SCHOTT, a global leader in pharmaceutical glass manufacturing, is investing a total of 70 million EUR in the expansion of its Indian tubing site in Jambusar, Gujarat, following several million in investments over the last few years.
“Against the backdrop of the growth trend in the Indian pharmaceutical business and the pandemic, we want to commit to secure the supply of pharma glass,” said Dr. Patrick Markschläger, Executive Vice President of SCHOTT’s Business Unit Tubing.
“The increase of over 30 percent in the facility’s overall Indian production capacity is at the same time a commitment to supporting the government’s vision of India becoming a global pharmaceutical hub,” added Pawan Shukla, Managing Director SCHOTT Glass India, during the groundbreaking event at the site.
The additional tank is scheduled to go into operation at the beginning of 2023, with the second one following a year later. The expansion in Jambusar will create new jobs for around 225 employees and is part of a more than 1 billion USD strategic investment program of SCHOTT through 2025, leveraging the global pharma tubing and packaging business.
SCHOTT has been a frontrunner in the fight against COVID-19 and provided pharmaceutical glass for primary packaging to fill billions of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide. In India, almost all approved vaccines are packed in FIOLAX® glass made by SCHOTT. With additional melting tanks and production lines, SCHOTT intends to ensure that this Asian manufacturing hub can adequately supply high-quality pharma glass for the Indian pharma industry and neighbouring countries.
FIOLAX® as the gold standard for pharmaceutical packaging
The increase of melting capacities in India – supplemented by a batch house, a driveway, and a canteen for the employees – is part of SCHOTT’s commitment to invest over 100 million EUR in its Indian tubing facilities and triple production capacity to produce FIOLAX® glass tubing for domestic and export demands. FIOLAX® is a registered trademark from SCHOTT.
SCHOTT’s glass tubing (FIOLAX®) has been the gold standard for pharmaceutical packaging for more than a century. The material is best suited for vaccines and life-saving medications, as it avoids the interactions between containers and the drug formulation that can limit its effectiveness.