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| 200 jobs created at medical firm | 200 jobs created at medical firm |
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| Up to 200 jobs are being created with the expansion of a biotech plant on the site of an old slate quarry in Gwynedd. | Up to 200 jobs are being created with the expansion of a biotech plant on the site of an old slate quarry in Gwynedd. |
| Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, whose products include medical testing kits, will move work from Los Angeles to double its capacity in Llanberis. | Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, whose products include medical testing kits, will move work from Los Angeles to double its capacity in Llanberis. |
| The German-owned firm is expected to create the jobs over two years, adding to a current staff of more than 300. | The German-owned firm is expected to create the jobs over two years, adding to a current staff of more than 300. |
| Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said it was one of the most significant private sector investments in the area. | Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said it was one of the most significant private sector investments in the area. |
| Work will move from Los Angeles to concentrate manufacturing and distribution at Llanberis, which the company said was a "purely economic decision". | Work will move from Los Angeles to concentrate manufacturing and distribution at Llanberis, which the company said was a "purely economic decision". |
| The Gwynedd base is wholly owned by the company, while the Californian operation is only partially-owned. | |
| Mr Jones said the announcement was a "truly remarkable tribute" to the quality of the local team and a "telling testimonial to the competitiveness of Wales as a great place to do business." | Mr Jones said the announcement was a "truly remarkable tribute" to the quality of the local team and a "telling testimonial to the competitiveness of Wales as a great place to do business." |
| It shows that if it's possible to do this on the slopes of Snowdonia, then it's possible to do this anywhere in Wales. Dafydd Wigley | It shows that if it's possible to do this on the slopes of Snowdonia, then it's possible to do this anywhere in Wales. Dafydd Wigley |
| "We will now continue our work with the company to support their recruitment, training and up-skilling and ensure smooth and effective delivery of these ambitious expansion plans." | "We will now continue our work with the company to support their recruitment, training and up-skilling and ensure smooth and effective delivery of these ambitious expansion plans." |
| The plant makes "reagents," used on blood analysers in hospitals worldwide to diagnose medical conditions. | The plant makes "reagents," used on blood analysers in hospitals worldwide to diagnose medical conditions. |
| Steve Britton, the company's managing director, said: "We plan to double our production capability by hiring new employees and adding highly-automated equipment without expanding the footprint of the facility" | Steve Britton, the company's managing director, said: "We plan to double our production capability by hiring new employees and adding highly-automated equipment without expanding the footprint of the facility" |
| Mr Britton said the new jobs will range from semi-skilled shop-floor staff right through to scientific operations. | Mr Britton said the new jobs will range from semi-skilled shop-floor staff right through to scientific operations. |
| TIMELINE 1980s: Osborne Jones, of Llandwrog near Caernarfon develops a company producing diagnostic equipment for the medical profession, which grows to employ 501991: Company merges with US-owned Diagnostic Products from Los Angeles, becoming known as Euro/DPC Ltd. It grows to employ 300 at Llanberis2006: Euro/DPC Ltd taken over by German giant Siemens2008: Company announces expansion plans | |
| "It will secure the operations here at this site certainly for the medium to long term." | "It will secure the operations here at this site certainly for the medium to long term." |
| Siemens Healthcare is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry. | Siemens Healthcare is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry. |
| The company was formerly known as Euro/DPC and was owned by Los Angeles-based Diagnostics Products Corporation, but was acquired by Siemens in 2006. | |
| Dafydd Wigley, the former Caernarfon MP, who is now chairman of Bangor University's business school, welcomed the expansion. | |
| Mr Wigley, who was formerly chair of the company which merged to form the original factory on the site, said it showed that "people are willing to invest from a world perspective to invest in Wales". | Mr Wigley, who was formerly chair of the company which merged to form the original factory on the site, said it showed that "people are willing to invest from a world perspective to invest in Wales". |
| "It shows that if it's possible to do this on the slopes of Snowdonia, then it's possible to do this anywhere in Wales." | |
| Caernarfon MP Hywel Williams said it showed it was possible to attract high quality to the north and north west of Wales. | |