SCHOTT’s Lebanon, Pa. facility reaches new record in glass vial production for COVID-19 vaccine
January 13, 2021, Lebanon, PA
- SCHOTT continues to produce record-breaking numbers of pharmaceutical containers, including critical glass vials, as the U.S. prepares for COVID-19 vaccine distribution. With the industry’s focus on scaling up approved vaccine production, proven and safe pharmaceutical primary packaging is key to accelerating rapid drug distribution and ensuring patient safety.
The high-tech facility in the Keystone State is part of the international specialty glass maker, SCHOTT, whose pharmaceutical containers, including high-quality glass vials, are used in 75 percent of all COVID-19 vaccines projects that have been approved or are currently in pipeline. These includes projects funded by the U.S. Operation Warp Speed program.
“The 285 employees at the Lebanon, Pennsylvania facility are working around the clock as SCHOTT plays a vital role in the global effort to save lives” said Christopher Cassidy, Vice President at SCHOTT North America, Inc. “SCHOTT makes the most reliable glass pharmaceutical packaging in the world, and we know the world is watching. Each and every SCHOTT employee is giving 100 percent to make sure that safe, reliable drug containers are available to ensure the timely production and distribution of critical drugs.”
The SCHOTT Lebanon, PA site operates 24 hours per day, seven days a week, with just two week-long shutdowns each year for preventative maintenance. Every second, 20 people from around the world receive medicine from a container produced at the Pennsylvania facility.
“SCHOTT’s borosilicate glass packaging, including vials intended for COVID-19 vaccines and therapies, are proven to minimize drug and container interactions,” Mark Gilvey, plant manager at SCHOTT in Lebanon said. “This makes SCHOTT glass the ideal material for vaccine primary packaging. Without these remarkable containers, and the decades of research into their properties, there is no way the world could safely distribute a vaccine within the timelines that this moment in history demands.”
24/7 production for rapid vaccine rollout
The Lebanon, PA plant converts high quality borosilicate glass tubing from SCHOTT global manufacturing sites into drug containers, including vials and other innovative glass containers. SCHOTT’s proven glass formulation that is used in billions of vials each year keeps even highly sensitive drugs stable to ensure safe administration to patients. SCHOTT’s innovative pre-washed / pre-sterilized vials, known as adaptiQ®, further help speed up the drug development process for COVID-19 R&D work and clinical trials.The SCHOTT Lebanon, PA site operates 24 hours per day, seven days a week, with just two week-long shutdowns each year for preventative maintenance. Every second, 20 people from around the world receive medicine from a container produced at the Pennsylvania facility.
“SCHOTT’s borosilicate glass packaging, including vials intended for COVID-19 vaccines and therapies, are proven to minimize drug and container interactions,” Mark Gilvey, plant manager at SCHOTT in Lebanon said. “This makes SCHOTT glass the ideal material for vaccine primary packaging. Without these remarkable containers, and the decades of research into their properties, there is no way the world could safely distribute a vaccine within the timelines that this moment in history demands.”
About SCHOTT
SCHOTT is a leading international technology group in the areas of specialty glass, glass-ceramics and related high-tech materials. With over 130 years of experience, the company is an innovative partner to many industries, including the home appliance, pharma, electronics, optics, life sciences, automotive and aviation industries. SCHOTT has a global presence with production sites and sales offices in 34 countries. In the 2018/2019 fiscal year, the group generated sales of EUR 2.2 billion (US$ 2.54 billion) with over 16,200 employees. SCHOTT AG has its headquarters in Mainz (Germany) and is solely owned by the Carl Zeiss Foundation. This is one of the oldest private and largest science-promoting foundations in Germany. As a foundation company, SCHOTT assumes special responsibility for its employees, society and the environment.
Joana Kornblum
Public Relations Manager