Medical firm to create 235 jobs

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More than 235 jobs are to be created in Larne through a £16m investment by a medical device manufacturer, Economy Minister Arlene Foster has said.

CaridianBCT's facility in the County Antrim town is to expand over the next three years, with £1.7m support from Invest Northern Ireland.

The US company makes blood collection and processing systems.

"This major investment is a boost for Larne and for the Northern Ireland economy as a whole," Ms Foster said.

"CaridianBCT has set ambitious targets including increasing production at its Larne operation and more than doubling employment over the next three years."

She said the expansion would not just create jobs but give local people the chance of gaining transferable skills in the life sciences sector.

The principal objective of the development plan is to expand the Larne plant's role in the assembly and delivery of the company's Atreus whole blood processing system.

Craig Rinehardt, senior vice president of operations, said the port town was a good location for the firm.

"The Larne site offers a proximity to important European markets such as Germany and Spain, where certain customers have already begun using our new Atreus technology and from here we will continue to maximise our global reach," he said.

"Key to our success in Larne has been the talented people. They understand the need to maintain the highest levels of process excellence in the manufacture of sterile medical solutions and devices. This investment will enable us to build on our growth to date."

This is the second such investment by CaridianBCT in its NI operations. In 2004, the company - then known as Gambro BCT - acquired Ivex Pharmaceuticals in Larne.

A year later, the company announced a £7m investment, also supported by Invest NI, which created 86 jobs.

The investment will bring total employment at the Larne site to 425. Headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado., the company has global operations in 32 countries and employs about 2,500 people.