Announcing 200 new Cork jobs in Warner Lambert
An Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, T.D., today announced that Warner-Lambert will open a new tabletting facility in Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork, involving an investment of £77.7 million. With the support of IDA Ireland, the new technology project will create over 200 jobs within five years. This is in addition to a £39 million IDA backed investment, with 100 new jobs, announced by Warner-Lambert in September this year by An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Commenting on the new investment Carl Wheeldon, Vice President, Global Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Warner-Lambert, said, "We are delighted to further enhance our commitment and support to expand our operations in Cork. Ireland has become a key global manufacturing and distribution channel within Warner-Lambert and we welcome the support and advice of the Irish Government and the IDA in helping us to realise our growth and future in Ireland".
An Taoiseach, Mr. Ahern said that approximately three quarters of the 200 new jobs will be in production, maintenance and quality control, with a further 50 jobs in management and administration. Construction of a new 312,000 sq. ft. tabletting facility is expected to commence early in 1998, and the initial management structure will be put in place during that period. Recruitment of the first group of people in production, quality control and administration will commence towards the end of 1998.
In February 1997, Warner-Lambert launched its newly developed cholesterol lowering compound Lipitor in the USA, Europe and Canada. Lipitor has become one of the most successful products ever launched in the pharmaceutical industry, and to meet product demand, Warner-Lambert chose Cork as the key location for the manufacturing and global distribution of Lipitor. The location of this bulk tabletting plant in Ireland will position Warner-Lambert as a strategic supplier of one of the corporation's most significant products.
Mr. Ahern added that this announcement makes Warner-Lambert the first major pharmaceutical plant to establish tabletting as a follow-on activity of raw material production in Ireland (the raw material is manufactured by Warner-Lambert in Cork). "Securing this investment is an important step in consolidating and adding value within the Irish economy, and a key step in IDA Ireland's development plan for the sector", he said.
With total investment of £116.7 million, £39 million from the expansion announced in September and £77.7 million in the new tabletting project announced today, employment by Warner-Lambert in Ireland will grow to over 800 people during the next five years. At a time of consolidation within the industry, these investments by one of the world's most successful corporations will further enhance Ireland's reputation as a leading location in Europe for the healthcare sector.
28 November 1997