Schott boosts German pharma glass capacity

Germany-based Schott AG plans to add two giant glass-melting tanks at its facility in Mainz, Germany, as a continuation of its expansion of pharmaceutical tubing production capacity. This multi-million Euro scale investment will create 135 new jobs.

According to Udo Ungeheuer, chairman, Schott AG, this represents a further strengthening of the firm's business after the glass ceramics competence centre that was recently established at the site. The decision to set up a new tube-manufacturing base, rather than increase capacity at its existing facilities in Germany, Brazil, India and Spain, meets with customer demand by ensuring supply stability using multiple production sites.

When operational, the tanks and associated batch warehousing and production space will be used to make Schott's brand of Filox tubing products in 1.5 m long Densopack bundles that will then be shipped to clients for further processing. At present, Filox tubes are widely used in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector to make syringes, vials and sterile bottles.

Earlier the growth of the vial and syringe sector, which currently generates revenues of around $9.6 billion a year, would continue. Demand in emerging markets, coupled with the new injection only biologics, is expected to drive the expansion.