Americhem Inc. has completed an expansion of its compounding site in Ribe, Denmark.
The 15,000-square-foot expansion includes a clean compounding facility dedicated to medical grade materials, officials with Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio-based Americhem said in a news release. They added that the expansion enhances Americhem's capabilities to meet increasing European health care industry demand for high quality polymer materials.
The expansion includes new production lines, quality control labs, offices, customer meeting space and staff common areas. It will add about 11 million pounds of annual production capacity, almost doubling the capacity of the existing site.
Officials said that the new clean environment gives Americhem "unique capabilities" to make compounds that meet stringent medical device requirements. At the site, Americhem can compound a wide range of resins, including polypropylene, ABS, nylon, polycarbonate and acetal. Officials said these compounds can be shipped globally from Ribe.
CEO John Richard said that the creation of the Americhem Healthcare unit, the Ribe expansion and a 2021 expansion in Morrisville, Pa., "strongly supports" the firm's "global reach, regional focus" strategy.
Europe Managing Director Barto DuPlessis added that the Ribe the expansion "follows the acquisition of Controlled Polymers A/S in 2020 and solidifies Americhem's commitment to not only health care, but also Europe."
The expanded site in Denmark also will serve as Americhem's European headquarters. Officials said the expansion is a result of expected double-digit growth in the European health care market from 2023-28.
Americhem employs more than 900 and is one of North America's 30 largest compounders and concentrate makers, according to Plastics News data.