Stevanato Group to create manufacturing hub in China to support biologics growth

10-Mar-2022 - Last updated on 10-Mar-2022 at 15:37 GMT

Pic:getty/samxmeg

Stevanato Group has acquired a facility in Zhangjiagang as part of its expansion in China.

Renovations, which are due to start shortly in the spring of 2022, will create a 32,000 square meter facility employing around 270 people.

The site is located near the company’s drug containment solutions facility in the Jiangsu Zhangjiagang Economic and Technological Development Zone, thus helping to ‘cement the area as a major center of biopharmaceutical innovation’, according to the company.

“As a strategic hub for our operations in the country, we believe the plant will support the Chinese pharmaceutical industry by streamlining the drug development supply chain in the country from lab through commercialization and help meet the increased demand for biologics,” says Italian-headquartered Stevanato Group.

Syringes and vials

Founded in 1949, Stevanato Group is a global provider of drug containment, drug delivery and diagnostic solutions to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and life sciences industries. It delivers an integrated, end-to-end portfolio of products, processes and services that address customer needs across the entire drug life cycle at each of the development, clinical and commercial stages.

The new site in China is expected to host production of high-value solutions, such as pre-sterilized EZ-fill syringes and vials, to meet the growing demand in the biotech and vaccine market, as well as a manufacturing area for visual inspection machines and glass forming lines, featuring cutting-edge production processes and technologies.

Equipment production is expected to start in 2023, with the first EZ-fill lines due to be operative in early 2024.

In parallel, Stevanato expects to enlarge the current standard drug containment solution production in Zhangjiagang, increasing the size of the existing facility by approximately 7,000 square meters. This site is expected to allow to almost double current production capabilities by end of 2024.

“We are excited to continue our expansion in China as part of our strategic priorities to optimize global footprint,” said Franco Moro, CEO, Stevanato. “Beginning construction on our new manufacturing hub is an important milestone for Stevanato Group in a key market, and will allow us to better serve local customers with premium drug containment solutions and machinery supply.”