Penn Pharma To Expand

Penn Pharma announced a $17.6 million expansion program to expand its facilities headquartered in south Wales. The plan will create 133 jobs and add a further 100 jobs in future. The company currently employs 250 people at its headquarters.

The Welsh Assembly Government’s Single Investment Fund will back the program. Deputy First Minister at the Welsh Assembly Government, Ieuan Wyn Jones, said, “Penn Pharmaceuticals’ latest investment demonstrates that — despite the general economic downturn — some key companies in vital sectors are confidently investing in the future and are creating precisely the kind of skilled jobs that the Welsh economy needs.”

Peter George, chief executive officer of Penn Pharma, said, “The backing from the Welsh Assembly Government and Blaenau Gwent Council has been outstanding, and instrumental in Penn’s decision to develop its current site and bring the work to Wales. It strengthens our commitment to the local community and as a leading Welsh company we will endeavour to payback the Assembly Governments faith in us by driving sustainable growth and employment.”

Penn Pharma has already invested in additional capacity, including an off-site storage and distribution facility near its headquarters, and the extension and refurbishment of its laboratories.

Through the new program, Penn will increase capacity and improve the efficiency of material flow from production areas to storage space. The company will move existing stores to a site at Oakdale to allow the expansion of its clinical trials supplies and manufacturing facilities. Further redevelopment phases will include the extension of existing buildings, and the refurbishment the laboratories.