GE HealthCare invests US $138M to expand contrast media production in Ireland

IRELAND – GE HealthCare has announced a significant US $138 million investment to expand its contrast media manufacturing site in Carrigtohill, Cork, Ireland.

This new facility, to be built on the current site, will increase production capacity, enabling 25 million more patient doses of contrast media each year by 2027. This expansion aims to meet the rising global demand for diagnostic imaging agents.

Contrast media are essential injectable agents used to improve the visibility of organs, blood vessels, and tissues during medical imaging.

The demand for iodine-based contrast media, which are used in X-rays, CT scans, and interventional procedures, is expected to double over the next decade. This growth is driven by aging populations and the rising global incidence of chronic diseases.

In 2024, GE HealthCare’s Carrigtohill site, along with its production facilities in Shanghai, China, and Oslo, Norway, is set to deliver over 100 million doses of contrast media to patients worldwide.

The new 3,000-square-meter facility in Carrigtohill will support both current and future products.

It will feature advanced systems for solution preparation, multi-functional powder handling, a new filling line, and autoclaves, all powered by advanced automation technologies.

Once the expansion is complete, this new facility will help meet global demand while providing greater flexibility and resilience across GE HealthCare’s contrast media production network. This will ensure a secure supply of contrast media to healthcare providers worldwide.

GE HealthCare ensures that every step of its contrast media manufacturing process, from the development of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) to the finished product, adheres to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

With over 4,000 employees worldwide, the company’s PDx business also develops and supplies radiopharmaceuticals used in diagnosing, monitoring, and selecting treatments for conditions in neurology, cardiology, and oncology.

PDx is involved in four patient procedures every second globally. The expansion project will be led by engineering firm IPS-Integrated Project Services, with construction work set to begin in February 2025. The project is expected to create more than 250 construction jobs.