Vital injection of pharma jobs for Kerry
PHARMA-PACKAGING PLANT WILL CREATE OVER 100 NEW JOBS
NORTH Kerry has received a major Christmas jobs boost with the news that a major pharmaceutical-packaging company is to create over 100 jobs in Tralee.
On Monday, UK based Central Pharma – which provides outsourced packaging services to key international pharmaceutical makers – announced it will move into the IDA’s purpose built Advance Manufacturing Facility at Kerry Technology Park, creating 100 jobs over the next five years.
The Tralee plant – which the company said could eventually employ up to 150 people – will package and ship pharmaceutical products to the EU, UK, US and other global destinations.
It will be the first new manufacturing plant to open in the county in almost 20 years.
Central Pharma is set to invest a further €2million into the facility which will require significant work to bring it up to the required international specifications ahead of its planned July 2019 opening.
Central Pharma CEO Alwyn Smit said the potential for expansion on sites adjacent to the Tralee plant was a key factor in the firm’s locating in Kerry rather than Cork.
TRALEE has received a major boost with the news that a UK-based pharmaceutical-packaging company is to create over 100 jobs in the town.
On Monday, Central Pharma – a world leader in the outsourced packaging and supply of medicines – announced that it is to move into the IDA-built €5million Advance Manufacturing Facility at Kerry Technology Park.
The company will invest some €2million to bring the building up to the required standards – which involves the installation of several high-specification production lines – and it is hoped the plant will be up and running by July 2019.
The privately owned company, headquartered in Bedford, UK, is the leading outsource partner to the world’s top pharmaceutical companies.
The Tralee plant – which the company said could eventually employ up to 150 people – will package and ship pharmaceutical products to Europe, the UK, the US and other destinations worldwide.
Central Pharma CEO Alwyn Smit said the company has ambitious plans for the Tralee site, and it is already envisaged that a supply warehouse – which would create significant additional employment – will be built adjacent to the factory, and the company has already secured an option on a neighbouring site to allow for future expansion.
Mr Smit said the potential for expansion on sites close to the planned factory was a key factor in why Central Pharma had opted to locate in Kerry and not in Cork, where much of the Irish Pharmaceutical industry is based.
He also highlighted the sites’ proximity to Institute of Technology Tralee.
“Post-Brexit, Ireland offers a stable environment from which to service our European customer base. We are very excited to establish a best-in-class operation here as a part of IT Tralee. Thanks to the investment that has been made in IT Tralee, there exists great resource potential here for us to tap into,” Mr Smit said.
“The fact that the site is adjacent to a University that has a STEM faculty played a major role in our decision to come here, as did the availability of the property itself – IDA’s Advance Technology Building is an excellent turn-key property solution which is ideal for us.”
Speaking at the job announcement at Tralee’s Ballygarry Hotel on Monday morning, Kerry-based Junior Minister Brendan Griffin said the news was “a hugely positive development” for Tralee, Kerry and the entire Southwest region.
“I warmly welcome these additional 100 jobs for Kerry, which is a great boost to the economy of the county. Behind each of these 100 jobs are real people and real households, and these jobs are so important to them. I wish the company and their employees every success for the future,” said Minsiter Griffin. IDA CEO Martin Shanahan – who is from Abbeydroney – also addressed the gathering.
“The project will benefit the local economy and create a substantial number of jobs. It will act as an excellent reference seller for IDA for further investment into the region. It has also proved the value of IDA Ireland creating these Advance Technology Buildings in regional locations to strengthen their offering in working to attract investment,” he said.
Mayor of Kerry Norma Foley also welcomed the “wonderful news”.
“Tralee and Kerry offer companies wonderful facilities and a highly skilled workforce, and today’s announcement will further enhance the reputation of the town and county as great places to invest and do business,” she said.