(BRK.A), (BRK.B)
Berkshire Hathaway’s Lubrizol Corporation is investing $15 million in its LifeSciences’ Vesta business to expand its global manufacturing facilities.
The goal is to better position LifeSciences to serve the growing market for medical device contract manufacturing.
Lubrizol has been investing heavily in LifeSciences, and in August 2015, acquired Particle Sciences, a global leader in complex formulations including drug eluting device product development.
Since 2014, Lubrizol LifeSciences has solidified its presence in the life sciences market by introducing new products and making strategic acquisitions. This capital investment will expand multiple facilities and increase Lubrizol LifeSciences’ in-house engineering capacity for both silicone and thermoplastic products.
“We have significantly enhanced our capabilities through the combination of strong polymer technology, application know-how and world-class component manufacturing,” states Deb Langer, vice president and general manager, Lubrizol LifeSciences. “As healthcare companies look for total solution providers, we continue to invest in the right areas to provide valuable offerings to our customers.”
Vesta, Inc. was acquired by Lubrizol in August of 2014 and is a leading contract manufacturer for the global medical device industry. With the addition of Vesta, Lubrizol LifeSciences now offers disposable and implantable silicone medical components and assemblies across a wide product portfolio, as well as precision thermoplastic extruded tubing.
According to Lubrizol, the recent acquisition of Particle Sciences, Inc. has positioned Lubrizol LifeSciences as one of the most comprehensive drug delivery device solution providers, offering end-to-end solutions in the healthcare market.
“When customers partner with Lubrizol LifeSciences, they benefit from working with us at every stage in their development process,” states Robert Miller, global business director, medical devices. “With a long history of polymer expertise and significant investment, Lubrizol LifeSciences is positioned to offer full-service development for next generation medical and pharmaceutical innovations.”
About Lubrizol
Based in Wickliffe, Ohio, Lubrizol owns and operates manufacturing facilities in 17 countries, as well as sales and technical offices around the world. Founded in 1928, Lubrizol has approximately 7,500 employees worldwide. It sells its specialty chemical products in over 100 countries.
Berkshire Hathaway acquired Lubrizol in 2011 for $9 billion in cash.
© 2015 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.