The US headquartered Repligen Corporation is set to significantly expand its manufacturing operations in Waterford, with plans to fit out a 33,000-sq-ft LEED Silver building that is expected to create 130 jobs in the southeast over the next two-and-a-half years, it has been announced.
The facility will serve as a Centre of Excellence for single-use consumable products used in bioprocessing applications, and will complement the existing 10,500 square foot Waterford facility (formerly ARTeSYN BioSolutions, which Repligen acquired in Dec 2020) that currently employs 74 people, a figure well above initial hiring expectations set forth in 2019 (08 November 2019) as Repligen continues to experience rapid growth and increased demand for its state-of-the-art bioprocessing products.
Increase efficiencies
Known for highly innovative single-use bioprocessing technologies that increase efficiencies in the process of manufacturing biological drugs, Repligen plans to invest in building out the new Waterford plant as an innovation, assembly and production centre for a diverse portfolio of 'plug-and-play' consumables, for use with state-of-the-art filtration and chromatography systems.
These highly differentiated technologies are utilised by Repligen’s customers – primarily biopharmaceutical developers and contract development and manufacturing organisations worldwide – in the production of investigational and commercial-stage biological therapeutics and vaccines.
Completed to LEED Silver standard, IDA’s Advance Building Solution is located on a 4.2 acre site in IDA Ireland’s Business & Technology Park in Waterford. It currently includes 32,940 sq ft of technology and office space with expansion potential for up to 75,000 sq ft
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, said:, “This is excellent news from Repligen with the creation of 130 new jobs in Waterford. It comes on foot of a major jobs announcement by Bausch and Lomb. Waterford is on the move as a centre for jobs and investment.
"Ireland is globally recognised as a centre of excellence for life sciences and this significant expansion is a real vote of confidence in us and our capacity. It shows we are succeeding in attracting high-calibre companies and highly-skilled jobs to all our regions. I wish the team the very best with their expansion plans.”
'Establishing dual manufacturing sites'
James Bylund, senior vice-president, global operations and information technology at Repligen, said: “We are thrilled to continue the collaboration with the government and the IDA that was initiated by the ARTeSYN team. This build-out is an important step in expanding our capacity and establishing dual manufacturing sites for key single-use consumable products used in manufacture of biological drugs.
“The timing is excellent as we are actively expanding our Waterford site with the addition of 40 employees during the second half of 2021 and expect to open the new building as a Centre of Excellence in 2022. With its LEED Silver designation, the facility is closely aligned with our commitment to responsible growth and sustainability.”
Dr Jonathan Downey, managing director at the Waterford site, said: “Having delivered beyond our commitment in 2019 to bring new jobs to the region through our development of high-end manufacturing capabilities, we are energized and excited about our integration with Repligen and this next phase of growth. In addition to our expansion of ARTeSYN products, and the transfer of manufacturing of certain of Repligen’s current products to our Irish operations, we expect to be utilising the Irish sites to advance additional Research, Development & Innovation programs.”
Repligen’s capital commitment to the Waterford expansion is supported by the government through IDA Ireland.