Ortho Clinical Diagnostics (OCD) announced the opening of a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Pencoed, Wales. The plant will manufacture immunodiagnostic tests that can help detect diseases early, leading to patient care and treatment that will hopefully help to avoid progression to more serious disease.

Immunodiagnostic tests indicate the presence or level of a protein to help diagnose disease in categories such as thyroid function, reproductive endocrinology, cardiology, anaemia, metabolism, oncology and infectious diseases.

The new, 110,000 square foot facility will help stimulate the local economy by employing approximately 350 people in manufacturing operations, quality, product technical support, human resources, finance, and information technology.

"OCD has almost 30 years of manufacturing history in Wales and continues to invest in the region with the opening of the Pencoed facility," said John Gethin, general manager for Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, UK Operations. "The opening of this new facility enables OCD to provide our customers worldwide with advances in diagnostics to improve patient care."

Each year, more than 100 million tests are manufactured by OCD in Wales, eight percent of which remain in the United Kingdom (eight million tests). The remaining tests are shipped to company distribution centres for hospital laboratories, public health laboratories and blood banks worldwide.

HRH The Prince of Wales, who has a personal commitment to the area, toured the facility and made a speech praising the company's commitment for building an innovative manufacturing centre in the UK. He also planted a commemorative tree and met with employees.

The Pencoed facility, located in the Pencoed Technology Park, will replace the company's existing Cardiff plant by the end of next year. Existing Cardiff-based staff will be transitioned to the new Pencoed facility.