Monday 27 April 2015

---

  Bausch + Lomb intends to invest €75 million in extra manufacturing capacity at its Waterford facility, creating 125 full time positions and 150 construction jobs by the end of 2017. Although the company currently employs 1,000 people at its Waterford plant, the investment will provide the extra capacity required to meet expected demand for its Biotrue ONEday contact lenses range. Construction on the project is due to be completed by the end of 2016. The leading global eye health company plans to add 112,000ft² of new building on a 17-acre site adjacent to its current facility. J. Michael Pearson, chairman and CEO of Valeant, Bausch + Lomb’s parent company, said today’s announcement is confirmation of the organisation’s commitment to continue to invest in the Waterford plant. “Bausch + Lomb’s Waterford site will continue to play a very important role in our strategy to rebuild Bausch + Lomb as one of the leading contact lens producers. The Waterford facility is a first class site for contact lens manufacturing and distribution, and with the planned new contact lens manufacturing lines, the added capacity will support both current and future demand,” he added. The investment will further strengthen the Waterford plant’s position in supporting Bausch + Lomb’s efforts in increasing market share in the contact lens market and follows a similar announcement in November 2014 that €41 million was being invested, creating 50 new jobs. Work on this phase of investment is underway at present.