Baxter to invest $50 million in Indiana plant

DEERFIELD - Baxter International Inc. Tuesday announced a $50 million expansion of its sterile medical manufacturing facilities in Bloomington, Indiana.

These facilities are operated by Baxter's BioPharma Solutions business, a premier contract manufacturing division that specializes in injectable pharmaceuticals. The expansion is being funded by a combination of Baxter and client investment. Additional details of the agreement were not disclosed.

The planned expansion includes construction of a new 25,000-square-foot warehouse, a new filling line for flexible plastic containers, a high-speed automated syringe fill line capable of filling up to 600 units per minute and a new high-speed automated visual inspection line, the company said.

Construction is currently underway and is expected to be completed in 2021. Contract product manufacturing in the expanded facilities is expected to begin in 2022.

"We pride ourselves on being a contract manufacturing partner with the specialized expertise, proven experience and facilities to help our clients successfully achieve their sterile manufacturing objectives," said Marie Keeley, vice president, BioPharma Solutions.