East Clare is to receive a major jobs boost with Beckman Coulter Diagnostics set to create an additional 80 jobs at O’Callaghan’s Mills as part of a €10 million investment in its Clare site.
Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, the largest employer in East Clare and amongst the largest in the county has said that today’s investment announcement underscores its commitment to innovation and growth in the region. It is envisaged the investment will enhance the company’s world-class diagnostics production with the addition of two new fully automated reagent filling lines and upgrades to the site’s infrastructure, aimed at boosting both efficiency and capacity.
The company is actively hiring for 50 open roles and also announced 30 additional jobs arising, to be recruited between 2025 and 2027 for highly-skilled professionals at its County Clare facility for key functions such as Production Operations, Quality & Regulatory Affairs, Research & Development amongst other areas.
Beckman Coulter has had a presence in County Clare since 2005. The company’s economic contribution is significant for East Clare and the wider mid-west region because of the 550 plus jobs it provides in its facility. Employment at the site is anticipated to rise to 600 jobs, with headcount figures having almost doubled since 2018.
Today’s event at Beckman Coulter’s high-tech site at O´Callaghan´s Mills was attended by Beckman Coulter’s Tipperary-born president Kevin O’Reilly, who was appointed earlier this year to lead the company and its 11,000 employees globally. Others in attendance included European Commissioner-designate, Michael McGrath (FF), as well as other national and local public representatives and industry stakeholders.
“I’m incredibly happy about Beckman Coulter’s significant contributions to my home country, Ireland, not only to the local economy but also to enhancing healthcare every day,” said Kevin O’Reilly, President of Beckman Coulter Diagnostics.
EU Commissioner-designate Michael McGrath said, “Beckman Coulter is a superb case study of the impact of foreign direct investment in Ireland, including into rural communities. There are few settings more rural for an FDI than this site in East Clare. Yet Beckman Coulter produces cutting-edge diagnostic tools here that are critical to the delivery of healthcare across the globe and at the same time makes a massive economic impact on this area. This reflects brilliantly on Beckman Coulter, on the skills pool available in Ireland and on how big industry and the environment can cohabit perfectly here.”
One of the top three diagnostics companies worldwide, Beckman Coulter Diagnostics employs over 11,000 people globally and plays a major role in world health. Every hour around the world, more than one million samples – representing up to one million people – are analysed in hospitals using the company’s instruments. In Ireland, hospitals in Cork, Kerry, and Mayo are prime examples of facilities using Beckman Coulter’s instruments.
Beckman Coulter is cited as an example of how cutting-edge foreign direct investment in Ireland can coexist in harmony with its precious environment. In fact, the company also recognises its responsibilities to local farmland, with its 15,900m2 facility located within a 120Ha farmland. A focus on sustainability at the site has led to the company making use of renewable energy, as well as a wormery waste treatment plant, water treatment plant, development of a 5km nature trail, and supporting the farmland ecosystem with over 240,000 bees living on-site.
The employment income impact of Beckman Coulter on East Clare and the wider region was €55 million in 2023, an economic impact assessment has shown. The economic impact assessment carried out by independent market research experts Repucon revealed that the economic impact of the company was €183 million based on annual GVA (Gross Value Added) in 2023. The report also shows that the employment income impact of the company for the regional economy in 2023 was €55 million, of which €22 million is provided through its 220 plus employees living in the county. Over the next five years, Beckman Coulter’s regional employment income impact is projected to generate €380 million.
Sharon Dolan D’Arcy covers West Clare news. After completing a masters in journalism at University of Galway, Sharon worked as a court reporter at the Sligo Weekender. She was also editor of the Athenry News and Views.