Green energy firm to create 100 jobs

More than 100 jobs are to be created through a multimillion-pound expansion of an eco-friendly energy business in Lisburn, it was announced today.

Kelman Ltd, which is owned by US firm GE (General Electric) Energy Services, is enlarging its workforce in the city from 84 to 188.

Advanced manufacturing, research, and development and technical support roles will be among the "high spec" posts offered.

GE was founded by American inventor Thomas Edison more than 130 years ago.

Kelman Ltd, which GE bought in 2008, specialises in monitoring the performance of electrical transformers.

Bob Gilligan, vice president of GE Energy Services' Digital Energy Business, said: "We've been very impressed with the willingness and ability of the Lisburn workforce to embrace and contribute to the positive changes in manufacturing and general working practices introduced post-acquisition.

"In acquiring Kelman we at GE recognised the inventiveness and innovation embedded in the company's ethos and, through this investment, we are laying the foundations which will allow us to build further on the capability of our NI team and to make a significant contribution to our overall global business success.

"We look forward to developing further our relationship with NI's research and supply chain base."

Government business support body Invest NI has offered £981,000 (€1.15bn) towards the expansion, which will generate £2.5m (€2.93m) annually in additional salaries.

GE intends to manufacture a range of current and new products at the Lisburn site, alongside Kelman's existing manufacturing operations.

It will also establish an online operating centre to provide a new monitoring, diagnostic and technical support service to customers utilising the company's monitoring equipment.

These activities will be complemented by the creation of a centre of excellence to research and develop new monitoring products, technologies and software tools.

Stormont Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: "GE is a well established and globally renowned company which, for more than a century, has pushed the boundaries of energy technology to become a market leader.

"This significant investment reflects GE's confidence in its Lisburn operation and in the quality of the local workforce.

"Since acquiring Kelman in 2008, Invest NI has worked closely with GE to maintain and grow its presence here. The success of this is clearly evident today.

"Generating almost £2.5m (€2.93m) annually in salaries to the local economy, this investment is a welcome development for the manufacturing sector and the local economy. I am certain that it will lay a solid foundation for future innovation, by GE in Northern Ireland."

US Economic Envoy to the North, Declan Kelly, welcomed the expansion.

"Today's announcement by GE Energy is a resounding endorsement of Northern Ireland by one of the world's most admired companies," he said.

"It is proof yet again that US-headquartered companies are willing to invest in a significant way in Northern Ireland, and in the case of companies like GE Energy, re-invest in the region as a result of having an ongoing positive experience.

"I had the opportunity to visit with Bob Gilligan and his colleagues at GE Energy in Georgia recently on a site visit with Invest Northern Ireland and it was very clear that Bob and his team had strong confidence in Northern Ireland, its people, its infrastructure and its future."

Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson, of the DUP, also hailed the announcement.

"This is a massive vote of confidence in Lisburn and the surrounding area," he said.

"GE, a global company, looked around the world and decided that the best place in which to expand their operations was in the Lagan Valley area.

"I believe that is a vote of confidence in the existing workforce and shows that the company recognises the massive pool of talent that exists within our community."