Update
Cambrex adding lab space, to hire 14 chemists
The contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) is set to add 2,000 square feet of laboratory space at its Charles City, Iowa plant.
Following the increase in space for development projects, the company also plans to hire 14 new chemists.
"Our $24 million high potency manufacturing plant in Charles City will be completed early 2019 to increase our capacity in this specialized area," Simon Edwards, VP, Global Sales and Business Development, Cambrex, told us.
However, Edwards noted that this is just one part of the business: "Demand for high quality manufacturing services is high and we are looking to capitalize on this, investing in our facilities to ensure we have capacity for projects as and when they present themselves," he said.
According to the company, the expansion at Charles City parallels its investments at its facility in High Point, North Carolina and is part of its strategic plan to increase its development capacity and resources in North America.
"When we acquired the High Point facility in 2016, this was a strategic move to bring business earlier in the development process into Cambrex and allow us to work with clients looking to scale up processes and projects towards clinical and commercial levels," Edwards explained.
"The investments we have subsequently made at both High Point and Charles City have been primarily to increase capacity so that we could meet the increasing demand that we have seen overall as a business at all scales and clinical or commercial stages," he added.
Announced in August 2017, Cambrex is currently completing construction on the new 11,000 square foot analytical laboratory and 400 square foot pilot plant at the High Point location. Upon completion, the expansions will create up to 18 new jobs.
