A Dublin-based engineering firm is trebling its workforce, creating 30 new jobs for graduates.

Malone Engineering, which currently employs 15 people at Ballycoolin Industrial Estate, is seeking graduates in engineering and health and safety for the roles, which were announced today.

The company offers engineering design, project management and safety management solutions to industries ranging from pharmaceutical and food and drink to industrial, educational, healthcare and banking sectors in Ireland, the UK and North America.

Welcoming the news, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton said Irish engineering companies could make a major contribution to a "jobs-rich recovery".

"I am determined that with strong implementation of good policies we can provide better and better support to companies like this so that they can continue to grow and create the jobs we need," he said.

Chief executive Stephen Malone said the announcement was "tangible evidence" of the company's success despite a difficult trading environment in recent years.

"We have grown Malone Engineering steadily over the last 14 years, and in the last 2 years we have invested in the right people, in the right kinds of qualifications and accreditations and the right kind of infrastructure that enables us to be highly flexible and innovative while being pragmatic and understanding of our customer's needs," he said. "We will continue to invest, because we believe in the future and we are ready for the economy to improve and for the next phase of growth – ours and our clients."

In a separate announcement, a Dundalk manufacturer is to create more than 250 seasonal jobs as it moves into new manufacturing facilities.

National Pen, which makes marketing materials, said it hopes many of the seasonal workers will be offered permanent contracts in the coming months. The firm, which has its European headquarters in Dundalk, is tripling the size of its manufacturing facility and already employs 255 people.

“We opened our doors in Dundalk in 1987. At that time we supplied one market – Germany - with only one product, one design and a limited workforce of four people,” said senior vice president of National Pen Europe Peter Kelly. “Now with over 25 years under our belt in Dundalk, the National Pen story has a long way to run yet.”

Recruitment for the roles has already begun, the firm said.