Production was temporarily halted at the Stryker plant in Limerick after a machine went on fire earlier today.
The blaze started around 10.30am after titanium rods in one of the machines used in the manufacture of knee replacements caught fire.
Station Officer, James Kearns Limerick City and County Fire Service, explained how the sprinkler system in the plant managed to contain the fire.
“A call came in saying one of the titanium machines was alight. When we arrived the ERT crew were here, they briefed us and we sent a crew in but the fire had been held under control by the sprinkler system, “he explained.
“The sprinkler system actually had the fire put out, so we isolated all the services and made sure everything was under order and that was it.”
Some 13 fire personnel were on duty and extra appliances from Limerick County were called in as a precaution.
A clean-up operation is currently underway at the facility which makes medical devices.
There were no reports of any injuries.
Stryker employs 680 at its site at Raheen Industrial estate in Limerick and 620 at two sites it has at Carrigtwohill in Co Cork.