SHL Medical, a manufacturer of auto-injection systems headquartered in Switzerland, officially opened its most advanced new manufacturing facility in North Charleston, South Carolina. SHL Medical stated that the expansion, first announced in summer 2022 with an investment of $220 million, contributed to the local economy and created hundreds of new jobs in the region.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, North Charleston Mayor Reginald L. Burgess, and Swiss Consul General Urs Broennimann attended the grand opening ceremony last week.

Ulrich Faessler, CEO of SHL Medical, welcomed Governor Henry McMaster to the grand opening ceremony of the company's new factory in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Reliable domestic drug delivery device supply

The factory, spanning 360,000 square feet, will produce SHL Medical's advanced auto-injectors for high-demand conditions such as obesity, autoimmune diseases, and rare disorders. SHL Medical stated that with the increasing demand for Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapies to treat conditions like type 2 diabetes and obesity, the new facility will ensure reliable supply of related drug delivery devices to U.S. patients, while reducing lead times and transportation costs.

According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 38 million Americans (1 in 10 adults) have been diagnosed with diabetes, and most of them have type 2 diabetes.

Global market value 120 billion dollars

"The facility marks a key step in our global expansion and enhances our ability to meet the growing demand for autoinjectors," said Ulrich Faessler, CEO of SHL Medical. In fact, according to data from Fortune Business Insights, the global autoinjector market was valued at $120 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.4% by 2032.

SHL Medical is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, with operations in Deerfield Beach, Florida; Sweden; and Taiwan. The company chose South Carolina as its U.S. flagship base because of the "strong skilled workforce pipeline and favorable business environment," CEO Ulrich Faessler said in a prepared statement. He added that the new facility will enable the company to "scale up production while contributing to the growth of the region."

The new facility, equipped with advanced injection molding technology and fully automated assembly lines, complements SHL Medical’s established production site in Taiwan and its upcoming facility in Zug, Switzerland.

The Swiss manufacturing plant is scheduled to open in 2026.

Chugger Factory first announced in November 2020 that it is expected to be completed next year. The new global headquarters will cover 226,000 square feet and will seamlessly integrate office space with state-of-the-art manufacturing technology. SHL Medical expects an annual production capacity of approximately 80 million automatic injection devices, with nearly 350 employees. Once completed, it will make the company one of the few manufacturers of automatic injectors operating on three continents.

By leveraging its existing operations in Florida and the recent acquisition of shares in SHL Advantec, the North Charleston facility has strengthened SHL Medical's presence in the United States, supporting large-scale production and advancing its mission to deliver world-class drug delivery devices. The company stated that it is on track to deliver 1.5 billion devices to customers by 2025.

"We are proud to expand our operations in the United States and support local communities," said Kimberlee Steele, Managing Director of North America. "One of the most trusted auto-injector brands is now made in the USA, ensuring patients have the essential equipment they need to manage their health independently."