MEDICAL supply company Clonallon Laboratories has agreed a multi-million-pound deal with a US firm to manufacture blood collection kits at its Warrenpoint headquarters.
Clonallon, which supplies sterile procedure packs, surgical instruments and other equipment to the healthcare industry, has secured the contract with YourBio Health Inc in Boston for kit assembly and fulfilment services for use throughout the UK.
It will mean the creation of up to 12 new jobs in the first year, but with staff numbers increasing thereafter.
Established in 2001 by Dermot Dempster and Aiveen Mackle to produce and distribute surgical and medical procedure packs and ancillary items to hospitals and GP surgeries,it is part of an ever-expanding health and life sciences sector in the north.
It has previously worked with YourBio Health, which has developed a unique patented micro-needle blood collection device called the TAP II, which allows a consumer to conveniently and painlessly collect their own blood into a small tube which can be safely sent to the laboratory for processing.
TAP II can be used in place of traditional venepuncture or fingerstick blood collection for many applications in both professional and at-home settings.
Clonallon has secured the contract for kit assembly for the YourBio Health product, which will be made in the clean rooms at its 15,000 sq ft Warrenpoint facility.
Stephen Lennon, quality manager at Clonallon, led the project from its inception and played a crucial role in securing the business for the company by ensuring that all targets and challenges were met and resolved.
Founder Dermot Dempster said: “We are delighted to be working with like-minded individuals from YourBio Health.
“The dedication of professionalism and sheer hard work by Clonallon staff has resulted in securing this new business and plays to our key strengths of clinical problem solving, manufacturing and logistics.
“Our presence in Northern Ireland gives us a unique opportunity to distribute this product range to both the UK and European markets.”
