SCHOTT Pharmaceutical Packaging, a leading worldwide supplier of parenteral packaging to the pharmaceutical industry, has decided to build the company’s first production facility located in the Russian Federation. The new plant is expected to become operational in 2009. The facility will be based in Bor, a city located near the fourth largest city in Russia, Nizhny Novgorod.

“This move is of great strategic importance to our pharma business, it will strengthen the company’s leading position and allow for pharmaceutical customers based in the Commonwealth of Independent States to be served more effectively,” says Prof. Dr.-Ing. Udo Ungeheuer, Chairman of the Board of Management of SCHOTT AG.

With respect to pharmaceutical vials and ampoules, the premium quality segment is currently experiencing strong double-digit growth, therefore SCHOTT has decided to support the further market development by building a production site in Russia. SCHOTT has been active in the Russian market for parenteral primary pharmaceutical packaging for years by serving this region in particular from an existing plant in Hungary.

During phase 1, SCHOTT will begin manufacturing primary pharmaceutical packaging with approximately 150 employees. In a mid-term view, a capacity of approximately 300 million units will be installed. The support of regional and local government officials has been playing an important role in the location decision. The chosen property can accommodate further expansion options to meet increased demand.

The pharmaceutical packaging manufacturing plant will become the second production site run by SCHOTT in Russia. The SCHOTT joint venture “SCHOTT Flat Glass Russia” began processing flat glass for ovens and refrigerators at the end of September.

SCHOTT Pharmaceutical Packaging is one of the world’s leading suppliers of parenteral packaging for the pharmaceutical industry. More than 500 production lines in 11 production sites worldwide produce more than 6 billion syringes, vials, ampoules, cartridges and special articles of tubing glass or polymer. Excellent raw materials, state-of-the-art manufacturing, the use of the latest technologies, continuous research and development enable developing innovative product solutions meeting the high demands of our customers. The back-up possibilities offered by the company’s production sites situated all over the world provide flexibility, reliability and security to our partners. All production sites operate in a GMP environment and their products comply with the international standards EP; USP and JP.

SCHOTT is an international technology group that sees its core purpose as the lasting improvement of living and working conditions. For this purpose special materials, components and systems are developed. The main areas of focus are the household appliances industry, optics and opto-electronics, pharmaceuticals and solar energy. The SCHOTT Group has a presence in proximity to its customers through its production and sales companies in all its major markets. It has approximately 16,800 employees producing worldwide sales of approximately 2,2 billion euros. The company’s technological and economic expertise is closely linked with its social and ecological responsibility.