SAFC Expands European Commercial Manufacturing and Storage Capacities With $10 Million ...( ST. LOUIS Sept. 7 /- SAFC(R) a me...)

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SAFC(R), a member of the Sigma-Aldrich Group (Nasdaq: SIAL), has announced a $10 million development package to increase cGMP commercial-scale Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) manufacturing capacity at its SAFC Pharma(TM), Arklow, Ireland facility, and to expand capacity to enhance manufacturing operations at its Buchs, Switzerland facilities.

Scheduled for Q1 2008, the $4.7 million Arklow investment will increase production capacity and capability. The site will upgrade the pilot plant and add additional vessels to significantly increase chemistry capacity for API products. Additional enhancements under this project scheduled later this year are expected to increase utility capacity and further increase the site's award-winning environmental performance.

SAFC's 64,000 cubic meter Arklow manufacturing complex was acquired in 2006 and features a simulated moving bed (SMB) unit in one of its four cGMP and FDA inspected production bays that were designed specifically for commercial-scale production of commercial and late stage APIs.

SAFC's Buchs site will extend its existing cGMP production facility with a 17,200 sq. ft., $5.4 million expansion designed to enhance production capacity by 25% through improved materials flow and separation, and increased materials storage. The new two-level storage facility is expected to become fully operational in spring 2008 and will provide logistical infrastructure to support future expansion. The site supports manufacturing operations for the SAFC Pharma and SAFC Supply Solutions(R) business sectors.

SAFC President Frank Wicks commented, "These significant investments enhance our determination to support SAFC
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