Boost for mid-west as two firms to create 45 jobs in 2012
Thirty jobs are to be created in Shannon by the end of 2012 by a new company, Eco-Eir Renewables, which manufactures, installs and maintains small domestic wind-turbines for homes, small businesses and farms.
American firm Glass Lewis is to open its European Centre in Limerick city next year with the creation of 15 jobs.
Eco-Eir Renewables, a new company established by the O’Mara family in Shannon, aims to create up to 20 direct and indirect jobs by the end of January, while company bosses say they will generate up to 10 further jobs by the end of 2012.
The company is 100% Irish owned, managed and operated, while its 3kW Wind Turbine has also been designed by Eco-Eir and is 100% Irish-built.
The O’Mara family has been operating the Force Advanced Technology Solutions manufacturing company in Shannon for 20 years.
Company managing director Steve O’Mara said: “Force has been doing a lot of work in the renewable energy over the last few years so I stepped back and saw there was a gap in the market — especially in the wind energy sector.
“I have just started a new company that specialises in the sale, installation and maintenance of micro-generation wind turbines for the domestic, small agri-business, B&B and small hotel market.
“We will be creating between 15-20 direct and indirect jobs by January 2012, while a further eight to 10 jobs, both direct and indirect, will be created by the end of 2012.”
Mr O’Mara said the company’s objective was to offer the “everyday person an entry level system into the world of renewables, at an affordable cost”.
Eco-Eir, which is based in Smithstown Industrial park, has a current workforce of four.
Mr O’Mara said: “The product we offer is the RQZ-300, 3kW wind turbine. The units are small enough they don’t require planning permission and we will do a free site survey to determine the average wind speed and average electricity generation capacity in a particular area.”
The company, he said, hopes to have installed 300 turbines by the end of next year and a further 1,500 units in 2013.
Mr O’Mara confidently predicts that by 2014, Eco-Eir will be the top supplier of turbines in Ireland.
Meanwhile, Limerick TD Kieran O’Donnell (Fine Gael) welcomed the Glass Lewis announcement.
“This is a very welcome investment, particularly from the point of view of bringing jobs into Limerick city centre.
“It is significant that Limerick is attracting an investment of this type to the city centre. This announcement has acontinent-wide status.
“This is a vote of confidence in Limerick city by a leading company in the field of governance management, which is an important area in the financial services field.”
He added: “Importantly, there is the potential for the creation of further jobs after the first year in operation.”
