GW Plastics Increases Capabilities in Ireland
GW Plastics, an industry-leading healthcare injection moulding and contract manufacturing company, is expanding its operations in Sligo, creating over 200 new jobs. GW Plastics established its first European location with the purchase of Avenue Mould Solutions in 2017, and is growing its operation in response to increased customer demand in its medical device and drug delivery business. The project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.
Specializing in complex injection moulded thermoplastic and silicone solutions, GW Plastics provides full-service contract manufacturing capabilities with a focus on surgical components, diagnostic devices, and drug delivery systems. The Avenue acquisition gave GW Plastics a unique industry position with precision mold-building facilities in North America, Asia, and now Europe, in addition to advanced injection moulding and contract manufacturing. Avenue brought to GW Plastics expertise in building ultra-high-cavitation tooling – up to 192 cavity moulds for the medical device, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical markets. GW Plastics now ranks as one of the plastic industry’s largest manufacturers of precision moulds.
GW Plastics plans to invest €5.7 million to grow their product development, thermoplastic and silicone injection moulding, and contract assembly capabilities in Europe. The company plans to expand its moulding operations into a scalable 23,000 square foot site in IDA’s Business and Technology Park in Finisklin, Sligo. This expansion will allow for the creation of over 200 new jobs in the areas of production, quality, regulatory, and engineering.
The expansion in Ireland will complement and enhance GW Plastics’ precision mould-building and advanced injection moulding and contract manufacturing capabilities in the United States, Mexico, and China. GW Plastics is one of the few companies that can provide a wide array of in-house tooling, injection moulding, and contract assembly capabilities on a highly standardized and global scale.
Making the announcement, An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD (pictured left) said: “Under the Government’s national development plan, Project Ireland 2040, Sligo is recognised as a major regional centre and a driver of economic development. The Government is investing in the North West region through major infrastructure projects like the new N4, because we want to secure a pipeline of jobs and investment into the future. That is Project Ireland in action. The creation of 200 new jobs by GW Plastics is great news for the company, its staff and prospective employees and is further evidence that Sligo is a great place in which to invest, work and live.”
“Avenue has brought to GW Plastics a highly-skilled manufacturing workforce, an award-winning mould-building company, and a growing medical device contract manufacturing business that has been successfully serving Ireland and the broader European market for over 30 years,” said Brenan Riehl (pictured right), GW Plastics President and CEO. “GW Plastics is delighted to build on Avenue’s success as Ireland’s premier mouldmaker with this expansion of advanced injection moulding, and look forward to better serving our customers on a global basis.”
“This expansion will strengthen our European capabilities to provide a truly integrated supply chain solution for our customers,” said Gerard Henn, General Manager of Avenue Mould Solutions. “Our ability to develop lasting relationships with our customers from all over the world and partner early in the development process to leverage our world-class engineering, tooling, and highly-standardized global production capabilities allows us to offer innovative and cost-effective solutions. We are thrilled to continue growing these capabilities in Europe and offer more value to our customers.”
IDA Ireland’s Executive Director Mary Buckley welcomed the announcement saying: “This is terrific news and a considerable jobs boost for Sligo and the whole North West region. This expansion will take the company into new areas of high tech manufacturing. It demonstrates a strong commitment by GW Plastics to Sligo and the Region. I wish the company continued success here and I have no doubt but that the Sligo site will become an integral part of GW Plastics global operations.”
For further information on job opportunities email: info-avenue@gwplastics.com
