Freudenberg Medical expands manufacturing plant in Ireland

Galway, Ireland - Freudenberg Medical has expanded its manufacturing plant in Galway in response to increase global demand for minimally invasive medical devices.

The project increases the existing manufacturing footprint at the Irish site by 50%, while increasing the workforce by 25% to 400 people within the next 18 months.

New employment oppotunities are envisaged in engineering, R&D, manufacturing, quality, support and service roles, according to Freudenberg's 2 Oct announcement.

The German group said the expansion in Ireland was “a strategic step” to meet the increasing demand for 'hypotubes' – a critical component of surgical catheters, often used with silicone tubing.

The new facilities will also enable Freudenberg Medical to develop “increasingly complex products” to serve customers worldwide, the group added.

“Ireland is of strategic significance within our global network,” said Freudenberg Medical CEO Dr Mark Ostwald.

Freudenberg Medical operates sites in key industry hubs across the US, Europe, Asia and Costa Rica.

In Ireland, the company employs more than 1,000 people, across two production facilities in Galway and Leitrim.

The Irish sites have a combined manufacturing capacity of 16 million “complex catheters” per year, according to the company.