Netwatch invests €3m in US move

SECURITY company Netwatch is investing €3 million in its US expansion — a move that will create 30 jobs.

It follows a successful expansion by the Co Carlow firm into Britain.

Netwatch provides security monitoring to businesses and private residences. Following the US expansion 15 people will be employed in Netwatch’s Boston office by the end of 2012, while 15 jobs are being created in Carlow.

All monitoring will be undertaken by inter-vention specialists at the Carlow Communications Hub.

Netwatch group chief executive David Walsh said it is a “very significant” milestone in the growth of the company.

“We already monitor US sites for some of our Irish based multinational clients and building on that business is a natural progression for us,” he said.

“Enterprise Ireland provided us with a feasibility grant and robust testing over the past 12 months has proven that it is possible to remotely monitor sites across the Atlantic from Carlow,” he added.

Netwatch provides a managed service which, Mr Walsh said, is ideally tailored to the US market.

“There is no capital investment required by our customers — we own the technology and are fully responsible for all aspects of the service,” he said.

Established in 2003, by Mr Walsh and Niall Kelly, Netwatch now employs 90 staff. Last year it invested more than €5m in a new communication hub in Carlow.