7 October 2019
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Janssen Sciences Ireland UC, part of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies, today officially opened its new manufacturing building in Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork. The company has operated a biopharmaceutical supply chain facility on its 40-hectare site in Ringaskiddy since 2005.
Pictured at an event to mark the official opening were: Remo Colarusso, Vice President, Janssen Supply Chain; An Tánaiste, Simon Coveney TD; Kathy Wengel, Executive VP and Chief Global Supply Chain Officer, Johnson & Johnson; Gary Hartnett, Site Lead, Janssen Sciences Ireland UC and Martin Shanahan, CEO, IDA Ireland.
Picture. Adrian O’Herlihy Photography
The expansion of the biomanufacturing site increases the company’s production capacity by an additional 19,100m2 and creates 200 new full-time jobs. Approximately 450 people were employed on-site during the two year construction project.
The official opening ceremony for the facility was attended by Simon Coveney TD, An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade, Kathy Wengel, Executive Vice-President and Chief Global Supply Chain Officer, Johnson & Johnson and Martin Shanahan, CEO, IDA Ireland.
Speaking at the event, An Tánaiste Simon Coveney TD, said “I’m delighted to attend the official opening of Janssen’s new manufacturing building, which marks the company’s ongoing commitment to Ireland and patients around the world. The life sciences industry makes a hugely significant contribution to the national economy in terms of jobs and exports. In 2018 alone, 33% of Ireland’s total exports were pharmaceutical and medical products, with Johnson & Johnson featuring as one of our single largest exporters. Finally, I would like to extend my congratulations to the team here in completing this exciting expansion and I wish them continued success in the future.”
Kathy Wengel, Executive Vice President and Chief Global Supply Chain Officer, Johnson & Johnson said “Our manufacturing facilities in Cork are at the cutting-edge of delivering healthcare solutions, which is an important part of our Credo commitment to provide the highest quality products to patients. Our Ringaskiddy facility is an important part of our global manufacturing network and expanding our capabilities here will allow us to pursue innovative solutions that advance how medicines are manufactured so that we can be at the forefront of treating, preventing, intercepting and curing some of the world’s most devastating and complex diseases.”
Martin Shanahan, CEO, IDA Ireland, said “Johnson & Johnson is one of the largest life sciences and R&D investors in Ireland and is part of a thriving Biopharma sector in Cork. With a significant investment in expanding Janssen’s manufacturing capacity here in Ringaskiddy, the positive economic spin-off for the South-West region is considerable. On behalf of IDA Ireland, I would like to congratulate the Janssen team on successfully delivering a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing building in the heart of Cork’s life sciences hub.”
About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
At Janssen, we’re creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. We’re the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, Neuroscience, Oncology, and Pulmonary Hypertension.
