Dexcom Gets Green Light For Irish Diabetes Device Plant

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Permission has been granted for the construction of a 300 million-euro (US$326 million) pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Athenry, Galway, in the west of Ireland.

U.S. medical device company, Dexcom Incorporated (NYSE:DXCM) (San Diego), was given the green light for its first European manufacturing site by Galway County Council, albeit with 54 conditions attached related to environment, public health and traffic safety. The company specializes in making glucose monitoring technologies for the management of diabetes. The new facility will join other Dexcom global manufacturing sites in Mesa, Arizona, and Batu Kawan, Malaysia. Industrial Info first reported on the project in May. For additional information, see May 22, 2023, article - Dexcom Taps Ireland for First European Plant.

The 40,000-square-meter project will comprise a four-storey medical device manufacturing facility providing warehousing, production areas, administration offices and restaurant. The project, which has the support of the Irish government, will create 500 jobs during construction and another 1,000 high skilled jobs upon completion. It was described by the company as a "highly automated and efficient manufacturing operation with an emphasis on green technologies," with the site boasting rooftop solar power, 100 electric vehicle charging spaces and a nature trail. The plant will have the capacity to produce millions of Dexcom CGM sensors each year. The products are used by diabetes sufferers to track glucose levels continuously throughout the day and night, with real-time alerts sent to smart devices. Ireland was an initial launch market globally in 2022 for the Dexcom G7, the company's latest CGM all-in-one wearable.

As part of the permit, Dexcom will need to supply a Shuttle Bus system with at least two services per day for its employees, one linking the site to the local train station and another to Galway city. It will also provide a bike-share scheme operating between the facility, Athenry Train Station and Athenry Town Centre. The company will pay Galway County Council more than 1 million euro (US$1.1 million) as a contribution toward public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area.

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