US tech firm ‘may expand plant’

THE chief executive of US technology firm Microsemi yesterday strongly indicated at further expansion at its Ennis plant.

In Co Clare for a worldwide three-day meeting for the group’s sales staff, US chief Jim Petersen said that the Ennis plant is “critical” to the development of Microsemi.

The company employs 260 people in Ennis and 40% of its products are made for space, mainly satellites.

Over the past six years, Microsemi has invested $25 million (€17m) in the Ennis plant representing a turnaround on a 2005 decision by Microsemi to shut down the facility.

The facility employed only 60 at the time and the decision to cease operations was reversed.

In an interview, Mr Petersen said: “We have had great success here. The work ethic is great, the education is great, the logistics are fantastic and we think what else can we put into the Ennis facility? It is a proven success.”

Mr Petersen declined to provide any future job number additions “because it would be unfair on an expectation locally”.

He added, however: “The success of the product and technology and the opportunity to expand is available in Ennis.”

Mr Petersen said that the level of productivity at Ennis “does not go without notice at my corporate staff where I make decisions to put product”.

The general manager of Microsemi in Ireland, Richard Finn, said that the financials for the Ennis plant for last year “are very positive“, but declined to provide exact profits ahead of the results being filed with the Companies Office.

Worldwide, Microsemi employs 2,800 and last year the company recorded sales of $518.2m. Thirty five per cent of the group’s sales are made from defence and security, though no such products are made in Ennis.

On the importance of Ireland’s 12.5% corporate tax rate, Mr Petersen said: “Corporate tax rate is a component. I will be quite frank with you, it sways the decision. However, if a company decides it is going to go any location because of tax rates, and that becomes rule number one, that are not going to be successful. It is important that Ireland keeps it and maintains it. I think ‘fight for your right’.”