Carten Controls – Featured in the 2025 Ibec Irish Manufacturing Case Studies

Carten Controls is pleased to announce that our Technology and Development Director, Mark Walsh, has been featured in Ibec’s 2025 case study on the future of manufacturing in Ireland.

The feature explores Carten’s leadership in precision flow technologies, our investment in solar infrastructure, and our paper-free initiatives, as well as the pride our employees take in contributing to a cleaner, smarter manufacturing future. Mark also talked about our ongoing R&D expansion to support global semiconductor and biopharma customers. Mark also discusses key national challenges impacting manufacturing competitiveness and the importance of planning reform to support future growth.

We invite you to read the full Ibec case study for deeper insight into Carten’s strategy and the opportunities ahead for the Irish industry.

Mark Walsh, Technology and Development Director at Carten Controls Ltd, talks about how innovation and sustainability are driving growth and resilience and why fixing Ireland’s planning system is vital for the future of industry.

In Waterford’s industrial landscape, one company is quietly leading the way in precision engineering for the global semiconductor sector. With over 115 employees and an emphasis on high-purity valve and flow systems, Carten Controls has built its success around innovation, quality, and community connection.

Carten is proud to be a member of the Fujikin group, a Japanese global leader in precision flow control technologies. Located in the Northern Extension of Waterford Industrial Estate, Carten Controls is a global leader in the design, manufacture, and supply of high-performance valves and flow solutions for ultra-high-purity systems. Its products are used in industries where cleanliness, containment, and delivery are critical, including semiconductor, biopharma, and advanced manufacturing.

“We have a lot of bespoke processes here in Waterford,” says Mark. “Our welding and electro-polishing processes, for example, are highly customised and uniquely tailored to the products we make. Many of our components are qualified with leading semiconductor manufacturers worldwide, and that’s a very small, highly specialised group of vendors. So, we definitely operate in a niche.”

This specialisation, he explains, is key to maintaining Ireland’s strong reputation in advanced manufacturing. “We’ve carved out a space where quality, customer focus and customisation are everything. It’s what keeps us competitive globally.”

Sustainability in action
Like many modern manufacturers, the Waterford site has made sustainability a core focus. But for Mark, it’s about real action and results, not just promises on paper.

“We’ve installed just under 500 solar panels, which provide about 25% of our electricity needs,” says Mark. “We’ve also added EV charging stations, and the power is free for employees with electric cars.”
The company’s sustainability efforts extend throughout its operations. “We’re almost a paper-free site now, and we’ve eliminated foam packaging. We’ve also upgraded our heating and cooling systems and replaced some of our older air and de-ionised water generation utilities, all of which have given us a 20% cut in overall electricity use.”

He admits the next phase will likely be more challenging.

“The easy wins are done. Now we’re focusing on the tougher projects, the ones that take more time and investment. But they’re definitely on our radar.”

Solar power with a local impact

The company’s solar project has become a point of pride, not only for its energy savings but also for its visibility in the community.

“Our site location in the southeast of Ireland means we actually get about 20% more solar intensity than the northwest, and our factory has a low-pitch south-facing roof, so it’s perfect. You can see the panels from the main road as the whole factory is covered in them, and people in the community often comment on them.

“It’s a clear statement of intent. It shows we’re serious about sustainability.”

A workforce that cares
Mark says sustainability resonates strongly with the younger members of the workforce. “The workforce here is relatively young, in their 20s and 30s, and sustainability is high on their agenda. You see people cycling or using e-scooters. It’s part of their lifestyle.

“And from a customer perspective, it’s now essential.”

The Waterford site’s sustainability efforts also reach into the local community, with many of its 120 employees living within five kilometres of the factory, with many choosing to walk, cycle or e-bike to work each day.

That local connection also shines through in the company’s sponsorships and outreach. “We have sponsored several local sports teams,” says Mark. “In the past, we’d quietly donate jerseys or footballs without saying much about it. Recently, we have sponsored a number of signs at local pitches, just to show we’re here and we are proud to support our community.”

He adds that the company recently became one of the sponsors of the Waterford Viking Marathon, and we have also supported Waterford’s Assisi House in 2025 (a local day centre for the elderly).

“We’re very proud to support these causes. It’s nice to be a little bit visible and give something back.”

Planning for competitiveness
When asked what Ireland needs to stay competitive as a manufacturing leader, Mark points to one key issue: planning. A recent expansion project was delayed by nine months due to an objection from someone living 150 kilometres away. This was eventually overturned, but it was still an unnecessary delay.

For Mark, it’s a symptom of a wider issue. “The lack of an effective planning process is slowing down everything, including industrial growth, housing, major infrastructure and also renewable energy projects,” adds Mark. “Ireland requires an additional 300,000 new homes by 2030, but I’ve heard some estimates that we may miss that target by a huge margin. The same goes for huge delays to green electricity generation in the areas of offshore wind and solar; it all comes back to planning.”

He adds that the issue isn’t just about delays, but reputation. “Major mechanical and electrical contractors who have had a major presence in Ireland for many years are now shifting focus to building critical infrastructure projects in the Nordics, the UK, and Germany because that is where the work is. We’re losing ground.”

Despite these challenges, he remains optimistic about the future of Carten and looking ahead, the focus is clear. “We’re investing heavily in R&D, product development, and prototyping and in this area, there are strong government incentives and supports that we avail of. We’ve built full validation and testing facilities on site, and we’re developing new platforms while supporting projects and customers across our wider corporate group. It’s all about designing, evolving and launching new products, and continuing to innovate.”

Mark adds, “We’re proud to be a community-based business that designs and manufactures highly engineered products that are supplied worldwide from Waterford. But to keep Ireland competitive, we need to make it easier for companies to build and expand, but also for our people to live and thrive here.”

Ibec Manufacturing Report 2025 Carten Controls