Sharp, part of UDG Healthcare plc, a global provider of contract packaging and clinical supply services, has acquired a pharmaceutical packaging facility from Quality Packaging Specialists International, LLC (QPSI).
 
The site, located in Macungie, PA, will offer primary and secondary pharmaceutical packaging including bottling, blistering, vial labeling and medical device kitting as well as serialization services.
 
Located within 6 miles of Sharp’s Allentown campus, the Macungie site provides the company with additional capacity in response to increasing volume demands from clients, as well as the space to expand further. The site will commence an immediate integration to the Sharp facility network.
 
The 160,000 sq.-ft. facility has full regulatory approval and comes with 12 primary production suites, space for multiple secondary packaging lines, 30,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space and c. 66,000 sq. ft. of unused space.
 
Kevin Orfan, President of Sharp said: “Our focus as always is to invest to better serve our clients and their patients, and the acquisition of the Macungie facility will help us to support their needs immediately and for years to come,” said Kevin Orfan, president, Sharp. “Its proximity to our Centers of Excellence in Allentown will allow us to leverage existing capabilities and help us to continue delivering efficiently while growing our capacity.
 
“This investment is the latest of many that we have made over recent years to meet the continuing growth in demand for our packaging and clinical services as we continue to support clients across the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.”
 
Sharp has invested over $60 million on its global facilities over recent years including:
 
• $21m on expanding capacity and capabilities at its Allentown and Conshohocken, PA facilities;
• $11m on its new Clinical Services Centre of Excellence in Wales;
• $11m on enhancing its injectable and cold chain capabilities in the U.S., Belgium and the Netherlands; and
• $23m on its refitted state-of-the-art clinical facility in Bethlehem, PA.
 
The acquisition allows Sharp to hire over 100 new personnel into the business.