Pfizer Makes Record Investment in Belgian Plant

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Pharmaceutical company Pfizer Incorporated (NYSE:PFE) (New York, New York) is planning a major expansion of its Belgian plant at Puurs with a 1.2 billion-euro (US$1.27 billion) investment.

The investment will be made over the next three years and is the largest investment ever in the site's history. Puurs is a key site for the production of the company's COVID-19 vaccine. The investment will be divided into three segments: expansion of production capacity, expansion of cold storage options and expansion of packaging processes. The news comes just a week after a similar investment project was announced for its Grange Castle manufacturing site in Dublin, Ireland. For additional information, see December 13, 2022, article-Pfizer Spending $1.2 Billion to Expand Dublin Plant.

"Our site in Puurs has played an incredibly important role in the Pfizer Global Supply network for many years," said Mike McDermott, chief global supply officer, Pfizer. "Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, this importance has only increased. After all, Pfizer Puurs played a crucial role in the production of our COVID-19 vaccine, directly supporting our efforts to fight COVID-19 worldwide. I am very pleased that with this investment we can further support the production of vaccines and medicines and strengthen our pipeline. At the same time, we recognize the importance of the site in the production of breakthrough medicines that change the lives of patients."

Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo welcomed the investment: "I am very proud that Pfizer has chosen our country again. It confirms Belgium as a country of pharma and biotech, open to the world. The combination of skilled biopharmaceutical and scientific experts, our central geographic location and extensive network of logistics and specialist suppliers is unparalleled."

The plan will see the construction and equipping of a new Isolator Facility Center (IFC) with two state-of-the-art production modules for additional filling capacity. In addition, Puurs is building a Flexible Freezer Warehouse that will consist of two different freezer modules with independent temperature regulation for optimal cold storage. The site also is expanding its Center for Secondary Packaging, which already has undergone a large-scale expansion. The packaging center will have 16 additional packaging cabins.

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