Ypsomed opened its first dedicated production site in China with a festive ceremony.
The new facility, located in Changzhou’s high-tech industrial park near Shanghai, was completed in just 14 months and marks a further milestone in the company’s global growth strategy. Around 200 guests from business, politics, and healthcare attended the event.
“Opening our own factory in China is not just a strategic investment – it reflects our long-term commitment and confidence in the country. Local manufacturing enables us to respond more quickly to customer needs, reduce logistical risks, and deliver our products more efficiently and sustainably”said Simon Michel, CEO of Ypsomed, during the ceremony.
Up to 100 million injection devices annually
The new plant in Changzhou covers an area of more than 15,000 square metres. In addition to modern production facilities, the site also includes administrative offices and storage areas. Going forward, up to 100 million injection systems will be manufactured here each year for the Chinese market. Fifty employees are currently working at the site, with staff numbers expected to reach around 100 by year-end. All employees are trained and qualified in line with Ypsomed’s global standards.
The facility was built with a strong focus on sustainability and has been certified to the internationally recognised LEED Platinum standard (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for environmentally conscious construction. The company has invested nearly CHF 150 million in the site and secured an additional 30,000 square metres of land for future expansion. From a regulatory standpoint, the new site is market-ready: ISO 13485 certification for medical devices by TÜV Süd has been successfully completed, and the first commercial products have already been manufactured.
An attractive location with high quality of life
Changzhou was chosen due to its attractive and central location – near Nanjing to the west and Shanghai to the east – as well as its proximity to customers and close, collaborative relationships with local authorities.The region also offers a large pool of qualified professionals and a high quality of life for employees. With the new plant in Changzhou, Ypsomed reaffirms its commitment to being closer to its customers as a global partner for safe and sustainable injection systems.
The expansion into China is a logical step to meet the growing demand for innovative selfcare solutions in the treatment of chronic conditions – directly where they are needed. In the United States, the evaluation of a suitable production site is well advanced, with the project expected to launch later this year. In Schwerin, Germany, ground was broken for a second factory this spring, while in Switzerland, production capacity is continuously optimised and expanded at the Burgdorf and Solothurn sites.