150 Jobs for Castlerea

"Harmac expansion good news for Roscommon" - Tánaiste

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment Mary Harney has today (Monday 3^rd February 2003) announced that Harmac Medical Products, Inc., a manufacturer of medical devices, and market leader in its business, is to expand its operation in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, with the support of IDA Ireland. Involving an investment of €1.7 million this expansion is creating 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.

The Tánaiste announcing the expansion, 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."

Mr. John F. Somers, President and CEO of Harmac Medical Products, Inc. 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.

About Harmac

Harmac's Irish operation was established in 1998 and has achieved all of its targets to-date. It 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. is privately owned, US company based in Buffalo, New York, with a third facility in Mexico. Harmac is a full service, OEM medical device manufacturer providing world class quality and service to a host of global pharmaceutical/healthcare companies including Boston Scientific, Bausch & Lomb, Tyco and Johnson & Johnson. With its combination of product engineering and automation capabilities, proprietary online quality system and lean manufacturing based processes, Harmac builds long-term partnerships worldwide. The Irish operation is a significant supplier to the Irish operation of Abbott Laboratories and its business in Europe and to a number of other IDA supported overseas healthcare companies in Ireland.