Parker Hannifin, a company involved in motion and control technologies, opened a multimillion-dollar Bioscience Filtration site in Birtley, UK.

The investment will increase production capacity in the context of growing demand from the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and food and beverage industries. It includes enhancement of the site’s filter capsule and filter cartridge manufacturing facilities, and installation of a new water treatment plant this year to more than double the site’s water plant capacity.

Laurent Pouchard, general manager at Parker Bioscience Filtration’s Birtley site, said: “This investment in our Birtley site is testament to Parker’s commitment to our European customer base and further strengthens our manufacturing capabilities. It will enable us to meet growing demand from the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and food and beverage industries for our solutions, and builds on the ongoing success of the site.”

As part of the investment, Parker’s filter capsule production capabilities will be enhanced by new manufacturing equipment, including a laser-etch machine, state-of-the-art pleater, and machinery for end-capping and testing.

Increased investment in the site’s membrane manufacturing facilities will support the creation of a new membrane filter production line. Parker will implement lean principles to increase efficiency and productivity, and further support capacity improvements.

In addition, the new development plans follow a major expansion of the Birtley site in 2019, which included the creation of modern office and conferencing spaces, extended laboratories, a new clean room for the production of single-use technologies, as well as manufacturing and testing facilities.