Tosoh Bioscience Cuts Ribbon at New Ca⁺⁺Pure-HA™ Production Facility in Grove City, Ohio

On April 11, 2023, Tosoh Bioscience LLC celebrated the ribbon cutting of its new Ca⁺⁺Pure-HA™ Production Facility in Grove City, Ohio. The opening of this facility offers Tosoh Bioscience the capability to produce Ca⁺⁺Pure-HA™, a hydroxyapatite-based resin, in the United States.

In attendance of the ribbon cutting ceremony, were distinguished representatives from Tosoh Corporation (Japan), Tosoh Bioscience, as well as representatives from the City of Grove City, Ohio, and the Grove City Chamber of Commerce. President Emeritus—Tosoh Corporation, Toshinori Yamamoto, who along with Tatsuji Kushimoto, President—Tosoh Bioscience, traveled from Tokyo, Japan to be in attendance and speak at the ceremony.

Ali Soleymannezhad, Executive Vice President—Tosoh Bioscience, Separations & Purification, opened and led the ceremony, followed by speeches from Mr. Yamamoto and Mr. Kushimoto.

“What you’re about to see is our very first purification resin manufacturing outside Japan. This, for us, is a big milestone… for the very first time, we’re going to introduce purification resins to be shipped on a global basis to all Tosoh Bioscience customers from the United States,” said Mr. Soleymannezhad.

With the introduction of a domestic manufacturing facility, Mr. Soleymannezhad noted that Tosoh Bioscience can meet additional customer demand and improve business continuity in production while working with the Japanese production facilities.

“These are resins that [are used in] vaccine production, monoclonal antibody production [and are] critical for life-saving drugs,” said Mr. Soleymannezhad.

Mr. Yamamoto noted, “today, we mark the beginning of a new chapter in Tosoh Bioscience’s growth journey, innovation, and excellence. This state-of-the-art factory will serve as a demonstration of our commitment to quality, productivity, and sustainable development.”

Mr. Kushimoto again highlighted the importance of sustainability, particularly within the facility’s community in Grove City, Ohio. “As we embark on this new journey in Grove City, Ohio, we are also mindful of our responsibility towards our community and the environment. We will work closely with our employees, local authorities, and other stakeholders to ensure that our operations are sustainable and that we contribute towards the well-being of the community around us.”

Ca⁺⁺Pure-HA™ is a resin used in chromatographic separation of biomolecules, and unlike other resins available from Tosoh Bioscience, possesses a unique inorganic structure/chemistry.

Ca⁺⁺Pure-HA™ is a versatile and effective material for chromatography, especially for the purification of biomolecules that are difficult to separate using other chromatography methods. Its unique surface chemistry and high porosity make it a valuable tool in biochemical research and biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

By opening the facility, Nate Evans, Director of Operations— Tosoh Bioscience LLC, noted the domestic production can help ease strains on supply that the COVID pandemic has affected the past few years.

“The most impressive thing that we can achieve here with the new production [facility] is the ability to ensure capacity and demand.”

The production of Ca⁺⁺Pure-HA™ at the new facility also ensures that Tosoh Bioscience can maintain the same standards of quality they’ve come to be known for.

Cara Tomasek, Associate Director—Quality and Regulatory, Tosoh Bioscience LLC, who attended the ceremony, spoke to that assurance in greater detail. She noted that the built-in quality management system that Tosoh Bioscience LLC operates with ensures continued great products.

“The intent of the quality management system is to provide continual improvement, to provide consistent products to our customers, to provide high-quality products to our customers, and also be compliant to our processes and standards.”

Celebrations Capped With Kagami-biraki Ceremony

While the opening of the facility and quality were a focus of the day’s events, a unique highlight, and precursor to the actual ribbon cutting, stole some of the spotlight. Attendees watched and participated in a traditional Japanese kagami-biraki ceremony.

Mr. Kushimoto introduced and explained the ceremony, before himself taking part in it.

“Kagami-biraki is a ceremony performed at celebratory events in which the lid of the sake barrel is broken open by a wooden mallet and the sake is served to everyone present,” said Mr. Kushimoto.

“Kagami refers to the lid of the sake barrel and biraki means ‘to open’ so kagami-biraki literally means ‘opening the lid.’

Because of the lid’s round shape, the kagami is a symbol of harmony. The kagami-biraki, therefore, represents an opening to harmony and good fortune.”

The leadership team of Mr. Yamamoto, Mr. Kushimoto, and Mr. Soleymannezhad were joined by Tosoh Bioscience board members Jan Top (President, Tosoh America), and Kousuke Araki (President, Tosoh Bioscience – Separations & Purification), adorned in traditional happi robes, to perform the kagami-biraki.

Together wielding wooden mallets, they struck the lid, splashing themselves with sake, joined by laughter and applause from the nearly eighty attendees watching. The team then took the time to ladle sake into ceremonial cups for those in attendance, followed by a group toast of “kampai.”

The same leadership group then cut the red ribbon and formally opened the production facility before being given a tour by Mr. Evans to cap the event.