Almac creates 229 jobs in Northern Ireland expansion
pharmafile | June 13, 2013 | News story | Manufacturing and Production | Almac, Ireland, laxative
Northern Ireland-based Almac is planning to invest almost £14 million in another expansion of its pharma development and manufacturing operation in Craigavon, creating 229 new jobs.
The fast-growing company said the latest investment – which includes around £2 million from Invest Northern Ireland – comes off the back of rapid growth of a laxative product it makes at the facility on behalf of an undisclosed client.
The increase in funding and workforce will be split between a new commercial production facility and a recently-completed non-Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) plant at Craigavon that focuses on manufacturing drugs for early-stage, non-clinical testing.
All told, the expansion will increase the headcount at Almac to over 3,000 workers, with most employed within Northern Ireland.
The investment in the commercial plant will go on blending equipment as well as an automated packing and integrated cartoning line that should allow Almac to start high-volume, bulk commercial manufacturing in November of this year.
Meanwhile, the company completed its 13,400 sq. ft. non-GMP unit – consisting of a formulation development facility and analytical laboratories at Craigavon – earlier this year with the promise of around 60 additional jobs ponce operating at full capacity.
“Centralising and expanding our production in Craigavon will mean more cost effective manufacturing and optimal quality control and distribution,” said Graeme McBurney, managing director of Almac’s pharma services business unit.
He added: “the new non-GMP facility on site, alongside Almac’s existing GMP capability, will enable us to operate with improved speed and efficiency in the early stages of projects.”
Other expansions at the company in recent months have involved its commercial packaging operations in the US, a refrigerated storage unit in the UK, a clinical supply plant in Philadelphia and an API production plant at Craigavon. It also forged a wide-ranging alliance with DSM in the area of applying biocatalysis to improve the efficiency of API production.
The company has been trying to expand the range of services it offers to allow it to support clients through the product development and commercialisation process, whilst also covering additional geographies.
The company opened US headquarters in Souderton, Pennsylvania, in 2011, and has been eyeing opportunities in Asia and Latin America, opening offices in Singapore and Japan in early 2013.
Welcoming the latest announcement, Enterprise Minister said it would reinforce Northern Ireland’s position in the life sciences sector and deliver almost £5.5 million in salaries to the region a year, boosting the local economy.
Phil Taylor
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