Roche Announces 450 Million Swiss Franc Investment on New Facility

Roche announced on Nov. 5, 2014 that it will invest 450 million Swiss Francs (approximately $467 million USD) on a diagnostic manufacturing facility at the Suzhou Industrial Park in Suzhou, China. The new facility will focus on producing immunochemistry and clinical chemistry tests for clinical laboratory testing.

“Roche is committed to investing in China and the Asia Pacific region. The new manufacturing site will enable us to meet the growing demand for our diagnostic products, ensuring our continuous contribution to the health of people in China and the Asia Pacific region,” said Roland Diggelmann, COO of Roche Diagnostics, in a press release.

The Suzhou Industrial Park, developed in 1994, is a cooperation between Chinese and Singapore governments and spans 111.2 mi². The addition of a facility in the booming Suzhou area will increase the efficacy and reach of Roche manufacturing, according to the release.

“We are confident that by establishing our manufacturing footprint here in Suzhou close to our China operations, we can further increase our market responsiveness and contribute to the overall competitiveness of our business,” said Diggelmann.

The new facility is expected to be fully operational by 2018 and will employ more than 600 individuals. Roche is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.

Source: Roche