Randox Laboratories to establish €7.5 million Diagnostics Solutions Facility
Randox Laboratories Ltd, an international clinical diagnostics company, is to invest €7.5 million in the establishment of a diagnostic manufacturing and research and development (R&D) facility in Dungloe, Co. Donegal. The investment, which is supported by Údarás na Gaeltachta, will create 135 high value jobs over the next three years.
Randox research, manufacture and market all of their own products and services. The company’s product portfolio includes the revolutionary biochip array technology, clinical chemistry analysers, external quality assessment schemes, quality controls and calibrators, recombinant proteins, antibodies and diagnostic reagents. Randox also offer an assay development service.
The Dungloe facility will manufacture a range of Randox products including the RX monza clinical analyser and biochips for clinical and research applications. The biochips will be used in hospitals worldwide to aid in the diagnosis of disease conditions. Randox were the first company in the world to produce an automated protein biochip, used for multi-analyte testing. The biochips allow clinicians and researchers to screen for multiple conditions in a single patient blood sample. The company also manufacture a range of clinical chemistry analysers which are used to examine patient blood samples to aid accurate diagnosis.
Minister for Health Promotion and Food Safety Pat the Cope Gallagher, announcing the investment said “This decision by Randox, a world leader in the revolutionary area of diagnostics biochips, to locate a manufacturing facility in Dungloe is tremendous news for the area and for the Donegal Gaeltacht. The decision by the company to place such a sophisticated and technologically advanced operation here shows a huge vote of confidence in the workforce and in the area in general. I commend Údarás na Gaeltachta on its strategic work in finding such a high quality project, especially since this area was hit by job losses this time last year.”
The company also plans to develop an R&D team in the facility. Randox places strong emphasis on R&D with 30% of annual revenue being re-invested into research. This highlights the company vision to revolutionise healthcare through continuously improving diagnostic solutions. The research team will focus on the further development of new diagnostic products for the global healthcare market.
The Randox manufacturing and research and development facility will be based in an existing facility on the Údarás na Gaeltachta Business Park. Pádraig Ó hAoláin, CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta commented, “We are very pleased to be able to facilitate and support the establishment of this venture. The high-quality employment opportunities that it will create is vitally important to the area and will assist in developing and sustaining the local community into the future. This development represents a good example of the implementation of An tÚdarás’ policy of attracting companies involved in the high-tech life sciences industry into areas which can provide suitable business accommodation, a skilled workforce, and appropriate infrastructure.”
Dr. Peter FitzGerald, Managing Director of Randox Laboratories Ltd, said “We chose Dungloe for this expansion because of the high quality facility that was available, the highly educated workforce and the suitable infrastructure. We are excited about this expansion and hope it will increase the local economy’s success by providing a range of professional employment opportunities. We hope this will also aid in our mission to improve diagnostic solutions on a continual basis.”