The Gerresheimer Group recently expanded its activities in the pharmaceutical plastic business, through two strategically significant investments in the US and Europe. In September 2009 the company almost simultaneously opened a new research and development centre for medical plastic systems in the US and a new production centre for pharmaceutical plastic packaging in Spain.
“Plastics are increasingly gaining in importance within our highly specialized service portfolio for the international pharmaceutical industry,” Gerresheimer CEO Dr Axel Herberg said. “The pharmaceutical plastic business has meanwhile become the division with the highest growth rate, which we are continuing to expand systematically. These are crucial investments in the Gerresheimer Group’s growth.”
The new technological centre in Peachtree City, Georgia, US, is opening up a new dimension for the group’s flourishing business with American industrial clients from the pharmaceutical, diagnostics and medical technology industries. As a full-service provider for medical plastic systems, Gerresheimer has upgraded the US location, which has until recently been limited to manufacturing, to become a comprehensively operating research, development and production centre.
In the American market the group now has facilities at the front end of its customised serial production of entire product and process development comparable to those only available in Europe up to now. The product range in this field includes highly developed inhalation systems for the treatment of respiratory diseases as well as insulin pen systems, skin-prick aids and lancets for the diabetes sector, which is also growing steadily.
The newly opened plant in Masalavés in Spain (in the Valencia region) is also highly significant with regard to the broad market of standardised pharmaceutical system packaging made of plastics. The plant is deemed to be the biggest production centre of its kind in Southern Europe and is a significant strategic base for Gerresheimer there, as well as in the Central European region. Pharmaceutical bottles and multi-functional dosage and closure systems, for example for eye drops, contact lens care products, nose sprays and tablets, are produced there.
With the help of significant acquisitions, targeted investments and organic growth Gerresheimer has accelerated its plastics business during the past five years and developed it into an internationally leading market force. All in all, the company now possesses 15 locations in Europe, the US and Asia in this sector. Both segments of the plastics division are continuing to attain above-average growth rates. Accounting for a third of group sales, plastics have already become the largest growth area within the Gerresheimer Group.