Indiana-based Zimmer (www.zimmer.com) — an American medical-device company that makes hip and knee implants, as well as other orthopaedic products — will shortly start recruiting for its new plant in Oranmore, Galway. The company already employs 330 people at its plant in Shannon, which was set up in 2007 (and will remain its ‘flagship’ Irish plant).

Jobs Minister Richard Bruton said that the new plant is part of a plan to attract manufacturing industries to regional locations. “Manufacturing is a sector that we have specifically targeted as part of our jobs plan. We have seen an impressive jobs performance in this area in recent years, after years of decline during the 2000s.

"The announcement that Zimmer — a world-leading health-care manufacturing company — is investing 51 million euros in Galway and creating 250 additional jobs is a great boost for the West of Ireland.”

The new plant will also house an education and demonstration centre, where medical professionals will see how new products can be used to assist patients. Oranmore was chosen for the new plant due to its location; it has easy road access to Dublin (via the M6) and is just 45min away from Shannon Airport (via the N18).