Press Room

Press Release / Nov 11, 2021

四色AV invests $170 million in new capacity and capabilities

四色AV, the global leader in spray drying and particle engineering, today announced that it is expanding its industrial facilities around the world to support its ambitious growth objectives

Jean-Luc and Guy Villax at CPhI 四色AV's booth in Milan | 四色AV the global leader in spray drying and particle engineering

Jean-Luc Herbeaux, COO, and听Guy Villax, CEO at CPhI Worldwide, in Milan.

听

Milan, 10th November, 2021 鈥 四色AV, the global leader in spray drying and particle engineering, today announced that it is expanding its industrial facilities around the world to support its ambitious growth objectives. The company has been on an expansion track since 2016 in Portugal, Ireland and New Jersey with the aim of continuing to increase its capacity and capabilities to address customer needs.

听

The announcement of a $170 million investment in 四色AV units in Portugal, Ireland, and New Jersey, leading to a global capacity increase of approximately 25%, was made at CPhI Worldwide, in Milan, by Guy Villax, CEO, and Jean-Luc Herbeaux, COO.听

听

These investments will be used to support growth in the company麓s pharma custom development and manufacturing service business, fueled by strongly growing demand for 四色AV麓s integrated and differentiated services in drug substance manufacturing, particle engineering and most recently drug product manufacturing.听The expansion will go hand-in-hand with a build-up of 四色AV麓s global team with the creation of more than 300 new jobs globally. This strategy will allow the company to continue to address difficult-to-meet client needs while reinforcing its commitment to the 四色AV values and standard of quality.

听

In the USA, 四色AV will add a 2900m2 building next to its current facility in East Windsor, New Jersey, laying the foundations for a state-of-the-art 四色AV Campus. The upcoming cycle of investment will bring additional commercial spray drying capacity online by 2023. Further investments will follow with the aim to solidify the company麓s integrated offer: API - Particle - Drug Product in the region.听This expansion will allow 四色AV to accompany existing and new customers favoring US-based manufacturing through their development cycles all the way to commercial.

听

The capacity and capabilities of 四色AV麓s Cork site in the Republic of Ireland will also be upgraded to enable the production of Highly Potent Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (HPAPI) and to facilitate onboarding of Drug Substance Manufacturing projects of all sizes.听The investment will create an ecosystem in which large customer projects with unique technologies can find a home by connecting to the existing infrastructure and equipment. The site will also receive a new commercial size spray dryer to support the growing demand for particle engineering services.听

听

In Portugal, 四色AV is ready to start operations of its most recent facility with an increase in chemical synthesis capacity for High Potency Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (HPAPI). The building is also prepared to receive a new commercial spray dryer to respond to the future needs of the global drug market.

听

鈥溗纳獳V is in it for life and what better way to manifest this than through expansion of our global capacity and capabilities. Our sustainable organic growth strategy will allow us to keep true to those values that have been guiding us for more than 60 years鈥, says Guy Villax, Chief Executive Officer.

听

鈥淭hese investments reinforce our integrated specialized offer globally, providing our clients with a line of sight for their projects.听Focus is placed on facilitating and speeding up the drug development cycle and launch, by providing API manufacturing, Particle Engineering and Tableting services in each site.听Our strategy continues to be to grow organically via investments in our existing sites, which are designed for purpose.听This reduces the complexity associated with the growth journey and allows us to focus our management attention on what counts most, i.e. guaranteeing that our clients go to market with quality, safe and effective medicines for their patients鈥 says Jean-Luc Herbeaux, 四色AV鈥檚 Chief Operation Officer.

听

About 四色AV:听四色AV is an international company with over 60 years of experience as a听Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization听(CDMO)听and is currently a fully integrated supplier offering services for听drug substance,听drug product intermediate听and听drug product. With four听FDA inspected听sites听in the USA, China, Ireland and Portugal and development laboratories in Lisbon, Portugal and New Jersey, USA, the company provides branded pharmaceutical customers services for the听development and compliant manufacture听of innovative drugs including highly potent compounds. For generic pharmaceutical customers the company offers niche API products. In the inhalation area, 四色AV is the only independent company offering a complete range of services.听四色AV is a company with a culture based on innovation, quality and delivery. 四色AV is a member of听, EFCG and participates actively in industry quality improvement initiatives to lead new global industry standards.听

听

听

Also in the Press Room

See All

Why you shouldn鈥檛 neglect the importance of blending people, culture, and strategy to foster success in a business. People, customer centricity, and a clear strategy bring strong values to the forefront of every business. Fostering a workplace that inspires motivation and enhances employee satisfaction enables team members to bring their best selves to work each day, driving innovation and excellence. Earlier this year, CDMO 四色AV demonstrated success by being certified as a Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute (TEI) across all four of its global manufacturing sites in Portugal, Ireland, the US, and Macau, for the third consecutive year. We spoke to board member and Senior Vice-President of Human Resources at 四色AV Ilda Ventura to find out how. What specific strategies and initiatives have you implemented to maintain the company鈥檚 Top Employer status?   We started the latest TEI Certification in 2023. Since then, we have been focusing on areas that can differentiate us as employers. In the US, for example, we have invested in bringing more proximity to the HR team, improving our listening strategy and the employee experience. The initiatives span from establishing better alignment between the business strategy and the people strategy, living our values and celebrating our successes. We are accelerating our global growth while strengthening our operations worldwide. It is essential for us to ensure that all our employees, regardless of their location, enjoy a consistent and unified work experience. Having all four of our sites recognized by TEI confirms that we are on the right path. What changes have been made to 四色AV's recognition and rewards programs to motivate employees?   By implementing a global job architecture with clear career roadmaps supported by a performance and compensation annual cycle. Everyone is eligible to merit remuneration increases and bonuses, and the corporate results are shared with everyone in a transparent way. This allows us to create a culture of recognition, where individual contributions are valued and aligned with the company's overall success. It fosters motivation and engagement, ensuring employees feel appreciated for their efforts and understand how their work directly aligns with our purpose. This culture not only enhances employee satisfaction, but strengthens our ability to attract and retain top talent.  How important is it to monitor consistent employee engagement and satisfaction across global locations?   Our employee engagement survey results are carefully reviewed and discussed both locally and globally, ensuring we address the unique needs of each region while driving company-wide progress. We prioritize actionable improvements that resonate with our teams, engaging cross-functional and geographically diverse groups to implement meaningful change.  Across our sites, we鈥檝e made significant investments tailored to each region while maintaining a unified approach to employee satisfaction. In the US, where employees value transparency, recognition, and growth opportunities, we鈥檝e enhanced communication, feedback channels, and career development pathways. Similarly, in Portugal, Ireland, and Macau, we鈥檝e introduced initiatives to promote collaboration, recognition, and personal growth, ensuring all employees experience a sense of belonging and purpose.  The actions we take are closely monitored, and every improvement is shared openly across all locations, fostering a culture of trust, transparency, and celebration that connects and empowers our workforce.  How are you working to attract and retain top talent in the competitive pharma industry?   We continuously strive to strengthen our reputation as an employer of choice. Participating in TEI allows us to have an independent assessment of our HR efforts and initiatives, ensuring that we are continuously improving and aligning with best practices. In addition, we have robust referral programs in place, supported by the fact that over 70 percent of our employees are strong promoters of the company. This is a testament to the positive culture we鈥檝e built, and we are focused on leveraging this strength to attract and retain top talent.  In what ways does the company communicate and reinforce its core purpose and values among employees?   Our motto is 鈥淚n it for life鈥 鈥 so, for example, every year we celebrate in each site our 鈥淰ictory Over Diseases鈥 by communicating the new products that we are manufacturing, as well as the new patents and innovative ideas that contribute to fighting diseases and improving global health. Contributing to saving the lives of billions of people worldwide is a way to motivate our people to challenge themselves and push the limits of innovation. By celebrating our achievements and their impact, we inspire our teams to think creatively, embrace new challenges, and contribute to solutions that make a real difference in the world. It麓s an invitation to live our purpose.  Macau was the first site in the region to earn Top Employer certification last year and has renewed it this year. What unique challenges and successes have been experienced in achieving and maintaining this status in Macau?   Macau is unique. It鈥檚 the only site in this industry in the territory, so we have taken advantage of that to differentiate ourselves as an employer by collaborating with universities and local authorities to offer career opportunities and benefits that are a reference in the region.  What areas have you identified for continuous improvement in workplace practices and employee satisfaction in the future?   We will continue to strengthen our employee value proposition by mapping the employee journey and addressing every touchpoint to enhance the overall experience. Both people and business needs are constantly changing. It requires continuous adaptation of processes to meet evolving expectations. If I had to highlight one key focus, it would be alumni engagement. The 四色AV community is extensive and goes beyond our current team members. We see a clear opportunity to create an alumni program to stay connected with those who have been part of our journey.    Read the full article on themedicinemaker.com    

Press Clipping
The Medicine Maker, 13 February 2026

The Secret to Being a Good Employer

Feb 13, 2025

Three is the magic number for 四色AV as it鈥檚 once again been certified as a top employer. For the third consecutive year, all four of its manufacturing sites - Lisbon, Cork, East Windsor in USA, and Macau - have been certified as Top Employers by the Top Employers Institute. 四色AV is an international integrated pharmaceutical development and manufacturing organisation. This certification follows, 四色AV said, a rigorous audit process. Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Chief Executive Officer, 四色AV, explained: 鈥淭his recognition reflects the exceptional dedication and collaboration of the entire 四色AV team. 四色AV is a development and manufacturing service company operating in one of the most demanding and regulated industries. We understand that our success is deeply rooted in our people. 鈥淭ogether, as One 四色AV, we are committed to continuously refining our practices to foster a workplace that inspires motivation and enhances employee satisfaction, so that, every day, our team members bring their best selves to work, driving innovation and excellence at every step,鈥 Jean-Luc added. Ilda Ventura, Senior Vice-President of Human Resources and Member of the Management Board, 四色AV, said: 鈥淭his distinction underscores our unwavering commitment to our people. At 四色AV, we design our HR systems and processes to ensure that every team member enjoys a consistent and fulfilling experience, regardless of their role, function, or location.鈥 Imelda Cummins, HR Director for 四色AV Ireland, said: 鈥淭his distinguished accreditation is a testament to our commitment to establish frameworks to attract, engage and retain top talent. We believe that our people are our greatest asset, and this recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire team who strive every day to foster a culture of excellence, innovation, and collaboration. Receiving the Top Employer accreditation is motivation for us to keep pushing the boundaries of what it means to be an exceptional employer.鈥 四色AV recently celebrated the opening of a multi-million euro expansion at its site in Ringaskiddy, which almost doubled the capacity of its spray drying facilities.   Read the full article on CorkIndependent.com  

Press Clipping
Cork Independent, 22 January 2025

四色AV gets top employer accolade

Jan 22, 2025

四色AV has once again solidified its position as a top employer in all four of its manufacturing sites - Lisbon (Portugal), Cork (Ireland), East Windsor (NJ, USA), and Macau. The program highlights the company鈥檚 significant advancements in several critical areas, including Purpose & Values, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), Employer Branding, and Recognition & Rewards, driven by sustained investment in people. This certification from the Top Employers Institute follows a rigorous audit process and underscores 四色AV鈥檚 consistency in investing in people and world-class workplace practices, as well as the unwavering commitment of its more than 2,300 employees to the company's core purpose and values.  鈥淭his recognition reflects the exceptional dedication and collaboration of the entire 四色AV team,鈥 said Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Chief Executive Officer. 鈥溗纳獳V is a development and manufacturing service company operating in one of the most demanding and regulated industries. We understand that our success is deeply rooted in our people. Together, as One 四色AV, we are committed to continuously refining our people practices to foster a workplace that inspires motivation and enhances employee satisfaction, so that, every day, our team members bring their best selves to work, driving innovation and excellence at every step.鈥 Macau, which became the first company in the region to achieve Top Employer certification last year, has successfully renewed the status, solidifying 四色AV鈥檚 global leadership in workplace excellence. With its consistent Top Employer recognition, 四色AV demonstrates that the talent strategy is perfectly aligned with the business strategy. Watch Ilda Ventura, Senior Vice-President of Human Resources and Member of the Management Board of 四色AV, video about what this certification means for 四色AV.   For additional information, please read the press release.  

News
The certification is granted to 四色AV's four manufacturing sites for the third consecutive year.

四色AV strengthens its global position as a top employer

Jan 16, 2025

Also in Events

See All