Benn tours Vertiv's Campsie site amid expansion plans
Vertiv hosted Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn at its Campsie manufacturing site during a visit focused on the company's expansion in the north west.
Colum Eastwood, MP for Foyle, also joined the tour, which highlighted new machinery and warehouse expansion at the facility. The investment is intended to increase output and improve deliveries as Vertiv expands manufacturing across Derry/Londonderry and County Donegal.
The Campsie site is part of a wider regional push by the US-listed infrastructure supplier, which has been advancing investment and recruitment across three sites in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Vertiv had already announced plans to scale up regional manufacturing of electrical switchgear.
The expansion comes as manufacturers tied to data centre supply chains increase production to meet rising demand for electrical equipment. In the north west, Vertiv designs, manufactures and delivers power distribution infrastructure for data centres.
Hiring push
Recruitment is continuing across the three sites following a recent walk-in interview day that attracted about 250 attendees. Open roles include electricians, panel wirers, mechanical fitters, general operators, and positions in engineering, quality and support functions, with both full-time and part-time jobs available.
The ministerial visit underscored Vertiv's longer-term commitment to the region as it adds equipment and expands warehouse space. The company also used the occasion to update visitors on progress since its earlier expansion plans were announced.
Paul Ryan, President, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Vertiv, linked the investment programme to the group's manufacturing base in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
"At Vertiv, we have built a unique combination of expertise and capabilities that differentiates us in the global data centre market," said Paul Ryan, President, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Vertiv. "From our manufacturing operations in the North West and Ireland, we design, manufacture and deliver critical infrastructure that supports power distribution and enables the technologies at the heart of modern data centres."
"Our progress is driven by deep expertise, continuous innovation, disciplined investment, and, above all, our people," added Ryan. "This is why we continue to invest in talent and job creation across our facilities in Ireland and Northern Ireland."
Government response
Benn said the investment reflected confidence in the local industrial base.
"I was delighted to tour Vertiv's site in Campsie, and to hear about the company's investment in the Derry/Londonderry area, which represents a vote of confidence in local manufacturing expertise," said Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, UK Government. "The North West of Northern Ireland is an area of huge opportunity, and the UK Government's Industrial Strategy supports business investment to increase economic growth and create high quality jobs across the UK."
Vertiv operates in more than 130 countries, supplying power, cooling and IT infrastructure to data centres, communications networks and industrial facilities. In the north west, its latest investment adds to a manufacturing footprint the company sees as a key part of its supply chain for electrical switchgear and related systems.
The latest expansion combines factory investment with active recruitment across multiple sites, pointing to sustained demand for skilled trades, production roles and engineering support in the region's manufacturing sector.
The Campsie visit also highlighted Northern Ireland's efforts to attract industrial investment linked to digital infrastructure. While financial details of the latest spending on equipment and warehouse space were not disclosed, investment and hiring have continued since the earlier scale-up announcement.