Rexam Expands Normandy Plant; Ups Nasal Pump Manufacturing

05-Jun-2013 - Last updated on 06-Jun-2013 at 11:38 GMT

Rexam is upping its delivery device capacity at a plant in Normandy and says its new nasal spray pump is safer and more consistent.

The company who manufactures drug delivery devices for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries will invest a total of €20m ($26m) into its Le Tréport, France site, upping capacity for a number of delivery systems.

Though spokesperson Laurence Quesdeville could not tell this publication whether the expansion was being led by any specific clients – as was the case with Eli Lilly at Rexam’s La Verpillière site near Lyon, France earlier this year – she did say Rexam had been “entrusted with some major projects that will be manufactured in Le Treport.”

The expansion will see a new production building of 3750 m² including a clean room of 2900 m2, as well as 1500m² housing the machine and mould maintenance workshops, metrology unit, laboratory and administrative premises.

A new cleanroom is due to open in November, and the site intends to be inaugurated by early 2014. Quesdeville also said the project supports Rexam’s recruitment plan which has already seen an increase of 15 jobs since it was implemented last year, driven by stronger manufacturing activity.

Advancia Pump

Though the expansion will support a number of Rexam’s device offerings including spray pumps, metering and continuous valves and applicators, one new addition being manufactured at Le Treport is the Advancia pump.

The pump was the outcome of close cooperation between Le Treport and La Verpillière. “They have optimised and rethought pump technology to create a completely new reference in the nasal spray sector,” said Quesdeville.

“The pump's dosing function has been modified to spray extremely accurately and consistently, even when the pump has not been used for several weeks,” she continued, adding it “guarantees a consistent spray regardless of the user” due to the modular approach applied to the pump's design.

Furthermore, the issue of safety has been addressed. Quesdeville added: “Rexam has removed all forms of contact between the drug and metal parts, such as springs, and rubber seals. The risk of introducing foreign bodies into the delivered dose has thereby been minimised.”