Technology giant EMC has reported an 18% increase in revenue for 2011, adding that its Irish operations achieved record growth during the year.

The data storage and technology support services giant — co-founded in the late 1970s by former US ambassador to Ireland Richard Egan — employs 50,000 people worldwide. 2,500 are based in its Irish division, the main element of which is its Centre of Excellence in Cork.

The head of that unit, Bob Savage, said that the results show that EMC’s Irish business is helping to drive a revolution in global information technology.

"Through our Centre of Excellence, which houses EMC’s largest manufacturing site outside the US, we’re helping customers to discover how cloud and big data can save money and capture greater market share, deliver greater efficiencies, speed and agility for businesses, and position Ireland at the leading edge of a global IT revolution.

"EMC in Ireland is consolidating our presence as one of the country’s largest employers and an enabler for economic recovery through innovation and new technologies," he added.

Jason Ward, EMC’s country manager for Ireland, added: "As demand for hybrid cloud and big data solutions surges, our rapidly expanding channel and mid-market business is expected to continue growing, driving further expansion through next year. Here in Ireland and globally, EMC is taking market share, re-investing for growth and delivering improved earnings as we transform the IT and business environments through innovative cloud and big data solutions."

On a global basis, EMC yesterday reported a 14% year-on-year increase in fourth quarter revenues, with net income rising by 32% on the same period last year, to $832 million. For 2011, as a whole, net income was up by 30% to $2.5 billion, while revenue rose by 18% to $20bn.

While Irish figures have not been broken down for the full year, EMC’s operations here grew 21% in 2011’s third quarter.