BD (NYSE:BDX) announced today that it broke ground on its $200 million pre-filled drug delivery device manufacturing plant in Spain.
Franklin Lakes, New Jersey-based BD announced in May that it would build the $201.5 million (€165 million) high-tech manufacturing facility in Zaragoza, Spain, with expectations of creating up to 600 jobs at the facility by 2030.
According to a news release, the new site, which will initially register a size of 86,000 square feet (8,000 square meters), is estimated to open in late 2023, with BD beginning the recruitment process to fill key positions supporting the design and set-up of the plant.
“These roles will be on the front lines of building a sustainable, state-of-the-art and fully digital site incorporating the latest in intelligent and autonomous solutions,” Thibault Naegelen, Program Director for BD’s Zaragoza facility, said in the release. “We look forward to building a team in Zaragoza that helps BD meet its mission of advancing the world of health by supplying our European customers with devices that enhance drug delivery.”
In December 2020, BD announced its intent to invest $1.2 billion over four years to expand and upgrade multiple drug-delivery facilities. The company said it would open the new facility and build upon its six existing sites in Columbus, Nebraska; Cuautitlán, Mexico; Fukushima, Japan; Le Pont-de-Claix, France; Swindon, United Kingdom; and Tatabánya, Hungary.
The Zaragoza team will produce drug delivery devices, mainly for biopharmaceutical companies supporting the European market with drugs in pre-fillable syringes, including vaccines and other biologic drugs.
BD said the new facility will add much-needed capacity to support major vaccination campaigns going forward, including the ongoing effort to vaccinate the world against COVID-19.
The company is set to hire operators and production staff to oversee production lines closer to the opening date for the plant in 2023. BD intends to ensure that the site meets high sustainability and eco-efficiency standards and anticipates that the facility will employ up to 600 people with an area of 323,000 square feet (30,000 square meters) by 2030.
“Pre-fillable drug systems are a known factor in helping health care providers effectively, reliably and consistently administer drug therapies,” BD Pharmaceutical Systems Worldwide President Eric Borin said. “Today, more than 70% of the top 100 biopharmaceutical companies rely on BD pre-fillable syringes. This groundbreaking marks an important milestone in our ability to extend manufacturing capacity for our customers as they continue to grow their vaccine and biologic drug pipelines.”
