Vetter is investing approximately €300 million to expand and upgrade its manufacturing facilities during the next five years. The company is preparing for future needs and requirements driven by a changing healthcare market that is affected by issues such as more complex molecules, smaller batch sizes, and increasing regulatory requirements.
 
The first of the facility expansions are underway at several German locations including its ‘Ravensburg Vetter West’ center for visual inspection and logistics. The facility expansion, which will more than double current capacity, is completed scheduled to become fully operational in 2017. Also, the Ravensburg Vetter South production site and the Ravensburg Schuetzenstrasse facility have been designated for significant expansion, where initial construction activities began in 2013. All three sites will have additional capacities for drug product manufacturing and logistic services.
 
A central technology element will be implemented with an in-house made improved restricted access barrier system (RABS) concept aimed at increasing operational excellence in aseptic manufacturing. RABS achieves the sterility assurance level (SAL) required by regulatory authorities, and allows for rapid product change-over coupled with high safety. To better meet future industry trends in quality, safety and flexibility, a corporate project team has evolved this ‘Improved RABS concept’ by combining the advantages of isolator and RABS technology.
 
This approach, according to the company, results in a uniquely fast, 3-hour cycle and fully automated decontamination of the cleanroom using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), with an extremely high level of process innovation. Following a successful pilot project, the company will now implement this decontamination concept in all of its cleanrooms within the next few years.
 
“We are continuously monitoring and reacting to a changing marketplace and are pleased that we are in the position to be able to make these strategic investments to further develop our sites and meet these challenges. Individually and collectively, they will help us keep pace with the market and allow us to continue to build a successful future for Vetter and our customers,” said Vetter managing director Peter Soelkner.