Boston Scientific to Shift Yokneam Manufacturing to Ireland by 2028: Dozens of Employees Affected

Medical device giant Boston Scientific announced that it will gradually transfer its manufacturing operations from the Galil Medical facility in Yokneam to its site in Galway, Ireland. The company said the move is part of a strategic plan to “prepare for the expected increase in demand and align capabilities, technologies, and resources across global manufacturing facilities.”

The transition will affect several dozen employees in production, manufacturing engineering and quality control roles. According to the company, employees have been informed of the long-term plan, with the full transition expected to conclude in early 2028. Actual relocation of product lines will begin in the second half of 2027.

 Affected employees will receive support

Boston Scientific noted that affected employees will be offered the opportunity to apply for open roles within the company’s Israel operations and will receive support throughout the transition process.

Despite the shift in manufacturing, the company stressed that it remains committed to its presence in Israel. It highlighted its “thriving laser development and manufacturing center” in the country and said it “recognizes the added value that the Israeli business environment contributes to Boston Scientific and will continue to operate, invest and maintain a presence in Israel.”

From Cryotherapy Innovator to Global Integration

Galil Medical, originally founded in the late 1990s as a spin-off from Rafael, specialized in minimally invasive cryotherapy technologies—methods for destroying tissue, typically cancerous tumors, through rapid freezing. The company was acquired in 2016 by the British firm BTG for approximately $110 million. When Boston Scientific purchased BTG in 2019, Galil Medical was integrated into its global operations.

In addition to Galil Medical, Boston Scientific operates a major surgical lasers division in Israel, acquired from Lumenis in 2021 for $1.1 billion. Earlier this year, the company purchased Israeli startup SoniVie, developer of an ultrasound-based device for drug-resistant hypertension, in a deal valuing the company at $400 million. Boston Scientific has also been a partner in the Medex incubator, which until recently operated under a franchise from the Israel Innovation Authority.