GE HealthCare announces €132 million investment to Cork site
Olivia Kelleher
GE HealthCare has announced a €132 million investment to expand its media fill and finish manufacturing site in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork.
A new state-of-the-art facility on the grounds of the existing site will enable 25 million more patient doses per year of contrast media by the end of 2027, helping address growing global demand.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will this morning turn the sod to formally initiate construction works on the site of the new facility.
Contrast media are injectable diagnostic imaging agents used to enhance visualisation of organs, blood vessels and tissues during medical imaging.
The company says that global demand for iodine-based contrast media, used in x-ray, CT and interventional procedures is expected to double in the next decade.
In 2024, the Cork facility, along with GE HealthCare’s other fill and finish production sites in China and Norway supplied over 100 million patient doses of contrast media around the world.
The new 3000m2 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.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that GE HealthCare has been manufacturing in Ireland for more than 30 years, and has invested extensively in the site in Cork.
“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 that as an industry leader they have a responsibility to help meet the growing global demand for contrast media from healthcare providers and their patients.
“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.”
Eugene Barrett, site leader and managing director, GE HealthCare Ireland, said that first doses from the new facility are expected by the end of 2027.
