New York-listed life sciences group Waters Corporation has committed up to €6m with support from IDA Ireland to expanding its operations in Co Wexford to further research and development of new clinical diagnostics products.
The operational expansion at the Drinagh facility, which manufactures in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) systems, reagent kits, and software, will lead to the creation of new scientific jobs to the end of 2023.
Waters' products are used by hospitals and laboratories worldwide for applications including health screenings for newborn babies, and the company has had a presence in Ireland for the past 25 years.
The multi-year investment is part of Waters’ strategic mission, announced last year, to evaluate the potential of its mass spectrometry technologies for broader diagnostic solutions in areas of early disease detection such as cancer screening.
“This expansion in Wexford is a tremendous step forward for the Waters Clinical Diagnostics business and we’re delighted with the support from IDA Ireland who are enabling growth of the life sciences industry in the South-East,” said Liam Hore, Waters Corporation, Wexford general manager.
In Association with
“With the creation of new jobs and opening of new lab space in Wexford, our R&D Centre will make it possible for Waters’ mass spectrometry technology to play an even greater role in clinical diagnostics, raising the standard of accuracy in the diagnosis of many clinical conditions where the performance of existing tests is lacking.”
Waters marked the announcement with an event at its Wexford campus attended by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, Wexford Mayor Maura Bell, IDA Ireland executive director Mary Buckley, and Waters senior vice president of global operations Chris Ross.
“This €6 million R&D investment will further improve Waters’ mass spectrometry offerings for clinical diagnostics,” said Varadkar. “These developments have real-life impacts, improving the outcome for many conditions, including early disease detection.
"Waters Corporation is a global leader and a significant employer in Wexford where it has operated for 25 years. I wish the team every continued success.”
Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland, added that the investment would "significantly enhance the capability of the facility. IDA Ireland remains committed to winning jobs and investment for regional locations. I wish Waters every success with this project.”
More than 400 people are currently employed at the Waters site in Wexford, which is a global production and distribution centre for a range of consumables for the company's High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) instruments.
Waters employees at the Wexford facility also assemble and test mass spectrometry instruments and replicate instrument software.
Photo: (l-r) Leanne Davey, senior director, clinical assay development & PMO, Waters Technologies Ireland Ltd; and Liam Hore.
