Tag: Co Cork

Sanmina Announces Expansion of Ireland Manufacturing Site, Creating up to 150 Jobs

Sanmina Corporation a Fortune 500 company and leading global provider of integrated electronic manufacturing solutions, today announced an expansion of its Fermoy medical facility in North Cork. The investment is expected to create up to 150 highly skilled new jobs, with recruitment already underway.

The completed facility expansion will be opened today by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin. The operation in Fermoy dates back to the site’s opening in 1989. Since then, it has grown to become Sanmina’s largest medical facility in Europe. The expansion to the site is expected to further enhance Sanmina’s capabilities for the finished medical device market, reinforcing Ireland’s role as a leading hub for medical technology manufacturing.

The site includes advanced manufacturing capabilities, and its first new automation line is already installed and commissioned. The expansion will also include a new ISO8 clean room and several high-volume automation lines dedicated to producing wearable medical devices.

Attending this event, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, said “I am delighted to visit Sanmina today as they officially open this expanded facility with the creation of up to 150 new jobs in Fermoy. Sanmina has been part of the community in Fermoy since 1989, home to its largest medical facility in Europe. This expansion is a strong vote of confidence in the skills, talent and ability of the workforce in Cork and beyond, and of Ireland’s continued attractiveness as a destination for international investment and a global leader in medical technology innovation.”

Sean Moran, SVP of IMS Europe at Sanmina, said “This expansion underscores Sanmina’s long-term commitment to Fermoy and to Ireland as a centre of excellence for medical technology manufacturing. For over 36 years, our Fermoy site has been driven by exceptional talent and a strong culture of innovation and quality. That combination has been central to our success and to supporting the growth of our customers in the global medical device marketplace while creating high-quality employment and opportunity in the region.”

Mary Buckley, Executive Director of IDA Ireland, said “Sanmina has been providing significant employment in Fermoy for many decades. This expansion future proofs the site and demonstrates the company’s continued commitment to the Southwest Region. I wish to congratulate Sanmina and assure them of the continued partnership with IDA Ireland.”

Recruitment for the facility’s new positions is focused on roles in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing and Operations. To find out more about open roles, click here www.sanmina.com.

Kayna announces plans to create 13 new high-skilled jobs over the next two years,

Kayna, the Cork-based InsurTech founded by local entrepreneurs Paul Prendergast and Peter Bermingham, welcomed the Minister of State with responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance, Mr. Robert Troy T.D., to its headquarters on Friday last for a high-level meeting focused on innovation, international growth, and the role of government support in Ireland’s thriving tech sector.

The Minister’s visit comes as Kayna announced plans to create 13 new high-skilled jobs over the next two years, as the company accelerates its expansion into the US and UK insurance markets. Kayna’s platform aims to simplify and embed insurance at the point of need, targeting underserved SME sectors such as construction, hospitality, and legal services. The model addresses a critical market gap: 40pc of small businesses in the US alone currently have no insurance, while a majority of the rest are underinsured.

Paul Prendergast, chief executive and co-founder, Kayna, spoke of the company’s future plans,

“The opportunity is huge. Embedded insurance is forecast to account for 15pc of the global insurance market, worth $1.5 trillion, within a decade. Kayna’s goal is to lead from the front, and to do so from Cork.”

Minister Troy met with Kayna CEO Paul Prendergast to hear directly about the company’s scaling plans and the wider policy considerations that can support home-grown InsurTech success stories like Kayna.

Speaking at the meeting, Robert Troy TD, Minister of State for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance, said: “Kayna is a real success story, and represents the growing environment for InsurTech innovation in Ireland. I congratulate them on their plans to hire new staff and expand further into more markets. As Minister of State with Responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions, and Insurance I am committed to ensuring that Ireland remains a globally competitive and supportive environment for financial services, including InsurTech. A well-functioning insurance market is vital for any economy, and the work that Kayna is doing to support businesses navigate the sector is the sort of innovation I want to continue to foster in Ireland.”

Kayna, founded in 2021 is the third start up from its co-founders, whose previous ventures in the sector have achieved international scale. Backed by €1 million in funding and a partnership with multinational broker Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ: WTW), Kayna is delivering embedded insurance solutions that allow small businesses to access tailored coverage directly through the software platforms they use daily.

Kayna has announced plans to begin hiring software engineers and business development specialists to support its growth plans.

The team will remain rooted in Cork, a city Mr. Prendergast describes as “central” to their entrepreneurial journey,

“We’ve always believed in building from Cork. Over the years, we’ve launched and scaled three insurtech companies here with invaluable support from Enterprise Ireland. That backing combined with strong government policy has never been more important. If Ireland is to remain a tech hub of global relevance, we must continue to invest in the ecosystem that enables founders to take bold ideas to market quickly and effectively.”

Enterprise Ireland, which has supported Kayna since its inception, was also represented at today’s meeting.

Anna-Marie Turley, Department Manager for Fintech and Financial Services, Enterprise Ireland, said: “Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting Irish-owned businesses to start, compete, scale and connect, and this includes innovative companies like Kayna, who are providing cutting-edge solutions to global challenges. It is our long-term ambition that exporting Irish companies become the primary driver of the Irish economy, and we are proud to work with Paul and Peter as they scale their third business, having already secured a major partnership with WTW for the UK and US markets.  We would like to congratulate them on this milestone, and wish them every success on their business journey.”