Zimmer, a worldwide leader in musculoskeletal health care, will create up to 250 new manufacturing jobs over the next 5 years, at its facility in Oranmore, Co Galway.

Zimmer established a manufacturing facility in Shannon in 2007 and currently employs 330 people. The facility is the primary global provider of the NexGen® femoral knee system and is also now manufacturing the next generation of knee system, for Zimmer – Persona® The Personalized Knee System, which was recently launched in the orthopaedic market.  As a result of a strategic review, the company is expanding its footprint in Ireland and will invest over €51 million in a building in Oranmore, Co Galway to manufacture orthopaedic implants.

Making the announcement Minister Bruton said: “Manufacturing is a sector which we have specifically targeted as part of our jobs plan, and in recent years we have seen an impressive jobs performance in this area, after years of decline during the 2000s. Companies in this area offer great potential in particular to deliver job-creation to regional locations. Today’s announcement that Zimmer, a world leading health care manufacturing company, is investing €51million and creating 250 additional jobs in Galway is a great boost for the West. I look forward to working with Adrian and all the team at Zimmer as they continue to grow their jobs in Ireland”.

Commenting on the announcement Mr. Adrian Furey, General Manager for Zimmer Ireland said: “We are delighted to be adding a new location to our Ireland operations.  We are constantly assessing our worldwide operations and logistics network and this project is a direct result of that process. Zimmer has had a very positive experience of doing business in Ireland.  We are looking forward to building on the success of our Shannon operation by expanding in Galway.  Our Shannon facility will continue to be our flagship for Ireland and we will continue to invest in our operations there.”

We are delighted to be adding a new location to our Ireland operations.  We are constantly assessing our worldwide operations and logistics network and this project is a direct result of that process. Zimmer has had a very positive experience of doing business in Ireland.  We are looking forward to building on the success of our Shannon operation by expanding in Galway.  Our Shannon facility will continue to be our flagship for Ireland and we will continue to invest in our operations there.Mr. Adrian Furey, General Manager for Zimmer Ireland

The new facility will also be home to the sales and marketing division for a direct sales force in Ireland, supplying hospitals and orthopaedic surgeons with gold standard implants for hips, knees, extremities, spine and trauma. The facility will also be home to a state of the art professional education center, attracting professional health practitioners from around the world, “exciting times for Zimmer orthopaedics in Ireland” said Antony Massarella, Vice President, Zimmer Northern Europe.

Welcoming the announcement Martin Shanahan, CEO IDA Ireland said: “Zimmer is one of the leading names in the medical devices sector. Today’s announcement will be seen across the world as another vote of confidence in Ireland, and Galway in particular. Galway is already home to some of Ireland’s biggest names in medical devices – this announcement will add to the talent pool in the city and surrounding region. Ireland is a global hub for the Med Tech sector with firms locating in regional locations across the country. Exports of medical devices and diagnostic products now represent 8% of Ireland’s total merchandise exports.”

The recruitment for all positions will begin in the coming months. A link to the positions can be found here www.irishjobs.ie/zimmer