Celestica creates 120 jobs in Galway

GALWAY-BASED manufacturing firm Celestica is to create 120 jobs following a huge expansion, which will allow it to produce a new product used with iPods and mobile phones.

This product will be the first of its type on the market and will allow customers to power handheld electronic devices without connecting to an electrical source.

The new fuel cell power pack will be produced by Celestica for its customer, Medis Technologies.

Minster for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin is expected to make the jobs announcement this morning.

This will bring to 230 the number of new jobs created in Galway over the past two months.

The new jobs will include skilled, third-level educated positions in the fields of quality, engineering, automation and chemistry as well as production.

Celestica is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and already employs 380 people in Galway.

The announcement marks a turnaround for the company, which closed its operations in Swords in 2003 with the loss of 300 jobs.

Since September, Minister Martin has announced 50 jobs at financial services firm Fidelity and 60 jobs in Nortel, both of which are based in Galway.

At the time of the Nortel announcement he said: “This knowledge-driven investment is highly significant for Ireland and... for Galway. As well as developing this highly sophisticated software and hardware technology, this investment is an endorsement by a world industry leader.”