SCHOTT solutions no. 1/2010 > Pharmaceutical Packaging

Photo: SCHOTT/T. Hauser

Ready for Growth

SCHOTT has strengthened its position in the growing North American pharmaceutical market by opening a production line for ready-to-fill syringe products at its U.S. site in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

Matthew Kraft

Each day, the 160 employees who work for SCHOTT in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, produce two million primary pharmaceutical packaging products. In the fall of 2009, the foundation was laid for continued growth. By opening a new production line for prefillable syringes, the site has not only expanded its existing capacities, but also its product portfolio that previously consisted of vials and cartridges. ”This production facility is now the first SCHOTT syringe manufacturing line located outside Europe. This clearly shows how important the American market is to us. Our local customers will now be able to benefit from greater security of supply and better service,” explained Ralf Bouffleur, Vice President of SCHOTT Pharmaceutical Packaging, on the occasion of the official opening that took place during a two-day symposium in October 2009.

”I offer my congratulations to SCHOTT on their success in Pennsylvania as well as their many accomplishments throughout the United States and abroad.”

Tim Holden, Member of the 111 th U.S. House of Representatives, at the opening event

Each day, the U.S. site in Lebanon manufactures two million units of pharmaceutical packaging made of glass. By opening a new production line for prefillable syringes in the fall of 2009, the site has not only expanded its existing capacities, but also its product portfolio. Photo: SCHOTT/T. Hauser

The more than 90 participants from the pharmaceutical industry and politicians who attended the event certainly appreciated hearing this. After all, the demand for syringes has continued to rise in the United States in recent years. And it is expected to continue to grow – for one, due to the increased incidence of chronic diseases, but also because of the advantages that these modern drug delivery systems offer over traditional packaging products. ”The market is growing the fastest in the biomolecular segment. Here, syringes are the best way of administration,” noted Renard Jackson, Vice President of SCHOTT Pharmaceutical Packaging North America.

Photo: SCHOTT

Analysis has revealed that the market for prefillable syringes should grow by eight to ten percent per year on a global basis. For good reason: these types of syringes lower the risk that users will administer the wrong doses. And for pharmaceutical manufacturers, ready-to-fill means the glass containers that they receive have already been siliconized and sterilized and are thus ready to be filled with the respective drugs. This reduces the number of tedious processing steps that pharmacists need to perform.

Photo: SCHOTT/B. Gruber

”It is important that we demonstrate the kind of care and attention to even the most minute detail that we put into each and every piece that comes off of our lines, regardless of whether it is a syringe, vial, or cartridge,” Renard Jackson emphasized. Those who attended the symposium apparently agree that these efforts were quite convincing. After all, they were very impressed with the high manufacturing quality and technical engineering in Lebanon. ”Now there is a viable local alternative to our existing supplier of high-quality syringes in the U.S.,” noted one pharmaceutical industry representative.

Lebanon site

Top

SCHOTT website
Pharmaceutical systems

Your contact
christa.fritschi@schott.com

Your contact
gary.waller@us.schott.com