IRELAND — Medical technology company Stryker Corporation, headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, has opened an additive manufacturing (also known as 3D printing) facility in Anngrove, Cork, Ireland,
The new, 156,000-square-foot 3D printing facility will bring 600 jobs to the area and will help Stryker advance its leadership position in additive manufacturing.
“The expanded facility furthers the company’s four-decade commitment to Ireland and recognizes the strong ecosystem of universities, engineering talent, and partners such as the Industrial Development Agency (IDA),” said Martin Shanahan, CEO of the agency.
Kalamazoo, Michigan-based Stryker said in a news release that it has made significant investments in Anngrove and will continue to invest for growth.
Stryker specializes in the application of additive manufacturing in healthcare, particularly for the production of specialized medical devices.
Stryker’s additive manufacturing for healthcare innovation includes products for treating bone-related conditions across the knees, hips, shoulders, ankles, craniomaxillofacial, and spine, as well as patient-specific solutions for people who have significant disease progression, often with no alternative.
Along with housing Stryker’s manufacturing facilities, Anngrove is also the worldwide headquarters of the AMagine Institute, which is the center of excellence for additive manufacturing across Stryker.
The institute develops innovative technologies, from early research and development to full commercial launch and scaling, and deploys these new technologies across its full portfolio of products and services.
Stryker has four other locations in Cork, two of which date back to 1998, including the company’s first on the Emerald Isle, as well as one in Limerick and one in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland.
Stryker is estimated to have created at least 3,500 jobs in Ireland over the course of its two decades in the country.
Stryker has evolved its 3D printing processes over the last two decades to allow for design freedom and rapid concept development.
Much of its focus has been on developing porous orthopedic implants for bone in-growth and biological fixation.
Stryker’s investment in AM began in 2001, and the company has since collaborated with leading universities in Ireland and the United Kingdom to industrialize 3D printing for the healthcare industry.
Stryker decided to invest US$400 million in 2016 to develop its AMagine 3D printing facility in Cook, which led to the development of its proprietary technology after initially investing in Concept Laser and Arcam machines.
Stryker’s expansion in Ireland is undeniable thanks to the new site. The company is following in the footsteps of other well-known medical companies with a strong presence in the country.
For example, the Johnson & Johnson family of companies has been present in Ireland for over 80 years, and multinational pharmaceutical and diagnostics healthcare powerhouse Roche has a commercial presence in Citywest, Dublin, as well as a manufacturing facility in Clarecastle.
Stryker is now one of more than 20 of the world’s top biotech and pharmaceutical companies with a strong presence in Ireland.
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