Elkton, MD (March 17, 2009)—Gore PharmBIO Products, a business initiative of W. L. Gore & Associates, announced that it has doubled its manufacturing capacity by opening a new production facility in Elkton, MD. The new facility will handle production of several lines of Gore PharmBIO's products and was needed in order to boost output and efficiencies to meet growing customer demand.
One key feature of the new facility is a state-of-the-art-cleanroom. The cleanroom is ISO Class 7 (Class 10,000) as built and ISO Class 6 (Class 1,000) at rest. The cleanroom process is designed to be more efficient and to improve process flow and segregation. The facility also features different pressure control zones and physical barriers minimizing product cross-contamination.
The cleanroom incorporates the latest in technology in high-efficiency, low power consumption fan filter units as well as air handling equipment utilizing high efficiency motors, drives and control system features. The new facility has also begun shipping products in a newly designed, fully recyclable secondary packaging. The lower energy consumption and environment impact give customers a competitive edge in the marketplace.
"The new facility is another strategic component of Gore PharmBIO's initiative to align with its customers and meet their global requirements," says Jacques Rene, business leader. "We see this category as a great growth opportunity for Gore and these latest developments represent our commitment to this industry and our customers."
From the company that invented expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and introduced it in the marketplace, Gore PharmBIO Products continues the company's legacy of innovation and product leadership in the global pharmaceutical and bioprocess markets.
Today's announcement comes at the end of two years marked by significant growth for Gore PharmBIO Products. Following its successful acquisition and integration of Amesil in 2007, Gore PharmBIO Products has been at the forefront of successfully launching several innovative, high-value products including the GORE™ STA-PURE™ Fluid Sampling System and the GORE™ STA-PURESM Bioprocess Configurator. The GORE™ STA-PURE™ Fluid Sampling System is just one of the many products available to customers for customized design. In addition, Gore PharmBIO has several new product launches planned for 2009.
Launching at Interphex 2009 is the GORE™ STA-PURE™ Gasket for Sanitary Fittings that seals critical bioprocesses and enables pure processing. Commercially available in the Summer of 2009, this new product is constructed of a 100% patent pending ePTFE, can withstand up to 500 SIP cycles, and is designed to meet the new ASME BPE equipment seal standards for sanitary gaskets. It features full supply chain and lot traceability and has a low stress-to-seal design, does not require re-torque and ensures minimal gasket intrusion. The GORE™ STA-PURE™ Gasket for Sanitary Fittings can be used universally and integrated into a variety of different systems which allows for standardized operations, reduced inventory and improved purchasing efficiency.
Also available commercially in the fall of 2009 will be The GORE™ STA-PURE™ Septa which is made of a unique, proprietary fluroelastomer material and is used in enclosures specifically designed for chromatography, diagnostics and chemical packaging applications. This product will utilize the only septa technology that ensures accuracy and enables optimized purity because it reseals after multiple punctures. The GORE™ STA-PURE™ Septa virtually eliminate solvent loss and significantly extends shelf life for even the most aggressive solvents. In addition, its unique construction will help to achieve low levels of leachable/extractable profiles that are necessary for many applications.
Gore is a world-renown manufacturer of thousands of advanced technology products and is perhaps best known as the inventors of ePTFE and the makers of GORE-TEX® fabric. With more than $2.5 billion in annual sales and 8,000 employees in 80 countries throughout the world, W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., provides diverse, high-performance solutions in pharmaceutical, consumer, industrial, electronic, medical and surgical markets.
As a business initiative within the Enterprise, Gore PharmBIO Products is focused on fueling the ongoing development of high-performance, technology-driven products and applications to better serve customers in the global pharmaceutical and bioprocess markets. The Gore PharmBIO Products portfolio includes single use and long life offerings including bioprocess assemblies, tubing, sampling devices, filtration products, gaskets, device and package vents, lyophilization products as well as configuration software for custom assembly design.
W. L. Gore & Associates has cultivated a unique corporate culture, resulting in a high-energy commitment to innovation and a passionate belief in making a difference. Gore PharmBIO Products supports the Enterprise's pledge to maintain product leadership and create dependable and reliable products and services for its customers.
For more information about W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. and Gore PharmBIO Products, call 1/800-294-GORE (4673), email pharmbio@wlgore.com or visit gore.com/pharmbio.
Liane Adduci or Brad Drew
For W. L. Gore & Associates
312.994.2451 or 312.994.2452
Lauren Dervish
Gore PharmBIO Products
410.506.7598
Gore, GORE-TEX, STA-PURE, and design are registered trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.