Sigma-Aldrich invest in Scottish site
pharmafile | October 2, 2012 | News story | Manufacturing and Production | Bioreliance, Irvine, Scotland, Sigma-Aldrich
Sigma-Aldrich has announced an expansion of its operations in Scotland with the construction of a powder manufacturing facility at its site in Irvine.
The new facility is the second powder manufacturing plant in the Sigma-Aldrich Fine Chemicals (SAFC) network, and is designed to provide additional supply capacity for the company’s clients in Europe as part of a risk-management programme.
Irvine is the site of Sigma-Aldrich’s liquid manufacturing operations, and these will also get a boost from the investment which will be supported by a £1.5 million grant from Scottish Enterprise, the country’s economic development organisation.
The overall cost of the project has not been disclosed, but Sigma-Aldrich noted that 24 new jobs will be created as a result of the expansion.
SAFC president Gilles Cottier said the liquid facility investment at Irvine was a “part of our strategy to support our key European biopharmaceutical accounts”. The liquid capabilities at Irvine were upgraded in 2009 through a multi-million dollar investment and infusion of close to $260,000 from the Scottish government.
“We are delighted to expand on that initial investment and look forward to continued success in Scotland and throughout Europe,” he added.
Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond said: “This expansion to create a new manufacturing facility by SAFC puts Scotland firmly at the centre of this US company’s European operations and is a clear signal to world-leading companies that we are open for business.”
SAFC is one of the fastest-growing divisions in Sigma-Aldrich, which also has units providing equipment, consumables and services used in research and manufacturing at life science companies.
The fine chemicals business achieved sales of $420 million in the first half of 2012, up 8% and accounting for 46% of total group turnover. One of the biggest drivers was the delivery of custom-manufactured high-potency compounds to pharma customers.
SAFC is expecting to see its sales growth accelerate in the second half of the year to low double-digits, thanks in part to the contributions of recently-acquired businesses BioReliance and Research Organics.
Phil Taylor
Related Content
NHS in Scotland makes rheumatoid arthritis drug available
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) have recommended the use of Galapagos UK’s JYSELECA® (filgotinib) for …
Valneva COVID-19 vaccine deal pulled by UK government
Boris Johnson and the UK government have terminated its deal with specialist vaccine company Valneva …
Scottish Medicines Consortium gives go-ahead for Novartis’ Mayzent in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
Novartis’ Mayzent (siponimod) has been approved by the Scottish Medicines Consortium in the treatment of …
