Four years ago, Repligen – an international leader in life sciences – embarked on an ambitious expansion of its Waterford manufacturing footprint. This included the development of a 33,000 square foot facility, alongside the enhancement of its existing 10,500 square foot site, ultimately aiming to create 130 new jobs.
According to John Russell, site lead, the company specialises in the creation and commercialisation of advanced bioprocessing technologies and systems that enhance the efficiency and yield of biologic drug manufacturing.
Repligen first established its presence in Waterford in December 2020 following the acquisition of ARTeSYN Biosolutions, a company that had been operating locally since 2017.
“Founded in 1981, Repligen initially focused on pharmaceutical therapeutics as well as materials for biologic drug manufacturing,” Russell said. “In 2013, the company expanded into single-use consumable products used in bioprocessing with the acquisition of Tangenx. Since then, Repligen has continued to develop and acquire a range of single-use technologies to support a variety of applications. We began as ARTeSYN, a small company known for its innovative products. Since becoming part of Repligen in 2020, we’ve continued to deliver cutting-edge solutions that address key bioprocessing challenges.”
The Waterford site is part of Repligen’s Fluid Management Group, which focuses on single-use components and equipment for storage and transfer applications. “Our two facilities – one in the Waterford Business and Technology Park (IDA) and the other in Six Cross Roads – play complementary roles,” Russell added. “We carry out molding in Six Cross Roads and then move the components to the IDA site for final assembly and packaging.”
We’ve continued to deliver cutting-edge solutions that address key bioprocessing challenges
Repligen serves a global customer base, including biopharmaceutical developers and contract development and manufacturing organisations (CDMOs). Headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, the company operates manufacturing sites across the US (California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York) and internationally in Estonia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
“Innovation is in Repligen’s DNA and much of what we do is customised,” said Russell.
“We design and supply products tailored to each customer’s specific needs — especially where there are process bottlenecks. In Waterford, our focus is on fluid management systems, including the design, molding, and assembly of single-use flow path solutions.”
Currently, around 80 people are employed across the Waterford sites, with team members coming from Waterford and neighbouring counties such as Tipperary and Kilkenny. Looking ahead, additional Repligen products are expected to be manufactured in Waterford, with the aim of serving EU and Asian markets.
“We’ve attracted talent from a range of industries, bringing diverse skills that strengthen our team,” Russell continued.
Repligen also partners with the Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB), recruiting from life science training programmes like cleanroom and packaging operations after 12-week work placements.
“We receive training aid from the IDA, which allows us to invest in upskilling our staff,” said Russell. “Many of our team members are involved in apprenticeship programs or pursuing third-level education with support from IDA-funded training initiatives. Waterford offers a highly educated and capable workforce, which positions us well for continued growth and future expansion.”
For more details, see Repligen.com