Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. has plans to construct an $11 million, state-of-the-art BioCenter for the manufacture of single-use bioprocess containers (BPCs) and related products at its existing bioprocess production unit in Logan, UT.

The investment is in response to the increasing demand for disposable bioprocessing technology from the pharma/biopharma industries. Bioprocess containers are used in cell-culture applications and protein-based drug production for mixing, storage and transportation of bioprocess fluids and bioreactors (used to grow cells, proteins and other biochemically active substances). Single-use bioprocessing components eliminate the risk of batch-to-batch cross contamination and significantly reduce startup costs for customers, according to the company.

“We are excited about the expanded capabilities that our BioCenter will provide,” said Marc N. Casper, executive vice president of Thermo Fisher Scientific. “The market outlook for the bioprocessing industry continues to be very bright as there are thousands of biotech products under development. This investment will allow us to better meet the needs of our customers as they work toward new therapies for treating disease and improving health.”

The three-phase construction plan will create a 94,000-sq.-ft. BioCenter over the course of the next four years, replacing and expanding existing operations in Logan. The first phase includes a 37,000-sq.-ft. facility, which is expected to be complete by the fall of 2008. The new operation will include an administration building, sera and liquid-media processing facility, powdered-media facility, warehouse and the existing BPC facility. The initial project is expected to create 75 new jobs in production and management functions.

The new facility will manufacture the Thermo Scientific HyClone BPC line that includes simple bioprocess containers, complex bioprocessing systems and custom-designed units for various applications. This offering includes sterile fluid-handling bags, bag manifold systems, tank liners, chambers, biopharmaceutical tubing and other accessories, as well as the Thermo Scientific HyClone Single-Use Bioreactor (S.U.B.) and Single-Use Mixer (S.U.M.).