A manufacturing firm in south Armagh is set to double its workforce with a £2.5 million investment in its Crossmaglen factory. Roco, which produces mobile crushing and screening equipment, will create 30 new jobs, bringing total employment at the site to about 60.

The expansion follows £8 million in export sales over the past 12 months. The company’s hybrid-electric machines are used in construction, quarrying and recycling, and are sold across Britain and Ireland, the United States and European markets.

Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald visited the plant to announce the investment. She said the company’s export performance showed how local firms could compete globally. The expansion would boost productivity, deliver high-quality jobs and support a more regionally balanced economy, she added.

Chief executive Shane Connolly said the investment was needed to meet international demand. He explained that expanding the facility and workforce would allow the company to bring more assembly work in-house, improving efficiency and productivity. The move will also enable Roco to double its machinery options, attracting new customers in international markets following recent export successes.

Invest Northern Ireland has offered £210,000 towards the 30 new roles, which span production, design, finance and sales. Seven positions have already been filled. Alistair Quinn, Invest NI’s head of southern regional business, said the agency had worked closely with Roco since 2020, supporting trade missions that contributed to export wins. The agency is now connecting the company with in-market teams in the US and Middle East to develop opportunities in Mexico, Europe and Asia.