$180M expansion project for medical equipment maker to be built in Peachtree City

German medical device maker Gerresheimer has broken ground on a massive, two-phase, $180 million expansion project in Peachtree City, Georgia, that will help the state maintain its position as the nation’s leader in life sciences employment.

The 17,000-square-metre project, which will involve the construction of two new buildings, will be completed in two phases.

More than 400 skilled jobs will be created, making Gerresheimer one of the largest employers in the region. The company currently employs about 270 people in Georgia.

The company is an innovative supplier of systems and solutions and a global partner in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and cosmetics industries. The company’s range of services includes digital solutions for therapy support, microinjectors, drug pumps, syringes, pens, injection vials, ampoules, tablet containers, infusion bottles, droppers and syrups, and microbiological test cards.

Gerresheimer has 35 production plants and employs 12,000 people in 16 countries in Europe, America and Asia.

“North America is an important growth market for us,” Dietmar Siemssen, CEO of Gerresheimer AG, said in a statement. “The expansion of our Peachtree City plant is of great importance for our medical devices business in the U.S. The expansion of this plant is therefore currently one of the key projects in our global capacity expansions based on long-term customer agreements.”

The first phase is currently underway and involves construction of a new 83,000-square-foot building adjacent to the existing facility in Southpark International Industrial Park. The facility will manufacture medical devices such as auto-injectors for administering injectable medications.

Approximately 53,800 square feet will be manufacturing space, and specialist manufacturing technology will be installed after construction is complete in the second half of this year. Production in the new part of the building will begin ramping up later this year.

The remaining part of the building will be designated for an automated high-bay warehouse.

Phase two of the project, which will include a 110,000-square-foot manufacturing facility near Atlanta Regional Airport, 1.6 miles from the first site, is scheduled to begin by the end of the year. The project will add 77,500 square feet of manufacturing space and an automated high-bay warehouse.

Construction of the new factory building will begin after completion of preparatory work on the access road and supply infrastructure.

In 2025, the company plans to install production and assembly lines and start production by the end of that year.

The land on which the building is being constructed has sufficient space to allow for future expansion.

The company said that with the expansion in Peachtree, Gerresheimer has underscored its market-leading position as a provider of drug delivery systems and solutions in North America.

“We appreciate the state of Georgia’s continued support for our expansion in the U.S.,” says Siemssen. “The U.S. market is an important growth driver for us, and the expansion of our operations in Peachtree City will be key to growing our medical device business in the U.S.”

The company is currently recruiting for a range of positions, from entry-level production workers to highly skilled engineers, quality managers and administrative staff.

Local and state officials are praising the expansion as a sign of things to come for the Peach State. Georgia leads the nation in life sciences employment, up 20 percent since 2015.

The industry provides more than 78,000 jobs across the state of Georgia, and there are at least 4,000 organizations operating in the life sciences sector.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp says the project is a perfect example of the exciting growth of the life sciences industry in the state.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) has been working with Gerresheimer on this project for some time.

“Georgia prides itself on building long-term relationships with companies, and we have been fortunate to meet with the Gerresheimer team both in Peachtree City and at their headquarters in Germany many times,” noted GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “Companies locate in Georgia because of its business-friendly environment and choose to expand here because of the state’s solutions to the challenges companies face, including employee training.”

Darryl Hicks, chairman of the Fayette County Development Authority, said he is encouraged by Gerresheimer’s commitment to the county through his expansive development in Peachtree City.

“As an integral part of our community for three decades, Gerresheimer’s decision to expand here speaks volumes about the quality of our workforce, the strength of our local economy and the supportive environment that Peachtree City and Fayette County provide.”