PLAINSBORO, N.J., April 2, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Integra LifeSciences Holding Corporation (Nasdaq:IART) and IDA Ireland announced today the opening of its global manufacturing facility in Tullamore, Co Offaly, Ireland, to produce the CUSA(R) Excel ultrasonic aspirator, a surgical device for the precise destruction of tissue that is used for tumor removal procedures and many other complex surgical operations. Irish Minister for Finance Brian Cowen TD officiated at the opening of the new facility and announced that the company intends to create 65 highly skilled engineering and other technical positions, with the support of IDA Ireland (Industrial Development Agency).
Welcoming today's announcement, Minister Cowen said, "Integra LifeSciences is a pioneer in its industry. In the last 2 years, it launched almost 20 new products. It is a highly sophisticated advanced manufacturing operation and heavily reliant on high skills, knowledge and expertise. It is a dominant player in the growing neuro surgical and neuro trauma market and its products are recognised as being among the technological leaders in its field. Integra is a company at the cutting-edge of industry and is a superb addition to the Midlands and to the medical technology industry base in Ireland."
The Minister continued, "In 2004, Integra established a shared services centre in Blanchardstown, Dublin to support its European manufacturing and sales activities. Due to the success of this venture, and following discussions with IDA Ireland, the company chose Ireland to further expand its activities. We faced strong competition for this investment and we are delighted this decision was taken for Ireland and for the Midlands. We are very confident that Integra will continue to experience the great success and achievements in Tullamore that it has to date in Ireland."
"We are very pleased with our decision to locate this strategically important part of our business here in Tullamore," said Zeev Hadass, Vice President European Operations, Integra LifeSciences, "We know that Ireland can provide the highly skilled personnel we are looking for, and the pro-business environment we have experienced in Ireland allows us to operate efficiently and effectively from here. Our management team expects that the Tullamore plant will expand further through future acquisitions, projects and organic growth."
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation, a world leader in regenerative medicine, is dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients through the development, manufacturing, and marketing of cost-effective surgical implants and medical instruments. Our products, used primarily in neurosurgery, extremity reconstruction, orthopedics and general surgery, are used to treat millions of patients every year. Integra's headquarters are in Plainsboro, New Jersey, and we have research and manufacturing facilities throughout the world. Please visit our website at www.Integra-LS.com.
IDA Ireland (Industrial Development Agency) is an Irish Government agency with responsibility for securing new investment from overseas in manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors. It also encourages existing investors to expand and develop their businesses.
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the products and services provided by Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from predicted or expected results. Among other things, the willingness of surgical professionals to use the CUSA may affect the prospects for its use in surgical procedures. In addition, the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors, identified under the Risk Factors section of Integra's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and information contained in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could affect actual results.