Technology jobs boost as flurry of moves sees 270 new roles created

Two-hundred and seventy new jobs were announced across the country from a variety of tech companies.

he jobs are to be created by Galway-based Planet, Cork-based Edpac and the Kildare-based facilities of both MGS Manufacturing and Nikon.

In Leixlip, the US firm MGS Manufacturing, which makes printer cartridges for HP and offers injection moulding services, says that it will create 100 jobs to add to the 120 people employed at Kildare Innovation Campus.

The new jobs come on foot of a €7m investment for a 20,000ft extension to MGS’s Kildare plant, which will house cleanrooms, new offices, injection moulding machines, precision measurement laboratory and warehousing space.

MGS employs more than 1,200 people globally.

“We started out supporting HP on site in the manufacturing of ink jet cartridges and as the business grew, we diversified into medical devices which is now the predominant sector we focus on. We’re extremely excited for this next phase of growth, to be able to bring more jobs to the sector and in so doing, support the local economy and infrastructure as well,” said MGS Ireland site lead Michael Finneran.

Meanwhile, the Galway-based global software and payments firm Planet also announced 100 new jobs as part of a global recruiting drive of 500 new positions.

It says that the new jobs in Ireland will be a blend of hybrid and remote working roles in product development, technology and finance and will be located in Galway, Kilkenny and Dublin.

Planet was founded in Galway in 1985 by Aidan Daly, Jim Ward and Gerry Barry as Cashback Ltd. It was initially created to help international shoppers get their money back when they shopped overseas.

It expanded throughout Europe, rebranding under the name Planet in 2018.

Last year, the company said that it was valued at €1.8bn after investment from the private equity firm Advent International and Eurazeo.

The enlarged group now says that it employs more than 2,500 staff in 120 markets, counting more than 600,000 merchants and 100 partner banks, managing in excess of 800 million transactions worth more than €50bn.

Meanwhile, Nikon Precision Europe (NPE) said that it is to create 40 jobs by expanding its operations in Kildare’s Innovation Campus. The offices will form part of its worldwide support network.

Nikon’s NPE currently has 140 employees in Kildare. NPE is the organisation supporting Nikon’s Lithography systems for its European customers.

In Cork, Sweden’s Munters Group said that its local subsidiary, Edpac, will create 30 jobs in the next 12 months.

Munters acquired Edpac, which makes manufacturing precision cooling equipment and air handling systems for data centres, for €29m earlier this year.

Electricians, operators and project managers are among the roles that are currently being recruited at the manufacturing facility in Cork.

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