Materials firm Americhem Inc. has completed an expansion of its compounding plant in Morrisville, Pa.
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio-based Americhem posted a video on YouTube of a virtual ribbon-cutting event at the site on April 7. The 60,000-square-foot expansion includes a 20,000-square-foot clean compounding room for medical materials.
A new design center at the site includes pilot scale production to assist customers with new product design and small lot qualification. The plant is part of the company's Americhem Engineered Compounds (AEC) unit.
The clean compounding room at the site will house six new compounding lines. The new clean environment and AEC Customer Design Center, along with Americhem's ISO 13485 Certification, gives AEC "unique capabilities to produce compounds that meet the most stringent medical device requirements," officials said in a news release.
CEO Matthew Hellstern said on the video that the expansion and Americhem's recent acquisition of Controlled Polymers of Denmark "underscores our excitement and commitment to the future of healthcare and medical compounds globally."
AEC Vice President and General Manager Jim Figaniak added on the video that "our commitment to small lots, outstanding service, great technology and competitive lead times hasn't changed."
"When I walk through our facilities each day, I'm very proud that we make compounds that go into critical medical devices," he said.
In the release, officials said that the new clean compounding facility includes:
• An air lock with a positive pressure environment
• HEPA filtered air exchange with humidity and temperature controls.
• Epoxy coated floors to allow for easy cleaning.
• Sealed and polished warehouse floors.
Figaniak added in the release that the area "is designed to minimize contamination due to airborne contaminant and other contamination, while producing compounds in a clean, well-lit environment."
Americhem employs more than 900 at 12 sites worldwide. The firm is one of North America's 30 largest compounders and concentrate makers, according to Plastics News data.