Verus opens new state-of-the-art facility
VERUS Precision is celebrating its 10 th anniversary by establishing a new state-of-the-art facility in Sligo, opened last week by Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys T.D.
The company is predicting significant growth in the short-term, with plans next year to open an independent metrology lab in the US. It already operates Ireland’s largest independent dimensional metrology lab with a second lab based at Nottingham the UK.
Metrology is the scientific study of measurement. Verus Precision works with global firms – mainly in the MedTech sector — to ensure the precise, scientific dimensional measurement of their products and to add value at their product design and development stage.
To mark its 10 th anniversary, Verus is moving into the new facility, based at Cleveragh Industrial Estate, where toolmaking and precision engineering first took place in Sligo City. It was officially opened on Thursday by Minister Humphreys when she visited the site.
The company purchased the derelict premises at Cleveragh last year and has spent 12 months renovating it into a state-of-the-art facility – and €800,000 of which €150,000 was a capital investment from Enterprise Ireland for the creation of eight new jobs.
Verus Precision was formally located at the Aughamore Far Industrial Park, also in Sligo, and the company is retaining this facility as a centre for Research and New Product Development.
Verus Precision was established in 2008 by current Managing Director Andrew Hodson and Technical Director Michael Nugent. It was the first independent metrology lab in Ireland – and is now the largest in the country.
It started at a ‘ hot desk’ at IT Sligo’s Innovation Centre. Since then, the Verus group has grown to have a turnover of €2.5m and is looking at a projected €8m turnover in the next five to six years.
To facilitate this growth Verus has recently expanded its Board of Directors to include Yvette Haughey as Strategy and Finance Director and Sean MacEntee as Chairperson of the Board.
In 2016, Verus began working with Enterprise Ireland’s Global Sourcing team, which helps Enterprise Ireland clients establish contact with multinational organisations based in Ireland. These contacts, through the Global Sourcing initiative team, have helped Verus expand its export business through the multinational networks globally.
Managing Director and co-founder Andrew Hodson said: “We are breathing new life into an area which has been the home of toolmaking and injection moulding in Sligo City.
“We spent €800,000 on the facility, which needed extensive refurbishment as well as new world-class equipment.
“The facility is on the first IDA industrial site in Sligo, built in 1977, and home of the toolmaking trade in Sligo City and it is great to see it full of life again.”
Technical director and co-founder Michael Nugent said: “The opening of our new high-tech facility in Sligo shows that you do not have to be living in Dublin in order to secure a high-tech job.
“We are working globally, dealing with some of the biggest names in the MedTech sector, and are actively seeking highly-skilled people for high-tech positions in the North West of Ireland.”