Hiab is already hiring for its new factory in Dundalk

Hiab plans to spend more than EUR50 million (USD60 million) building a new Irish factory that will create 100 manufacturing jobs.

Parent company Cargotec is planning a new factory in Dundalk to make its Moffett truck-mounted forklifts.

Hiab will also immediately begin hiring 100 general operators, engineers, research and development (R&D) specialists, and quality, warehousing and planning staff.

The new jobs will add to the 300 already working for the company in Dundalk.

Rogier van der Linde, senior vice president for truck-mounted forklifts at Hiab, says the operation in Dundalk is a key part of the company's global success story. "It has been home to innovation and production of truck-mounted forklifts since 1986. It will continue to lead the world in new product development and solutions that ultimately help other business sectors be more effective and efficient in their transportation operations.

"When completed, our new facility will have world-class manufacturing capacity to service all markets globally. Importantly, the new facility will include Cargotec's global centre for innovation and R&D in the truck-mounted forklift segment, continuing a long and successful tradition of innovation in Dundalk. This will enable our world-class R&D team here to meet the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow, providing intelligent services and smart solutions for enhancing electrification, connectivity, as well as identifying new innovations to meet our customers' changing needs."

Van der Linde says Hiab is currently at an advanced stage of identifying a suitable site in the greater Dundalk area and expects this to be operational in 2023.