The new 6,000 square metre site, which will be run by Marchesini’s local Corima subsidiary, will produce machines for the pharmaceutical sterile and liquids sectors, including both stand-alone and complete-line technologies.
In an interview at this year’s CPhI, company sales and marketing co-ordinator Maria Grazia Preda explained that a main focus of the plant will be on machines for sterile injectables production and those for associated safety devices.
“The Siena plant, which doubles Corima’s manufacturing workforce, will produce a variety of platforms ranging from filling machines and sterilising tunnels to ampoule, vial and syringe labelling units,” explained Preda.
She went on to say that the forthcoming launch event will showcase Marchesini’s sterile vial production range, its two complete ampoule manufacturing lines as well as several of its cartoning and packaging technologies.
Preda went on to say that the firm had opted to base the plant in Europe in order to be close to its roster of industrial clients like Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi Aventis and Roche who are all headquartered locally.
She also forecast that the demand for sterile manufacturing capacity in the pharmaceutical industry is set to continue increasing and added that this will become a major part of the firm’s business over the next few years.
Acquires labelling specialist Neri
In related news, Marchesini has acquired labelling specialist Neri. The new purchase, which is headquartered in Barberingo del Mugello, produces a wide range of machines for the application of self-adhesive labels.
The deal, financial terms of which are not being released, builds on the two firms’ existing relationship that dates back to Neri’s foundation in the early 1970s. The company has a workforce of 160 employees and a commercial order book worth around €16m for the coming year.
Group managing director Maurizio Marchesini said that the move is in keeping with the firm’s plan to develop its business through strategic acquisitions. He added that integration of Neri into the group will “enrich our offering of complete packaging lines and machines”.