by
John R. Fischer, Senior Reporter | April 20, 2022
Boston Scientific is expanding its Ballybrit facility in Galway, Ireland. (Photo courtesy of IDA Ireland)
Boston Scientific is pouring €100 million (over $108 million) into an expansion of its Ballybrit facility in Galway, Ireland.
The company is adding 40,000 square feet of space for manufacturing medical devices, and along with it, more than 300 new jobs in the coming years. The site will be powered by renewable energy and include a carbon-neutral manufacturing space that will help make the company's manufacturing and key distribution sites carbon neutral by 2030.
Boston Scientific produces various devices, including heart stents and valves, vascular balloons and esophageal stents for patients with heart and vascular disease, cancer and risk of stroke.
It has been located in Galway for nearly 30 years and employs more than 6,500 people across its sites there, in Clonmel and in Cork, making it the largest life sciences employer in Ireland. “This expansion reflects the important contributions of our workforce here in Galway and the strength of the broader business and local community in the west region,” said James Lyons, vice president of operations at Boston Scientific.
In Galway, the company operates on hybrid work models that allow employees to work both remotely and in the office each week. It has integrated advanced product design, R&D and manufacturing into its site there and also has a gym and meeting spaces for employees.
Back in the states, the company recently
scored FDA clearance for its image-guided programming software, Vercise Neural Navigator with STIMVIEW XT. STIMVIEW XT allows clinicians to visualize lead placement and simulation modeling of the brain anatomy in real time for patients with Parkinson’s or essential tremor. It seamlessly integrates into the Vercise Genius programming interface, which localizes lead placement and reduces programming time to allow clinicians to make more informed decisions about treatment. This allows for patient-specific 3D visualization of the anatomy to better personalize care.
Boston Scientific has also expanded its portfolio with the
acquisition of Baylis Medical in October 2021 for $1.75 billion. The company brings radiofrequency NRG and VersaCross Transseptal platforms for left heart access to Boston Scientific’s electrophysiology and structural heart product portfolios, as well as guidewires, sheaths and dilators.
“Today, Ireland has the highest per capita number of people employed in the European medical device industry,” said Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland (Industrial Development Agency), which oversees foreign direct investments in Irish companies. “Boston Scientific is one of the leading global MedTech companies choosing to grow in Ireland and contribute to a vibrant industry sector, which has a key role to play in tackling the world’s biggest healthcare challenges.”
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