West Opens New Analytical Laboratory in Stolberg, Germany

This summer, West officially opened a new purpose-built analytical laboratory, housing approximately 80 team members near its manufacturing site in Stolberg, Germany. 

Mayor of Stolberg, Patrick Haas and Mayor of Eschweiler, Nadine Leonhardt joined Kathy dePadua, West Senior Vice President, Chief Quality and Regulatory Officer and team members at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the facility’s opening.

"We are excited to announce the opening of our new, state of the art, laboratory, which will allow us to broaden our range of services to meet the growing needs of our customers for analytical chemistry and microbiological testing,” expressed Kathy dePadua. “As a market leader, West recognizes the importance of staying agile in response to the continuously evolving regulatory landscape in our industry, and we look forward to continuing to support our customers, as we collaborate to provide injectable medicines to patients across the globe." 

The new laboratory expands West’s capabilities to support increased manufacturing needs with finished goods release testing, incoming inspections, and special projects such as new method validations and testing automation. In addition to analytical chemistry testing, specialized microbiological and particulate testing to support West’s manufacturing sites, the new lab also provides the company with the additional capacity to offer specialized contract testing for its customers. The building was designed to accommodate future expansion to enable West to meet increasing testing demands for volume, new technology, automation, and regulatory requirements, including EU GMP Annex 1. The building also offers a modern comfortable work environment, including a rooftop canteen for the lab team to enjoy their meals on-site.

For over 60 years, West has proudly maintained a strong presence in Germany and today, West employs close to 1,500 team members across two manufacturing sites, an innovation and technology centre for research and development, a toolmaking facility and the new laboratory. Its Eschweiler site specializes in the manufacturing of elastomer products for the pharmaceutical industry and the Stolberg site specializes in highly automated metal, plastic, and combination seal manufacturing, as well as cleanroom moulding and assembly. 

The Kiefernweg campus located close the manufacturing sites includes an office building and innovation and technology centre for research and development of pharmaceutical packaging components and systems for injectable drugs. West’s tool shop in Stolberg provides tooling products and services for West manufacturing sites globally. 

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony Kathy dePadua recognised the fantastic efforts by the West team in Germany who worked on this important project and wished them every success for the future, as they continue to work together to support West’s customers in delivering injectable medicines to patients worldwide. Kathy was joined by Iris Bavaj, VP QA Containment & Managing Director, West Germany, Matthias Bahr, VP QA Global Laboratory t and the mayors of Eschweiler and Stolberg to cut the ribbon and officially open the building.

For information on career opportunities at West in Germany click here.