Sigma-Aldrich makes further investment in Scotland

US life science company Sigma-Aldrich will add a new powder manufacturing facility at its plant in Irvine, Scotland.

This will be SAFC’s second powder manufacturing facility in Irvine and will support and strengthen the firm’s risk management programme, providing an internal back-up supplier for its customers. It will also add to the firm’s existing liquid manufacturing capability in Scotland.

The new facility will be used to service customers across Europe and will create 24 new jobs.

Sigma Aldrich has not disclosed the cost of the facility, but the firm has received a £1.5m Regional Selective Assistance grant from Scottish Enterprise, Scotland’s economic development organisation.

‘The liquid facility investment at Irvine was a significant move for SAFC as part of our strategy to support our key European biopharmaceutical accounts,’ said Gilles Cottier, president of SAFC.

‘We are delighted to expand on that initial investment and look forward to continued success in Scotland and throughout Europe.’

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond and Scottish Enterprise chief executive Lena Wilson met representatives of the company in Chicago during a trade mission last week to discuss the company's plans and look at other options to grow its Scottish operations.

Salmond said: ‘This is fantastic news for Scotland, for Ayrshire and for Irvine. 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.

‘It is clear that Scotland is a land of major opportunity and we have a long and impressive track record in the chemicals and life sciences sector, developing an environment where ingenuity and innovation can create jobs and wealth.’

SAFC made a multi-million dollar investment to upgrade its liquid handling capabilities at Irvine in 2009, supported by a grant of nearly $260,000 from Scottish Enterprise.