West Celebrates Groundbreaking of Waterford, Ireland Manufacturing Facility

WATERFORD, Ireland, June 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST), a global leader in innovative packaging components and drug delivery systems, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony in Waterford, Ireland today to mark the start of construction for the company's new pharmaceutical component manufacturing facility. Attended by Cllr James Tobin, Mayor of Waterford City and County; Cllr Lola O'Sullivan, Mayor of Waterford Metropolitan District; and other local officials, the event celebrated West's continued investment in Ireland and commitment to the local Waterford community.

The Waterford facility will manufacture packaging components for insulin injector cartridges and other high-value packaging components for injectable drugs, to meet increasing customer demand. The company intends to employ approximately 150 people in engineering, production and other positions by the commencement of operations in late 2018.

"West's presence in Ireland is of great importance to us for meeting customer demand for high-quality packaging components," said Eric Green, Chief Executive Officer at West. "Packaging systems play an important role in ensuring the purity, long-term stability and efficacy of injectable drug products. The advanced components that will be produced at our state-of-the-art Waterford plant will help our pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers deliver their products to patients."

Green continued, "We are very fortunate to have found an ideal location in Waterford, Ireland, with a highly skilled life sciences workforce and local government officials and agencies who are true partners, working together with our team to help us fulfill our vision to create a healthier world. We'd like to thank Mayor Tobin, Waterford City & County Council and IDA Ireland for their continued support."

The 95,000 square foot (approximately 8,800 square meter) facility will be situated at a 44-acre site at Knockhouse on Old Kilmeaden Road in Waterford. The site has been cleared for construction and activity will commence with civil work in mid-July.

The new facility will function as a center of excellence for West's proprietary elastomeric sheeting, which is used to package insulin for use in pen injectors. Additionally, the facility will include manufacturing capacity for additional proprietary injectable component product lines, which are integral to the packaging of many injectable medicines. Two key product lines include Westar® RU components, which are delivered sterile and ready-to-use to customers for their aseptic filling operations; as well as NovaPure® components, West's highest quality packaging component line.  

"Today is an exciting day for Waterford and the local life sciences community," said Cllr James Tobin, Mayor of Waterford City and County. "We are very pleased to have one of the world's top manufacturers of pharmaceutical packaging and delivery systems establish roots in our city and provide new opportunities to our talented local workforce. We look forward to working closely with the West team for many years to come."

West has had a presence in Ireland since 2005. Its Mulhuddart, Dublin manufacturing and development center, where the company recently completed a multimillion Euro expansion, is home to Tech Group Europe Limited, West's global contract manufacturing solutions provider that specializes in providing device design, development and manufacturing services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device manufacturers.

About West

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of packaging components and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products. Working by the side of its customers from concept to patient, West creates products that promote the efficiency, reliability and safety of the world's pharmaceutical drug supply. West is headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, and supports its customers from locations in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. West's 2014 sales of $1.42 billion reflect the daily use of approximately 110 million of its components and devices, which are designed to improve the delivery of healthcare to patients around the world.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "should," "could," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," or "potential" or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases, which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters. While forward-looking statements reflect West's good faith beliefs, assumptions and expectations, they are not guarantees of future performance. Furthermore, except as required by law, West disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions, new information or other changes. Known material risks, uncertainties and other factors that can affect future results are discussed or incorporated by reference in periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, filed by West from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Westar and NovaPure are trademarks or registered trademarks of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions.

Media Contact: 
Emily Denney 
West Global Communications 
+1-610-594-3035 
[email protected]

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SOURCE West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.