Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing, Inc. (GRAM), a US-based sterile product contract manufacturer, has signed purchase agreements to acquire land in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The move is part of a strategy to growing its presence in life sciences, expand manufacturing capacity and meet the demands of a growing customer base.
The deal is for a 1.5-acre (0.6ha) land located less than a quarter mile away from GRAM's existing manufacturing facility in Grand Rapids. GRAM said the acquisition will significantly increase the company’s existing 40,000-square-foot cGMP space.
The purchase agreement is with two separate parties, subject to normal due diligence items, and expected to close within 90 days.
The expansion will house a state-of-the-art cleanroom space, including new isolator technology, and will allow GRAM to serve its clients with high-speed, fully integrated manufacturing and packaging lines.
Commenting on the news, Tom Ross, president and CEO, said: “The substantial growth rate that we’ve experienced in the last several years has allowed us to match the needs of our clients and the industry. With that growing demand, we are excited to add more manufacturing capacity, while remaining a quality-focused organization.”
GRAM’s last addition to its pharmaceutical fill/finish footprint was in 2014 with the addition of a 28,000-square-foot facility.
The 2014 expansion was in response to the need for more warehousing space, as well as a place for finishing activities.
“As GRAM has grown and we have continued to add more capabilities, we’ve identified the need for more cleanroom space to serve our client’s needs and to meet the market demand in biologics and generic pharmaceutical markets,” said Nick Bykerk, vice president of business development and finance.
GRAM was formed in December 2010 and opened its doors in January 2011. In seven years, the company has increased its employee base from 16 employees in 2011 to over 160 employees today.
