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Sharp expands its commercial capabilities to UK facility
During 2018, Sharp Clinical invested $36 million in new, dedicated facilities in both the US and the UK. Another £1 million has been invested into a further commercial expansion project in Rhymney, to add to an already successful clinical division.
Over the past six months, a number of enquiries have been received at the Rhymney facility for commercial primary and secondary packaging services. Without investment and expansion of the primary packaging space, the site would not have had the capacity or capability to convert this interest into actual orders.
In the first instance, Sharp & UDG Healthcare (Sharp’s parent organisation) is offering continuity of service to ROWA Pharmaceuticals (a long-term customer of Sharp in The Netherlands) and their patient base worldwide from the Rhymney site.
“In order to accommodate this new production volume into the Rhymney site, it was necessary to invest heavily in the facility by extending the available primary packaging space, without compromising clinical trial capabilities. This expansion project will also enable Sharp to have a definite presence in Europe for primary blister packaging activities to potential new clients from the Rhymney facility, while offering QP services for European distribution.”
Ian Morgan General Manager, Sharp
Through investing in local companies and hiring experienced local staff, Sharp is now in a position to move further into the commercial market. The expansion project includes:
n Extension of existing primary and secondary areas: l 3 additional primary packaging rooms l 1 secondary packaging room
n Installation of 4 blister machines in new primary suite with: l additional 3 automated cartoners
The new lines are to be integrated (primary into secondary packaging), featuring inline conveyor systems and automatic blister feeding, to increase capacity and improve packaging lead times. In addition to the new highly efficient, modern packaging services for primary and secondary packaging, Sharp is planning to introduce new serialisation, aggregation and authentication equipment. This allows for future growth within the company for new and existing customers. With every new project or client, Sharp further develops its portfolio of suppliers, expanding the supply chain network. In turn offering competitive pricing for new, existing and potential clients, both nationally and internationally.
Sharp giving back: As part of the expansion, Sharp invested heavily in local contract firms to deliver this complex project in a very tight timeframe, utilising the likes of Beacons Business Interiors as the main contractor for the construction of the new facility. Beacons Business Interiors were also instrumental in Sharp’s relocation from Crickhowell into the new state of the art facility in Rhymney. Beacons Business Interiors were joined by JCAC – a mechanical services contractor based out of Merthyr Tydfil, CAD Electrical – Electrical and Instrumentation installations from Tredegar, and several other Welsh companies including Nuaire, Beaven Consulting and Cold Clad to name just a few. In addition to supplying local companies with opportunities to expand their portfolios, Sharp is now in a position to expand its workforce. As part of this exciting new venture, many new roles are being created. Sharp, as always, will be looking to the local communities first for the work force and resources required, allowing local knowledgeable technicians, engineers and staff to work with an everexpanding global company.
