GlaxoSmithKline invested PLN 75 million in medicine production in Poznań

Poznań, 12 September 2011 - In the Poznań factory of GlaxoSmithKline medicines a new investment of the value of PLN 75 million has been launched. Medicines produced in the factory will find their way to dozens of countries. 
The opening ceremony of the new investment was attended by the government representatives, a group of a dozen Members of Parliament, diplomats, scientists, as well as professional associations and entrepreneurs. The patronage of the event was taken by the Mayor of Poznań.

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The newly opened Department of Soft Gelatinous Capsules is the biggest single investment of the British GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) concern in Poland. Most of the funds (PLN 58 million) have been dedicated to the purchase of new production machines, modernisation of technological solutions, as well as to innovative environment protection systems. The investment was constructed on the basis of the capsules department founded in 2000, which had to be substantially modernised and expanded to suit the needs of the newly implemented production. The factory in Poznań is one of the two in the world and the only European GSK manufacturing facility that produces medicine in this form.

The launch of the investment was preceded by a debate: "Foreign investments: How to make use of opportunities in the times of crisis?" ("Inwestycje zagraniczne: Jak wykorzystać szanse w czasach kryzysu?"), with the participation of the representatives of the authorities, the local government, organisations of entrepreneurs and investors.

"Poznań transforms into a city of the most modern services and technologies; we are now concentrating on innovative operations. Educated people, developed infrastructure, investor-friendly atmosphere - it all provides a unique offer and secures our competitiveness. Poznań creates conditions which minimize the investment risk.

Glaxo is a good example of an investor, starting with privatization. Things may turn out good or bad, but in this case we have the best example of an involved investor.

GSK is a flagship on the economical map of the city - so it has been from the very beginning and I hope it will stay this way," said Jerzy Stępień, Deputy Mayor of Poznań.

The products from the new department are going to find their way to 99 markets in the whole world, and their target volume amounts to 14 million packages a year (423 million capsules).

In the production process, a world's unique technology of printing directly on a capsule with a low energy laser has been applied. This will increase the durability of the medicine's marking, allow for refraining from the use of marking substances and limit waste production.

Also a modern technology of liquid waste reduction with the use of vapour evaporator intended for the concentration of sewage has been implemented. Its application will allow for the reduction of the sewage volume by 97 percent and will eliminate the necessity to incinerate 600 tons of waste a year. Furthermore, the applied automation of the production process will eliminate the contact of humans with waste and chemical substances.

Owing to the multimillion investments (the total of USD 450 million) made by GSK in Poland, the plant of the Wielkopolska Region has been expanded and introduced to the global network of the concern's factories. During 13 years following the privatization, the factory in Poznań has launched the production of nearly 90 new medicines, including 52 ones coming from the GSK's global range of medicines.

Nowadays, GSK is among the ten main exporters in Poland. Only in the previous 5 years, the export has increased sevenfold, amounting to PLN 3.4 billion in 2010. The investment being currently launched is another confirmation of GSK's long-term strategy of involvement in Poland, and an example of an - infrequent in a time of crisis - direct foreign investment in Poland, coming from the European Union.

GSK is a leader in the pharmaceutical trade in Poland - it is the biggest foreign investor in the Polish pharmaceutical industry, which employs over 1700 people.