ATMI Augments Existing Semiconductor Facility To Manufacture Ultraclean, Single-Use Bioprocess Products For Life Science Customers In The United States

ATMI, Inc. recently announced plans to double its global production capacity of ultraclean, disposable bioprocess vessels for life sciences applications through upgrades and modifications to its North American manufacturing facility in Bloomington, Minn. The site, which supplies products for the integrated circuit (IC) and flat panel display (FPD) markets, adds a Grade B clean room for fabricating complex three-dimensional storage, mixing and bioreactor vessels for life sciences customers. In addition to maintaining its current IC and FPD operations, the plant upgrade will entail creation of an on-site quality testing laboratory.

"ATMI has been developing and manufacturing one-time use mixing, reactor and storage solutions for the life sciences market for the past few years," said Doug Neugold, ATMI Chief Executive Officer. "As a result of successfully placing multiple qualification units with key North American customers — and their increasing application of this technology in development and manufacturing — we're accelerating our investments for production here."

The company will continue its present manufacturing of bioprocess vessels at the ATMI LifeSciences plant in Belgium. By using copy-exact methods from that facility, the company can swiftly replicate a CGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices) operation in Minnesota and bring it online — effectively doubling its global bioprocess vessel capacity. The time-frame targeted for qualifying North American production is 4Q2009; commercial products are expected to ship in 2010.

"Our customers have asked us to provide them with greater disposable bioprocess vessel capacity, along with global contingency and continuity of supply for their critical ultraclean bioprocess storage, mixing and bioreactor vessels," said Mario Philips, General Manager of ATMI LifeSciences. "Increasing our manufacturing footprint addresses the rapidly increasing demands of the biopharmaceutical marketplace."

Beyond its new Grade B clean room, the upgraded North American facility will house a bio-burden test laboratory to analyze and manage sterility levels in the manufacturing environment. With these additions, ATMI continues to capitalize on its proficiency in semiconductor, clean room and ultrapure manufacturing and to leverage that expertise in the life sciences market.

About ATMI LifeSciences
ATMI LifeSciences is a leader in single-use mixing, storage, and bioreactor technology, fluoropolymer-based products, and custom-engineered, flexible packaging solutions. The business's fundamental knowledge of polymers, specially selected resins, and its clean room manufacturing experience coalesce to help drive optimum performance in critical disposable process operations. For more information, please visit www.atmilifesciences. com.

About ATMI
ATMI, Inc. provides specialty semiconductor materials, and high-purity materials handling and delivery solutions designed to increase process efficiencies for the worldwide semiconductor, flat panel, and life sciences industries. For more information, please visit http://www.atmi.com.

SOURCE: ATMI LifeSciences