New 80,000-Square Foot Facility Will Support Company’s Production of State-of-the-Art Pharmaceutical Equipment — Including Equipment for Cancer-Fighting Treatments
Expansion Will Allow the Company to Create 70 New Jobs and Retain 157 Jobs in Western New York
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that manufacturing company IMA Life North America will build a $30 million, 80,000-square-foot facility in Tonawanda to increase its production of freeze-drying equipment for the pharmaceutical industry. IMA Life's equipment is shipped all over the world and its customers include pharmaceutical giants such as Pfizer and Moderna.
“New York is continuing to bring the companies, the investment, and the talent to build the future of medicine in our state,” Governor Hochul said. “IMA Life’s investment in Western New York will help provide the critical equipment needed for pharmaceutical companies to manufacturer life-saving drugs, while also creating the jobs needed to grow and support the health care sector.”
IMA Life North America is part of IMA Group, an Italian company that is a global leader in the field of aseptic drug processing and freeze-drying equipment, with about 6,900 employees worldwide. The company offers a wide range of technologically advanced machines, which preserve the integrity of pharmaceutical products, ensuring the maximum level of sterility and protecting both the operator and the environment.
The new building will include 50,000 square feet of production space and 30,000 square feet of office space on a 15-acre parcel located at 700 Colvin Woods Parkway, supplementing IMA Life’s existing 60,000-square-foot facility at 2175 Military Road. The large freeze dryers manufactured there can rapidly convert vials of liquid medicines and other pharmaceutical products into a powdered form that is shelf-stable and easy to transport. The product range includes blowers, washers, depyrogenating tunnels, liquid and powder fillers, freeze dryers, automatic loaders/unloaders, labelers, and isolation systems.
President of IMA Life North America Ernesto Renzi said, “We have deep respect for the life-saving medicines our customer’s process using IMA equipment, and we look forward to expanding our production capabilities and adding jobs right here in Western New York. The impressive competence of the workforce has allowed us to grow our customer base and expand the company.”
IMA Life has 157 employees based in Tonawanda and plans to add 70 more as the expansion project unlocks production increases. New York State, through Empire State Development (ESD), the State’s economic development agency, will provide up to $1,127,443 in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits in return for IMA’s job creation commitments.
Empire State Development President CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Upstate New York is becoming a global competitor in pharmaceuticals and manufacturing, thanks to the state’s strategic investments in a skilled workforce, quality of life benefits, and innovative academic-industry partnerships. Western New York was shaped by the might of manufacturing, and there’s no question that the increase of production at IMA will further add to the region’s growth.”
Read the full press release here.