THIRTY-TWO new jobs are to be created in Co Antrim as part of an expansion of a bio-technology company. Randox is an Antrim-based company which produces diagnostic equipment for hospitals and laboratories. Its products help in the diagnosis of conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular and liver diseases and various cancers.
The company says the new jobs are “high-value” positions, with most of the jobs aimed at graduates and PhD-holders.
The new positions will be based at the company’s head-office just outside the town of Crumlin, 15 miles west of Belfast. It currently employs 600 people there. It has a global workforce of 850, and has offices in 26 countries.
Managing director Dr Peter Fitzgerald says the new jobs were a result of the company’s expansion and particular expertise in biochips technology, a technology which allows numerous tests for illnesses to be carried out simultaneously.
“Over the last number of years we have been steadily gaining an increase in market share, mainly due to the development of advanced technology and an increase in our international selling.”
Randox is heavily dependent on exports. Over 97 per cent of its products are sold outside the UK and Ireland. The company was founded by Peter Fitzgerald, a native of South Antrim, in 1982. Last year the company had a turnover of €70 million.
Randox also intends to expand its workforce further in the next few months, and will be recruiting for up to 10 positions at its Co Donegal manufacturing and research centre in Dungloe.
