Thermo Fisher opens a carbon-neutral, 375,000 sq ft manufacturing center in Mebane, NC, to produce 40M+ pipette tips weekly. Created via a $192.5M HHS/DoD contract, it will create 90 jobs.
Mebane Manufacturing Center to Produce 40+ Million Pipette Tips Weekly, Creating 90 Jobs
Mebane, North Carolina – In a significant move to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical life sciences materials Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has inaugurated a new 375,000-square-foot carbon-neutral manufacturing center of excellence in Mebane, North Carolina. The state-of-the-art facility is poised to produce a minimum of 40 million laboratory pipette tips per week, ensuring a resilient and agile supply chain for the development of medicines and therapies in the United States.
The facility is the result of a $192.5 million contract awarded in 2021 in coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) highlighting the federal government’s focus on securing the domestic production of essential scientific supplies.
A Strategic Investment in U.S. Manufacturing and Innovation
The new site is a cornerstone of Thermo Fisher’s strategy to onshore and reinforce its manufacturing capabilities. It is designed to be a carbon-neutral operation aligning with the company’s broader commitment to sustainability while meeting the critical needs of the life sciences sector.
Erica Hirsch, President of Laboratory Chemicals at Thermo Fisher Scientific emphasized the facility’s strategic importance: “As a global leader in life sciences manufacturing, we’re proud to serve as a growth engine for the American economy and provide our customers with a strong and agile supply chain that enables them to advance human health. The opening of our Mebane site is a testament to our larger strategy to strengthen our manufacturing capabilities in the U.S. and support continued innovation and expanded growth in North Carolina.”
Economic Impact and Job Creation in North Carolina
The Mebane facility has already made a tangible impact on the local economy:
- Current Employment: The site has already hired 40 people.
- Future Jobs: It is expected to add an additional 50 jobs in manufacturing, engineering, and business operations, bringing the total to approximately 90 new roles.
- Statewide Presence: This expansion builds on Thermo Fisher’s strong foundation in North Carolina, where it already employs approximately 7,800 colleagues across 13 sites.
Why This Facility Matters for U.S. Health Security
- Supply Chain Resilience: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains for basic but critical lab consumables. This facility directly addresses that risk by creating a large-scale, domestic source for pipette tips.
- Enabling Research & Development: A reliable supply of high-quality consumables is essential for countless research labs and pharmaceutical companies developing new drugs and therapies.
- Federal Partnership: The project exemplifies successful public-private partnerships aimed at bolstering national preparedness for future health challenges.
The inauguration of this advanced manufacturing center underscores Thermo Fisher’s pivotal role as both an economic driver and a key enabler of the U.S. life sciences ecosystem, ensuring that the tools for the next medical breakthrough are made on American soil.