increase it's size from 34,000 sq.ft to 60,000 sq.ft., and he welcomed that it will incorporate a new R&D facility, Showroom, and allow for major improvements in factory automation. All of this is designed to increase sales by 60% in the next three years.

Minister Treacy congratulated Paul Glynn and his management team in taking this bold step. He said "entrepreneurs, such as Paul Glynn, Managing Director of Topform are the life blood of our dynamic and growing economy and I wish them well in their endeavours." Minister Treacy commended the company on increasing it's workforce by 5 persons in recent weeks, thereby bringing the total number of employees to 40.

Paul Glynn, Managing Director of Topform said that his company is a European leader in it's field of panel technology. It has developed a capability for edging curved edge desk tops for the Office furniture industry and is now seeking European partners to develop the technology for mass production. The company has recently won it's first order from the Belgian market. Maria Lyons, Topform's Marketing Manager was quoted as saying "we are pleased with this success. The market conditions are very tough there and it proves to us all, that the company is capable of winning orders further afield, than the traditional markets".

Seamus Bree, Regional Manager of Enterprise Ireland views Topform as a model company in every sense of the word. It is among our most significant client companies in Co Galway and is the 3rd largest employer in Gort. We are working closely with the company on World Class Manufacturing and are also glad to be of assistance through our Targeting Marketing Programme, thereby helping Topform to develop additional export sales from new and existing customers in Britain.