New €26m AMTCE centre of excellence opens in Dundalk

A €26m centre of excellence offering training in advanced manufacturing and other related technologies has been officially opened in Co Louth.

The Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence (AMTCE) in Dundalk provides courses in construction technologies, 3D printing including concrete printing, robotics, cyber security and ICT innovations.

The Department of Further and Higher Education has said the centre represents the largest single capital investment in the further education and training sector to date.

The centre is located in the Xerox Technology Park in Dundalk and is run by the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB).

The AMTCE has already catered for 5,000 learners over the past four years and in excess of the same number of learners are expected to pass through the centre over this year and next.

Learners include apprentices, employees and trainees as well as post-Leaving Certificate and second level students involved in programmes run by the LMETB and the AMTCE.

The Department of Further and Higher Education and training body SOLAS contributed more than €26m to cover the cost of purchasing and refurbishing the AMTCE building in the Xerox Technology Park.

Enterprise Ireland has also provided €7m in grants to the centre to date.

The centre aims to provide high-quality training through a variety of delivery methods in Industry 4.0, which represents the transition from knowledge based to data driven manufacturing operations.

The courses on offer are designed to ensure that both employees and workplaces are prepared to face the challenges and opportunities in the growing manufacturing and technology sectors in the northeastern region but also across the island of Ireland.

The AMTCE building also accommodates training facilities for electrical apprenticeships and facilitates the location of sector specific specialised equipment and experienced trainers.

The centre was officially opened at an event on location today by Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless.

Mr Lawless said such facilities will play a role in addressing the country’s housing crisis.

“We’re taking the same challenges and skills needs but layering modern methods on top of that, that digital virtual reality piece and that’s really paying dividends.

“The needs of the future workforce are going to look different. They still need to do the same things but they’re doing them in a different, maybe a smarter way and we can move up the value chain,” he said.

Chief Executive of the LMETB Martin O’Brien said: “The Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence in Dundalk is a powerful investment in our people, our industries, and our global competitiveness.

“By combining industry-relevant training, hands-on experience, and global connections, we are equipping the next generation of workers with the skills they need to thrive in an ever-evolving sector.

“This centre is more than just a training facility – it is a hub of innovation, collaboration, and opportunity for both learners and industry alike,” Mr O’Brien added.

Meanwhile, Avril Behan, Director of FET College of the Future at SOLAS, said: “The industry-focused provision at the centre aligns with the workforce development intent of FET [further education and training], enabling enterprise to remain competitive both home and abroad.

“The delivery and operation of the centre by LMETB, enabled by joint funding from Enterprise Ireland and DFHERIS [the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science], is a clear demonstration of the quality outcomes that can be achieved through collaboration between partners with complementary strengths.”