SCHOTT’s Pharmaceutical Packaging business unit has inaugurated a new production site for pharmaceutical ampoules and vials in Buenos Aires. The motto of the inauguration ceremony was “Confidence – Technology – Innovation”. Around 200 representatives of South American pharmaceutical companies, politicians from the Buenos Aires region and the German ambassador to Argentina, Günter Kniess, took part in the event.
“With this new, modern plant, we are further expanding our position as the leading supplier to the pharmaceutical industry in South America. At the same time we are systematically continuing our global growth strategy in the important core business of pharmaceutical packaging,” explained Professor Dr. Udo Ungeheuer, Chairman of the Management Board of SCHOTT AG, at the plant inauguration.
In summer 2009, SCHOTT acquired parts of the two Argentinian pharmaceutical packaging manufacturers, Medical Glass SA and DIESCA SA, and incorporated their business activities into a new subsidiary, SCHOTT Envases Argentina SA. The company has now consolidated production, previously spread over two locations, at the new, modern plant in the north of the greater Buenos Aires area. The plant has been developed with SCHOTT expertise and will initially provide 150 jobs.
SCHOTT is the only foreign pharmaceutical packaging manufacturer in Argentina. “With this local production base, we will be gaining access to Argentina as an important growth market,” commented Juergen Buhr, Director of SCHOTT Pharmaceutical Packaging in South America. “The combination of the company’s local market experience, access to customers, and technological know-how makes SCHOTT a strong partner for the Argentinean pharmaceutical industry. At the same time, this will open up opportunities for us in other South American markets, as well,” he added.
Following Brazil (since 1959) and Columbia (since 1999), the new plant in Buenos Aires is SCHOTT’s third pharmaceutical packaging production site in South America. SCHOTT has had a sales company covering Argentina in Buenos Aires since 1969. It will also be moving to the new plant.
Primary packaging is of great importance to the pharmaceutical industry. The goal is to protect medications against contamination, UV radiation and high humidity while these are being stored and transported.
For this reason, consistently high chemical stability, processing quality and purity are required in order to preserve the effectiveness and safety of pharmaceuticals for extended periods.
According to a study conducted by Espicom Business Intelligence in June of 2008, total sales of pharmaceuticals in Latin America are estimated to be worth 50 billion U.S. dollars. By 2013, average annual market growth of 9.9 percent is projected. With a 12 percent market share, Argentina is the third largest sales market behind Brazil and Mexico.
SCHOTT Pharmaceutical Packaging and SCHOTT AG
