Gerresheimer expands in the global pharmaceutical plastic business

Important investments for pharmaceutical markets in the USA and Europe

The Gerresheimer Group expands its activities in the pharmaceutical plastic business, with two strategically significant investments in the USA and Europe. This week the company is almost simultaneously opening a new research and development center for medical plastic systems in the USA as well as a new production center for pharmaceutical plastic packaging in Spain. „Plastics are increasingly gaining in importance within our highly specialized service portfolio for the international pharmaceutical industry“, Gerresheimer AG CEO Dr. Axel Herberg says. „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 center in Peachtree City (Georgia/USA) is opening up a new dimension for the Group’s flourishing business with American industrial clients from the pharmaceutical, diagnostics and medical technology industry. 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 center. In the American market the Group now has facilities at the front end of its customized 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 (region of Valencia) is also highly significant with regard to the broad market of standardized pharmaceutical system packaging made of plastics. The plant is deemed to be the biggest production center 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 multifunctional dosage and closure systems, for example for eye drops, contact lens care products, nose sprays as well as tablets, are being 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, America 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.

About Gerresheimer
Gerresheimer employs around 10,000 people in 40 locations in Europe, America and Asia. In the financial year 2008, worldwide sales totaled €1.06bn. The product portfolio ranges from pharmaceutical vials made of glass and plastic through to complex drugdelivery systems for the pharma & life science industry. These include sterile syringes, inhalers and other system-based approaches for safe dosage and application of medications. The Group enjoys a leading position in markets which are characterized by high technical and regulatory barriers.