70 jobs for Kells with establishment of Mafic’s basalt fibre production facility

27 May 2013

Through a multi-million euro investment, Mafic’s new facility in Kells Business Park, Co Meath, is set to be a centre of excellence and production headquarters for the Mafic Group, bringing 70 jobs to the area over the next three years.

The facility is currently being established at Kells and, when in action, will be the sole production site of basalt fibre for Mafic SA, which has secured exclusive technology rights for the production of basalt fibre. Fibres produced here will be used by Mafic Canada in the manufacture of composite products for the North American market.

“It is a very exciting time for our company, as we establish our production facility in Kells,” said Brian Dougan, director and secretary of Mafic SA and managing director of Mafic Ireland, who will be based in Kells.

“We believe that we have found a perfect location for our business, with a strong supportive local community. That coupled with the availability of workers and Ireland’s proximity to the European and North American markets was a huge draw for us. We are confident that Ireland, and specifically the historical town of Kells, offers us all the necessary components to help make our business a success.”

Over the next three years, Mafic will be recruiting general management, shop floor managers, general operatives and administrative staff. Recruitment of production supervisors and manufacturing technicians will start with a recruitment evening in Kells in June, with successful candidates expected to start work in August.

Regional towns attracting multinational investment

Mafic’s investment comes as part of the Succeed in Ireland initiative, implemented by ConnectIreland under the management of IDA Ireland.

“The innovative Succeed in Ireland initiative which we launched a year ago as part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs is about marshalling all the resources of our community and our diaspora to tackle the jobs crisis and attract new multinational companies who would not otherwise come to Ireland,” explained the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton, TD, at today’s announcement.

“Through local connections and with support from my department through IDA Ireland, a manufacturing facility which otherwise would have gone elsewhere in the world is coming to employ people off the live register in a regional town which would ordinarily struggle to attract multinational investment.”

Elaine Burke
By Elaine Burke

Elaine Burke was editor of Silicon Republic until 2023, and is now the host of For Tech’s Sake, a co-production from Silicon Republic and The HeadStuff Podcast Network. Elaine joined Silicon Republic in 2011 as a journalist covering gadgets, new media and tech jobs. She later served as managing editor before stepping up as editor in 2019. She comes from a background in publishing and is known for being particularly pernickety when it comes to spelling and grammar – earning her the nickname, Critical Red Pen.

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