The move will allow Catalent to focus its US printed components operations on its more modern Moorestown, New Jersey facility, which will benefit from additional new equipment and technologies to perform this expanded role.
Moorestown’s expansion comes at the cost of Catalent’s Pennsauken, New Jersey facility, which will close in August 2009 to allow the company to gain the benefits of operating from a single location.
Victor Dixon, Catalent's vice president and general manager, printed components, said: "We believe housing our continental US printed components business in a single location will bring important benefits for our customers, including more efficient distribution, a consolidated invoice, and the ability to pack or 'kit' all products, including labels, inserts and cartons, together.”
To ensure its Moorestown facility is equipped to handle this increased workload Catalent is installing an array of new equipment and transferring some machinery from the Pennsauken site.
Moorestown’s new and upgraded equipment will include UV coating, vision systems, additional printing technologies and the establishment of a new design and pre-press centre.
The site will also benefit from Catalent’s new e-Magineering system, which is a web-based method for automating the development, management and delivery of printed labels, inserts and cartons.
e-Magineering covers these steps from the design phase through to supply replenishment, with the system also tracking document work flow, order history and billing.
Catalent has been keen to emphasise the benefits this shift in operations will bring to clients but has also stressed that it will attempt to mitigate the effects felt by employees at the Pennsauken site.
Dixon said: "Closing our Pennsauken plant was a difficult but necessary step in the evolution of the business, and we are dedicated to supporting efforts to help the employees that will be affected by the closing.”