Plastikon, a California-based contract manufacturer for the medical and healthcare industry, announced today that it will locate a new production facility in Lawrence, Kan., creating 126 jobs. Plastikon will purchase a 40,000-square foot biopharmaceutical production facility formerly occupied by Serologicals, Inc., in Lawrence’s East Hills Business Park. Plastikon will use the facility to produce a sterile fluid product for the medical and healthcare industry, investing more than $7 million in the project.
“After many months of research and analysis, we decided on Lawrence, Kan., for our new site because of the highly skilled biotech and pharmaceutical employment base this great community offers,” said Kaveh Soofer, Plastikon’s Vice President of Global Sales and Engineering. “We have been very impressed with the people, city and state, and we are looking forward to launching our new successful project this spring.”
Plastikon also considered facilities in Chicago and South Carolina for this project. The company plans to be operational in the second quarter of 2011.
“Whenever a leading company like Plastikon chooses Kansas, it speaks volumes about our workforce, our pro-business policies and our status as a top state for the biosciences,” said Bill Thornton, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce. “We thank Plastikon for its commitment to creating these new jobs, and we look forward to working with the company in the future.”
“Plastikon’s investment in our community reflects our shared commitment to Lawrence’s future as a community with both a vibrant business community and unequaled quality of life,” said Tom Kern, President and CEO of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.
The Kansas Bioscience Authority (KBA) has provided a letter of support to Plastikon to establish its sterile fluid-filled resin products manufacturing operation in Kansas. If this investment is approved by the KBA’s board of directors, KBA will then provide funds to assist Plastikon in establishing and growing its presence in Lawrence.
Tom Thornton, president of the KBA, said the company’s decision to establish its manufacturing operation in Kansas is another example of bioscience contributing to the state’s economic recovery — and long-term financial growth.
“Companies like Plastikon manufacture and ship products used in a variety of diagnostic and reference laboratories around the world, and they do it from right here in Kansas,” Thornton said. “We applaud their success and look forward to their continued growth here.”
About Plastikon
Founded in 1982, Plastikon Industries is a worldwide leading provider in developing, manufacturing and delivering the best quality plastic products and assemblies. The organization is committed to the environment and the communities we live in. Plastikon has nine facilities throughout the world, providing engineering services, tool design and build, injection molding, thermoforming, part decoration, assembly, rapid tooling and prototype development. All of these capabilities allow Plastikon to assist its customers from concept to production, leveraging worldwide facilities and resources in design, prototyping, manufacturing, packaging and distribution. ISO 9001, 14001, 13485, 16969 certified facilities. For details, visit www.plastikon.com.
Kansas as a Bioscience Center
Kansas continues to confirm its reputation as one of the nation’s leading states for bioscience industry development. There are approximately 16,000 bioscience jobs in Kansas, spanning key biotech sectors such as human health, animal health, plant science, bioenergy, biomaterials, biosecurity bioinformatics, medical device and equipment manufacturing, agriculture and organic chemical manufacturing. In August, Business Facilities magazine ranked Kansas as the No. 5 state for bioscience industry development, citing the state’s “remarkable progress up the national biotech ladder” and its convening of “industry, higher education and government in a coordinated effort that has made Kansas a national center for animal health research, a leader in pharmaceuticals and an emerging player in bioenergy."
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