NI Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has announced a multi-million pound investment by GE, which will create 104 jobs in Lisburn, Co Antrim.

GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company, which serves the energy sector by developing and deploying technology that helps make efficient use of natural resources. Through a multi-million pound investment, GE plans to expand its Northern Ireland based, Kelman Ltd electrical transformer monitoring business, with support from Invest Northern Ireland.

Invest NI has offered £981,000 towards the projects which will create 104 high quality jobs, generating £2.5million annually in additional salaries. Positions will include advanced manufacturing, research and development and technical support roles and will draw on disciplines such as mechanical and electrical engineering, chemistry, physics, software and computer sciences.

GE intends to manufacture a range of new products at the Lisburn site, alongside Kelman’s existing manufacturing operations. GE will also establish an online operating centre to provide a new monitoring, diagnostic and technical support service to customers utilising the company’s monitoring equipment.

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These activities will be complemented by the creation of a centre of excellence to research and develop new monitoring products, technologies and software tools.

Making the announcement, Minister Foster: "GE is a well established and globally renowned company which, for more than a century, has pushed the boundaries of energy technology to become a market leader. This significant investment reflects GE’s confidence in its Lisburn operation and in the quality of the local workforce.

"Since acquiring Kelman in 2008, Invest NI has worked closely with GE to maintain and grow its presence here. The success of this is clearly evident today. Generating almost £2.5million annually in salaries to the local economy, this investment is a welcome development for the manufacturing sector and the local economy. I am certain that it will lay a solid foundation for future innovation, by GE in Northern Ireland."

Bob Gilligan, Vice President, GE Energy Services’ Digital Energy Business, added: "We’ve been very impressed with the willingness and ability of the Lisburn workforce to embrace and contribute to the positive changes in manufacturing and general working practices introduced post acquisition.

"In acquiring Kelman we at GE recognised the inventiveness and innovation embedded in the company’s ethos and, through this investment, we are laying the foundations which will allow us to build further on the capability of our NI team and to make a significant contribution to our overall global business success. We look forward to developing further our relationship with NI’s research and supply chain base."

NS