SÜDPACK Medica has announced the completion of an expansion of its Coulmer manufacturing site in Normandy, France, increasing capacity for primary pharmaceutical packaging and sterile barrier systems for medical devices and diagnostics.
The expanded facility was officially opened on 17 July, marking the completion of a project that began with a groundbreaking ceremony in September 2023.
The investment was described by SÜDPACK as its largest single project at the time of its launch, with the expansion almost doubling the site's ISO Class 7 and ISO Class 8 cleanroom production areas.
The Coulmer facility is certified to ISO 13485 for medical devices and diagnostics and ISO 15378 for primary packaging materials used in pharmaceutical applications under GMP conditions.
The site also manufactures products within SÜDPACK Medica's MedGuard portfolio, including pouch systems and other packaging formats for applications spanning implants, surgical kits, wound care products and surgical textiles.
It also produces header bags for large-volume medical devices that typically undergo ethylene oxide (ETO) sterilisation.
SÜDPACK said the investment responds to growing demand from the pharmaceutical, medical-device and sterile products industries for packaging manufactured under controlled conditions, with requirements around particulate cleanliness, process control, sterility and regulatory compliance becoming increasingly important.
The expansion also increases the company's ability to manufacture at higher volumes under cleanroom conditions across the production chain, from film production through to finished pouches.
This vertical integration is intended to support consistency and supply security for customers operating in regulated healthcare markets.
SÜDPACK Medica currently produces sterile packaging solutions at its Coulmer site, including bags and pouch systems, with the company highlighting its expertise in coextruded films and cleanroom conversion.
Sustainability is another focus of the expanded operation.
SÜDPACK said Coulmer will contribute to the development of packaging concepts aligned with the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), including recyclable mono-PE structures intended to replace conventional PA/PE laminates.
The timing comes as the PPWR moves towards general application from 12 August 2026, bringing new requirements covering the manufacture, composition and recyclability of packaging placed on the EU market.
For those in the pharmaceutical sector, the investment highlights the continuing challenge of balancing stringent packaging performance and cleanroom manufacturing requirements with growing pressure to improve material efficiency and recyclability.
