FUJIFILM Biotechnologies has formally opened its significantly expanded biomanufacturing and process development site in Teesside.
The £400m investment from Japan’s FUJIFILM Corporation includes the launch of what the company describes as the UK’s largest single‑use contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) facility.
Designed for small- and mid-scale antibody production, the 110,000 sqft facility operates under fully controlled cleanroom environments, supporting both fed-batch and continuous processes.
The facility is equipped with 2,000 L and 5,000 L single‑use bioreactors and a total capacity of up to 19,000 L.
The GMP manufacturing hub is due to begin operations in the first half of 2026.
The Bioprocess Innovation Centre
In tandem, the Bioprocess Innovation Centre UK has opened with more than 102,000 sqft of laboratory space for high‑throughput and continuous process development.
The centre doubles the existing laboratory footprint at the Teesside campus and is positioned as a global centre of excellence for biomanufacturing innovation and early‑stage development.
At the grand opening ceremony, attended by industry leaders and government figures, panel speakers underscored the facility’s role in strengthening supply chain resilience and advancing UK biopharmaceutical capability.
“This facility is not just a fantastic new site for FUJIFILM in the UK, it showcases the North East as a place to build and scale globally competitive capabilities," said Shaun Grady, Chair of the BioIndustry Association.
How does sustainability relate to the centre?
The new Teesside facilities also align with FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation’s sustainability goals.
The manufacturing building has been fully electrified, with the company targeting 100% renewable electricity across its operations by 2030.
With over 960 employees on site and more than 5,000 across the FUJIFILM Biotechnologies global network, the Teesside expansion is expected to underpin future growth in complex biologics, vaccines and advanced therapies for global partners.