Tánaiste Announces New Investments And Jobs In The East

Sophis Group in Fitzwilliam Lane, Dublin 2, a developer of complex specialist financial software, is making a €1.7 million R&D investment in the expansion of its Software R&D facility, Sophis Technology Ireland Ltd. (STIL), which will add 13 high calibre engineering positions to the 58 people already employed. The R&D will involve the innovative development of a new highly complex financial software product.

Wetzel Holding AG, in Clonee, Co. Meath, a leader in print cylinder production and technology, has opened a €5 million cutting-edge technology production operation, which will create 25 jobs over the next five years, and is undertaking a major R&D initiative with the aim of establishing it as a Centre-of-excellence in roto gravure printing tool production, in particular computerised preparation techniques Recruitment is already underway.

An Tánaiste said, "These investments are a major endorsement of the knowledge, expertise and infrastructure which exist in Ireland for the successful implementation of high calibre R&D.

"They are also a significant vote of confidence in both Irish plant's abilities as in the case of Sophis its products are complex and require a high degree of mathematical and technical expertise, while the aim of Wetzel's R&D is to demonstrate the ability of the Clonee operation to add significant production and process efficiencies across the whole Wetzel Group.

"The investments are in line with the Government's strategies of moving the Irish operation of international companies higher up the value chain and of gaining significantly increased responsibilities."