Element Six to create 100 jobs at Shannon plant

Synthetic diamond producer Element Six is to create 100 jobs at its Shannon operation as part of a €7 million investment.

The positions are in the areas of supply chain, engineering and manufacturing. Recruitment is already under way with all posts set to be filled in the first half of 2017.

It will bring overall employment at its Shannon base to 550.

In the last three years Element Six has been investing in infrastructural projects with the installation of large-scale diamond synthesis presses used to produce materials for industrial use.

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“Thanks to a culture of continuous improvement, the use of world-class manufacturing techniques and efficiency and quality gains, our Shannon operations have now taken on additional, global cutting-edge processes, leading to this investment and considerably enhanced employment levels,” chief executive Walter Hühn said on Friday.

Element Six, a world leader in synthetic diamond super-materials and member of the De Beers Group of Companies.

The investment will focus on the synthesis and processing of diamond materials at the Shannon plant for use principally in the oil and gas industry.

Future proof

Mr Hühn said this sector was volatile but improvements and investment at Shannon was working to future proof the business.

"A key influencer is the operating environment, which is considerably better now in Ireland. In return, we have invested heavily and created high-value jobs for the region."

Friday's announcement was also attended by Element Six executive director of operations Ken Sullivan and Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Pat Breen.

Mr Breen said the move was a “very strong endorsement” of the Shannon Free Zone as a destination for innovation and job creation.

IDA chief executive Martin Shanahan said the company's decision would send a positive message around the world about Shannon being an attractive inward investment location.

Element Six works in the design, development and production of synthetic diamond super-materials, and operates worldwide with primary manufacturing facilities in China, Germany, Ireland, South Africa, US and the UK.