- Merck will invest €440 million in Cork, Ireland, over five years.
- The investment will create over 370 jobs by the end of 2027.
- €150 million will be allocated to a new filtration facility at Blarney Business Park.
- €290 million will expand membrane manufacturing in Carrigtwohill.
Investment Overview
Merck is set to invest approximately €440 million to expand its membrane and filtration manufacturing capabilities in Cork, Ireland. This investment, the largest in a single site for Merck’s Life Science sector, will be executed over five years and is expected to create more than 370 permanent jobs by the end of 2027.
Project Details
The investment includes €150 million for a new filtration manufacturing facility at Blarney Business Park. This facility will enhance Merck’s global manufacturing capacity, supporting both traditional and novel treatments and therapeutics. Additionally, €290 million will be used to expand membrane manufacturing in Carrigtwohill, adding a facility for the immersion casting of membranes, which are crucial for novel and gene therapies, as well as virus sterilization.
Previous Investments
This announcement follows a €36 million investment in 2021 at the Carrigtwohill site for a second lateral flow membrane manufacturing product line. This facility, now operational, produces membranes used in rapid diagnostic testing for diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, and Ebola, as well as in Covid-19 antigen tests.
Global Expansion and Sustainability
Merck’s Life Science sector is also investing in products and technologies essential for manufacturing novel therapies and vaccines, including single-use solutions and high-potency active pharmaceutical ingredients. Over the next five years, Merck plans to implement investment programs in Germany, China, France, Switzerland, Ireland, and the USA. These projects will include targets for water consumption, waste management, and energy efficiency, supporting Merck’s goal to be climate neutral by 2040.
