A Lisburn-based engineering manufacturer is establishing 100 new positions as part of a £20m investment from its parent company, marking the first phase of a major expansion following its acquisition by Siemens Energy. According to BBC News, the roles will span hardware engineering, software development, data science, operations, manufacturing and business support, with recruitment commencing immediately.
Chief Executive Peter Cunningham described the investment as "a powerful statement of confidence in Northern Ireland, our people and our technology". Camlin announced the expansion at an event at Royal Hillsborough Castle, signalling the company's ambition to substantially grow its workforce and capabilities.
Cunningham has set an ambitious target for the business, stating his vision is to develop an operation comparable in scale to Almac, the Craigavon-based pharmaceutical company which generates annual sales exceeding £1bn. Cunningham expects the business to triple in size over the next three to four years, building on the company's current workforce of approximately 700 employees.
Camlin specialises in manufacturing equipment that monitors the performance of electricity grids. The company's technology is already deployed by every UK electricity distribution network operator, as well as major utilities internationally. As renewable energy expansion continues to increase the complexity of grid management, demand for Camlin's predictive monitoring products is growing substantially.
The company demonstrated strong financial performance in 2024, achieving a pre-tax profit of £8.4m on turnover of £88m. This financial strength reflects the increasing market demand for grid monitoring solutions as energy systems become more sophisticated and interconnected.
Why is this investment significant for Northern Ireland?
The expansion reflects broader momentum in Northern Ireland's manufacturing sector, which has experienced robust growth since mid-2025. Official statistics show that in the second quarter of this year, manufacturing output increased by 9% annually, reaching a 10-year high and substantially outpacing the UK average of 1.2% growth over the same period.
Martin McCluskey, junior minister at the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, welcomed the investment, stating:
"The clean energy transition is set to support hundreds of thousands of good jobs and drive growth in every part of the UK. The more than 100 new jobs on the way at Camlin and Siemens Energy reflect what that means in practice."
Northern Ireland's manufacturing performance may have been driven partly by companies supplying data centre builders. The computer, electronic, electrical and optical products sub-sector grew by more than 25% annually in the second quarter, encompassing firms manufacturing power supply systems for data centres and the Seagate factory in Londonderry, whose data storage products are experiencing high demand.
What is the broader context for this expansion?
Siemens Energy acquired Camlin Group in a deal valued between £150m and £250m, representing a significant transaction for the Lisburn-based manufacturer. This acquisition positions Camlin within a global energy technology company with substantial resources to support its growth ambitions.
The investment announcement comes amid a period of sustained job creation across Northern Ireland's technology and manufacturing sectors. Vertiv has announced plans to create over 200 jobs across its facilities in Londonderry and Donegal, while other major employers have also committed to significant expansion programmes in the region.
What happens next?
Siemens Energy's acquisition of Camlin remains subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close before the end of 2026. Recruitment for the 100 new positions is beginning immediately, with the company seeking candidates across multiple disciplines to support its expansion strategy.
Key Facts
- Camlin is creating 100 jobs through a £20m investment from parent company Siemens Energy
- The company manufactures equipment that monitors electricity grid performance and is used by every UK distribution network operator
- Northern Ireland's manufacturing output grew 9% annually in the second quarter of 2026, reaching a 10-year high
- CEO Peter Cunningham aims to triple the business size within three to four years, building on a current workforce of approximately 700 employees
