Waters moves into Malaysia to tap growing bioprocessing market
The company said its new subsidiary, Waters and TA Instrument technologies located in Kuala Lumpar, will be more effective in supplying its product portfolio to the region, in light of “steady and consistent increases in demand,” according to spokesman Jeff Tarmy.
Tarmy told Biopharma-Reporter.com the subsidiary “will support the full line of chromatography, chemistries, detection and informatics solutions from Waters Division and the full line of thermal analysis. rheology and microcalorimetry solutions from TA Instruments.”
While Waters Corporation supplies a number of industries with analytical tools, mass spectrometry and separations science equipment, around 60% of its revenues comes from the life science sector.
“These technologies are, and will be, supported for the full range of end markets, including biopharmaceutical applications.”
He added Waters has seen “dynamic development” in Malaysia and took the opportunity to “extend our support to our expanding customer base by establishing direct in-country operations.”
Malaysian growth
There has been a drive within Malaysia to increase its bioprocessing capabilities, with the Government launching a bio-hub located at a 160 acre park in Johor in 2013. The Bio-XCell Biotechnology Park gives manufacturers the option to lease plots for production plants and easy access to utilities.
Indian biopharma firm Biocon too has invested in the country, building a RM 500m ($118m) insulin plant in Johor in 2011.
The news comes following a strong year financially for Waters in Asia, according to CFO Gene Cassis.
He told delegates at the Stifel Health Care Conference last month (transcript here) the firm has seen both recurring revenues and a strong growth rate in its Asian business.
“We've also begun to see that culturally paying for service is becoming much more understood and acceptable in some of our larger Asian markets.”