Thermo Fisher Scientific has officially opened its new manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China. The company has invested nearly $20 million in the 12,000-m² (129,167 ft²) plant, which will manufacture life-sciences consumables and equipment as well as establish local production capabilities to meet increasing customer demand in China and other regions in Asia Pacific. The new facility will serve the life-sciences and pharmaceutical industries, including research, diagnostics, and bioproduction, and customers in the chemical, environmental, and electronics industries. More than 150 employees will be housed in this facility and there is room for expansion.

In a press statement, Marc Casper, president and CEO of Thermo Fisher Scientific said, “China is one of our fastest-growing markets and has been a key contributor to our success. The Suzhou facility builds on our well-established presence in China and is an important next step as we closely align our depth of capabilities with China’s five-year plan to develop strategic industries, including pharmaceutical, healthcare, and environmental.”

Thermo Fisher entered the Chinese market 30 years ago and will manufacture plastic labware and consumables in Suzhou, including sample preparation products and filterware, as well as laboratory refrigerators, freezers, incubators, and centrifuges. The new facility will adopt best global and local manufacturing practices, including ISO9001, ISO14001, and ISO13485 standards to ensure an environmentally friendly and safe work environment.