Abiomed opens Ireland factory

US medical device manufacturer Abiomed will build a factory in Athlone, Westmeath, Republic of Ireland, to make its cardiac assist devices. It is supported by IDA Ireland, and will create 250 jobs over the next five years.

Massachusetts-based Abiomed was established in 1981 and specialises in making medical devices designed to assist or replace the pumping function of the heart.

In 2005, it acquired Impella Cardio Systems which manufactures the Impella product range - percutaneous micro heart pumps for use in interventional cardiology and heart surgery.

The new Athlone facility will be responsible for the global manufacture of the Impella product range, augmenting capacity from the company’s Germany facility.

The facility itself has a total of 33,000 square feet of space, including approximately 10,000 square feet of finished clean room space.

Abiomed will be seeking workers with mechanical, electrical and polymer engineering experience, as well as people skilled in the micro assembly of medical devices in a clean room setting.