SANDOZ, the pharmaceutical manufacturer in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, last night announced plans to increase its 250 strong workforce by 100 in a capital expansion that will involve an investment of up to £60 million.
The company, one of the top 10 pharmaceutical manufacturers in the world, had sales last year of £3.53 billion. Of this, some £695 million was reinvested in research and development activities. The company's best selling drugs are used as immune suppressants in the treatment of psoriasis, and in treating fungal infections of the skin and nails.
Last night in Cork Sandoz said that a planning application was being prepared which would be forwarded to Cork County Council as part of its new expansion plans.
The capital investment of up to £60 million for a third production building on the Ringaskiddy site would be matched by the creation of at least 150 construction jobs over a three year period.
The Sandoz plant contains one of the most up to date environmental protection systems of any chemical/pharmaceutical company in Ireland, and this was recently recognised by an independent panel which awarded the company - whose headquarters are in Switzerland - with the 1996 Better Environmental Award for industry.
The Ringaskiddy plant was also the out right winner in the category "Managing towards sustainability: commitment to the environment award."
The plant was one of the first round applicants to the Environmental Protection Agency for an integrated pollution control licence (IPC) in 1994 and successfully implemented all programmes required by the licence.
The latest extension will require a new environmental impact statement (EIS) which the company said last night would be part of its planning application to Cork County Council.
