Order Management Specialist

Sharp expands European injectable packaging capacity with €20 million investment. Sharp increases European injectable assembly and secondary packaging capacity to support the rising demand for pre-filled syringes and autoinjectors. As the pharmaceutical landscape continues to shift toward biologic drug delivery, the technical requirements for secondary packaging and cold chain logistics have become increasingly complex. To address these demands, Sharp is expanding its infrastructure in Hamont-Achel, Belgium, and Heerenveen, The Netherlands, focusing on the assembly and such as autoinjectors, pen devices, pre-filled syringes, and vials, according to a press release from the company (1). These expansions represent a significant shift in available regional capacity for the European market. How is technical capacity evolving to meet injectable drug delivery requirements? The modernization of these facilities reflects the growing need for specialized environments to handle sensitive injectable products (1). In the Netherlands, the expansion involves increasing (GMP) production capacity, which includes the installation of two Grade D packaging suites scheduled to be operational in 2026. These suites are designed to accommodate new vial packaging and syringe assembly programs, providing the necessary controlled environments for high-value biologics. Simultaneously, the Belgian facility is undergoing a major transformation to resolve potential bottlenecks in storage and assembly (1). The project will quadruple existing cold-chain warehouse capacity and double the available ambient storage space. To further streamline the transition from development to market-scale production, a new syringe assembly and blister packaging suite is being added, with plans for further device assembly and packaging lines. For manufacturing leads, the integration of collaborative robot technology onto pre-filled syringe and autoinjector packaging lines is a notable development aimed at enhancing production efficiency and consistency. Why do these infrastructure updates matter for long-term supply chain resilience? Beyond immediate throughput, the expansion aligns with the industry's focus on sustainable manufacturing and reliable market entry within the European Union (1). The Belgian site has been upgraded with a carport solar system designed to supply 50% of the facility's electricity once it is fully commissioned in mid-2026. This focus on renewable energy allows pharmaceutical partners to meet internal sustainability targets while maintaining a robust supply chain. Robert O'Beirn, managing director, Sharp Clinical & Sharp Europe, commented in a Sharp press release: "Our European facilities have a long-established reputation for successfully delivering the complex packaging services required for injectable drug formats. This investment represents a significant increase in our capacity to support our pharma clients, as sustainably as possible, with their injectable drug launches in the EU market" (1). By increasing the scale of available GMP space and incorporating advanced automation, these upgrades provide a pathway for pharmaceutical developers to navigate the regulatory and logistical hurdles of launching injectable therapies. The combination of expanded cold storage and specialized assembly capacity ensures that the infrastructure can support the full lifecycle of complex drug delivery devices. How is the investment part of Sharp's larger plans? In October 2025, Sharp announced plans to invest $100 million across its United States and European facilities to expand capacity for injectable and oral solid dose medications (2). This initiative addresses rising market demand for autoinjectors and pre-filled syringes through modernized assembly lines and sterile filling. Technical infrastructure upgrades announced by Sharp at the time (2): - Injectable Assembly: New packaging suites and automated lines are being established in Pennsylvania, Belgium, and the Netherlands to support complex delivery formats. This expansion provides pharmaceutical developers with increased regional manufacturing capacity and sustainable production options for global commercial launches. Get the essential updates shaping the future of pharma manufacturing and compliance - subscribe today to Pharmaceutical Technology and never miss a breakthrough.

Sharp to invest in European injectable packaging expansion. The funds will be used to upgrade sites in Hamont-Achel, Belgium, and Heerenveen, the Netherlands. Pharmaceutical packaging company Sharp has committed more than €20m ($23.4m) to expand its European facilities amid demand for injectable products. The funds will be used to upgrade sites in Hamont-Achel, Belgium, and Heerenveen, the Netherlands. The focus will be on enhancing capabilities for assembling, labelling, packaging, and cold storage of various injectable types such as autoinjectors, pre-filled syringes, pen devices, and vials. At its Belgian facility, Sharp will increase cold-chain warehouse space fourfold and double ambient storage capacity. The site is also set to receive a new suite for syringe assembly and blister packaging. Plans are in place to further boost device assembly and packaging operations. US tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate? Don't let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis. To support efficiency on adjacent packaging lines for pre-filled syringes and autoinjectors, the company has introduced collaborative robot technology. A new solar-powered carport has also been installed at the Hamont-Achel site to provide renewable energy. Once fully commissioned by mid-2026, this system is expected to supply 50% of the facility's electricity needs from renewable sources. The Heerenveen site in the Netherlands will see an expansion of GMP production capabilities through the addition of two Grade D packaging suites. These improvements aim to support upcoming syringe assembly and packaging projects, as well as increased vial packaging capacity planned for 2026. Sharp Clinical & Sharp Europe managing director Robert O'Beirn said: "Our European facilities have a long-established reputation for successfully delivering the complex packaging services required for injectable drug formats. "This investment represents a significant increase in our capacity to support our pharma clients, as sustainably as possible, with their injectable drug launches in the EU market." This European expansion forms part of a broader $100m investment programme announced by Sharp in November 2025. In May 2024, the company expanded its Macungie facility in Pennsylvania, US, to address greater demand for secondary packaging of sterile injectables.

Sharp Services invests $100 million in US and european facilities. Investments will bolster clinical and commercial capacity in US and Europe facilities for injectable and oral solid dose packaging, and sterile filling. Sharp Services, an expert in pharmaceutical packaging, clinical trial services & sterile manufacturing, has announced a $100 million investment across its global facility network to address increasing market demand for established and new medicines. With six GMP facilities in the US and three in Europe, Sharp is strategically positioned to provide clinical and commercial solutions worldwide. Expanding its services across its facility network will further extend the company's capabilities to meet the needs of clients. Kevin Orfan, President & CEO of Sharp, commented: "These multi-site investments at Sharp reflect our ongoing commitment to support the evolving needs of our pharma and biopharma clients in each of our core businesses. We are strengthening our service offerings across our entire network to provide more capacity, new capabilities, and greater efficiency, thereby reinforcing our role as a trusted and experienced partner to our clients as we help them bring important medicines to patients around the world." The investment in new injectable capacity in the US and Europe is in response to strong market demand for assembly and packaging of pre-filled syringes and autoinjectors, along with ancillary services. Sharp's Netherlands facility is increasing GMP production capacity to accommodate new vial labeling, syringe assembly, and injectables packaging, which is due to come online in 2026. In Belgium, Sharp has begun a significant warehouse expansion, which will include additional cold-chain and ambient storage, and is building out a new syringe blistering production suite. As part of this global investment strategy, Sharp's Allentown campus will add a new pre-filled syringe assembly, labeling and packaging line, a vial labeler and high-speed cartoner, a mid-speed bottling and packaging line for OSD products, and automated pouch filling lines for powder and OSD products. This new equipment will add capacity to support existing products as well as provide capacity for new opportunities. These investments in Allentown complement the recent $20 million investment announcement for autoinjector and pen assembly services at Macungie. The plan includes the installation of two autoinjector and pen assemblies, labeling and packaging lines at its facility in Macungie, US. Sharp's Bethlehem, PA, site, which offers clinical services from preclinical through to commercial, has commenced the installation of a 2-8 oC production room with refrigerator and -15 °C to -25 °C walk-in freezer, two new capsule filling machines, and an additional blister line to package OSD products. These new clinical and commercial capabilities will be operational at the site by the end of 2025. Sharp has also committed $28 million to significantly increase capacity at its sterile manufacturing facility in Lee, MA. The investment will support the installation of a fourth state-of-the-art isolator-based sterile filling line with lyophilization and several related infrastructural upgrades.