Johnson & Johnson company Vistakon is to create 200 new jobs in Limerick as part of a €100m investment to expand its manufacturing operations at the National Technology Park.
Vistakon Ireland was established in Limerick in 1996 and is one of several companies operating here under Johnson & Johnson, which employs approximately 2,500 people in Ireland.
“Life sciences is a key sector which we have targeted as part of our Action Plan for Jobs, and in recent years we have seen an impressive jobs performance in this area,” Jobs Minister Richard Bruton TD said.
“This has played a major role in the announcement of over 2,500 jobs in IDA-backed companies in Limerick since this Government took office, a major turnaround from the difficult period the city went through previously.”
This is the latest in a series of investments by Johnson & Johnson companies in Limerick in recent years.
Johnson & Johnson’s investment in Ireland’s mid-west
In January 2013, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (Ireland) announced an investment of over €100m in the expansion of its manufacturing operations and the creation of 100 new, highly-skilled jobs at its site in the National Technology Park.
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, designs, manufactures and markets the ACUVUE range of soft disposable contact lenses, the world’s number one brand.
In April 2014, Ethicon Biosurgery announced plans to develop an €80m state-of-the-art manufacturing facility providing approximately 270 jobs, also at the National Technology Park.
And, in December 2014, Information Technology Shared Services announced 100 new jobs through the creation of a Development Centre at the National Technology Park.
On the latest investment, Dr Mark Benson, vice president of Supply Chain at Johnson & Johnson’s Consumer Medical Devices division explained: “Limerick was chosen for this strategically important investment because of its track record over many years in providing quality products and excellent customer service to markets around the globe. I would like to acknowledge IDA Ireland, which is a key partner for us in our ongoing growth and development.”
IDA Ireland chief executive Martin Shanahan said that Johnson & Johnson’s contribution to the Irish economy, and the Mid West in particular, has been substantial.
“Johnson & Johnson is an excellent example of a company that continues to innovate and invest substantially in its production processes. This further investment by the world’s largest diversified healthcare company is a very positive development for the future.”
The Shannon at Limerick, via Shutterstock
