Antrim headquartered Randox to create 540 jobs

Randox Laboratories, the Antrim clinical diagnostics company, is to create 540 quality jobs over four years as part of a new £29 million capital investment at the site of the former Massereene army barracks.

The company, which was founded in 1982 and currently employs about 800 people, specialises in the development of diagnostic tests and technology.

Headquartered in Crumlin, Randox also has a manufacturing and research facility in Dungloe.

The entrance to the Massereene barracks was the scene of a Real IRA gun attack that claimed the lives of English sappers Mark Quinsey (23) and Patrick Azimkar (21) in March 2009.

Invest Northern Ireland is supporting the new investment with an offer of over £ 4.7million.

“Our new facility, which will be called the Randox Science Park, will be a futuristic manufacturing plant, with increased capacity and efficiencies, as well as housing pioneering R&D labs. We are also seeking to recruit high calibre staff across a range of disciplines to help us develop, produce and sell Randox’s revolutionary diagnostic solutions, ensuring that individuals worldwide, have access to timely and correct diagnosis,” said Randox’s managing director Dr Peter FitzGerald.

First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness welcomed the news.

The new jobs, which will include production, administration, research, sales and marketing posts, are expected to generate over $16.2 million in salaries to the local economy.