Aptar Pharma is nearing completion on its expansion at its Congers, NY, state-of-the-art manufacturing site where it will offer injectable elastomeric component manufacturing for the first time in the U.S.

Final construction is planned by the end of the first quarter of 2017. Shipping validation batches to customers will commence in the second quarter of next year. The expansion is part of a stepped program to increase Aptar Pharma’s footprint in the U.S., according to Bas Van Buijtenen, president of the injectables division at Aptar Pharma.

“This investment is continuing our commitment to growing and accelerating our footprint in North America,” he said. “More significantly, the technology we are introducing will increase our ability to provide world-class manufacturing capabilities to our customers locally. This will provide premium products, shorter lead-times and more responsive service for the U.S. elastomeric components markets.”

The added space will house state-of-the-art clean rooms and integrated best-in-class vision equipment, according to Van Buijtenen. “Vision equipment will be used to perform 100% of the automatic inspection of all parts during the finishing process to ensure PremiumVision product quality,” he said. “The increased facility space also enables the company to conduct all of our finishing operations in the United
States, including Aptar Pharma’s recently launched PremiumCoat coated stoppers.”

The company said the expansion was necessary to meet the continued growth of its U.S. injectables business and is part of a multiyear investment program supporting the global growth of its injectables business.

“We are bringing all of our knowledge and the value-adding parts of our process closer to the customer,” said Mr. Van Buijtenen. “We want our customers to know us better. To understand what we can do for them on an entirely different level. We are a global player with a strong position in North America. Our integration into AptarGroup gives us access to the latest technologies, exceptional people and great financial stability. Our U.S. business has been growing very rapidly, and this investment in capacity will support and accelerate our growth into the future.”