SAFC invests $10m in European commercial manufacturing and storage capacities
SAFC is to spend $10m (Euro 7.25m) on developing cGMP commercial-scale API manufacturing capacity at its SAFC Pharma facility in Arklow, Ireland, and expanding capacity to enhance manufacturing operations at Buchs in Switzerland.
SAFC is to spend $10m (Euro 7.25m) on developing cGMP commercial-scale API manufacturing capacity at its SAFC Pharma facility in Arklow, Ireland, and expanding capacity to enhance manufacturing operations at Buchs in Switzerland.
Scheduled for the first quarter of next year, the $4.7m (€3.4m) Arklow investment will increase production capacity and capability. The site will upgrade the pilot plant and install additional vessels to increase significantly chemistry capacity for API products. Additional enhancements under this project scheduled later this year are expected to increase utility capacity and further increase the site's award-winning environmental performance.
The 64,000m3 Arklow manufacturing complex was acquired in 2006 and features a simulated moving bed (SMB) unit in one of its four cGMP and FDA-inspected production bays that were designed specifically for commercial-scale production of commercial and late stage APIs.
The Buchs site will extend its existing cGMP production facility with a 17,200ft2 expansion designed to enhance production capacity by 25% through improved materials flow and separation, and increased materials storage. The new $5.4m (€3.9m) two-level storage facility is expected to become fully operational in spring 2008 and will provide logistical infrastructure to support future expansion. The site supports manufacturing operations for the SAFC Pharma and SAFC Supply Solutions business sectors.
"These significant investments enhance our determination to support SAFC Pharma's rapid growth and help us reduce our environmental footprint," said SAFC president Frank Wicks. "The expansion of the Arklow facility underlines the desire of our customers to have their API manufactured to a high quality standard in a superior technical environment, partnered with a premium company that can ensure a security of supply."
The developments at Arklow and Buchs are the latest in a series for SAFC Pharma and complement the recently announced expansion of high-potency intermediates (HPAPI) manufacturing and solid-form research at its Madison, Wisconsin facility and the completion of two new protein purification and extraction API facilities on its St Louis manufacturing campus.