Medical technology group Becton, Dickinson and Co. is investing $1.2 billion over four years to expand and upgrade its manufacturing capacity and technology for pre-fillable syringes and advanced drug delivery systems.
The investment will go toward the upgrade of six of the Franklin Lakes, N.J.-based company's global manufacturing facilities and the addition of a new facility in Europe, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2023, according to a Dec. 2 news release.
BD has added 350 million units of manufacturing capacity for glass barrel pre-fillable syringes since 2018, Eric Borin, global president of BD Pharmaceutical Systems, said in the release.
"This investment positions BD to have the needed surge capacity for increased pre-fillable syringe demand during times of pandemic response or periods of significant growth of new injectable drugs and vaccines," Borin said. "This significant investment in one of BD's fastest-growing business units will further advance our leadership position and enable continued strong growth in the years ahead."
BD did not immediately respond to request for comment by Plastics News, including where the new European facility will be. Details on what types of manufacturing will be involved with the expansion were not disclosed.
"The investment will also fund capacity expansion, new product innovations, manufacturing technology enhancements and business continuity improvements across its existing network," the release said.
The improvements, it said, are "designed to maximize supply and reduce risks for pharmaceutical companies that rely on ready-to-fill syringes for their injectable drugs, including complex biologics, vaccines and small molecules."
The six existing BD Pharmaceutical Systems manufacturing facilities that will receive portions of the investment include those in Columbus, Neb.; Cuautitlán, Mexico; Fukushima, Japan; Le Pont-de-Claix, France; Swindon, England; and Tatabánya, Hungary.