Redmond McDonnell, DesignPro CEO and the French Ambassador to Ireland, His Excellency Mr Vincent Guérend accompanied by the Consul Honoraire de France Dr Loíc Guyon along with members of the French embassy’s economic services.
On Friday 11th February DesignPro Automation were honoured to have a special visit from the French Ambassador to Ireland, His Excellency Mr Vincent Guérend. Originally from Normandy, Ambassador Guérend was appointed the French Ambassador role in September 2020. He was accompanied by the Consul Honoraire de France Dr Loíc Guyon along with members of the French Embassy’s economic services.
A key focus for the visit to the Mid-West was to gain an understanding of some of the region’s investment into sustainable energy production as well as exploring the strong trade links and potential business opportunities between Irish and French companies. With most major French companies represented here in Ireland, employing 12,000 to 15,000 staff, he was particularly interested in our long-term connection to a French headquartered Tier 1 Automotive Supplier.
Over the last 15 years, we have secured a clear foothold in the vision space which has seen us working with the world-leading automotive manufacturer to supply solutions to not only their Irish production facility but also Mexico and China. With the ever-increasing demand for smart cars and the future of autonomous self-drive vehicles, the market demand for lenses is expected to continue to grow as these vehicles have a significantly higher number of cameras core to their functionality. In the Automotive sector alone, the global shipment of lens is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 4.0% from 2021-2028. Factors such as the increasing use of cameras for recording in automobiles and the growing demand for safety features are expected to drive this market growth.
During their visit, the delegation had the opportunity to meet with key members of our design and automation teams who gave them an in-depth look into the latest technology which is shaping today’s manufacturing environment.
The delegation concluded their time in the Mid-West region with a Black-Tie Wild Geese Fundraising Gala Dinner at No1 Pery Square in Limerick, with the Ambassador as a guest of honour. All proceeds from the event will go to the Limerick Civic Trust towards the organisation of the 2022 edition of the Limerick Bastille Day Wild Geese Festival, Limericks annual celebration of the long-standing friendship between France and Ireland.
