Abbott Opens New Manufacturing Facility in Kilkenny, Creating 800 Jobs

Abbott, a leading global medical device company, has officially opened a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Kilkenny. This new site is part of a significant €440 million investment in Ireland, which also includes an expansion of Abbott’s Donegal site, creating a total of 1,000 new jobs across both locations. The Kilkenny facility will employ over 800 people.

The 30,000-square meter Kilkenny facility will produce FreeStyle Libre 3 sensors, the latest and smallest sensors in Abbott’s continuous glucose monitoring portfolio for people with diabetes. These sensors eliminate the need for finger-prick tests, offering a more convenient way for diabetes patients to monitor their glucose levels.

The facility is designed with sustainability in mind, featuring six air-to-water heat pumps, nearly 600 solar panels, and rainwater collection tanks.

The opening ceremony was attended by Taoiseach Simon Harris and Abbott Chairman and CEO Robert Ford. Speaking at the event, An Taoiseach, Simon Harris said, “This latest investment is a further vote of confidence in Ireland as a location for world-class advanced manufacturing and healthcare businesses. With the opening of this new site, Ireland is now at the global centre of diabetes care.”

Abbott has been operating in Ireland since 1946 and is one of the country’s largest employers, with around 6,000 employees across 10 sites.

In addition to the new jobs, Abbott announced a $100,000 grant to The Ireland Funds to support the education of young people from three DEIS schools in Kilkenny. This grant aligns with Abbott’s commitment to fostering STEM education and careers.