Tuam engineer sets up high tech business

JUST a few days before Christmas Kilconly-born Aiden Corcoran bucked the current trend of economic gloom to launch a new high-tech business in his adopted home town of Westport.[private] Aiden is founder and MD of Horizon West, an innovative engineering business launched by Enda Kenny TD on Monday December 20. The high tech start-up will deliver technical support services to manufacturers in the life sciences, electronics and other knowledge-based sectors. The company is confident it will double its current workforce to 20 within the next year. Aiden Corcoran is a past pupil of St. Jarlath's College and has a Mechanical Engineering degree from DIT Bolton Street, Dublin. He has vast experience working with multi-nationals including eight years with Hewlett Packard (one of which he spent working in R&D in Oregon, USA), four years with Boston Scientific and another three years with other major global enterprises. While working in these companies Aiden saw the need in the rising pharmaceutical and medical devices sector for a western-based consulting service and so the idea for Horizon West was born. The core team of six directors is composed of people Aiden worked closely with both in Ireland and abroad. Aiden says, 'Innovation and entrepreneurship will be the keys to Ireland's success and Kilconly itself has generated many entrepreneurs whose example has been truly motivating.' He cites John and Gerry Concannon of JFC  Manufacturing and CLE as inspirations to him in his formative years. Aiden's parents are well known in the Tuam area. His father Paul Corcoran is a retired Garda and his mother, Evelyn, runs Corcoran Interiors in Milltown. Aiden has one sister, Louise, and a brother, David. Aiden now lives in Westport  with his wife Lorraine (also an engineer with Horizon West) and their three young children. Horizon West has already secured a significant contract with a Mayo-based pharmaceutical company and is targeting other multi-national and indigenous manufacturing enterprises. The west of Ireland is widely recognised  as home to a notable life sciences cluster. Speaking at the launch, Enda Kenny recognised the value of Horizon West to the region. The Fine Gael leader said, 'This is an example of confidence at a time of crisis. Having a business like Horizon West operating in the West is an invaluable resource for existing manufacturers. It is also a key benefit for multi-nationals considering locating in this region. The company skills are a perfect match with the medical devices, pharmaceutical, bio-technology and advanced manufacturing and food processing industries.' He also stated his wish to 'be able to demonstrate by 2016 that Ireland is the best small country in the world in which to do business'. Core services The core services offered by Horizon West are Managed Technical Resources, Engineering Project Management and Productivity Support. When any manufacturing organisation is expanding, upgrading systems or retrofitting, Horizon West can supply and manage the technical resources support they require in order to complete the project efficiently, cost effectively and with the highest quality engineering. This could be a huge multi-national enterprise or a smaller indigenous manufacturing business. Horizon West was set up by six partners: Aidan Corcoran, MD (B Eng Mechanical Eng), Seamus Reidy, VP and Operations Director, (B Eng Production Engineering), Hubert Halligan, Senior Director, (B Sc Polymer Technology), Mark McLean, Senior Director, (B Eng Mechanical Engineering, M Sc Physics), Mark O'Neill, Senior Director, (B Tech Manufacturing Engineering) and Seamas Moneley, Senior Director, (B Eng Biomedical Engineering). Aidan Corcoran emphasised the talent and experience within the group stating, 'Our core team of engineers have unrivalled experience with all the top multi-nationals, both in Ireland and abroad. They combine excellent educational qualifications with the practical knowledge needed to perform in the most demanding and precise situations.[/private]