Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories is to create 165 new jobs over the next five years as part of a major expansion in Co Waterford.

The company, which currently employs 335 people in Ireland, is a subsidiary of the bioanalytical testing group Eurofins Scientific.

Eurofins Lancaster said it plans to expand its current facility and develop a new building at its campus in the IDA Business Park in Dungarvan. The expansion programme will bring the firm’s operating capacity to almost 9,000m.

The expansion, which is supported by IDA Ireland, is currently in the planning submission phase with building expected to commence in the fourth quarter.

Founded in 1961, Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories provides laboratory services for all stages of the drug development process and supports manufacturing processes, including method development, microbiology, process validation and quality control.

The company employs 23,000 staff in more than 225 laboratories across 39 countries.