Plastic technology provider Rochling to invest Euro 35 mn in German plant

The Rochling Group, which provides wide-range of technologies in the area of plastics processing, will invest Euro 35 million in its Neuhaus am Rennweg plant in Germany. This will enable a significant expansion in the production capacities of Rochling-HPT Hochwertige Pharmatechnik GmbH & Co KG, giving a considerable boost to the market position of the specialist in the manufacture of primary packaging for the pharmaceutical and diagnostic industry.

In making this investment, the international Rochling Group, to which HPT has belonged since the beginning of 2015, is continuing its strategic expansion in pharmaceutical and medical technology and safeguarding long-term growth at the site in Thuringia, Germany. 

Ludger Bartels, CEO of the Rochling Group, said, “The expansion will enable Rochling-HPT to be a strategic partner for integrated packaging systems. HPT already enjoys great success supplying its customers with a broad range of bottles and containers. In future we will be able to offer complete systems from the bottle through the closure to the administration device.”

The investment is planned in three phases, the first beginning with the expansion of the existing production building. That will create space for the products of the new injection moulding and assembly facility for closures and administration devices in the GMP class C clean room. 

The existing extrusion blow moulding line in the GMP class D/C clean room will also be expanded. Clean room is the name given to a closed production area in which the concentrations of particles and microorganisms in the air are controlled. The controlled environment makes it possible to manufacture pharmaceutical primary packaging systems and medical devices meeting the most stringent requirements on purity and quality. Methods of controlling the number of particles include, for instance, extensive ventilation and filter systems, specially directed air flows, structural elements such as air showers and special clean room work clothing.

A new four-storey office building with social wing will be built in 2019. The production of closures and administration devices will be expanded with the addition of several injection moulding machines, automatic assembly systems and extrusion blow moulding lines. A further increase in production capacities for closures and administration devices and an expansion of the office building are planned by 2023.