SHL Medical’s new site in North Charleston, S.C., is a key milestone in the company’s global expansion strategy. (Image courtesy SHL Medical/PRNewswire)
The company is increasing its production capacity to meet growing demand in North America.
ZUG, Switzerland—Medical device maker SHL Medical recently marked the official opening of its new state-of-the-art autoinjector manufacturing facility in North Charleston, South Carolina, with an event attended by approximately 180 guests. The company designs, develops, and manufactures advanced self-injection devices.
The new facility will manufacture SHL Medical’s autoinjectors, which are reported to be used in some of the world’s best-selling medications in areas such as endocrine and metabolic disorders (including GLP-1 therapies), dermatology, and musculoskeletal diseases. The facility is intended to ensure a reliable supply of these critical devices to millions of patients worldwide, according to a release from SHL Medical.
The strategic expansion is said to mark a significant milestone in the Swiss-based company’s global growth, reinforcing its commitment to meeting the increasing worldwide demand for autoinjectors, most notably used in the cardiometabolic sector.
Strengthening production capacity and U.S. market presence
SHL Medical said in the release that it is significantly increasing its production capacity to meet growing demand in North America while strengthening supply chain resilience.
“U.S.-based production is a major step forward in our global expansion and reinforces our position as the leader in providing end-to-end drug delivery solutions,” said SHL Medial CEO and Chairman Ulrich Faessler, in a statement. “With our established site in Taiwan and the upcoming facility in Switzerland, we will be the only autoinjector manufacturer operating across three continents, bringing us even closer to our customers.”
The fully automatized 360,000-square-foot facility represents a $220 million investment (US dollars) and is reported to have already created more than 300 local jobs, contributing to the economic growth of the region. Equipped with cutting-edge medical device injection molding technology and fully automated assembly capabilities, the site is said to ensure the highest precision, efficiency, and quality in SHL Medical’s advanced drug delivery products.
According to SHL Medical, the North Charleston facility enhances its U.S. presence and solidifies its leadership in large-scale autoinjector production. The company said it is on track to deliver 1.5 billion devices to customers in 2025.
“The most trusted autoinjector brand is now made in the USA,” said SHL Medical Managing Director North America Kimberlee Steele, in the release. “We are proud to be contributing to the growth of the local economy and becoming a key player in the area while contributing to our sustainability goals.”
Among the guests attending SHL Medical’s Grand Opening of the facility were South Carolina’s Governor Henry McMaster and Swiss Embassy Consul General Urs Broennimann, the release stated.