Pfizer expands in China with $95m consumer products plant
pharmafile | June 16, 2015 | News story | Manufacturing and Production, Sales and Marketing | Asia, China, Pfizer, brett wells, production
Pfizer says it has broken ground with a $95 million production facility in Suzhou in China to expand its production of Centrum multivitamins and Caltrate dietary supplements.
The aim of the new plant which is close to its existing Suzhou site, is to help give it a production capacity boost to meet demand for its consumer products in the Asia-Pacific region.
“Asia-Pacific is a large and rapidly growing region for Pfizer Consumer Healthcare and our new plant in Suzhou will give us the production capacity we need to meet increasing demand for our brands, particularly in China,” says Andy Schmeltz, regional president, Asia-Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare.
The company also has plans to develop a research and development facility on the site.
Pfizer finished its vaccine sales operations in China after the country’s government failed to renew an import license for one of its products in April. The move affected 200 employees who worked in the division.
But its existing site in Suzhou has been around for more than 10 years and has 700 employees – making products from antibiotics through to prescription drugs and cough syrups.
Pfizer says the design of the site is expected to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications, and will incorporate the most advanced technologies to minimise energy and water consumption.
For instance, to minimize energy consumption, the plant will be fitted with high-efficiency manufacturing equipment, LED and solar powered lighting with automatic controls.
It will employ technologies to recycle waste heating and cooling and will make extensive use of natural lighting and shading. To conserve water, the plant will use high efficiency equipment and fixtures, recycle treated wastewater for its cooling tower and for toilets and capture rain water for irrigation of its lawn and landscaping.
“This new site is the latest step on our journey of environmental sustainability,” notes Tony Maddaluna, executive VP and president of Pfizer Global Supply.
“For 15 years, we have voluntarily met or exceeded the public goals we have set to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions globally. This new facility is in keeping with that commitment to environmental stewardship.”
Brett Wells
Related Content
EC approves Pfizer’s Emblaveo for multidrug-resistant infection treatment
Pfizer has announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorisation for Emblaveo (aztreonam-avibactam) …
Pfizer’s Velsipity approved by EC for ulcerative colitis treatment
Pfizer has announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorisation for Velsipity (etrasimod) …
AstraZeneca and Sanofi’s Beyfortus approved in China
AstraZeneca and Sanofi have announced that Beyfortus (nirsevimab) has been approved in China for the …
