BD Biosciences, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Co.), today announced plans to expand manufacturing in Puerto Rico and to begin production of selected reagent products there starting in 2007.

The $42 million capital investment project is expected to create over 100 new positions at the Cayey, Puerto Rico facility, which currently supports 250 BD associates in the manufacture of products for the BD Diagnostics segment. This new capacity is intended to supplement current production at BD’s existing facilities in San Diego and San Jose, Calif.

"Puerto Rico has assumed a vital role in an exciting growth area for BD," said Edward J. Ludwig, chairman, president and CEO of BD. "Our long-term commitments here will help us meet the increasing demand worldwide for our BD Biosciences products. This development is the result of BD’s continuous focus on improving our operating effectiveness."

"BD Biosciences is recognized as the world leader in producing the critical antibody reagents used in biotechnology research," said Vince Forlenza, president of BD Biosciences. "This expansion will allow BD to meet growing demand for our monoclonal reagents for cell analysis, while enabling us to optimize our global production and supply chains for related products."

"Since the initial planning in August 2004, we understood how important this undertaking would be for BD, the Cayey operation and Puerto Rico," said Alejandro

Blanco, Cayey Diagnostics Plant Manager. “Cayey has been in operation for the last 23 years, and this new milestone will drive expectations to the next level of performance, augmenting our business capabilities across key product sectors."

Monoclonal antibody reagents, which are used extensively in flow cytometry, will be produced in Puerto Rico for the first time, along with test kits and related products. Additional manufacturing capabilities in Cayey will include new or expanded processes for cell culture, purification, conjugation, formulation, filling and packaging.

BD first began manufacturing at Cayey in 1982, and now produces a variety of reagents and tools there for the Diagnostic Systems unit of BD Diagnostics. BD’s Puerto Rico operations began in 1957 with the establishment of thermometer engraving and production. BD today employs a total of 830 associates at four locations in the Commonwealth.

Both new and expanded capacity will be contained in two new buildings across the street from the existing facility. The initial facility is expected to bring over 40,000 square feet of new manufacturing space in early 2007, and an additional 25,000 square feet is planned for mid-2009.