Gerresheimer expands in the global pharmaceutical plastic business / Important investments for pharmaceutical markets in the USA and Europe

Düsseldorf (ots) - The Gerresheimer Group expands its activities
in the pharmaceutical plastic business, with two strategically
significant investments in the USA and Europe. This week the company
is almost simultaneously opening a new research and development
center for medical plastic systems in the USA as well as a new
production center for pharmaceutical plastic packaging in Spain.
"Plastics are increasingly gaining in importance within our highly
specialized service portfolio for the international pharmaceutical
industry", Gerresheimer AG CEO Dr. Axel Herberg says. "The
pharmaceutical plastic business has meanwhile become the division
with the highest growth rate, which we are continuing to expand
systematically. These are crucial investments in the Gerresheimer
Group's growth."

The new technological center in Peachtree City (Georgia/USA) is
opening up a new dimension for the Group's flourishing business with
American industrial clients from the pharmaceutical, diagnostics and
medical technology industry. As a full service provider for medical
plastic systems, Gerresheimer has upgraded the US location, which has
until recently been limited to manufacturing, to become a
comprehensively operating research, development and production
center. In the American market the Group now has facilities at the
front end of its customized serial production of entire product and
process development comparable to those only available in Europe up
to now. The product range in this field includes highly developed
inhalation systems for the treatment of respiratory diseases as well
as insulin pen systems, skin-prick aids and lancets for the diabetes
sector, which is also growing steadily.

The newly opened plant in Masalavés in Spain (region of Valencia)
is also highly significant with regard to the broad market of
standardized pharmaceutical system packaging made of plastics. The
plant is deemed to be the biggest production center of its kind in
Southern Europe and is a significant strategic base for Gerresheimer
there as well as in the Central European region. Pharmaceutical
bottles and multifunctional dosage and closure systems, for example
for eye drops, contact lens care products, nose sprays as well as
tablets, are being produced there.

With the help of significant acquisitions, targeted investments
and organic growth Gerresheimer has accelerated its plastics business
during the past five years and developed it into an internationally
leading market force. All in all, the company now possesses 15
locations in Europe, America and Asia in this sector. Both segments
of the plastics division are continuing to attain above average
growth rates. Accounting for a third of group sales, plastics have
already become the largest growth area within the Gerresheimer Group.

About Gerresheimer

Gerresheimer employs around 10,000 people in 40 locations in
Europe, America and Asia. In the financial year 2008, worldwide sales
totaled EUR 1.06bn. The product portfolio ranges from pharmaceutical
vials made of glass and plastic through to complex drug-delivery
systems for the pharma & life science industry. These include sterile
syringes, inhalers and other system-based approaches for safe dosage
and application of medications. The Group enjoys a leading position
in markets which are characterized by high technical and regulatory
barriers.

Originaltext: Gerresheimer AG
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Contact:
Contact Press
Burkhard Lingenberg
Director Corporate Communication & Marketing
Phone +49 211 6181-250
Fax +49 211 6181-241
e-mail b.lingenberg@gerresheimer.com

Contact Investor Relations
Anke Linnartz
Director Corporate Investor Relations
Phone +49 211 6181-314
Fax +49 211 6181-121
e-mail a.linnartz@gerresheimer.com