Fermoy jobs boost ‘will revitalise north Cork region’

US engineering firm, ABEC Inc, plans to revamp an abandoned factory in north Cork and create 100 jobs over the next two years as part of a major expansion of its global operations.

The company is adapting the former FCI plant in Fermoy, an 87,000 sq ft facility on 13 acres just outside the town, to produce engineered process equipment to meet growing demand from its pharma and biotech customers around the world.

FCI, which made connectors for the automotive industry, closed the plant in 2007 with the loss of some 240 jobs.

However, the facility was identified as suitable for ABEC’s needs following a nationwide property search undertaken by IDA Ireland.

Enterprise and Jobs Minister Richard Bruton announced details of the IDA-supported investment yesterday, which brings to some 4,562 high-skilled jobs created directly by IDA Foreign Direct Investment in Cork since 2011.

“Engineering and manufacturing companies form a key part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs,” he said.

“A large part of the reason we have targeted companies in this area in particular is because of their potential to invest in regional locations.

“Here is a company deciding to invest in a regional area of high unemployment, in a facility left vacant in a devastating 2007 job loss announcement — a great example of what we are trying to achieve with our jobs plan.”

ABEC Inc, based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, engineers, manufactures, installs, commissions and services the entire biopharmaceutical manufacturing process.

Its CEO Scott Pickering said their investment in Ireland is a key part of a strategy to deliver “integrated process solutions” globally.

IDA CEO Martin Shanahan described the investment as great news not just for Fermoy, but the wider north Cork region, and Cork Chamber hailed the jobs boost as a very positive start to 2015.

Labour Junior Minister Sean Sherlock said the investment will revitalise the area.

“The Cabinet met earlier with a specific jobs agenda - proof that this Government is committed to getting Ireland back to work,” he said.

Recruitment for management, engineering, manufacturing, services, and business development roles is underway and the company encouraged jobseekers to email [e-mail].