A NORWEGIAN medical diagnostics company yesterday announced it was to double in size, two years after it opened its plant. Nycomed Ireland Ltd is negotiating with IDA Ireland on a £10 million investment that will increase employment to 120 by 1998.

Located at Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, the plant was the first established by the company outside Norway. The announcement was made by Norway's ambassador to Ireland, Mr Jan Ostern, who said the expansion was a tribute to the Irish workforce.

Nycomed manufactures sterile contrast agents that allow soft tissue to be X rayed with only minimal side effects to the patient. Nycomed Ireland Ltd's chairwoman, Mrs Ase Aulie Michelet, said the company was very pleased to be able to build on what was a pioneering venture in locating in Ireland.