Greenfield Global, a global manufacturer in the production of ethanol, high-purity speciality alcohols, and solvents, will commence the commissioning phase of its new EU manufacturing headquarters in Portlaoise, it has been revealed.
The new 3,800-sq-m facility, the company’s first outside North America, will produce Pharmco branded products serving life science customers globally and is located on IDA Ireland’s Business and Technology Park.
Project's creation of 75 jobs
This new facility will result in 75 jobs over the next five years, while 170 constructions jobs were created during the build and fit-out phase of the project.
The Portlaoise facility is one of the first NZEB (near zero energy buildings) to be completed under the new European standards.
Greenfield Global, which has its headquarters in Toronto, Canada, has operations in 12 locations across North America, manufacturing and distributing a wide range of products to customers in over 50 countries.
Greenfield Global president and CEO Howard Field said: “Greenfield Global has been supplying Pharmco branded mission-critical alcohols, solvents and bio-processing materials to life science companies across the globe for more than two decades.
"Until now, those products have been produced, packaged and delivered from our distilleries and manufacturing facilities in North America. Today, I am very excited to announce that our Portlaoise Ireland plant construction is essentially completed and we are excited to enter the commissioning phase of the facility in preparation to commence the validation programme.”
Managing director of Greenfield Global Ireland Ken Finegan said: “This achievement for Greenfield erecting a complex facility with an aggressive timeline in normal settings are something to celebrate and be proud of.
'Critical part of the life science ecosystem'
"The fact that our onsite team, DPS Engineering and all of our contractors had to very quickly change protocol to account for COVID-19, launch and manage a new set of health and safety standards, while still moving this project forward is a feat.
"All while maintaining Greenfield’s standards of excellence. We are encouraged to move this project to the next phase and will soon be able to service our existing and new customers with Pharmco branded products, including pharmaceutical companies, from Europe and beyond.
"Greenfield’s manufacturing headquarters in Portlaoise will become a critical part of the life science ecosystem in Europe and beyond, especially considering the improvements we can make to globally damaged supply chains caused by COVID-19.”
Greenfield is commencing with its validation program and customer audits starting August 2020 which can be scheduled by contacting Ken Finegan, Managing Director at Ken.Finegan@greenfield.com.
Project financing is provided by Allied Irish Banks and is supported by the government through IDA Ireland.