Devastating Blow As 100 Jobs To Go As Merck Life Science Plant Operations To Close In Arklow

The facility, which manufactures ingredients for pharmaceutical products, was acquired by Merck in 2015 and currently employs around 100 staff.

Merck has announced the planned closure of its Life Science manufacturing facility in Arklow, County Wicklow, by the end of 2028.

The decision will result in the loss of approximately 100 jobs at the site.

The Arklow plant, located on Vale Road, has been operational since 1985.

It specializes in the production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and bulk chemicals, serving as a contract manufacturing site for Merck's Life Science division.

The facility is equipped with advanced technologies, including one of the few large-scale Simulated Moving Bed (SMB) chromatography units for chiral separation and continuous chromatography purifications.

This closure is part of Merck's broader strategy to consolidate its manufacturing operations.

The company has recently announced a significant investment in a new €150 million pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Blarney, County Cork, which is expected to create 200 new jobs by 2028.

This new site will focus on producing filtration technologies for biopharmaceutical applications and will be Merck's first fully climate-neutral facility, powered entirely by renewable electricity.

In a statement, Merck said: “Following a strategic portfolio review of products at our Arklow, Ireland site, the decision has been made to discontinue the API (active pharmaceutical ingredients portfolio.

“As a result of this decision, it is proposed to discontinue operations at the Arklow facility by the end of 2028, consultation on this proposal will commence immediately.”

“This is of significant concern for the Arklow area, impacting on about 100 employees,” said Malcolm Byrne, Fianna Fáil TD for Wicklow-Wexford.

“It is critical if possible that they can be redeployed within the company. The company has assured me that they are about to engage with unions and employee representatives.”

Mr Byrne added: “I will be raising this directly with Government that we look to ensure that we have a replacement in place before 2028. Arklow has a rich tradition in the field of chemical production, and we need every agency to focus on finding a new enterprise.”