Irish plastics processing industry is now a modern, technologically driven industry competing in a global marketplace. The influx of US healthcare companies in the early 70’s brought competencies in product design, tool making, plastic materials and processing and assembly technologies. The success of the IDA in attracting US foreign investment has therefore had a major impact on the development of a sizeable plastics industry in Ireland. The existence of 12 of the world’s top 15 medical device manufacturing companies in Ireland has allowed for the development of many supplier companies to this sector.
The most common activity preformed in this sector is injection moulding and there are a number of very successful domestic and international companies engaged in working on a contract basis supplying components, parts and packaging material to major Medical Device companies such as Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Abbott Vascular and Becton Dickinson. Although the core activities of these companies can be described as polymer (plastic) precision process engineering, these companies must also meet strict GMP standards if they are to supply medical device companies. Other types of moulding include Blow, Extrusion and Rotational Moulding. Many of these Medical Device companies have their own in-house moulding activities.
On the Research and Development side there is considerable university input into developing new materials and with the convergence that is currently happening with different technologies, polymer material is becoming an importatnt part of technological advancements in areas such as Drug Delivery /Sustained Release . A number International Medical Device companies have R&D Divisions and included amongst other R&D staff members are Scientific & Engineering experts in Material Science, Plastic Processing and Product & Tool Design. There is also a growing number of emerging venture capital backed companies involved in design and development of medical device products whose primary material and components are polymer based.
Typically for anyone interested in a career in the Plastics Industry, which is Medical Device related, you should have a primary qualification (trade/technician, diploma, degree) in Engineering or Materials (Polymer Chemistry) Science and ideally have formal academic or vocational training in Tool Design/ Tool Making, Plastic Processing , Product Design., or Quality Engineering/Metrology.
Useful Links:
2008 Plastic Ireland Year Book: http://www.ibec.ie/Sectors/irishplastics/PIDoclib3.nsf/wvIC/24DF9676E445FCCC8025744A004C3780?OpenDocument
First Polymer Training: www.firstpolymer.com
Plastic Ireland: http://www.ibec.ie/sectors/irishplastics/webPI.nsf/whome?openform
Athlone Institute of Technology: BSc in Biomedical Technology http://www.ait.ie/engineering/deptofplasticspolymerengineering/caocourses/bschonsinbiomedicaltechnology/
Bachelor of Engineering in Polymer Processing http://www.ait.ie/engineering/deptofplasticspolymerengineering/add-oncourses/bachelorofengineeringinpolymerprocessing/
Polymer Processing Research Centre: www.qub.ac.uk/pprc
Polymer & Plastics Network ( Ireland & NI): http://www.intertradeireland.com/index.cfm/area/information/page/PolymerPlasticsNetwork
Queens University Polymer Research Cluster: http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofMechanicalandAerospaceEngineering/Research/Polymers/
Queens University MSc Polymer : http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofMechanicalandAerospaceEngineering/ProspectiveStudents/MScinPolymerEngineering/
University of Limerick - Materials Science & Technology:http://www2.ul.ie/web/WWW/Faculties/Science_%26_Engineering/Departments/Materials_Science_%26_Technology
Galway University MSC in Biomedical Science http://www.educationireland.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=440:featured-degree-msc-biomedical-science-at-nui-galway&catid=47:featured-degrees
Cork Institute of Technology http://www.cit.ie/courses/courselisting/biomedicalsciencehonourscr320/
Dublin City University DCU B.Eng/M.Eng Biomedical Engineering http://www.dcu.ie/prospective/deginfo.php?classname=MEDM&mode=full
Trinity Centre for Bioengineering: http://www.tcd.ie/bioengineering/
IT Sligo: http://itsligo.ie/
University of North London – BE Polymer: http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/depts/polymers/polymers_home.cfm
The Institute of Materials Minerals & Mining – Polymer & Packaging Regional Groups: http://www.iom3.org/content/ireland
Career Migration and Transition from declining sectors to the Life Science Industry Pharmaceutical Medical Device Biologics Biopharmaceutical Diagnostics Healthcare
Career Advisory Services for Life Science and Healthcare Industry
Online Training Courses Lessons
Overview Profile of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Industry in Ireland
Presentations in Power Point to download to your hard drive computer
Booking forms for training courses
Interim Pharmaceutical Placement Services
Executive Recruitment Services O'Loughlin Partnership
Train the GMP Trainer Good Manufacturing Practice Public Course
Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Training Course in Good Distribution Practice and Cold Chain Temperature Controlled Logistics
N.I.M. Consultants Limited ~ Company Registration Number: 33316 ~ trading business names O’Loughlin Partnership No. 188398 & Pharmacareers Ireland Registration Number: 312012 Directors K&P O'Loughlin
