Abbott has inaugurated a new manufacturing facility in Kilkenny, Ireland, marking a significant expansion of its diabetes care business.

The 30,000-square-meter site is part of a $465 million (€440 million) investment in the country, which also includes an expansion of Abbott's Donegal facility. Together, these projects are expected to create over 1,000 jobs, with more than 800 positions in Kilkenny and an additional 200 in Donegal.

The Kilkenny facility is focused on producing FreeStyle Libre 3 sensors, a next-generation continuous glucose monitoring system for people with diabetes. According to Abbott, this site will have the highest production capacity for these sensors globally.

"Abbott, which has been in Ireland since 1946, is one of the longest-established global companies and largest employers in our country," said An Taoiseach, Simon Harris, TD, at an opening event for the new facility. "This latest investment is a further vote of confidence in Ireland as a location for world-class advanced manufacturing and healthcare businesses. With the opening of this new site, Ireland is now at the global centre of diabetes care."

The Kilkenny plant incorporates sustainability measures, including a fully electric operation, six air-to-water heat pumps, nearly 600 rooftop solar panels, and rainwater collection tanks.

In addition to its Irish investments, Abbott is expanding its manufacturing capabilities in Europe with an £85 million investment in its Witney facility in Oxfordshire, U.K.

Abbott's FreeStyle Libre system is used by over 6 million people in more than 60 countries, making it a leader in continuous glucose monitoring technology.

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