Biomerics opens new centre of excellence in Galway

Biomerics, a vertically integrated medical device contract manufacturer serving the interventional device market, has opened a 2,000 sq. ft. Balloons & Balloon Catheters Centre of Excellence in Galway.

This is Biomerics' first facility in Europe and the second facility outside the United States after Costa Rica. It will become home to a growing team dedicated to the development and manufacturing of balloons and balloon catheters and act as an extension to the operations in Athens, TX. 

The Irish Government supports this expansion through IDA Ireland.

Galway-based minister of state in the Department of Transport Hildegarde Naughton welcomed the announcement, saying: “I am delighted to welcome Biomerics to Ireland and indeed to Galway where it has chosen to establish its Balloons & Balloon Catheters Centre of Excellence. This move brings with it the creation of 40 jobs providing new opportunities for people to work and live in Galway, which has a proven track record when it comes to providing a rich pool of talent with a highly skilled and educated workforce. Today’s announcement is a great achievement for the West of Ireland and signals a bright future for businesses across the country.”

Jhovanny Ortega, commercial director, Interventional Balloons, will lead the new balloons & balloon catheters research and development facility. It will be a dedicated space for designing and developing complex balloon components used in future medical devices and applications, using various materials including polyurethanes, nylons, PET, and more. 

Ortega said: “I look forward to leading a group of individuals and creating cohesive teams that ultimately support the Biomerics vision.”

The new office will be located at 2 Liosban Business Park in Galway. Biomerics chose to locate in Galway due to the region’s significant cluster of medical device companies, a skilled labour pool, an international reputation, and access to suppliers and vendors. The office will be equipped with multiple balloon-forming machines, test equipment, and a cleanroom that is ISO 13485:2016 certified.

Todd McFarland, president of Biomerics FMI, said: "Having this new location is another step in our strategic growth plan. We continue to see a strong need around balloon component development. Our focus will be on next-generation technologies, including micro- and sensing balloons. Additionally, the facility will provide more capacity to support our strategic customers in the interventional markets we serve.”

CEO Travis Sessions said: "Biomerics strongly believes in fielding teams with excellent skillsets. We think it is essential to use an exploratory approach to designing and developing balloon components for a variety of critical medical device applications. Jhovanny and his team will be the key to success for this facility, and we have every belief that he will thrive. We are always looking for new ways to innovate as it is the lifeblood of any company and adding a location here in Ireland helps us magnify our efforts and strengthen our vision."

Global head of life sciences at IDA Ireland Michael Lohan added: “Biomerics’ decision to locate its first European site in Galway is terrific news for Ireland and reflects the established Lifesciences cluster in the West Region. This announcement is an exemplar of IDA Ireland’s continued commitment to winning innovative investments and job creation in regional locations. I wish Biomerics every success with this investment.”