Three US companies have announced projects which will lead to the the creation of 170 jobs at plants across the midlands, reports Liam Horan

Two of companies are announcing their first investment in the State while the third is expanding operations here.

US pharmaceutical company Innocoll will establish a €6 million operation in Roscommon. The plant will become the worldwide manufacturing and research and development centre for the company's drug delivery products based on collagen.

Innocoll, which is based in Pennsylvania, expects to employ 60 people in Roscommon over four years.

The company also proposes to create 16 jobs over two years at a European sales and marketing headquarters in Athlone.

Innocoll chief executive Mr Michael Myers said that the plants would give the company "the capacity to rapidly develop, commercialise and market our exciting product pipeline".

He also said that the proximity of several major research centres would provide his company with "valuable access to technical and academic resources".

Athlone will also get 40 new jobs through a manufacturing and distribution operation by healthcare company Conor Medsystems.

The jobs will be created over three years.

The Californian-based medical device company will invest €1 million establishing a coronary stent operation at the IDA Ireland business and technology park in the town.

Another US company, Cooper Cameron Corporation, is expanding its Longford facility. The company expects to create 57 jobs over five years.

Cooper Cameron is one of the world's leading manufacturers of products for the global oil and gas exploration industries and first arrived in the Republic in 1977. The Texas-based group currently employs 140 people at Cameron Ireland in Longford, where it produces choke valves.