Global eye care leader Alcon has inaugurated its customer engagement centre (ACE) in Cork. The centre will offer training and education to eye care professionals as well as manufacturing, research and development.
The opening of ACE at Alcon's existing Cork site comes shortly after the expansion of Alcon's R&D facility.
The new centre incorporates a three-station wet lab with equipment for cataract, refractive and vitreoretinal surgery and live streaming capabilities for consultation with Alcon's global R&D teams and running live educational events.
The interactive setting will allow visiting clinicians to engage in development and new product ideation workshops, explore enhancement of design in existing products and create conceptual designs for new products.
Jackie Murphy, general manager at Alcon Ireland, said: “The Cork manufacturing site has vast experience hosting the global ophthalmic community, offering a detailed plant tour and an opportunity to meet those who manufacture the intraocular lenses used in cataract surgery, to see first-hand the level of attention to detail that goes into every lens.
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"The ACE Centre will provide a location within Ireland for educational events that will allow Alcon to engage with eye care professionals, to support our global mission to help patients to see brilliantly.”
Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Dara Calleary, IDA Ireland head of medical technologies Rachel Shelly, and American Chamber of Commerce CEO Mark Redmond attended the inauguration. This project is supported by the government through IDA Ireland
"This new centre will facilitate professional development opportunities for eye care professionals in Ireland, enabling them to share knowledge and insights ultimately improving patient outcomes and benefiting the health and med-tech sectors in Ireland into the future. I wish everyone at Alcon the best with this new chapter," said Calleary.
Arthur Cummings, consultant surgeon at Wellington Eye Clinic and consultant ophthalmologist at the Beacon Hospital in Dublin who also serves on the Alcon board of directors, said: “I appreciate Alcon’s commitment to providing best-in-class training and support through channels like the Alcon Experience Academy online, Alcon Experience Centers and now, the Alcon Customer Engagement Centre in Cork.
"I am confident that this centre will provide a truly unique opportunity for eye care professionals to learn from each other, share best practices, and continue working alongside Alcon to help shape the future of eye care.”
Rachel Shelly added: “Congratulations to Alcon for choosing Cork as the location for its customer engagement centre.
"This expansion underpins the company’s continued commitment to the South West Region and its dedication to innovation. Winning investment in regional locations remains a key focus for IDA Ireland. I wish Alcon every success.”
Photo: Jackie Murphy (third left) and Dara Calleary (centre) inaugurating the Alcon customer experience centre in Cork. (Pic: IDA Ireland)
