100 jobs to go as Merck announces plan to close manufacturing plant

Pharmaceutical and technology giant Merck has announced it will close its production site in Arklow, Co Wicklow in three years, with the loss of around 100 jobs. Picture: Michael O'Sullivan / OSM PHOTO
Pharmaceutical and technology giant Merck has announced it will close its production site in Arklow, Co Wicklow in three years, with the loss of around 100 jobs.
The German multinational has extensive Irish operations and said its €440m expansion plans in Co Cork will be unaffected by Wednesday's announcement.
"Following a strategic portfolio review of products at our Arklow, Ireland site, the decision has been made to discontinue the API (active pharmaeutical ingredient) portfolio. As a result of this decision, it is proposed to discontinue operations at the Arklow facility by the end of 2028, consultation on this proposal will commence immediately," a company statement said.
Merck officially opened its €150m filtration manufacturing facility at Blarney Business Park in Cork last month. The Blarney facility is part of Merck’s largest life science investment to date in Ireland, with €440m committed across its operations in Blarney and Carrigtwohill.
Last week, Merck said that globally, its life science and electronics units are expected to improve gradually next year, while the healthcare business is predicted to "temporarily moderate", chief financial officer Helene von Roeder said in its guidance for 2026. Global organic sales growth for 2026 is forecast in a low-to-mid single-digit percentage range.
Merck confirmed that it is aiming to achieve net sales between around €20.5bn and €21.7bn in 2025, a target it has toned down twice this year. "We had made a number of assumptions on the pandemic that never materialized," chief executive Belen Garijo said.