Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath has officially opened a new €30.5m manufacturing line at GE Healthcare’s Carrigtohill, Co Cork, facility. The new line, which has created 140 jobs, manufactures injectable diagnostic imaging agents (contrast media) used in X-ray and computed tomography (CT) procedures around the world. 

Minister McGrath said: “GE Healthcare has consistently invested in manufacturing here in Cork, bringing together state-of-the-art technology, global best practices in pharma healthcare and a highly qualified workforce. 

"I am delighted today to open the newest filling line at the Cork campus, and welcome the creation of 140 jobs at the plant. Today’s opening represents yet another vote of confidence in Cork as a location for pharmaceutical manufacturing. I would like to commend all those who worked on this €30.5m project and I wish GE Healthcare continued success here in Cork.”

Enhance visualisation of organs, blood vessels and tissues across disease pathways

The growing global prevalence of chronic disorders has driven significant growth in computed tomography (CT) procedures, leading to increased demand for iodinated contrast media, used to enhance visualisation of organs, blood vessels and tissues across disease pathways. 

GE Healthcare’s Pharmaceutical Diagnostics business develops and manufactures imaging agents used to support over 100 million procedures per year globally, equivalent to three patient procedures every second.  It is estimated that the new manufacturing line will increase production capacity at the Cork facility by over 50 percent by 2025.

President & CEO of GE Healthcare Pharmaceutical Diagnostics, Kevin O’Neill, said: “We expect global demand for iodinated contrast media to double over the next 10 years due to the growth of CT imaging procedures. 

"As an industry leader, we understand our responsibility to help meet this growing demand from customers and patients and this new production line is part of our wider commitment to produce 30 million more patient doses of contrast media annually by 2025.”

Project manager and engineer roles

Roles currently open at GE Healthcare include operatives, project managers, engineers, quality control personnel as well as facility management. Current jobs available: https://jobs.gecareers.com/global/en

The project was delivered over 24 months, with design and project management led by BioPharma Engineering, and construction works completed by MMD Construction. 

All stages of GE Healthcare’s contrast media manufacturing, from development of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) to finished product, are managed entirely by GE Healthcare, adhering to good manufacturing practices.

With more than 4,000 employees globally and seven manufacturing sites, the pharmaceutical diagnostics business also develops and supplies radiopharmaceuticals used to support diagnosis, monitoring and treatment selection across neurology, cardiology and oncology clinical pathways