DuPont expanding silicone healthcare capacity globally

Wilmington, Delaware – DuPont is expanding manufacturing capacity and capabilities within its silicone-based Liveo healthcare solutions, the US supplier has announced. 

The investments, the financial size of which were not disclosed, come amid ‘unprecedented supply chain pressure and market disruption’ and are aimed to help the company meet ‘the industry’s rapid expansion,’ said DuPont in a 7 Sept statement.

According to DuPont, the expansions will target speciality healthcare markets, such as medical devices, biopharmaceutical processing and pharmaceutical systems.

As part of the move, DuPont is adding new elastomer mixers at the company’s dedicated healthcare industries materials site (HIMS) in Hemlock, Michigan, by the end of September.

The new line, the company said, will expand the Liveo medical silicone elastomer product lines for speciality medical device applications while supporting in-house production of pharmaceutical silicone tubing for biopharmaceutical processing.

The Michigan site will also be equipped with a new over-moulded assembly (OMA) press by November, to improve high-purity fluid transfer and biopharmaceutical processes. 

In the second quarter of 2022, DuPont expects to begin to operate a second healthcare site – located in Cooper River, South Carolina. 

The site, it said, "will ensure business continuity for our customers and offer a highly reliable and sustainable supply of healthcare solutions."

Initially, the site will be used to expand production of silicone pharmaceutical tubing intended for biopharmaceutical processing. 

Furthermore, the company will add silicone pharmaceutical tubing production capacity in China in the second half of 2022 to address the region’s fast-growing customers. 

“DuPont is committed to pursuing investments in healthcare capabilities to better serve customers around the world,” said Eugenio Toccalino, global business director, DuPont healthcare and specialty lubricants. 

The investments, he added, demonstrate the company’s long-term commitment to the healthcare industry.