Two hundred jobs will be created by US-based Inamed Corporation at its silicone breast implant manufacturing centre in Arklow, Co Wicklow, over the next five years.
The announcement is a timely boost for a town still reeling from the closure last year of the IFI fertiliser plant, which resulted in 200 redundancies. Recruitment of operators and graduates has already started in a €7.4 million investment that will see Inamed Arklow, which currently employs 190, designated as the group's global centre for manufacturing excellence.
The expansion is supported by IDA Ireland, which is also spending €1 million on improving roads and infrastructure at the town's business park. The agency has sought planning approval for a 30,000 square foot advance office facility at the park, although tenants have not been lined up.
The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, said Arklow was of key importance to Inamed. "This investment further consolidates Inamed's Irish operations, based in Arklow, increases Ireland's role in the company's global R&D strategy, and raises the stature of the operation within Inamed. The management team and workforce are to be congratulated for winning this investment against intense competition from other Inamed sites. The Irish management, together with IDA Ireland, were successful in persuading Inamed that Arklow was the most suitable location to develop the scale and expertise required by this investment," she said
The plant, which opened in 1989, produces silicone breast implants and tissue expanders for plastic and re-constructive surgery for international markets. A research and development team based at Arklow played a pivotal role in the development of new products such as "soft touch" and "cohesive" silicone gel implants.
The Tánaiste added: "The track record of success at the Arklow operation, an ability to supply products overnight, an efficient multi-lingual customer services operation, an expertise in silicone manufacturing and the knowledge acquired in selling the products to international markets were all influential in winning this investment."
The Wicklow town has emerged as a leading centre for healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, she added.
"IDA Ireland's client base in Arklow continues to prosper with ongoing investment and job creation delivered against a background of challenging world economic conditions.
Companies such as Inamed, Servier, Honeywell and Schering Plough are making important contributions to the overall economic well being of the greater Arklow area."
Headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, Inamed employs 1,000 worldwide. Sales rose 16 per cent last year to exceed €250 million.
Profits climbed 57 per cent to €29 million. The company plans to increase R&D spend to six per cent of sales from four per cent in 2003. It also manufactures dermal products for facial wrinkles and devices to combat obesity.
