Merck KGaA Selects Jena, Germany, As Site For Planned Protein Production Plant
Merck KGaA announced today that the company will focus its planning efforts for a new large-scale production plant for therapeutic proteins on Jena in the German State of Thuringia.
The decision was announced jointly on Monday by Thuringia's Prime Minister, Dr. Bernhard Vogel, and the Chairman of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, Prof. Bernhard Scheuble, at the company's headquarters in Darmstadt.
For Merck KGaA, the selection of the Jena site represents a first major step towards the largest single investment in the company's 335-year history. Merck intends to use the planned facility - which requires an investment of about EUR 300 million and should create some 260 new jobs as well as 20 trainee positions - to manufacture the latest generation of biologic cancer treatments. However, the basic decision to build the plant has yet to be made.
"The decision to select Jena as a location for the planned investment was not an easy one," Prof. Scheuble stressed to journalists in Darmstadt. "The high level of enthusiasm and professionalism of our contacts in Thuringia, as well as the prospective financial support of about 30 percent of the total investment tipped the scales in the end."
"We are proud that Thuringia has again won an international competition for such a forward-looking investment," Dr. Vogel commented. "Beyond supporting the actual investment itself, we also have offered Merck attractive terms and conditions that extend to professional qualifications for new employees in the region."
Franz Schuster, Thuringia's Economics Minister, commented: "With the new plant, Merck brings a key technology in Oncology to Thuringia. This definitely should attract further investors."
A number of countries, including Singapore, Taiwan, Spain, the USA, Switzerland and Ireland, took part in the fierce international competition to win the planned production plant. After internal evaluation, two US sites - Durham in North Carolina and Billerica near Boston, Massachusetts - joined Jena on the final short list.
Other news from the department business & finance
These products might interest you
Precision balances by Ohaus
High-performance precision balances for everyday use in laboratories & industry
From milligram-accurate measurement of small samples to routine weighing in the kilogram range
Pioneer PX by Ohaus
Never before has a low-cost balance been such a good long-term investment
Accurate results every time - even when exposed to temperature fluctuations & electromagnetic fields
Automatische XPR-Waagen by Mettler-Toledo
Production of standards, samples and concentrations - fast and reliable
Automate the weighing processes in your laboratory - ideal also for sample prep at chromatography
Good Weighing Practice by Mettler-Toledo
Your Concrete Weighing Quality Assurance Plan
GWP Verification service
MS-Präzisionswaagen by Mettler-Toledo
Trusted Results at Your Fingertips
Capacity from 320 g to 12.2 kg, readability from 1 mg to 100 mg
Balances analytiques by Ohaus
Analytical balances with outstanding weighing performance, as easy to use as a smartphone
These space-saving analytical and semi-micro balances are surprisingly intuitive to use
XPR Precision Balances by Mettler-Toledo
Fast and Accurate Precision Weighing Even in Difficult Conditions
XPR Precision Balances / Solutions to support you with data management, traceability and regulatory compliance
Carepacs by Mettler-Toledo
Professional CarePacs for smooth routine testing
Tweezers, gloves and other accessories for professional weight handling
Get the chemical industry in your inbox
From now on, don't miss a thing: Our newsletter for the chemical industry, analytics, lab technology and process engineering brings you up to date every Tuesday and Thursday. The latest industry news, product highlights and innovations - compact and easy to understand in your inbox. Researched by us so you don't have to.
