Canadian biofuel producer investing €30m in Portlaoise plant

A Canadian alcohol and fuel ethanol producer is investing in the region of €30 million to establish its new European manufacturing headquarters in Portlaoise, a move that marks its first foray into manufacturing outside of North America.

Greenfield Global, one of the largest solvent companies in North America, said it intends to create 75 jobs in the town when the facility is operational in the second quarter of 2020.

A new 3,800sq m manufacturing plant will be built at a business and technology park controlled by IDA Ireland, and about 100 jobs are expected to be sustained during the construction phase of the project.

"This facility will ensure we have the capacity to meet increased demand from our life science customers throughout Europe and the region," said Howard Field, the company's president and chief executive.

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Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Greenfield has operations across 12 locations selling a portfolio of products used in the pharmaceutical, life science, personal care, fragrance and food sectors.

Additionally, the company is the largest ethanol producer in Canada, owning and operating four ethanol distilleries, three speciality chemical manufacturing and packaging plants and three biofuel and renewable energy research and development centres.

IDA Ireland chief executive Martin Shanahan said the company's move to Portlaoise was a "most welcome announcement" both for the town and the midlands region.

“Greenfield Global is a welcome addition to the EIT [engineering and industrial technology] sector here and will be an important support to the strong and growing life sciences ecosystem in Ireland,” he said.