Terumo builds facility for new FDA-approved plasma collection kit

Published: 14-Jun-2022

Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies has inaugurated its newest manufacturing facility in Colorado, US

Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies, one of Colorado's largest medical technology companies, has inaugurated its newest manufacturing facility in Douglas County, Colorado.

The $250 million, state-of-the-art manufacturing plant aligns with the company's mission of Contributing to Society through Healthcare and serving more patients.

Terumo maintains its Douglas County campus with manufacturing cleanrooms that are evolving to a high-tech process facility

Production at the 170,000 sqft plant will serve source plasma collections customers with single-use collection sets for the recently FDA-cleared Rika Plasma Donation System (Rika).

Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies is a medical technology company specialising in a portfolio of products, software and services for blood component collection, therapeutic apheresis and cellular technologies.

What is Rika?

Rika is a next-generation automated technology focused on the experience of plasma centre employees and donors. It was developed in response to the industry's need for technological advancement and process improvements to drive efficiency and quality while maintaining donor safety and a sufficient plasma supply.

The Rika technology is an entire ecosystem focused on the operator and donor experience to help meet the worldwide demand for plasma-derived medicines. With an advanced control system to guide device operators, Rika completes plasma collections in 35 minutes or less on average and ensures there is never more than 200 millilitres of blood outside the donor's body at one time.

At full capacity, we plan to operate 24/7 with four production lines that are optimised for efficiency with highly automated precision manufacturing

"Terumo's new manufacturing site in Colorado is a prime example of a strategic investment in an emerging business area," said Shinjiro Sato, President and CEO of Terumo Corporation. "Rika will revolutionise plasma collection centre operations. This new manufacturing site builds upon our work to Contribute to Society through Healthcare, as we look to plasma-based therapies to touch patients around the globe."

Rika debuts in 2022 in a limited market release in the Denver, Colorado area.

"Terumo has been in Colorado for over 50 years," said Chris Williams, Senior VP of Global Manufacturing for Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies. "This new state-of-the-art facility deepens our footprint and financial commitment to the state where we continue to offer quality jobs while making products that touch patients' lives every second of every day. At full capacity, we plan to operate 24/7 with four production lines that are optimised for efficiency with highly automated precision manufacturing."

The new location

The new facility will eventually employ about 300 people based on market needs. Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies maintains its Douglas County campus with manufacturing cleanrooms that are evolving to a high-tech process facility.

The facility will also integrate a robust and efficient reuse and recycling programme. At full production volume, this effort will ensure that several hundred tons of plastic are recycled, and more than a million pounds of wood will be conserved annually.

"Colorado continues to be a hot spot for bioscience companies," said Elyse Blazevich, President and CEO, of Colorado BioScience Association. "Terumo's expansion here validates the sector's continued growth and prospects."

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