Due to strong global demand, Fresenius Medical Care said it has plans to expand the capacity for producing dialysis products at its plant in St. Wendel, Germany. The company will invest a total of approximately €39 million over the next 12 months.

About €23 million will be invested in an additional building and two new spinninglines for hollow fibres, the key component of dialysers (artificial kidneys). Production capacity for these fibres, which are also used to manufacture dialysers at other locations, will increase by about 30 per cent at St. Wendel.

Fresenius Medical Care will invest about €16 million to increase the production capacity for bags used in peritoneal dialysis. This should increase capacity by some 25 per cent. At the beginning of 2007, the company had already announced an increase to the dialyser production capacity at the St. Wendel plant. Some €36 million were committed to the project, which will boost annual capacity for single-use dialysers to 35 million.

The two latest expansion measures announced would be completed in spring of 2009. The committed total amount for all ongoing projects at St. Wendel is about €100 million (US$150 million). Fresenius Medical Care currently employs about 1,700 people at the St. Wendel development and production site. A further increase in the number of employees is expected for 2008, the company said.

Dr Ben Lipps, chief executive officer, Fresenius Medical Care said, "Demand for our innovative dialysers and other high-quality dialysis products continue to climb. The capacity expansion at the St. Wendel manufacturing site meets this steady increase and ensures that an even larger number of patients worldwide can receive our life-saving products and therapies. The investments at St. Wendel are a commitment to Germany as an important manufacturing base for us and proof of the dedication of our employees. Their efforts over the past years have made our successful growth possible".