Sandoz invests – 50 million construction secures Kundl location

The fact that even Sandoz’s top boss, Richard Saynor, traveled to Kundl and also LH Anton Mattle symbolically picked up the shovel, underlined the importance of the day: Monday Sandoz gave the green light for a new building worth 50 million euros for penicillin. production. “Antibiotics are still the backbone of modern medicine,” Saynor stressed. He recalled “unprecedented market swings” of recent years, but now there is a rapidly increasing demand.

Avoid dependence on foreign countries
The 1,800 square meter facility, which is located in the middle of the company site and not on a “green field”, is expected to be operational in 2024. Initially, about 100 jobs will be created. Michael Kocher, Austrian boss of parent company Novartis, emphasized the importance of patient care: “In times of record inflation and ongoing cost competition from Asia, which increase the risk of reliance on foreign suppliers, domestic or European manufacturing sites are more important than ever.”

Reassuring from a Tyrolean point of view: the further investment as part of a 150 million package secures the Kundl site. This is important in view of the tenfold increase in energy costs (about EUR 120 to 150 million).

Production “from A to Z” is special
Sandoz site manager Mario Riesner explained the special feature of the facilities in Kundl: “The entire production process from the active ingredient to the finished product takes place in one location. It is the last remaining vertically integrated penicillin production facility in Europe and the Western world.” In the meantime, efforts are also being made to draw attention to Sandoz. Saynor confirmed this at the groundbreaking ceremony: “Sandoz must become independent from Novartis.”