DATA CENTRE OPERATOR Equinix is to create 200 jobs in Dundalk, Co Louth, as part of an investment of up to $700 million (€594 million) in a new advanced manufacturing facility.

The project will see the construction of a 14,000 square-metre plant by Hanley Energy, which was recently acquired by US manufacturing multinational Jabil.

Equinix said it is committing an initial €296 million million to the development, with the potential to increase that to €594 million over time.

The deal covers an initial five-year period, extendable to 10 years, with a minimum annual investment of €59 million.

The Dundalk facility will serve as a global hub for the manufacture of specialised power equipment used in high-performance data centres and AI-driven workloads.

Products to be made on site include low-voltage switchgear, power distribution units and remote power panels.

Hiring has already begun for an initial 200 engineers and technicians in areas such as precision engineering, quality assurance and lean manufacturing. Apprenticeship and training programmes are also planned.

The announcement was made in the presence of Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who said the investment reinforces Ireland’s position as “a leader in digital infrastructure and advanced manufacturing

“The creation of hundreds of skilled jobs and the introduction of world-class facilities in Dundalk is a major boost for the region and for our national economy,” Martin said.

Equinix chief executive and president Adaire Fox-Martin said the move builds on the company’s longstanding presence in Ireland.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Adaire Fox-Martin, CEO of Equinix. Equinix Equinix

“This investment builds upon Equinix’s longtime presence in Ireland and reflects the strategically important role the country plays in the global technology ecosystem,” she said.

“Our expansion in Dundalk further strengthens our ability to meet growing customer demand while creating local jobs and supporting the community.”

Equinix said co-locating production under one roof is expected to cut lead times by 10–15% compared to traditional procurement models.

The facility will also include a temperature-controlled testing laboratory described as the only one of its kind in Ireland or the UK.

Equinix operates multiple data centres in Dublin and, globally, runs a network of 270 facilities across 75 locations.