A groundbreaking ceremony was held today for Vetter's newest facility, Ravensburg Vetter West. Vetter, a specialist in aseptically pre-filled drug-delivery systems, will build a state-of-the-art high bay warehouse for cold-storage and room-temperature goods. Space will also be dedicated for automatic and manual visual inspection as well as for stability chambers designed to the highest standards. The new facility will allow the company to optimize both its control and logistical processes, which will enable safe and expeditious product delivery to customers. To power the new facility, Vetter will use mostly renewable energy, from photovoltaic cells, biogas and geothermal sources. The first construction phase, scheduled for completion by the end of 2011, is estimated to cost more than 30 million Euros.

"Our investment in a state-of-the-art center for visual inspection and logistics is an investment in our partnership with customers worldwide," says Vetter Managing Director Thomas Otto. "The facility will broaden the base for our global market supply and underscores our dedication to staying at the forefront of technology." A highly efficient floor plan and optimized personnel and material flows enable the greatest level of product safety. End-to-end material tracking ensures optimized processes and high traceability. Specially secured storage rooms for visual inspection help prevent product mix-ups and cross-contamination.

The new centre will meet environmental standards as well. Once completed, the new facility will use mainly renewable energy. The storefront will be equipped with photovoltaic cells; for climate control of storage rooms, Vetter will harness geothermal energy, a biogas-fired block heat and power plant and excess energy. 

About Vetter - www.vetter-pharma.com
Vetter is an independent international specialist in the aseptic filling of syringes, cartridges and vials. The company has extensive experience with a broad array of substances, including monoclonal antibodies, peptides, interferons and vaccines. Based in Ravensburg, Germany, Vetter provides support for pharmaceutical and biotech clients from preclinical development through regulatory approval and global market supply. The firm works with 19 of the top 20 biopharmaceutical companies worldwide, and employs 2,300 staff across Europe and the United States. Vetter's new Chicago facility, an expansion of Vetter Development Service, will support early-stage products and will be operational at the beginning of Q4 2010. The innovator of the Vetter Lyo-Ject® dual-chamber syringe and V-LK® cartridge, the company holds nearly 140 patents and is a leader in the use of RABS technology in cleanrooms. Approved as a foreign manufacturer by the government of Japan, Vetter's global regulatory experience includes numerous customer product approvals by the FDA, EMA and other authorities. Over its more than 25-year history in aseptic filling, Vetter has won many awards for its facilities and operations, including the 2009 Axia Award for customer relationship management and the 2010 SAP EMEA Quality Award, silver medal, for the implementation of a companywide planning software system.