27th September 2013, Friday
By TheCork.ie Reporter
news@TheCork.ie
GSK Cork today opened its new state of the art manufacturing facility
at its site in Curabinny,
Co Cork. The building which created around 100 jobs during its
construction phase, is expected
to create up to 20 full-time new roles once it reaches full capacity.
The new building will
produce Gantrez, the key primary ingredient for Poligrip, the leading
denture fixative product
which is manufactured at GSK’s consumer healthcare facility in
Dungarvan, Co Waterford.
The building was officially opened today by Emma Walmsley, President
Consumer Healthcare
Worldwide, GSK.
GSK Cork Site Director Finbar Whyte, commented:
“Today’s opening is a very exciting development for GSK in Ireland.
For Cork, it is our first
diversification into manufacturing consumer healthcare products which
is a very important
step in our journey towards improving the site’s competitiveness. This
investment from GSK
recognises the significant changes we have taken at Cork in this
regard and is also a great
endorsement of the outstanding scientific and technical expertise we
have here and the
flexibility of our employees to adapt to new business ventures.”
He added, “The opening of this facility also reflects both Cork and
Dungarvan’s key positions
within the GSK global manufacturing network and will greatly help
secure existing employment
at GSK in Ireland into the future”.
This initiative marks the first major collaboration between the two
sites. It is expected that the
proximity between the Cork and Dungarvan sites will produce many
business benefits in the
production of Poligrip for GSK.
Speaking at the opening, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the
Marine, Simon Coveney said,
“This investment is a major vote of confidence in both the Cork and
Dungarvan GSK facilities
and in the capabilities of both to support such strategic
developments. Significantly enhancing
the facility’s role in GSK’s global operations, the investment
underpins the existing operations
and its employees, as well as creating excellent additional employment
opportunities. I
congratulate the management and employees for their commitment and
look forward to
continued success for GSK in Ireland.”
Today’s investment follows previous investments in the Poligrip
manufacturing process in
Dungarvan on equipment and technology upgrades to give the site extra
manufacturing
flexibility to meet growing consumer demand.