The German technology group SCHOTT is making further investment in its new pharma glass tubing factory in Jinyun, China, consolidating its role as a reliable partner for the Chinese pharma industry. The company supplies high-quality Type I middle borosilicate glass tubing for the production of pharma containers that store vaccines (for example, against COVID-19) and other drugs.
The new tubing plant in Jinyun, China, was inaugurated precisely a year ago. Shortly after, its capacity was increased by 100 percent. Now, capacity is to be increased further. “With a new investment of 70 million Euros, we are extending our supply hub for the Chinese market,” announced Dr. Patrick Markschläger, Executive Vice President of SCHOTT Business Unit Tubing.
The factory processes a reliable supply of specialty glass tubing, which is urgently required because of the steadily increasing demand for pharma packaging. It is the most advanced tubing production site worldwide, applying state-of-the-art technology that helps enhance packaging quality. 250 new jobs have been created at the Jinyun site so far. The groundbreaking of the new tanks is scheduled for the beginning of next year, and they will go into operation in 2023. SCHOTT has invested a total of 130 million EUR into the Chinese tubing plant so far, which is part of the Group’s 1 billion USD global pharma business investment program.
Specialty glass tubing to manufacture pharma containers for drugs and vaccines requires special skills in melting and processing. FIOLAX® is highly inert and protects sensitive drugs from unwanted drug-container interactions. The material is a 5.0 Type I middle borosilicate glass and supports the strategy of the Chinese government to move away from the low borosilicate glass (7.0 glass).