New Medical Technology Investment to create 125 New Jobs for Ballinasloe

Japan’s USCI joins the Medical Technology cluster in the West

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin TD announced today (12 January 2006) that USCI (Universal Sciences Catheter and Instruments) Japan Ltd., a highly specialised sales and marketing organisation in the medical technology industry is to establish a research, manufacturing and distribution centre for high-value interventional vascular products in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, with the support of IDA Ireland.

Ballinasloe was chosen as the location for the company’s c. €10 million investment and the new operation to be located at IDA Ireland’s Business and Technology Park is expected to create up to 125 jobs. The positions will be across a range of areas with approx 20% being employed in R&D related activities and the remainder in the high level manufacturing operation.

USCI, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan is responsible for the sales and distribution of a range of medical technology products, in particular interventional vascular products for the Japanese market. A significant strategic decision was made by the company to move into the research, development and manufacture of its own interventional product range, in order to capture greater value in their operations.

Minister Martin making the announcement said “this is excellent news for Ballinasloe. The high quality employment USCI will provide and its spending on salaries, goods and services will be a real boost to the area. USCI represents another important component in the expansive medical technologies infrastructure in Ireland and continues our aim to broaden the cluster of such companies in the BMW region”

Mr. Michael D. Van Zandt, President & CEO, USCI Japan Ltd. in Ballinasloe for the announcement, said “Our primary goal in establishing this Centre is to take advantage of the unique opportunity of directly linking the medical technology expertise of the West of Ireland with Japan, the most demanding and most sought after market for the medical technology industry globally. Having researched a number of potential locations around the world for this investment we decided on Ireland. Ballinasloe stood out as the ideal choice due to the availability of the highly skilled workforce and management, the extensive medical technology expertise in the area, and the business friendly environment. Thanks to the Ballinasloe location, we have been able to attract an extremely talented Irish management team, and look forward to the ongoing recruitment of equally talented people in line with our business plan”