New API plant for Cambridge Major
for the custom manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients and
other chemicals
Cambridge Major Laboratories has broken ground on a new facility, near its existing site in Germantown, Wisconsin, for the custom manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients and other chemicals. The company said that the 50,000-square-foot facility underscores its continuing strength in a generally weak custom chemicals marketplace.
Once completed, Cambridge Major will consolidate the operation of its two existing facilities into the new site. The new facility will house nine kilo-scale laboratories, two high-potency suites, two mini pilot plants, two main plants, and two analytical and one spectroscopy laboratory.
Cambridge Major said the facility effectively positions it to compete further into the clinical development cycle, as well as expand its ability to handle more commercial API manufacturing relationships.
The facility has been financed largely by industrial revenue bonds through the State of Wisconsin, as well as cash, and is expected to be completed by the summer of 2004. The project will create additional 20-30 jobs, mostly chemists and operators.
Michael Major, the company's chief executive, said: "Even in these generally tough times in contract chemistry, we have more than managed to survive. We've maintained profitability, and we will be uniquely positioned next year to capitalize on more opportunities, particularly as the market rebounds."
Most of the equipment for the new facility has already been acquired via a number of strategic acquisitions including the assets of the former Oread API plant last year. However, in addition to those assets Cambridge Major needs to acquire other equipment, including reactors up to 500 gallon, solids-handling equipment, glove box technology and other process and analytical instrumentation.
"Actually, there is a positive side in this economic downturn for those who have managed to stay afloat. Lots of equipment is available at very attractive prices," said Major. He added that the recent difficult economic climate has allowed the company to build a facility "that a few years ago may have been out of our reach."
