Ireland Archives - Medical Design Sourcing

Plastics manufacturer wins Ireland’s first MedAccred accreditation

Technimark’s facility in Longford, Ireland [Photo courtesy of Technimark]

Technimark has become the first company in Ireland to earn MedAccred program accreditation.

Technimark Ireland Ltd. — a subsidiary of Asheboro, North Carolina-based Technimark — won MedAccred accreditation for both plastics injection molding and plastics mechanical assembly at its facility in Longford, Ireland.

“The accreditation is widely recognized as a benchmark of excellence in the medical device industry, as it demonstrates compliance to industry standards, customer requirements and best practices,” MedAccred VP Bob Lizewski said in a news release. “The MedAccred program is regarded by the industry as a foundation stone for building risk management strategy.”

The news comes as medtech manufacturers and their partners continue to expand in Ireland. In fact, the idea for the MedAccred program origi…

Dexcom breaks ground on manufacturing facility in Ireland

The Stelo glucose monitor. [Image courtesy of Dexcom]Dexcom (Nasdaq: DXCM) + announced today that it broke ground on a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Ireland.

The San Diego-based continuous glucose monitor (CGM) maker announced plans to invest $325 million in Athenry last May. Breaking ground on the facility marks the first steps toward bringing more than 1,000 jobs to the area. The company expects the factory to be completely built by the second half of 2025.

Dexcom EVP of Global Operations, Barry Regan, explained what attracted the company to the growing medtech hub last year. The company says its investment represents one of the biggest single private sector investments ever in the West of Ireland. Dexcom is the latest CGM maker to break ground in Ireland, as Abbott began construction on a Kilkenny FreeStyle Libre manufacturing plant last April.

Get the full story at o…

‘A safe pair of hands’ — Medtech’s investment in Ireland continues to grow

Killilagh, Ireland. [Image by Sean Whooley]Medtech established its presence in Ireland many years ago and still, companies continue to invest in the ever-growing country.

Boston Scientific established operations in Ireland in 1994, while Abbott has more than 70 years in the country. Medtronic, now officially headquartered in Dublin, has spent more than 40 years in Ireland and even hosted its 2023 annual meeting in the country.

Those companies, plus many more, continue to invest in Ireland, while more big names in medtech are coming to the table. Dexcom, for instance, earlier this year chose Athenry as its first European manufacturing location with a more than $325 million investment.

Speaking to MassDevice, Dexcom EVP of Global Operations, Barry Regan, explained what attracted the company to the growing medtech hub.

“One way I would describe Ireland when it comes to medtech operations and manufacturing is it’s a safe pair of hands,”…

Integer expands manufacturing and R&D operations in Ireland

Integer Holdings (NYSE:ITGR) is growing its footprint in Ireland with two expansion projects.

The medical device contract manufacturer is expanding its New Ross, Ireland, location by 80,000 ft². That project will “substantially increase” the facility’s high-volume guidewire and wire-based manufacturing capacity, Integer said.

Plano, Texas–based Integer is also building a new R&D and manufacturing facility in Galway, Ireland, to “provide local solutions for structural heart, neurovascular, and electrophysiology applications, enabling seamless transitions from R&D to operations,” the company said.

The first phase of construction will add around 70,000 ft² of R&D and manufacturing space.

In announcing the expansions, Integer highlighted its experts in Spiddal, Ireland, who specialize in complex braiding, textile, and impact coating and covering capabilities.

“The team offers comprehensiv…

Boston Scientific reportedly set to add 400 jobs in Ireland

Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) is reportedly planning a new investment in Ireland that would create more than 400 jobs.

The Irish Examiner reports that the new investment in Clonmel, County Tipperary, totals $86.3 million (€80 million). Marlborough, Massachusetts-based Boston Scientific plans to expand its manufacturing and R&D capabilities at its existing Clonmel site, the report says.

According to the report, the company already began recruitment for new roles across “a variety of areas.” According to London-based recruitment firm Zenopa, Boston Scientific seeks candidates who specialize in engineering, manufacturing, supply, quality and discovery.

The new investment increases office and manufacturing space in Clonmel, according to the report. It also aims to transition the entire facility to source more than 90% of its energy needs from renewable sources.

“Our growth in the region has been possible thanks to our…

Why are so many medical device companies making big investments in Ireland?

[Image from Ainars Djatlevskis on Unsplash] The foreign direct investment agency for Ireland has some of the biggest names in medtech investing in the country.

Within recent years, a number of major medtech companies celebrated anniversaries. Abbott’s was 70 years, Medtronic’s was 40 and Boston Scientific’s was 25.

That’s how long those companies have operated in Ireland.

Gerard Kilcommins, Medtronic VP of global manufacturing, vascular therapies and implants and country director in Ireland, said in a report earlier this year that its 40-year anniversary represents “an important milestone” in the company’s history.

“Our sites in Ireland have played a significant role in Medtronic’s evolution from medical device manufacturer to a global leader in healthcare technology,” Kilcommins said in July.

Each of those three companies, plus many more big names in medtech, choose Ireland for a broad range of inve…

Abbott will spend $450M to up FreeStyle Libre production in Ireland

Abbott (NYSE:ABT) will spend €440 million ($450 million) to expand its operations in Ireland, the country’s government announced today.

The investment involves the creation of a new 250,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Kilkenny and a further investment in the company’s Donegal Diabetes Care site. The investment will add 1,000 new jobs between the sites.

The new plant in Kilkenny will still need to clear planning permission. It will give Abbott the capacity to substantially increase the production of its FreeStyle Libre CGM technology for people with diabetes.

“Abbott has a long and successful history, first establishing operations in Ireland in 1946, and this new investment is a great vote of confidence in the workforce here and in this country as a place to invest,” Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin said in a news release.

Get the full story on our sister site Drug Delivery Business News.

Boston Scientific pouring €100M into Irish campus

[Image courtesy of Google]Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) has unveiled plans for a €100 million ($118 million) expansion of its operations outside Galway, an Irish economic development agency announced today.

IDA Ireland said the project will create more than 300 jobs in the coming years. The construction project will create more than 40,000 ft2 of carbon-neutral medical device manufacturing space powered by renewable energy at Ballybrit outside Galway.

“This is a welcome investment in the medical technology industry in Galway and the entire region, and it reflects real confidence in the quality and talent of the Irish workforce,” Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin said in a news release. “Ireland has established itself as a global leader in the sector, with exciting opportunities to produce innovations that improve patient health and quality of life.”

Boston Scientific has had a presence in Galway for nearly 30 years, expanding the site’s capabilities to in…

Boston Scientific to invest more than $30M in Irish facility

[Image courtesy of Google Maps]Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) will invest €30 million (about $34 million) in its Cork, Ireland facility, the Irish government announced today.

The Irish government supported the research, development and innovation (RD&I) investment through IDA Ireland. The money will go toward accelerating the development and manufacturing of minimally-invasive medical technologies that treat patients suffering from cancer and peripheral arterial diseases worldwide.

Boston Scientific will create 70 new engineering and production jobs in Cork over the next three years — on top of the 1,200 people employed at the site.

“This investment will allow the company to grow and develop its world-leading technologies and ensure that it continues helping to improve and save lives. Ireland is globally recognized as a center of excellence for the Life Sciences, and this investment is a real vote of confidence in us and our capacity,” said Le…