FORTY new jobs are being created in Co Londonderry with the announcement yesterday of a £1 million expansion by Magherafelt firm Fire Glass Direct.
Specialising in architectural glass design products for domestic and commercial applications, the business is a market leader in fire and safety glass, mirrors, double glazed units, office partitions and movable walls.
It has also established a healthcare division, Mediglaze, producing products for use in critical care and isolation units and for which it currently holds nine worldwide patents.
This part of the business, first established in 2007, now represents around 40 per cent of revenues but the latest investment, which includes a five-fold increase in floorspace at the plant, marks a significant effort to develop the business and its export potential.
Fire Glass Direct was established in 2004 and the new jobs created by the investment will bring the company’s total staff count to 77.
“This investment marks a major expansion for us, almost doubling our workforce, and is a reflection of our confidence in the potential of our new products to significantly increase our turnover and market reach,” said company director Seamus O’Connor.
“Invest NI’s support is allowing us to put the jobs in place quickly and therefore take advantage of market opportunities.”
Up to 34 of the posts have been in place since before Christmas as the company completed a series of units now being installed at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, as manager Feargal McMullan explained.
“Eight isolation units are being installed at the moment. We have tested them extensively but now we have to see how they perform in field trials as it were.
“The units have been designed to be shipped anywhere in the world for assembly and we would very much be looking to the international market once the tests are completed.”
Des Gartland, Manager of Invest NI’s north-west Regional Office, said: “This investment marks the next step in the company’s strategic plan to substantially increase sales and consolidate its position in the market.
“Its new products, which were developed with Invest NI’s support, have opened up more avenues of opportunity for it and demonstrate that even in difficult economic conditions, companies can succeed by constantly innovating and seeking out new markets outside Northern Ireland.
“These new skilled jobs are very welcome in Mid Ulster where the construction sector in particular has been badly hit by the economic downturn.”
Invest Northern Ireland has offered Fire Glass Direct £160,000 of support through its Jobs Fund, which has a budget of £19 million to support the creation of 4,000 jobs by March 2014.
The Jobs Fund is part of Invest NI’s Boosting Business initiative and has been developed in response to the economic downturn in order to help businesses accelerate new job creation and boost employment.