Limerick, December 2021
‍IDA Ireland has today announced several significant milestones relating to the Advanced Manufacturing Centre (AMC), a new world-class industry-led centre that will enable Irish based FDI and indigenous manufacturers accelerate the adoption of digital technologies into their factory floors and supply chains, allowing them to address real-world challenges and drive competitiveness.

The agency is announcing the appointment of Domhnall Carroll, Former Country Lead in Digital Industries at Siemens, as AMC’s new Site Director, and a strategic partnership with ABB Limited as AMC’s key technology partner for the delivery of a world-class Digital Factory solution for manufacturing clients.

‍Speaking about these announcements, Tánaiste & Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment Leo Varadkar said: “The story of Irish manufacturing is one of incredible transformation and progress. Today, the sector employs over 260,000 people. Companies at the top of their market in areas such as Biopharmaceuticals, MedTech, Electronics, Engineering and Industrial Technologies are operating across the country, 84% of which are outside of Dublin. The sector is constantly evolving and must keep pace with the relentless need to remain competitive. The Government is committed to ensuring that the right infrastructure and latest technology is available to the industry here to allow it to evolve and continue to thrive. The Advanced Manufacturing Centre is an important part of that and I welcome these latest milestones.”

Announcing these significant milestones, Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland said: “Enhancing Ireland’s manufacturing capability is a strategic national priority and a core component of IDA’s Strategy - Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021-2024. The Advanced Manufacturing Centre will support Ireland’s manufacturing base in remaining at the forefront of digital transformation and ensure that Ireland is recognised internationally as having a vibrant, collaborative, competitive and digitally-enabled industry base, ideally suited to delivering the next generation of manufacturing investments and commercialisation of research.
Domhnall Carroll brings with him extensive experience in manufacturing practice and advanced technology approaches and has first-hand practical and strategic knowledge of the challenges of digitisation within global manufacturing organisations ABB is a global leader in the provision of products, systems and solutions that support the digital transformation agendas of industry globally. I am delighted they are partnering with the AMC to deliver a world-class technology offering for the Irish discrete manufacturing base.”

Speaking about his appointment, Domhnall Carroll said: “The challenges for Ireland’s manufacturing base are unprecedented. From the impact of Brexit and Covid 19 to the Global Dual Disruption associated with Sustainable Manufacturing & Digitisation, manufacturers are challenged to transform their business models and operations in a timely and cost-effective manner. The AMC is here to support such transformation and will provide a range of supports, from a Digital Transformation Showcase, an end-to-end physical production environment, a digital control (and digital twin) environment, technical expertise and upskilling, thereby delivering a practical, hands-on destination for companies to address the challenges and opportunities around digitisation.”

Speaking about ABB’s partnership and role in delivering the AMC, ABB Limited’s Country Managing Director Stephen Doyle said: “ABB is honoured to be part of this high impact, national strategic investment for Ireland, and we look forward to providing Irish manufacturers with a best-in-class digital factory in the AMC, incorporating the latest advanced manufacturing technologies in an integrated and fully representative production environment, along with full Digital Twin capability.

This important project has received expert focus from across the ABB Global organisation and in conjunction with world-class, Irish-based technology integrators, Malone Group, Bonner, KAON Automation and RDS (Robotics & Drives), we look forward to supporting AMC, its clients and for many years to come.”