19 May 2010: 150 new jobs for Armagh

More than 150 solar energy jobs are to be created by a multimillion-pound investment from a Co Armagh company.

Kingspan Renewables' products include solar panels and solar water heating systems.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said the jobs boost was part of a £47 million expansion at the Portadown firm.

She said: "The solar products now being manufactured in Portadown are some of the most technologically advanced in the world.

"This, combined with the new jobs generating more than £5 million per year in new salaries, reinforces Kingspan as an important and major contributor to the local economy."

It will create 163 new advanced manufacturing and engineering jobs and safeguard another 152 over the next five years, Ms Foster said.

The company was supported with a £6.5 million offer from Invest NI.

Kingspan Renewables was set up in 2007, when the Cavan-based Kingspan Group acquired the Thermomax brand of solar vacuum tubes.

Noel Crowe, company managing director, said: "Today's event signifies a key milestone for Kingspan as our phased investment plans, supported by Invest NI, come to fruition.

"As a result of the clear, competitive advantage that this new manufacturing facility provides, we envisage growing our sales four-fold over the next five years. This will be supported by further collaborative research and development with the universities and other research establishments."

Source – independent.ie