Phillips-Medisize Expands EU Footprint with Purpose-Built Plant in Poland

Phillips-Medisize, a contract manufacturer serving medtech, in vitro diagnostics, and pharma OEMs, held the grand opening of a new campus in Katowice, Poland, on Nov. 9, 2023. The 23,000-square-meter ( 247,570-square-foot) facility is the first built from the ground up for Phillips-Medisize, a Molex company, and will serve as a strategic location to facilitate delivery of products to European customers. In addition to medical applications, the plant will process electric vehicle and electrification products for Molex customers.

Future expansion plans include adding up to another 85,000 square meters to the plant, said Molex in the news release.

"The Katowice campus will expand our European footprint, providing our pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and medtech customers with new capabilities and the expert support they need to bring innovative new products to market," said Paul Chaffin, Phillips-Medisize SVP and president of Molex Medical and Pharma Solutions, in a prepared statement. "This ultimately allows us to further our vision of enabling patients all over the world to live healthier, more productive lives. We look forward to becoming an active part of the local community, as we work together to create significant value for our customers, our new team members and ultimately patients."

Molex said it has invested $110 million so far in world-class facilities that will initially support Phillips-Medisize with production of pharmaceutical, medical, and diagnostic devices. It acquired the company from private equity investment firm Golden Gate Capital in 2016. The Katowice site reportedly will have state-of-the-art capabilities, including advanced medical device assembly, packaging, drug handling, and injection molding. Additionally, the campus will manufacture interconnect battery products for electric vehicles and high-power busbars for Molex's electrification business.

Poland does not house a European medtech hub the likes of the Galway area in Ireland or the Baden-Württemberg region of Germany, but Molex said it was attracted to the Katowice area because of its large pool of skilled manufacturing and engineering resources. Initially, it expects to hire 350 employees at the site.

Headquartered in Hudson, WI, Phillips-Medisize operates manufacturing sites in Ireland, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Finland, as well as in the United States, Mexico, and Asia Pacific.