The 120 new jobs coming to pharmaceutical packaging manufacturer Gerresheimer’s Peachtree City location next year will include executive, administrative, supervisory and production positions, the company has said.
The Citizen first reported on the expansion last March.
The expansion was formally announced Monday by Gov. Nathan Deal, who noted that the German-based company would invest millions into the 60,000 sq. ft. expansion later this year.
“We’re experiencing worldwide growth in demand for user-friendly, safe and easy to use medical devices such as inhalers and insulin pens,” said Andreas Schutte, member of the management board of Gerresheimer AG with responsibility for the Plastics & Devices Division. “As a result of this growth, and new customer projects, our excellent plant in Peachtree City will significantly increase its production capacity. There are a great many opportunities for us in this business segment in the U.S. and our Peachtree City facility will play a crucial role in helping us to exploit them. We greatly appreciate the generous support of the state and local authorities in Georgia in this challenging project.”
Construction will begin this year and operations will ramp up next year, according to Deal.
“Georgia’s healthcare industry is uniquely poised to help Gerresheimer grow,” said Deal. “This leading global company is taking advantage of an eager, skilled workforce and an advanced life science and healthcare ecosystem. Our state is the ideal location to support Gerresheimer’s newest expansion.”
The company’s product portfolio includes pharmaceutical packaging and products for the safe, simple administration of medicines: Insulin pens, inhalers, prefillable syringes, injection vials, ampoules, bottles and containers for liquid and solid medicines with closure and safety systems as well as packaging for the cosmetics industry.
The expansion was helped by state officials including Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Senior Project Manager Lindsay Martin and GDEcD Managing Director for the international office in Munich Antje Abshoff, along with Emily Poole of the Fayette County Development Authority, whose position is funded by the city of Peachtree City to retain and expand existing industries such as Gerresheimer.
Gerresheimer’s history goes back to 1993 when it first began production at its Peachtree City facility. The company expanded in 2009, adding a technical competence center to its 35-acre site on Ga. Highway 74 South in the city’s industrial park.
“It is so exciting to work with one of our premier corporate citizens of Peachtree City on this project,” said Matt Forshee, President and CEO of the Fayette County Development Authority. “It’s always great to have a company considering expansion to make the choice to remain here and further invest in our community.”
Chris Carr, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, said half of Georgia’s life science companies are in the medical sector.
“Our state is seeing this field grow and Gerresheimer is at the forefront of its innovative movement,” Carr said.
Though Deal’s announcement was made Monday, The Citizen first reported on this expansion and the addition of 120 jobs when the building plans were approved by the Peachtree City Planning Commission nearly a year ago.
Gerresheimer has 11,000 employees worldwide.
