Glucose monitoring tech firm Dexcom plans to build its newest global manufacturing facility in Galway.
Dexcom plans to invest €300m and create 1,000 jobs over the next five years at a new manufacturing plant in Athenry, Galway.
The project is backed by the Irish Government via IDA Ireland. Dexcom is a global leader in continuous glucose monitoring for people with diabetes.
“Ireland has an exceptional talent pool and an established medtech sector, making Athenry the perfect location for us to establish a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility”
Subject to planning permission, the Ireland site will be Dexcom’s first manufacturing site in Europe, expanding upon the company’s existing capabilities in the U.S. and Malaysia.
Dexcom to create 500 construction jobs too
The new facility will have the capacity to produce millions of Dexcom CGM sensors each year, helping to improve the lives of people with diabetes around the world. Subject to planning approval, the new facility will be located on the IDA Ireland strategic landbank in Athenry.
The facility in Athenry will contain a highly automated and efficient manufacturing operation with an emphasis on green technologies. Dexcom expects to provide about 500 construction jobs while the facility is being built and up to 1,000 high tech graduate and technician level positions once the site is running at full capacity.
“With the continued success of our Dexcom G7 in Europe, we are pursuing an ambitious growth strategy that requires increased manufacturing capacity to support our rapidly expanding European user base,” said Barry Regan, Executive Vice President of Global Operations at Dexcom. “Ireland has an exceptional talent pool and an established medtech sector, making Athenry the perfect location for us to establish a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.”
In October 2022, Ireland was one of the initial launch markets globally for Dexcom G7, the company’s next-generation CGM system that offers a powerful yet simple way to help people gain greater control of their diabetes.
The system’s low-profile, all-in-one wearable sends real-time glucose readings automatically to a compatible smart device or receiver, no painful finger sticks or burdensome scanning required. Dexcom G7 builds on the trusted performance of Dexcom CGM, which is clinically proven to lower A1C and reduce hyper- and hypoglycemia.
“This is an important strategic investment by Dexcom in Athenry, Co Galway, a regional location that will greatly benefit from the widespread economic and employment boost that an announcement such as this has the potential to deliver,” said Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland. “Ireland’s track record in attracting MedTech investments from major innovators, speaks for itself. This latest investment only enhances that further. I wish Dexcom every success with this investment and assure them of IDA Ireland’s continued support.”
The investment was welcomed by Taoiseach Leo Vardkar, TD: “This will be one of the biggest single private sector investments ever in the West of Ireland. In addition to the thousand jobs being created by the company, it will bring many spin-off opportunities, jobs and contracts for other businesses in the region.
“ The announcement that Athenry is to become Dexcom’s first manufacturing site in Europe is very much in line with the Government’s policy of balanced regional development. It has been enabled by major government investment in infrastructure in the area and a lot of hard work on the part of IDA Ireland.”
Main image at top: Chief executive of IDA Ireland Michael Lohan with Minister Simon Coveney, TD, and Dexcom executive VP Global Operations Barry Regan
