ABEC buys Ireland plant to make bioprocessing equipment in Europe

ABEC makes processing equipment for biomanufacturers and the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based firm has announced this week it is acquiring a facility in Fermoy, County Cork.

The 87,000sq ft site and the surrounding land was previously owned by French firm FCI, with the facility making electronic components for the automative industry but the acquisition will see it produce “custom engineered process equipment for the clinical and commercial manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals,” ​according to spokesperson Emily Smith.

“Similar to our US HQ, we will be able to engineer, design, manufacture, and test the entire bioprocess – upstream, downstream, and clean utilities,”​ she told Biopharma-Reporter.com. “We will also provide comprehensive site services from this site.”​

Smith could not disclose financial details of the deal, but did say transforming the facility into a bioprocessing equipment plant would not be a problem.

“The FCI facility is nicely set up for making our products. We will only need to retrofit utilities for equipment testing, install overhead cranes, and do various smaller upgrades.”​

Ireland​

ABEC ranks the majority of the world’s biomanufacturers among its customers, but the acquisition of this facility will keep the firm “ahead of the growth.”​

Furthermore, the site will form ABEC’s European headquarters and, according to Smith, the location will make use of Ireland’s talent pool and training, as well as grant the firm access to the broader European market.

News of the acquisition and the creation of over 100 jobs was welcomed by Ireland’s Industrial Development Authority.

Ireland has become a hub of biomanufacturing over the past few years, with recent large investments from companies such as Pfizer​, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Regeneron and Eli Lilly​.