Economic Development \ Local Infrastructure \ Local Manufacturing Companies

Overview

Newry currently has a broad base of manufacturing companies already operating in the area. These range from electrical giants Glen Dimplex, Scandinavian controlled SCA Packaging Ltd, Synthetic Textiles Ltd, to Norbrook Laboratories Ltd, a company that has achieved exceptional growth since its inception.

Norbrook Laboratories Limited

The Secretary of State, Sir Patrick Mayhew MP, in March 1994 announced a £38 million expansion programme for local Newry pharmaceutical manufacturing firm Norbrook Laboratories Ltd which is expected to increase the workforce to 605 people.

The huge investment - with £9.2 million going on research and development - is aimed at accommodating the manufacture of Norbrook's expanding range, which include one of the world's leading long-acting Antibiotic Veterinary drugs recently launched last year. The new programme is to add drugs for human use to its range.

Norbrook, which has operations in New York State and Kenya with other facilities in England, Offaly and Monaghan, exports to more than 97 countries and has won the Queen's Award for Export twice. Norbrook increased its turnover to £35m in 1994 relative to £28m in 1993 - an increase of 25%.

In a recent NI Business Survey the founder and Chairman of Norbrook Laboratories Ltd. Dr. Edward Haughey was identified as the highest paid private sector executive in NI. In December 1994, Dr. Haughey, the recipient of many business awards was appointed by the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland to the Senate in Dublin.

Norbrook Laboratories announced a record sales order with a US Pharmaceutical Company in November 1996 amounting to $33m.

It is currently planning to implement further major investment programmes at its Newry plant.

Newry Building Supplies Limited

Former IDB Chairman, Mr John McGukian attended the premises of local company Newry Building Supplies Limited (NBS) in May 1995 to confirm IDB support for a further major investment by the growth company, now employing in excess of 100 employees.

Group Chief Executive, Ciaran Murdock confirmed in April 1998 that a further investment is planned by the NBS Group re its activities in the Newry & Mourne area.

Eurostock Meat Marketing Limited

A local Newry company, Eurostock Meat Marketing Limited was one of only four Northern Ireland companies to receive the Queen's Award for Export in 1996. The company which commenced trading in 1985 processes offal for sale in retail markets and is the market leader for specialised process offal in France. In fact the company exports 80% of its meat products.

ABP Newry

ABP Newry which commenced operating at Warrenpoint Road, Newry in 1983 also was awarded the Queen's Award for Export Achievement on 20 March 1996.

ABP Newry, an integrated red meat company currently employing 120 people, is part of Europe's largest meat processing Group, Anglo Irish Beef Processors Group (AIBP). The Newry plant is a division of Anglo Beef Processors Ltd. (ABP), which is by far the leading processor of cattle and sheep in the UK with fourteen sites throughout the UK generating an annual turnover of £440m and employing 1,650 people. Sainsbury's has given ABP Newry and its Partnership in Livestock Group a big vote of confidence by offering it exclusive rights to supply Sainsbury's planned supermarkets in Northern Ireland with its two flagships beef products namely Sainsbury's traditional beef and its specialist Aberdeen Angus brand.

Toughglass

J.B. McGuckian, then Chairman of the IDB announced on 3 September 1996 an investment in Toughglass of £927,000 expected to create 32 jobs over the next 18 months increasing the total workforce at Toughglass to 238 people. Toughglass is part of the Coulter Group in Kilkeel and manufactures toughened safety glass for customers in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. In November 1997 Toughglass opened a new £9m factory to manufacture curved glass for export. The IDB backed investment is expected to create 50 new jobs and increase the Group's employment to 142 people.

Scottish Seafoods Limited

Former IDB Chairman, J.B.McGukain announced two investments by Scottish Seafoods Limited during a visit to Kilkeel on 3 September 1996. An £890,000 investment creating 50 new jobs and a further investment of £250,000 creating 25 jobs giving a total investment of £1,293,000 creating 75 new jobs. Scottish Seafoods is part of Booker Plc Fish Division, a major concerned headquartered in Grimsby, and produces Scampi products at Kilkeel primarily for the wholesale and food service industry.

Mourne Seafood Companies

Confidence was restored in the future of the Seafood Industry in November 1996 when the IDB announced a £2.7m Investment Package for three local Mourne Companies. The three companies which are all involved in scampi production are Middleton Seafoods, Rockall Seafoods of Kilkeel and Kilhorne Bay Seafoods of Annalong.

A £1.4m investment for Annalong Kilhorne Bay Group is expect to create 6 new jobs and to safeguard the existing sixty jobs. The investment of £1.3m by Middleton Seafoods will safeguard 79 jobs but will not lead to any additional workplaces. Rockall Seafoods is a subsidiary of Kilhorne Bay Seafoods.

Glen Electric

In February 1997 Glen Electric, the Newry based subsidiary of Glen Dimplex announced a £5m investment to upgrade its two Newry plants into centres of manufacturing excellence. Glen Electric currently employs 363 people in Newry and the new £5m investment is expected to provide an additional 109 jobs over the next three years, increasing the company's Newry employment to 472.

Established in Newry in 1973, Glen Electric is wholly a subsidiary of the Glen Dimplex Group. Glen Dimplex has two other subsidiaries in Northern Ireland namely Morphy Richards (NI) Bangor and Unidare Environmental in Portadown. The Group's other manufacturing plants are located in Great Britain, Germany, Canada and Republic of Ireland. At present Glen Dimplex which is the world's leading manufacturer of electrical heating appliances employs 6,000 people at its 17 sites worldwide, of whom almost 1,200 are employed in Northern Ireland.

The proposed £5m investment involves a series of key initiatives including the introduction of a new radiator to complement the existing successful range of portable heating appliances manufactured at the Glen Electric Newry plants. The new "Rio" radiator to be manufactured in Newry is believed to be a highly efficient oil-filled radiator which will compete in the growing column radiator market in Europe. The investment received the support of IDB grant assistance.

SCA Packaging

SCA Packaging Limited, a business group of Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget of Stockholm, announced plans in March 1997 to invest £2.25m at its Warrenpoint plant in upgrading production facilities to improve efficiency and increase its overall competitiveness over the next three years. The project which received support from the IDB is expected to increase productivity, efficiency and profitability of a successful and long established company currently employing 222 people. SCA packaging which produces a wide range of corrugated packaging, much of it being recycled material at its Warrenpoint plant has been to the forefront of benchmarking initiatives and a relationship with the Rengo company of Japan and the Weyerhaeuser Corporation of America has helped bring about efficiency improvements to perform its measurement and information exchange.

A Manufacturing Excellence programme (Eurobest) is operated at the Warrenpoint plant. This has helped bring improvements to areas such as safety, waste control and housekeeping and to ensure that the Warrenpoint plant maintains its reputation as one of the most efficient and profitable plants within the SCA Group.

SCA is quoted on the Swedish and London Stock Exchanges. The Group employs 34,000 employees in more than 20 countries, and specialises in the manufacture of hygiene products, packaging and graphic products, using timber from its own forests and recycled fibre.

In July 1997, the company won the title of overall packaging supplier of the year and Corrugated Supplier of the year at the Packaging Week 1997 Packaging Industry Awards held at the Grosvener House Hotel in London. The awards are designed to recognise and reward innovation, ingenuity, originality and commercial success in the areas of packaging design and production.

In May 1998 SCA celebrated its 50th anniversary in Warrenpoint.

FM Schloss Ltd

FM Systems of Newry and Schloss Engineered Equipment Inc. from Colorado are forming a new joint venture company in Northern Ireland to manufacture water and waste treatment systems for European markets. The new company, FM Schloss will be jointly owned by FM Systems and Schloss Engineered Equipment. It is expected that this new joint venture will lead to 70 new jobs in Northern Ireland.

The new company hope to offer existing and potential customers the most comprehensive portfolio of equipment and services available in Europe through combining the experience, technology and products of the two companies. Water treatment systems are bulky and costly to transport. A joint venture with an established and successful company such as FM Systems offers the Schloss Engineered Equipment Inc. the most cost effective and efficient way of developing business throughout Europe.

Founded in 1988, FM Systems is a family owned business providing a range of products for liquid waste treatment for customers in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, other parts of Europe and the Far East. It currently employs 35 people. Schloss Engineered Equipment Inc. was founded in 1898 and is based in Denver, Colorado. It exports water treatment equipment to around 30 countries and has seen its international business increase by 900% over the past four years.

Haldane Fisher

In December 1997, Haldane Fisher located at Carnbane Industrial Estate, announced a £1.6m IDB backed investment to develop their timber moulding manufacturing business. The company, part of the Haldan Shells Group, employs 300 people, and manufactures timber mouldings for the construction industry. The company will invest in new machinery and production systems enabling the company to expand its business in the Republic by reducing costs and increasing volume production, while also improving quality and overall service to customers in this important market. In addition to securing the existing jobs, the investment is expected to create 5 new jobs.

Freeza Meats

On 30 April 1998, Freeza Meats Limited, located in Greenbank Industrial Estate, announced the completion of a £500k LEDU backed investment, which resulted in 46% increase in business, despite the recent difficulties in the beef industry. Freeza Meats produces a range of over 31 core products including burgers, king ribs and steaklets under the 'Farmlea' brand, as well as several own labels. Over 50% of production is sold ultimately to export markets. The company this year won the N. Ireland Food and Drink award for the most innovative new product and has gained EU approval status.