West Pharmaceutical Services subsidiary West Pharma Packaging has launched a manufacturing plant in the Sri City Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Tada in Andhra Pradesh, India.

The company aims to expand its growing primary packaging for injectable medicines business in the country and the Asia Pacific region.

In June 2012, West signed a 99-year lease on 72,800m² of land in Sri City. Construction began on the 15,300m² facility in August 2012, which will produce seals used in primary packaging of injectable medicines.

According to the company, plans are ahead to expand production at the site to include its elastomer component business.

West Pharmaceutical Packaging Systems, Asia Pacific Region president Warwick Bedwell said that the company aims to help itspartners to provide medicine to patients more efficiently, reliably and safely.

"With the facility complete, we anticipate a reduction in lead times for supply to our customers in India. By leveraging our global sourcing activities and process engineering expertise, we expect to be able to carefully manage the overall costs of production," he said.

West Pharmaceutical Services chairman and chief executive officer Donald Morel, Jr said: "With more and more pharmaceutical customers establishing operations in India, our new plant will help West meet market demand and further establishes the company’s presence in this growing and dynamic market."