Dive Brief:
- GE Healthcare is expanding its single-use technology manufacturing facility in Westborough, MA, allowing the site to manufacture single-use things like cell growth bags.
- The expansion will include a $7 million investment from GE Healthcare that will help support biopharma industry growth.
- According to the company, the global demand for single-use bioprocessing technologies is expected to exceed $3 billion by 2020.
Dive Insight:
The planned expansion includes the tripling of a production-dedicated clean room and further training for more than 300 employees. The new additions will allow GE Healthcare to "confidently meet increasing market demand well into the future," the company said in a October 31 statement.
"In addition, the installation of automated production lines will drive manufacturing efficiency and improved process controls to ensure product quality and consistency."
The company has a newly developed film platform that is the result of an alliance between GE Healthcare and Sealed Air Corp., which was signed in August.
"Biopharmaceuticals are complex to make, requiring a dependable, consistent supply of high quality manufacturing technologies. Single-use is top of mind for our customers, for its ability to flex production to meet market needs," said Jan Makela, general manager of bioprocess at GE Healthcare's Life Science business.
"The launch of our new film with Sealed Air, the investment in single-use manufacturing in Westborough, MA and the enlarged E&L capabilities in Sweden confirm our on-going commitment to minimizing risk and assuring security of supply for our customers around the globe," the executive added.