The Gerresheimer Group has set up a new facility for medical plastic systems in Indaiatuba (Brazil). The plant is to commence operations early in 2010. On the basis of a long-term cooperation agreement with Novo Nordisk, components will be produced with state-of-the-art technology for insulin pen systems for diabetics.

Insulin pens are drug-delivery devices in ball-point pen format which allow diabetes patients to inject themselves with the regularly required insulin dose safely and almost painlessly. Novo Nordisk as the world’s leading insulin producer has contracted Gerresheimer to manufacture components for its insulin pens. Novo Nordisk has a large insulin plant in Brazil which will in future be supplied locally by the new technology centre of the Gerresheimer Group. For Gerresheimer this is already the fourth production plant in South America in addition to two existing plants for standardized pharma plastic packaging in Brazil and one in Argentina.

Apart from the new production facility in Brazil, Gerresheimer already has two other production facilities for pen systems in Europe.

“Cooperation with Novo Nordisk in Brazil is of substantial strategic importance for us. We support the customer in developing new markets and at the same time expand our technological base in South America,” says Gerresheimer CEO Dr. Axel Herberg.

Gerresheimer employs around 10,000 people in 40 locations in Europe, America and Asia. In the financial year 2008, worldwide sales totaled €1.06bn. The product portfolio ranges from pharmaceutical vials made of glass and plastic through to complex drug-delivery systems for the pharma & healthcare industry.