GE HealthCare Invests $138 Million in Cork, Ireland Manufacturing Facility to Address Increasing Contrast Media Demand
GE HealthCare (GEHC) announced a $138 million investment to expand its contrast media manufacturing facility in Cork, Ireland. The new 3000m2 state-of-the-art facility will increase production capacity by 25 million patient doses per year by the end of 2027.
The expansion aims to address the growing global demand for iodine-based contrast media, which is expected to double in the next decade. The investment includes solution preparation vessels, powder handling systems, a new filling line, and autoclaves with advanced automation systems.
The Cork facility, along with sites in Shanghai and Oslo, supplied over 100 million patient doses of contrast media in 2024. Construction will begin in February 2025, creating over 250 construction roles.
GE HealthCare (GEHC) ha annunciato un investimento di 138 milioni di dollari per espandere la sua struttura di produzione di mezzi di contrasto a Cork, in Irlanda. La nuova struttura all'avanguardia di 3000 m² aumenterà la capacità produttiva di 25 milioni di dosi per paziente all'anno entro la fine del 2027.
L'espansione mira a soddisfare la crescente domanda globale di mezzi di contrasto a base di iodio, che si prevede dovrà raddoppiare nel prossimo decennio. L'investimento comprende contenitori per la preparazione delle soluzioni, sistemi di gestione della polvere, una nuova linea di riempimento e autoclavi con sistemi di automazione avanzati.
La struttura di Cork, insieme ai siti di Shanghai e Oslo, ha fornito oltre 100 milioni di dosi di mezzo di contrasto nel 2024. La costruzione inizierà a febbraio 2025, creando oltre 250 posti di lavoro nel settore edile.
GE HealthCare (GEHC) anunció una inversión de 138 millones de dólares para expandir su planta de fabricación de medios de contraste en Cork, Irlanda. La nueva instalación de 3000 m², de última generación, incrementará la capacidad de producción en 25 millones de dosis por paciente al año para finales de 2027.
La expansión tiene como objetivo satisfacer la creciente demanda global de medios de contraste a base de yodo, que se espera que se duplique en la próxima década. La inversión incluye recipientes para la preparación de soluciones, sistemas de manipulación de polvo, una nueva línea de llenado y autoclaves con sistemas de automatización avanzados.
La planta de Cork, junto con los sitios en Shanghái y Oslo, suministró más de 100 millones de dosis de medios de contraste en 2024. La construcción comenzará en febrero de 2025, creando más de 250 empleos en la construcción.
GE 헬스케어 (GEHC)는 아일랜드 코크에 있는 조영제 제조 시설 확장을 위한 1억 3,800만 달러 투자를 발표했습니다. 새로운 3000m²의 최신 시설은 2027년 말까지 연간 2500만 환자용 용량을 증가시킬 것입니다.
이번 확장은 향후 10년 간 두 배로 증가할 것으로 예상되는 요오드 기반 조영제에 대한 세계적인 수요 증가에 대응하기 위한 것입니다. 이번 투자에는 용액 준비 용기, 분말 취급 시스템, 새로운 충전 라인, 그리고 고급 자동화 시스템이 있는 증기 멸균기가 포함됩니다.
코크 시설은 상하이 및 오슬로 사이트와 함께 2024년에 1억 회 이상의 조영제를 공급했습니다. 건설은 2025년 2월에 시작되며, 250명 이상의 건설 일자리를 창출할 것입니다.
GE HealthCare (GEHC) a annoncé un investissement de 138 millions de dollars pour agrandir son usine de fabrication de produits de contraste à Cork, en Irlande. La nouvelle installation de 3000 m², à la pointe de la technologie, augmentera la capacité de production de 25 millions de doses par patient par an d'ici fin 2027.
L'extension vise à répondre à la demande mondiale croissante de produits de contraste à base d'iode, qui devrait doubler dans la prochaine décennie. Cet investissement comprend des réservoirs de préparation de solutions, des systèmes de manutention de poudre, une nouvelle ligne de remplissage et des autoclaves avec des systèmes d'automatisation avancés.
Le site de Cork, avec ceux de Shanghai et d'Oslo, a fourni plus de 100 millions de doses de produits de contraste en 2024. La construction commencera en février 2025, créant plus de 250 emplois dans le secteur de la construction.
GE HealthCare (GEHC) hat eine Investition von 138 Millionen Dollar zur Erweiterung seiner Produktionsstätte für Kontrastmittel in Cork, Irland, angekündigt. Die neue hochmoderne Einrichtung von 3000 m² wird die Produktionskapazität bis Ende 2027 um 25 Millionen Patientendosen pro Jahr erhöhen.
Die Expansion zielt darauf ab, der wachsenden globalen Nachfrage nach iodhaltigen Kontrastmitteln gerecht zu werden, die voraussichtlich in den nächsten zehn Jahren auf das Doppelte anwachsen wird. Die Investition umfasst Lösungsvorbereitungsbehälter, Pulverhandhabungssysteme, eine neue Abfülllinie und Autoklaven mit fortschrittlichen Automatisierungssystemen.
Die Einrichtung in Cork lieferte zusammen mit den Standorten in Shanghai und Oslo im Jahr 2024 über 100 Millionen Patientendosen von Kontrastmitteln. Der Bau beginnt im Februar 2025 und schafft über 250 Arbeitsplätze im Bauwesen.
- Investment of $138 million demonstrates strong commitment to growth
- Production capacity increase of 25 million patient doses annually by 2027
- Expected market growth with contrast media demand projected to double in next decade
- Enhanced manufacturing resilience through multi-site production network
- Production benefits won't materialize until end of 2027
- Significant capital expenditure required for expansion
Insights
The
Several critical strategic elements make this investment particularly noteworthy:
- The timing aligns perfectly with projected market dynamics, as iodine-based contrast media demand is expected to double within a decade
- The geographical positioning in Ireland offers both EU market access and global distribution advantages
- The 3000m2 facility's advanced automation systems will likely drive operational efficiencies and quality consistency
- The multi-site manufacturing strategy (Cork, Shanghai, Oslo) creates robust supply chain resilience
The investment's implementation timeline (completion by 2027) provides a measured approach to capacity expansion, allowing for careful integration of new technologies while maintaining current operations. The inclusion of multi-functional powder handling systems and new filling lines suggests a focus on manufacturing flexibility, enabling the facility to adapt to evolving product requirements and market demands.
This expansion represents a calculated response to fundamental demographic and healthcare trends. The contrast media market is experiencing unprecedented growth drivers:
- Aging global populations requiring more diagnostic imaging
- Rising chronic disease prevalence necessitating regular monitoring
- Increasing sophistication of medical imaging procedures
GE HealthCare's current scale - enabling four patient procedures every second globally - demonstrates their market dominance. This expansion reinforces their leadership position while addressing critical healthcare infrastructure needs. The investment in both established and pipeline products suggests a dual strategy of maintaining current market share while preparing for next-generation contrast media development.
The facility's enhanced capabilities, including new solution preparation vessels and advanced automation, position GE HealthCare to maintain quality standards while scaling production. This is important in the highly regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, where consistent quality and reliability are paramount.
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New
$138 million Cork manufacturing site will enable 25 million more patient doses of contrast media per year by the end of 2027i - Demand for CT and X-Ray contrast media, used to enhance medical imaging procedures globally, is estimated to double in the next ten yearsii
- Investment will create additional capacity to cater for growing demand, while offering increased flexibility and resiliency for security of supply
CHALFONT ST. GILES,
GE HealthCare’s contrast media manufacturing site in
Contrast media are injectable diagnostic imaging agents used to enhance visualization of organs, blood vessels and tissues during medical imaging. Global demand for iodine-based contrast media, used in X-Ray, Computed Tomography (CT) and Interventional procedures is expected to double in the next decade, driven by ageing populations and the increasing global prevalence of chronic disorders. In 2024, the Carrigtohill facility, along with GE HealthCare’s other fill and finish production sites in
The new 3000m2 facility - which will support both established and pipeline products – will include solution preparation vessels, multi-functional powder handling systems, a new filling line and autoclaves, with advanced automation systems underpinning production. Once established, the additional capacity will cater for the growing global demand, while offering increased flexibility and resiliency across GE HealthCare’s contrast media production network for security of supply.
President & CEO of GE HealthCare’s Pharmaceutical Diagnostics (PDx) segment, Kevin O’Neill, said, “As an industry leader we have a responsibility to help meet the growing global demand for contrast media from healthcare providers and their patients. This new facility demonstrates our broader commitment not just to address future demand, but also to increase resiliency and security of industry supply for customers.”
Eugene Barrett, Site Leader and Managing Director, GE HealthCare Ireland, said: “This expansion strengthens our longstanding presence in
An Taoiseach Micheál Martin T.D. said, “GE HealthCare has been manufacturing in
IDA Ireland Executive Director Michael Lohan said, “This is the latest of GE HealthCare’s investments in its
All stages of GE HealthCare’s contrast media manufacturing, from development of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) to finished product, adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices. With over 4000 employees globally, the PDx business also develops and supplies radiopharmaceuticals used to support diagnosis, monitoring and treatment selection across Neurology, Cardiology and Oncology clinical pathways. Across its portfolio, PDx enables four patient procedures every second globally.
Engineering firm, IPS-Integrated Project Services, will lead the project with enabling construction works starting at the Carrigtohill facility in February 2025, and over 250 construction roles expected to be created.
About GE HealthCare Technologies Inc.
GE HealthCare is a leading global medical technology, pharmaceutical diagnostics, and digital solutions innovator, dedicated to providing integrated solutions, services, and data analytics to make hospitals more efficient, clinicians more effective, therapies more precise, and patients healthier and happier. Serving patients and providers for more than 125 years, GE HealthCare is advancing personalized, connected, and compassionate care, while simplifying the patient’s journey across the care pathway. Together our Imaging, Advanced Visualization Solutions, Patient Care Solutions, and Pharmaceutical Diagnostics businesses help improve patient care from diagnosis, to therapy, to monitoring. We are a
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i GE HealthCare data on file – Cork Capacity Investment, 2025
ii GE HealthCare data on file – Pharmaceutical Diagnostics Contrast Media Capacity and Investment, 2025
iii GE HealthCare data on file – Pharmaceutical Diagnostics Contrast Media Capacity and Investment, 2025
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250130241464/en/
GE HealthCare Media Contact:
David Morris
M +00 44 7920 591 370
David.j.morris@gehealthcare.com
Source: GE HealthCare
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