Coventry-based GF Machining Solutions, the milling, EDM, laser and additive manufacturing (AM) machine tool specialist and advanced automation and tooling systems’ supplier, has recently appointed Gary Purcell as its new country sales manager for Northern and Southern Ireland.

He was previously employed as an applications engineering manager at Waterford-based Schivo Medical, a contract manufacturing company that specialises in the medical device and life sciences sectors. With considerable sales experience from working in Ireland’s medical device and mass spectrometry manufacturing supply chains, Mr Purcell, a seasoned sales professional, joined GF Machining Solutions in February 2024.

Although already established as a key partner with a number of Irish medical component manufacturing OEMs, Tier Ones and precision sub-contractors, the new appointment provides GF Machining Solutions with significant new business and organic growth opportunities in the burgeoning MedTech sector.

Ireland is Europe’s largest per capita employer of medical device professionals and the second largest exporter of medical device products. The country exports MedTech products worth circa 12.6 billion euros to over 100 countries, with 80% of the world’s stents and 50% of the world’s hospital ventilators being manufactured there. Ireland is also a global leader in the design, manufacture and supply of cardiovascular devices, orthopaedic implants, diagnostic equipment and surgical instruments – and is home to numerous multi-national MedTech companies supported by a large, buoyant and strong supply chain.

Mr Purcell said: “I am really looking forward to the challenge ahead. As GF Machining Solutions’ new country sales manager for Northern and Southern Ireland, and armed with my knowledge and previous experience in the sector, I am confident that I can make a telling contribution. I am no stranger to GF Machining Solutions’ advanced machine tool technologies and automation systems, and how they can help, and are helping, Irish component and mould tool manufacturers improve their productivity and process efficiencies.

“I aim to use my knowledge and experience to help improve GF Machining Solutions’ sales performance not just in the Irish MedTech supply chain but across the board, with OEMs, Tier Ones and precision sub-contractors operating in Ireland’s aerospace, pharmaceutical, electronics, materials handling and transport sectors.”