Glanbia looking to extend research and development capability in Kilkenny
By COLIN BARTLEY
GLANBIA Ireland is looking to future proof the company by investing massively in a new Research and Development (R&D) facility in county Kilkenny.
The Kilkenny based global agrifood giant has lodged a planning application with Kilkenny County Council for a huge extension to its R&D facility at its headquarters in Ballyconra, Ballyragget.
The development will consist of a two-storey extension to the existing R&D facility on its Glanbia Ingredients Ireland milk plant in Ballyragget.
The plans would see the construction of a pilot plant, laboratories, storage, dryer and wet process rooms, associated equipment and roof-mounted air handling equipment.
The extension will see an increase in the first-floor area of the current R&D facility and alterations to northern and western elevations of the current building.
The new R&D facility will be built on a site currently being used as a car park.
This would be the second huge investment in Kilkenny announced by Glanbia this year. In January, Glanbia Ireland announced plans to build a €140 million continental cheese-manufacturing facility in Belview.
