Tánaiste Inaugurates Bristol-Myers Squibb Facility at Cruiserath, Co. Dublin
An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Harney TD, today (Tuesday 22 June, 2004) officially inaugurated the new Bristol-Myers Squibb pharmaceutical manufacturing facility at Cruiserath, Mulhuddart in Dublin.
This new facility is a multifunctional, highly automated bulk pharmaceutical manufacturing operation providing the potential to run several pharmaceutical processes simultaneously.
This investment was announced by An Tánaiste in 1998 and is supported by IDA Ireland.
Currently there are over 140 people employed in Cruiserath supported by a number of site services companies providing contract management to the site. Bristol-Myers Squibb's direct employment at the plant is expected to rise to over 160 by the end of the year with additional recruitment to follow as requirements for the plant continue to grow. Due to the level of automation and equipment sophistication, the site requires a highly educated workforce and this is reflected in the fact that 66% of staff are educated to degree level or higher.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Tánaiste said: “The completion of this latest investment in Ireland by Bristol-Myers Squibb is further evidence of Ireland’s continuing attractiveness as a location for the international pharmaceutical industry.”
She added: “The company's commitment to Ireland is a long standing one. In fact, the company was one of the first major pharmaceutical companies to invest in this country when it established its successful Swords operation exactly 40 years ago this year.”
The Tánaiste said that Bristol-Myers Squibb's ongoing commitment had been further demonstrated not just by the decision to establish the new facility at Cruiserath but by the strenuous efforts made by the company during the design and construction phase to identify suitably qualified and competitive Irish contractors and equipment vendors.
“With the assistance of Enterprise Ireland some 30 Irish contractors, out of a total of 36 contractors on site, were utilised. The value of these contracts was in excess of ¤200 million. While a significant percentage of equipment, due to its specialised nature, was imported, more than ¤30 million was spent with Irish vendors,” the Tánaiste said.
Speaking at the official opening at Cruiserath, Mr Peter R Dolan, Chairman and Chief Executive officer of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company said that IDA Ireland had proved to be very persuasive in convincing the corporation that Ireland was the correct location for such an investment. “The availability of a highly educated workforce and the positive experience we have enjoyed in Swords since 1964 were also key factors” he added.
Mr Dolan indicated that the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company had considered a number of sites in Ireland and Cruiserath was chosen for a number of reasons including its proximity to the airport and Swords. He added that the very positive approach adopted by Fingal County Council in developing the local infrastructure and attracting investment to the area had also played a major role in the company’s decision-making process. “Our design team worked closely with Fingal County Council to ensure compliance with their planning guidelines and it is this successful partnership approach which has led us to this great achievement today” said Mr. Dolan.
The completed facility stands on a 100-acre site and comprises 14 main buildings and other external facilities. The buildings have a combined floor area of almost 20,000 square metres. The buildings and external facilities are interconnected by 500 kilometres of cable and 90 kilometres of pipe work.
Qualification of process equipment in the Production Building commenced in August 2003. By October, qualification of the first production line was completed and preparation for the Process Qualification campaign commenced. This campaign was completed in March 2004, and the subsequent regulatory filing submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April of this year.
In 2002, Bristol-Myers Squibb received the top ranking on corporate environmental performance among 29 pharmaceutical companies in the U.S., Europe and Japan in a new 100-page report released by Innovest Strategic Value Advisors, an internationally recognized independent investment research firm specializing in environmental finance and investment opportunities.
Notes to Editors
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company is a global pharmaceutical and related health care products company whose mission is to extend and enhance human life. It is a leading provider of innovative therapies to fight cancer, HIV/AIDS, schizophrenia and other serious diseases. It also manufactures and sells infant formula and other nutritional products, consumer medicines, ostomy and wound therapeutics products, and medical imaging products. The company employs over 44,000 people worldwide, and operates research, development, manufacturing and distributing facilities in more than 100 countries. It is a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock exchange (BMY). In 2003 total company revenue was $20.7 billion and spending on medicine research and development exceeded $2 billion.
Bristol-Myers Squibb in Ireland
Bristol-Myers Squibb was one of the first major pharmaceutical firms to locate in Ireland and has been manufacturing in Swords, Co. Dublin since 1964. The Swords plant, operating as Swords Laboratories, is the launch site for many of the new healthcare treatments developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb.
The Swords plant is one of the company's key suppliers of bulk pharmaceuticals, which are shipped to Bristol-Myers Squibb finishing plants around the world where they are used as the key ingredients in the production of tablets, capsules and other healthcare treatments. Products produced at Swords are used to treat hypertension, cancer, and HIV/AIDS, among other diseases and conditions.
Swords Laboratories, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, has maintained its focus as a world class manufacturing facility. Many of the corporation’s new healthcare products are launched at the plant. Today over 400 people are employed at the Swords plant contributing over ¤40 million to the local economy in salaries and expenditure on local goods and services.
Swords Laboratories puts great emphasis on being a good neighbour to the people of Swords and Fingal. Regular meetings are held with local residents to share information and discuss any areas of concern. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company is proud of its record of safe operations in close proximity to residential areas without any adverse environmental impact.
In addition to the direct economic impact in the local area the company supports many local worthwhile charities and is committed to maintaining excellent local relationships in the future.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and the Environment
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company recognises that to meet 21st Century business, social and regulatory challenges, the company must conduct its activities in an ethical, responsible and sustainable manner. The company is committed to protecting the environment and the health and safety of its employees, customers and the public. Over the last ten years wide-ranging improvements and ambitious goals and strategies have been implemented to support this objective. Indications that Bristol-Myers Squibb is delivering on these commitments are evident from some of the independent ratings and awards the company has recently received:
The Dow Jones Index rates the company as the second highest performing pharmaceutical company in terms of sustainability.
The United Nations Environment Programme ranked Bristol-Myers Squibb as the highest of any U.S.-based company in "The Global Reports," the first international benchmark survey of corporate sustainability reporting in November 2001.
The Council on Economic Priorities awarded its Global Ethics Award to Bristol-Myers Squibb in June 2000.
These philosophies have been carried through to the Cruiserath facility. The design incorporates the very latest clean technologies available, including state of the art waste recovery, recycling, and cryogenic and thermal treatment processes. The facility has been fitted with the best available technologies for real-time emissions monitoring, detection and containment systems.
The facility has received its IPPC Licence from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This requires the plant to operate under strict operational controls and within comprehensive emission limits.
ENDS/ETE 1233
Last modified: 22/06/2004
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