GE Healthcare to expand Cork facility with €132m investment
Kevin O’Neill, President & CEO, GE HealthCare’s Pharmaceutical Diagnostics, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Lorraine Marah, HR Director, GE HealthCare and Eugene Barrett, Managing Director, GE HealthCare Ireland at the turning of the sod at GE HealthCare in Carrigtohill, where construction works on a new €132 million contrast media manufacturing facility will shortly commence. The new 3000m2 facility will enable production of an additional 25 million patient doses per year of contrast media by the end of 2027, helping address growing global demand.
Medtech giant GE Healthcare said it will significantly expand its manufacturing site in Cork, announcing a €132m investment in a new state-of-the-art facility.
Located in Carrigtwohill, the extension will enable 25m more patient doses per year of contrast media by the end of 2027, helping address growing global demand.
Contrast media are injectable diagnostic imaging agents used to enhance visualisation of organs, blood vessels and tissues during medical imaging. Global demand for iodine-based contrast media, used in x-ray, computed tomography (CT) and interventional procedures is expected to double in the next decade, driven by ageing populations and the increasing global prevalence of chronic disorders.
In 2024, the Carrigtwohill facility, along with GE HealthCare’s other fill and finish production sites in Shanghai, China, and Oslo, Norway, supplied over 100m patient doses of contrast media around the world.
The new 3000 sq m facility, which will support both established and pipeline products, will include solution preparation vessels, multi-functional powder handling systems, a new filling line and autoclaves, with advanced automation systems underpinning production.
Speaking on the investment, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who will attend the official sod turning on Friday, said: "GE HealthCare has been manufacturing in Ireland for more than 30 years, and has invested extensively in the Carrigtwohill site and the people working here. I am delighted to welcome this significant new investment here in Cork, which is testament to the commitment of GE HealthCare in Ireland, and also to our highly skilled workforce.”
President and CEO of GE HealthCare’s Pharmaceutical Diagnostics segment, Kevin O’Neill, said, “This new facility demonstrates our broader commitment not just to address future demand, but also to increase resiliency and security of industry supply for customers.”
IDA Ireland CEO Michael Lohan added: “Today’s announcement by GE HealthCare to expand their manufacturing facility and related expertise for producing vital pharmaceuticals and creating employment opportunities is very welcome. It’s an endorsement from GE HealthCare senior leadership team of the confidence in the capability and competency of the team at the Carrigtwohill campus developed over three decades."
With over 4000 employees globally, the Pharmaceutical Diagnostics segment business also develops and supplies radiopharmaceuticals used to support diagnosis, monitoring and treatment selection across Neurology, Cardiology and Oncology clinical pathways. Across its portfolio, the division enables four patient procedures every second globally.
Engineering firm, IPS-Integrated Project Services, will lead the project with construction work starting at the Carrigtwohill facility in February 2025. More than 250 construction roles are expected to be created.
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