Minister Treacy Announces 60 New Jobs for Ballinasloe

Recruitment is to commence immediately and the new jobs will be for people with technical and engineering skills. Operations are to get underway over the next month in leased temporary premises. Valois is currently purchasing a site at IDA Ireland’s new Business Park and will construct a 40,000 sq. ft. customised facility, which will be a high volume, highly automated operation.

Minister Treacy, announcing the investment, said, "the speedy start-up by Valois is good news for Ballinasloe and the surrounding area. This company will provide a welcome boost for the local economy and should assist in reducing the impact of the recent closure in our town."

Minister Treacy paid tribute to the work of the Ballinasloe Inter Agency Group. The key priorities set for the Group was to secure a new job creating investment for the town, following the announced downsizing of A. T. Cross and to promote Ballinasloe for further new investment. "The Group’s efforts have been rewarded with this new investment by Valois and it will continue with its work to ensure, that further investment is secured for the new Advance Factory, just being completed at IDA Ireland’s new Business Park in the town," he said.

The Ballinasloe Inter Agency Group was inaugurated on 22nd February 2000 and its first meeting was attended by both the Tánaiste and Minister Treacy. The Group meets regularly under the Chairmanship of Mr. Tom Hyland, Area Director for IDA Ireland.

"The influencing factors in Valois choosing Ballinasloe for this investment were the availability and flexibility of a suitable workforce, the favourable economic climate in Ireland and the good experience which the company has had, with its existing Irish operation," said Minister Treacy. Valois’ existing Irish operation is Caideil M P Teoranta at Tourmakeedy, Co Mayo. Caideil employs 80 people in the production of dispensing systems for lotions for the European market. It is supported by Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Establishment of the Ballinasloe facility, follows the company’s decision to standardise manufacture of key components, which are common across its range of products and which until now have been manufactured on a customised basis, at its various facilities.

Valois’ dispensing system permits the user to apply a perfume or cosmetic in a controlled metered application. The system is a mechanical device, using no chemicals, that offers a specific dosage with each application. The competitive advantage of Valois’ products is the accuracy offered which is especially important in dispensing high quality fragrances and cosmetics.

Valois S.A. was founded in Paris in 1947. It employs 1,700 people at three manufacturing facilities in France and finishing operations in the US, Brazil and China. Operating at the luxury end of the market its customers include L’Oreal, LVMH, Sanofi, Schering, Rorer and Servier. It had sales of £206 million and profits of £35 million for last year. Valois’ strategy to maintain its leadership position in a highly competitive industry, with fast changing trends is to develop higher performance products, standardise key components and focus on high quality customer service.

Valois S.A. is a subsidiary of the Aptar Group of Illinois, US, the leading global supplier of pumps, dispensing closures and aerosol valves for a variety of applications. The Aptar Group’s products are used in fragrance, cosmetics, personal care, pharmaceutical, household/industrial and food products. It employs 5,000 people worldwide and has a 70% market share in the UK, Germany, France and Italy. Customers include Procter & Gamble, Gillette, Unilever, Glaxo Wellcome, Novartis and L’Oreal.

"We are absolutely delighted to have another world–class company come to Ballinasloe," concluded Minister Treacy.