Ei Electronics ‘EI’ has been a bedrock in the Shannon Free Zone since the early 1960s, and this year is celebrating key Milestone Anniversaries; 60 Years Manufacturing in Shannon, and 35 Years as a fully-fledged Irish Company.
For anyone not already acquainted with this unique Irish success story, the Company www.eielectronics.com commands a leadership position globally as a manufacturer of residential fire and carbon monoxide detection products for the residential sector.
Over half a century ago, in 1963, General Electric (USA) established a fledgling Irish manufacturing operation in Shannon; the EI or ‘Emerald Isle’ Company as it was originally known. 25 years later in 1988 following a Management Buyout of GE’s Irish interests in Shannon, led by the then MD, Michael ‘Mick’ Guinee and other members of his team, Ei Electronics as we know it today was born.
Thirty five years on, Guinee goes to great lengths to highlight the role many generations have played in the Ei success story. “Very few Companies have a longevity to equal that of Ei. It is tribute to the resilience and skill of generations of people. As employees we all feel great pride in the continued success of this Company and its contribution to the region over many years.”
The motivation at the time of the MBO in 1988 was to maintain valuable manufacturing jobs in Shannon, and build a successful and sustainable international business. Although now a global operation, to this day the strategy is to maintain 100% of manufacturing in Shannon. In 2022 a staggering 13 million smoke and carbon monoxide alarms were manufactured on the original site in the SFZ.
Guinee continues; “Our business has grown and evolved significantly over the last 35 years. We now have a global customer base, and we have 1,250 employees worldwide.
That said, we have remained true to our roots, with a culture of long service, integrity and respect for the employee at the heart of everything we do.”
As part of the Anniversary Celebrations, the Management of Ei Electronics has announced plans for an Open Day to be held on September 17th. The Open Day will involve an invitation to all employees – past and present, their families, customers, suppliers, members of the local community, local schools, etc. to come together and celebrate these milestone anniversaries of Ei’s presence in Shannon.
Commenting further, Co-founder and Operations Director Jim Duignan said, “Our success is a tribute to the dedication of very many people over several decades. We are particularly proud of the fact that over the years we have made a valuable contribution to our local community and this region, making it a better place to live and work for the current and future generations.”
The celebration will be a great occasion to catch up with old friends, view the technology, and meet the people that have made Ei a world leader in its field over 6 decades.
