Eli Lilly, a US-based pharmaceutical company, is expanding its manufacturing facility in Limerick, Ireland, to enhance the production capacity for biologic active ingredients, used to treat conditions such as diabetes, obesity and Alzheimer’s disease.
The company is investing approximately $1bn in the expansion. The project garnered support from local authorities of Ireland, including the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE).
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The initial announcement of the project was made in 2022, with the ground-breaking ceremony taking place in March 2023. The facility is anticipated to commence production in 2026.
The expansion is expected to generate 300 new permanent employment positions and create opportunities for an additional 150 highly qualified workers in the Limerick region.
Location of Eli Lilly’s new manufacturing facility
The expansion will be located at a greenfield site within the company’s existing state-of-the-art biotech manufacturing campus at IDA’s Raheen Business Park in Limerick.
The location was chosen due to its proximity to universities renowned for their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programmes, and its convenient access to local communities and the surrounding life sciences sectors.
Eli Lilly biologic active ingredients manufacturing facility expansion details
The Limerick site will be expanded with a new next-generation biotech drug substance facility, covering an area of 500,000ft² (46,451m²).
It will be a fully integrated digital site incorporating a range of advanced technologies, including machine learning, AI, and automated robotics and systems. These technologies are intended to ensure right-first-time (RFT) execution, supporting the safe and consistent supply of pharmaceutical products.
Sustainability features
The Limerick campus and the expansion adhere to the sustainability and environmental guidelines of the company.
A substantial investment has been made in solar energy, which will generate approximately 3.17 million kilowatt-hours of renewable solar energy annually on the campus. The energy is sufficient to power 755 Irish households each year.
The facility will focus on responsible water management. Its design incorporates a series of cisterns intended to collect rainwater, which will be reutilised for on-site use, potentially saving around two million litres of water annually.
Furthermore, Lilly Limerick has developed a comprehensive plan to safeguard the rare Meadow Barley plant found at its Raheen location.
The Limerick site will function with a 35% lesser energy intensity, use 40% less water and produce 15% less waste compared to conventional biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes upon completion.
Contractors involved
Jacobs, an engineering consultant, is responsible for the engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) of the project.
Jacobs subcontracted Rockwell, a utility system construction company, for the design and installation of extensive heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and pipework, in addition to offering building information modelling (BIM) support for the project.
PHD Access, a scaffolding service provider, is responsible for the development of the project’s scaffolding strategy, as well as the assurance of safety throughout the site.
Eli Lilly Ireland operations
Eli Lilly has maintained operations in Ireland since 1978 and employs more than 3,500 individuals across three locations, Kinsale, Cork County, and Limerick.
The Kinsale campus incorporates three advanced manufacturing platforms focused on chemistry, biology, and peptides. The facility produces active pharmaceutical ingredients for both clinical trial purposes and commercial distribution.
Located in Little Island, the Cork campus’ global business solutions (GBS) centre delivers a range of services including clinical development, finance, and patient support.
The Limerick campus is dedicated to providing pharmaceutical healthcare solutions targeting rare and unmet medical conditions, with a particular emphasis on diabetes, immunology, and oncology. The new site will be Eli Lilly’s fifth manufacturing location in Europe.
