Bayer is building a new pharmaceutical facility in Turku and at the same time modernizing its existing production plant. The new production facility will use the latest technology and utilize automation and robotics extensively. The value of the total investment is €250 million, which is one of the largest investments in Finland in recent years. The investment will further strengthen Bayer’s footprint in Finland and Turku’s position as the contraceptive capital of the world.
This investment is significant for both Bayer and Finland. It secures long-term supply, which is required to meet Bayer’s global sustainability goals. One of these goals is to provide 100 million women in low-and middle-income countries with access to family planning and modern contraception by the end of 2030. Turku plays a significant role in Bayer’s global sustainability strategy which is in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The investment will further promote the measures that our Turku plant has already taken over the past 30 years, to achieve gender equality and support women and their families. This way we can make an impact on women’s health and social status, education and family size, – says Miriam Holstein, CEO of Bayer Nordic
Bayer’s global sustainability goals and the role of the Turku site go hand in hand with the Finnish government’s goals and, for example, its recently published Africa strategy.
We have a good and continuous dialogue with the Finnish government and our other stakeholders. Achieving the goals of sustainable development requires strong cooperation between both the public and private sectors, – says Holstein.
The new production plant will be completed by 2025
The new production facility will be one of the most modern pharmaceutical plants, where automation and robotics will be utilized extensively. The new production plant will be built in an existing building in Artukainen, Turku, where Bayer already has operations.
We are building a production facility using the latest technology, such as digital data visualization and robotics. The facility layout is also designed to optimize both material and personnel flows, and thus improve our efficiency. The current plant was established in the 1960s, and therefore investment is also needed to modernize our existing plant. Both plants will meet the same high standards and will be needed to meet product demand, – says Jennifer Hunt, Head of the Product Supply Center Turku
The contraceptive hormonal coil product family, developed and produced in Turku, is Bayer’s third best-selling pharmaceutical product globally.
Turku is Bayer’s global center of expertise and innovation hub for polymer-based pharmaceutical technology and long acting reversible contraceptives. Supply Center Turku is one of Bayer’s most important pharmaceutical facilities globally, supplying long acting contraceptive products to over 130 countries, – says Hunt.
Investments bring vitality to the whole Finland
The importance of the investment is considerable for the whole of Finland and for the Turku region.
Bayer currently employs more than 1,000 people in Finland, and last year we hired almost 150 new employees in Finland despite the COVID pandemic. With the growing demand, we will need a highly skilled workforce in the coming years as well, – says Holstein.
According to Holstein, the investment is also very significant for the entire Finnish pharmaceutical industry.
This investment will have an impact on the Finnish economy for years to come, and strengthens the vitality of the Turku region during these difficult times. Finland has a long tradition in top research, and we have a lot of special expertise and a high level of education. This is needed, so that we can be the center of expertise for polymer-based technology and clinical trials. From an international life science company’s point of view, Finland is a good place to invest in. Our continuous investments and operations show that Bayer is committed to Finland.
