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sea change for seabrook opens new doors and grows revenues

relands burgeoning medical devices sector has been the springboard for manufacturing systems specialist Seabrook Technology Group, and the company is now focusing much of its efforts beyond these shores. Last year, the Cork-based company signed customers in Holland, Singpore and Malaysia, while the company is also looking at opportunities in the UK, Scandinavia and Germany. Seabrook is forecasting turnover to grow by 120 per cent this year, having risen by 150 per cent in 2011. Its stated target is 5.3 million in sales over the next three years. For now, the business split is roughly 50:50 between indigenous and international sales, according to Seabrooks marketing manager Gary OConnell. Ultimately the company sees 70 per cent of revenues deriving from projects overseas. The domestic market is what has propelled Seabrook to this point, having pivoted five years ago from being a software development house and ERP systems specialist. Ireland is a hub for semiconductor manufacturing operations and pharmaceutical facilities, which allowed Seabrook to cut its teeth in manufacturing. It now counts Biotronik, Boston Scientific, Alere and Cordis Johnson & Johnson among our clients.

Some of the major companies we engage with locally are part of much larger operations. When youre dealing with them it opens opportunities in the global market, says OConnell. He adds the support of Enterprise Ireland has been critical in gaining a foothold in the new markets. Med in Ireland and International Markets Week were the springboard for a lot of these opportunities, he says. Enterprise Ireland had also assisted the company when it shifted strategy to focus on medical device and semiconductor manufacturing. Seabrook is the European partner for Camstar, a US provider of manufacturing execution systems to the medical device and semiconductor sectors. If Camstar has a project [in that region], they would engage with us, says OConnell. The agreement gives Seabrook the scope to branch out into other markets such as solar power and electronics. It recently formed a similar partnership with Autonomy, itself now part of technology giant HP, and OConnell is optimistic about the prospects. It opens up all sectors to us. The partnership was signed in 2011 and well see first projects starting very soon. We forsee huge growth in that for 2012 and 2013, he says.

Whiskey producer Cooley Distillery, maker of the Kilbeggan, Connemara, Tyrconnell and Greenore brands, has been acquired by Beam Inc for close to $95 million. The deal also includes Cooleys whiskey ageing inventory and its malt and grain distilleries in Dundalk and Kilbeggan. Impact Databank estimates the Irish whiskey category grew 11.5 per cent in 2010 to 4.86 million cases and the leading markets for Irish whiskey are the US, Ireland, the UK, France, South Africa and Germany. Cooley sells around 250,000 9l cases per year and has production capacity for substantial future growth.

Airline software provider Rainmaker has raised 1.5 million from the diageo Ulster Bank venture capital fund, which is managed by NCB Ventures. Rainmakers applications let airlines manage their costs by providing real-time information on flight operations performance via the web. Its customers include Aeroflot, Jet Blue, Monarch, Virgin America, CityJet, Loganair and Wideroe. The funding will be used to increase Rainmakers 22-strong workforce and to boost global sales and marketing activity.

nicolA dunne, generAl mAnAger CYLON ACTIVE ENERGY

irish firm cylon Active energy has secured its first us contract following an enterprise ireland trade mission. The company will apply its cloud-based, real-time energy management technology to monitor and analyse the energy consumption of raleigh convention center in north carolina remotely from its dublin energy bureau. cylon Active energy is now actively seeking technology partners in the us in order to progress its growth plans.
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2012 | The mArKeT