A MODERN new £17 million manufacturing facility has been completed by McCloskey International in Co Tyrone, bringing 117 additional jobs to the area.
The investment by the Canadian firm at Granville Industrial Estate has doubled the workforce over the last three years, with more than 260 people now employed across the firm's two sites (it also operated from Coalisland).
Spanning 120,000 square feet, the facility has been supported by Invest NI, which provided £1.8 million to support capital investment and research and development costs – partly funded by the European Development Fund.
Owner Paschal McCloskey said the development was a "significant and strategic" investment and had been designed to increase export sales – particularly of the company's washing systems.
"Construction activity within developing economies is expected to double over the next decade and we want to position ourselves to capitalise on emerging growth opportunities within the aggregate processing and waste recycling industries," he said.
"With Invest NI support, we have focused on ongoing product development and expanded and up-skilled our workforce to enhance our ability to compete effectively for this new business.
"Our new factory at Granville cements our commitment to the region and will enable us to meet the expected increase in demand from our customer base."
Invest NI board member Mark Nodder said: "This is a major investment by McCloskey International, which is an important player in Northern Ireland’s materials handling sector.
"Its growth and success is underpinned by a comprehensive and competitive local supply chain which contributes to Northern Ireland’s overall manufacturing exports, valued at just over £8bn.
"Northern Ireland is a recognised centre of excellence in the design and manufacture of materials handling equipment and this new multi-million facility signals McCloskey International’s continued commitment to the Mid Ulster region and its confidence in the manufacturing expertise of the local workforce."
McCloskey International, headquartered in Ontario, designs and manufactures mobile crushing, screening, recycling and washing equipment for global market.s
The company said the additional jobs were responsible for contributing almost £2.6million annually to the local economy.
