BD to close Ireland facility, putting 170 jobs at risk

Dive Brief:

• BD plans to wind down operations at a plant in Ireland over the next 2 1/2 years, a company spokesperson said Wednesday in an emailed statement to MedTech Dive.
• The phased closure of the Drogheda facility, which makes oncology, interventional radiology and critical care products, could result in the loss of around 170 jobs.
• BD’s spokesperson said the decision follows a recent review and reflects an attempt to ensure all operations are efficient and resources “are allocated in the most effective manner possible.” The spokesperson added that there would be no impact at BD’s other facilities in Ireland.

Dive Insight:

BD chose Drogheda as the site of its first manufacturing plant in Ireland in 1964. The company spent $70 million to expand production of BD Posiflush at the site in 2021, creating 100 positions and bringing its investment in the facility over five years to more than $150 million. At the time, BD said the expansion of the facility would continue throughout 2022 and 2023.

However, the company changed course in 2023. One year ago, BD told local media it would eliminate 60 jobs over the coming 15 months as part of its focus on “right-sizing manufacturing operations to realign current inventory and future demand.” BD cited the impact of the pandemic on demand for devices and the decision to spin off its diabetes care operation as drivers of the layoffs. 

Now, BD has outlined plans to close the facility. The first round of redundancies will affect about 110 employees and start in March 2025, according to Irish broadcaster RTE. BD will reportedly make the remaining redundancies up to September 2026. 

The action comes as BD works to reduce its costs. CEO Tom Polen said on an earnings call in May that the company’s financial results benefited from “waste reduction and production efficiency” efforts. The company spent $101 million on integration and restructuring in its second quarter, adding to the $75 million it spent on the activities in the first quarter of its 2024 fiscal year, which began in October.