Jobs boost for athlone with 100 new posts

US medical devices company Teleflex is to create 100 new jobs in Athlone.
The firm has said the highly skilled new posts will be created over the next three years at their local base in the IDA Business and Technology Park, Garrycastle. The expansion is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through IDA Ireland.

Based in Athlone since 2007, Teleflex, which is a leading global provider of medical devices for critical care and surgery, currently employs 150 people in Athlone to support the company’s growing business Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and India. The Athlone business employs front office functions such as administration, customer service, finance, human resources, information technology quality, operations and research and development.

Headquartered in Wayne, Pennsylvania, Teleflex employs approximately 11,500 people worldwide and serves healthcare providers in more than 150 countries. 
The jobs announcement came after Minster Richard Bruton met with executives at Teleflex’s headquarters to discuss expansion plans as part of the IDA Ireland investment mission to the United States.

“Medical devices is a key sector which we have targeted as part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs, and in the past three years we have seen an impressive jobs performance in this area. Today’s announcement that Teleflex, a leading global company in this area, is creating an additional 100 jobs in Athlone is a great boost. I know from meeting executives today that Teleflex is a great company and is highly ambitious for their facility in Athlone, and I look forward to working with them as they grow their operations there,” he commented.

“In the past seven years, Teleflex has worked closely with IDA Ireland to develop a successful operation for our international business. Our continued investment demonstrates our confidence that we can recruit and develop the talented people we will need to support the long-term growth of our Company,” said Benson Smith, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Also welcoming the jobs boost was Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland.
“Teleflex’s operation in Athlone has expanded from an EMEA to an international office with global responsibility for several key functions in the organization. This is a strong endorsement of the skills and commitment of the entire workforce in Athlone.”

Teleflex is one of the top 160 companies by revenue in Ireland, and the Athlone site recently was accredited as one of the best workplaces in Ireland by the Great Place to Work Institute.

Fine Gael TD for Longford/Westmeath, Gabrielle McFadden, has said the news today that 100 new jobs are to be created in Athlone with medical devices company Teleflex is clear evidence that this Government is fulfilling its commitment to regional job creation and investment.

“We all know that an economic recovery is underway in the larger urban areas but for some time, I have been advocating the need to ensure this recovery is felt across the regions. Today’s announcement is clear evidence of the Government’s commitment to regional job creation and investment in the Midlands.”

She continued: “I want to complement the Minister for Jobs Enterprise and Employment, Richard Bruton who is doing great work in encouraging companies to the country. Only three weeks ago, I arranged for the Minister Bruton to be present in Athlone to announce the signing of an €80m contract between Ericsson and Eircom”.

“Teleflex has been a great employer in Athlone since 2007 and this expansion is a great sign of their commitment to the town for the future,” concluded the Athlone-based TD.