Thermo Fisher Expands US Base With New Mebane Facility

Thermo Fisher Scientific has opened a new 375,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in North Carolina, aimed at fortifying customers' supply chains with greater resilience and adaptability.

This advancement is in line with the company's broader strategy to reinforce its manufacturing prowess in the US and nurture continued innovation.

Located in Mebane, this carbon-neutral site specialises in producing pipette tips, key tools in laboratories for moving precise liquid volumes essential in medical and diagnostic research.

Erica Hirsch, President of Laboratory Chemicals at Thermo Fisher Scientific, says: "The opening of our Mebane site is a testament to our larger strategy to strengthen our manufacturing capabilities in the US and support continued innovation and expanded growth in North Carolina, building on the strong foundation we’ve already established in this state."

Increasing local production to meet global needs

The demand for pipette tips is rising, partly due to their role in laboratory processes including disease research and diagnostic tests.

Thermo Fisher utilises high-quality materials and meticulous quality control at the Mebane facility to minimise contamination and ensure accuracy.

This precision meets increasing needs across the US for the production of life-saving medicines and diagnostics.

The Mebane site's high-speed automation enables the production of 96 pipette tips every 12 seconds, culminating in 5,000 assemblies per hour.

This capability is crucial in supporting customer expectations for efficiency and scale.

Josh Stein, Governor of North Carolina, points to the role the facility will play in both the state and national context: "Thermo Fisher Scientific’s new facility strengthens North Carolina’s leadership in the biotech sector and strengthens our domestic supply chain.

"I am proud to welcome this global company to Mebane as it expands its North Carolina presence with 100 good-paying jobs."

Thermo Fisher's strategic developments

Currently, Thermo Fisher has staffed 40 positions at the new Mebane site, with an additional 50 roles planned across manufacturing, engineering and operations.

This expansion reinforces the company's substantial presence in North Carolina, where it employs approximately 7,800 individuals across 13 venues.

These operations include a laboratory equipment excellence centre in Asheville, three life sciences facilities in Durham, pharmaceutical production locations in Greenville and High Point and a distribution hub in Raleigh.

Mebane's development is backed by a US$192.5m contract initiated in collaboration with the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense, aligning with initiatives to bolster domestic supply chains in critical sectors.

Thermo Fisher invests US$1bn annually in R&D across the US. Its operations in the country have expanded significantly since 2017, now supporting over 50,000 staff nationwide.

This growth reflects the firm's commitment to reinforcing manufacturing capacity with an eye on resilience.

Fostering supply chain adaptability

Producing pipette tips on a large scale within a carbon-neutral environment, Thermo Fisher ensures steady access to essential laboratory supplies crucial for pharmaceutical and disease research.

The site is positioned as a high-volume automated supply chain hub within North Carolina, home to a burgeoning life sciences workforce.

The automated production and distribution systems at Mebane ensure swift market responsiveness while lessening reliance on international production.

This framework contributes to a robust supply chain capable of managing emergent public health situations.

Thermo Fisher envisions this facility as integral to its national strategy, amplifying domestic capacity and reinforcing local scientific and technological networks.

Erica concludes: "As a global leader in life sciences manufacturing, we’re proud to serve as a growth engine for the American economy and provide our customers with a strong and agile supply chain that enables them to advance human health."