330 jobs have been created in Dublin as West Pharmaceuticals expands its Irish operations with a major new facility in Damastown.
The company has officially opened a 165,000 square foot extension to its manufacturing site, significantly increasing its footprint in the capital and reinforcing Ireland’s position as a key hub for global pharmaceutical production. Following the expansion, West now employs more than 1,400 people across its sites in Dublin and Waterford.
The facility will focus on producing high-specification components and delivery systems for injectable medicines, including vials, seals, prefillable syringes and self-injection devices.
It is also designed to support the growing demand for high-volume therapies, particularly in areas such as diabetes and obesity, where next-generation treatments are driving rapid growth in the sector.
The expansion reflects wider industry trends, with increasing global reliance on injectable drugs — particularly GLP-1 therapies — placing pressure on manufacturers to scale up production and ensure consistent supply.
By boosting its capacity in Damastown, West is positioning itself to meet that demand while strengthening its role in the international healthcare supply chain.
Speaking about the development, Aileen Ruff-Patry, President of Contract Manufacturing at the company, highlighted the importance of the investment.
“West is honoured to continue supporting our customers in providing reliable, high-quality drug delivery solutions and security of supply,” she said. “This expansion increases our global capacity to support drug handling for high-volume injectable therapies, including next-generation GLP-1 treatments.”
She added that the move “reinforces West's role as a critical partner in helping to secure patient access to these essential medicines.”
The new building will expand the company’s capabilities beyond its existing work in component moulding, device assembly and packaging. It will now incorporate advanced automation and enhanced drug-handling systems at commercial scale, allowing for more integrated development and manufacturing services under one roof.
The project forms part of West Vantage™, the company’s contract services division, which focuses on supporting pharmaceutical and biotech firms from development through to large-scale commercial production.
The addition of these new capabilities is expected to make the Dublin site even more attractive for global clients seeking end-to-end manufacturing solutions.
IDA Ireland also welcomed the announcement, pointing to the broader significance of the investment for the Irish economy. CEO Michael Lohan said the expansion underlines Ireland’s continued appeal as a location for high-value manufacturing.
He noted that the country’s skilled workforce and strong ecosystem for life sciences companies remain key factors in attracting major international investment.
Ireland has become a major centre for pharmaceutical and medtech companies over the past two decades, with many global firms choosing to base manufacturing and research operations here.
Developments such as the Damastown expansion further cement that reputation, particularly as demand rises for complex biologic medicines that require specialised production and delivery systems.
For the local economy, the creation of 330 jobs represents a significant boost, particularly in advanced manufacturing and engineering roles. It also signals continued confidence from multinational companies in Ireland as a stable and competitive base for long-term investment.
With global demand for injectable therapies continuing to surge, West Pharmaceutical Services’ latest expansion positions its Irish operations at the centre of a rapidly evolving and increasingly critical segment of the healthcare industry.
