FIONA REDDAN
Kildare-based underwater technology company Cathx Ocean expects to more than double its workforce over the next 24 months with the creation of 50 additional jobs. This follows a big subsea engineering win with Bluefin Robotics, which has chosen to equip its high-speed Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) with subsea camera and laser based imaging technology by Cathx Ocean.
The deal was announced as part of Enterprise Ireland’s trade mission to Texas, a two-day programme in which 27 Irish manufacturing, engineering and technology companies are targeting opportunities in the region’s rapidly-growing oil and gas sector.
So far, contracts worth some $14 million have been announced, including a $4 million dollar contract won by Louth manufacturing company Suretank Engineering with Hoover Container Solutions, for the supply of chemical transport tanks and containers for the safe transfer of chemicals and equipment for oil drilling to offshore deepwater rigs. Monaghan manufacturing company Combilift also won a $600,000 contract for the supply of multidirectional forklifts to TimkenSteel Corporation in Houston, a major US company specialising in deep precision hole making and finishing for the oil and gas sector.
The southern states of the US have become a substantial draw for technologies and services from Ireland-based companies and since 2011, 30 Irish companies have established operations in the region – accounting for more than 20 per cent of the total number planting roots in the US during that time. To support the steady growth, Enterprise Ireland opened an office in Austin last year and later this year, the Irish presence will grow larger when a Consulate opens in Austin.
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton led the trade mission to Texas, and is this morning commencing the three-day, four-city IDA Ireland programme in the Mid West, which will see him hold one-on-one meetings with 10 companies considering investing in Ireland for the first time or expanding their operations already here.
