Minister O'Keeffe announces 100 jobs in top medical devices firm
1 July 2010
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O'Keeffe TD, today [Thursday] announced 100 new jobs in a top US medical devices firm.
Merit Medical is to invest ¤6.7 million in an expansion of its plant in Galway.
The firm is to enter the surgical pre-pack business in Europe and establish Galway as its European centre.
Merit Medical Ireland Limited (MMIL) established in Galway in 1994, manufacturing guidewires and inflation devices used in hospitals worldwide.
It has been involved in research and development since 1997 and today's announcement includes the purchase of a ¤1.4 million property in Parkmore East, Co Galway.
Announcing the jobs, Minister O'Keeffe described the investment by Merit Medical as significant for Ireland's life science sector.
'Ireland has a strong cluster of firms in the life science sector with eight of the top 10 pharmaceutical and 15 of the top 20 medical devices companies based here.
'The 100 new jobs will add to our reputation as a global leader for life science firms.
'Merit Medical has been in Galway for 16 years and the firm's decision to expand and target research and development adds momentum to the Government's strategy to move Ireland up the value chain and capture a greater share of the innovation market.
'As well as the 100 new positions in the plant, the extension project will generate jobs in construction and supply services which is important for the local economy in Galway,' said Minister O'Keeffe.
The chairman and chief executive of Merit Medical, Fred P. Lampropoulos, said: 'Merit employs 250 people in Galway and when it was decided to venture into the surgical pre-pack market in Europe, a number of location options were considered.
'The success of Merit's established operation in Ireland and the skills set of the existing Irish management team made Ireland Merit's location of choice.
'I would like to thank staff and management at MMIL for their hard work and dedication and look forward to the successful implementation of this new project.'
The chief executive of IDA Ireland, Barry O'Leary, said: 'Merit's decision to locate this operation in Ireland demonstrates our attractiveness for companies investing and expanding in the life science sector.
‘IDA Ireland’s strategy, Horizon 2020, sets out to achieve balanced regional development, and today’s announcement for Galway builds on the strong medical device cluster in the west of Ireland.’
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About Merit Medical Systems Inc.
Merit Medical Systems, Inc. [MMSI] produces disposable medical devices used in hospitals worldwide. It employs 1,700, with facilities in Salt Lake City and South Jordan, Utah; Angleton, Texas; Richmond, Virginia; Maastricht and Venlo in the Netherlands; and Galway, Ireland.
About Merit Medical Ireland
Founded in 1994, Merit Medical Ireland Limited [MMIL] based in Parkmore, Galway, is engaged the development manufacture of a number of key products for Merit Medical systems Inc. MMIL has been involved in research and development since 1997. Products developed include InQwire guidewire, MAK and introducer wires. It also manufactures the Basix Compaq inflation device and Haemostasis valves. Merit is the market leader in these products, with between 40pc and 50pc of the world market. MMIL has expanded its shared service operation and it is responsible for providing general, financial and operational management to all Merit European operations. MMIL has 250 employees in its Galway facility.
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For further information please contact:
Bernard Mallee, Press Adviser to Minister Batt O'Keeffe, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, on Tel: +353 1 631 3944, Mobile: +353 87 9173022, Email: bernard.mallee@deti.ie
Last modified: 01/07/2010
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