West Breaks Ground for its Second Manufacturing Plant in China
SHANGHAI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST), a global leader in innovative solutions for injectable drug administration, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction for a compression molding plant in the Shanghai Qingpu Industrial Zone (SQIZ) in China. The new plant will be adjacent to West's injection molding facility that was dedicated in September 2009.
When completed, the plant will manufacture components used for pharmaceutical packaging, supplying customers primarily in China and the Asia-Pacific region. The 11,900-square-meter facility is expected to begin production in January 2013.
"West is experiencing an exciting period of growth in the Asia-Pacific region and we are proud to begin our second manufacturing facility in China," said Donald E. Morel, Jr., West's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "This facility is being established to provide better service to our customers in China, offering shorter lead times for delivery of our world-class pharmaceutical packaging products and creating new, flexible capacity to meet the growing needs of new customers in China and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Our investment in this new facility demonstrates our commitment to and confidence in the China market.
"On behalf of West's Board of Directors and our employees worldwide, I would like to thank representatives of the Chinese government and the Shanghai Qingpu Industrial Zone, in particular, for their continued support throughout the process of planning the new facility."
In addition to the injection molding plant in Qingpu, West's presence in the Asia-Pacific region includes a factory in Singapore and sales offices in Australia, China, India and Singapore. West is also an equity partner of Daikyo Seiko, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan. Daikyo Seiko, founded in 1954, is a global leader in manufacturing ultra-clean pharmaceutical packaging and medical device components. The West/Daikyo relationship has been in place since 1973, encompassing a range of joint distributorship and technology licensing agreements.
About West
West's innovative system, device and component solutions help improve the safety and administration of injectable drugs. West's proprietary materials science, formulation research and manufacturing technologies advance the quality, therapeutic value, development speed and rapid market availability of pharmaceuticals, biologics and vaccines. Sales in 2010 totaled US$1.1 billion.
West supports its customers with sales, manufacturing, customer support and research and development from 50 locations in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Global headquarters are in Lionville, Pa., USA. Visit West online at www.westpharma.com. Follow West on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WestPharma.
Schwartz Communications
Kristin Villiotte, 781-684-0770