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Updated 7.40am
THERE WAS SOME good news for Galway announced this morning — a manufacturing firm has said it is to create 250 new jobs.
Zimmer, which makes orthopaedic products, is setting up a second Irish operation bringing its total workforce to 580.
The positions will be in manufacturing and in a new sales and marketing division.
The €51 million investment in Oranmore will give the firm extra capacity to manufacture knee and hip implants.
General Manager Adrian Furey said the expansion will not impact operations in Shannon.
“Our Shannon facility will continue to be our flagship for Ireland and we will continue to invest in our operations there,” he said.
The new facility, however, will also be home to a “state of the art professional education centre”, which Zimmer says will attract professional health practitioners from around the world.
That means “exciting times for Zimmer orthopaedics in Ireland”, according to Antony Massarella, vice president of Zimmer Northern Europe.
IDA Ireland and the Minister for Jobs have welcomed the plans.
Martin Shanahan, chief executive of IDA Ireland, noted that exports of medical devices and diagnostic products now represent 8% of Ireland’s total merchandise exports.
“Galway is already home to some of Ireland’s biggest names in medical devices – this announcement will add to the talent pool in the city and surrounding region,” he added.
Oh, and wondering about the name? IDA’s press guy has answered that question.
Kevin Sammon / TwitterAnd yes, @zimmer IS the firm that makes the Zimmer frame, as well as lots of other products #InvestInIreland pic.twitter.com/GSHEQSsywl
— Kevin Sammon (@SammonKevin) January 16, 2015
First published 7.13am
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Galway will have even more hip joints, cool man.
George looks like he’s heading off to a Love Ulster parade in that photo.
Great news for the West!
When did he join the Orange order ?
George Hook, the face of zimmerframes in Ireland.
Sinn Fein told me that the economy isn’t improving.
Richard Bruton has grown an extra chin and put on a few pounds.
What this economy needs is manufacturing jobs to make it grow but Merkel would have to stick her heel into that first, I think.
Yet another big investment from a U.S company in Ireland.With all the yank bashing I see here in the Journal,at least the did’nt give up on Ireland in our bad times.
There are also zimmer dental implants – same company ?
So the key to growth here is… MANUFACTURING. I have been saying that for ages but all the government wants is to send companies here to Asia and replace the manufacturing workforce here with pen pushers and warehouses…
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