April 29 (SeeNews) - Swedish medical devices contract manufacturer SHL Healthcare said on Friday that it has chosen Bulgaria's capital Sofia as the location to establish its first production facility in Europe.
The factory site, with an area of about 5,000 square metres, has already been fully acquired by the manufacturer and will be managed by its local subsidiary, SHL Healthcare Bulgaria, the Swedish company said in a statement.
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The move aims to enable the Scandinavian medical technology firm to scale up its production for global clients as well as achieve production and logistical flexibility.
"Our plan is to kick off with production for non-medical products in 2022 while working in parallel to ramp up for medical products starting end of 2022 and to further accelerate in 2023. Itβs vital we take time to properly plan and implement all relevant quality systems and certifications," Patrik Axelsson, interim general manager of SHL Healthcare Bulgaria, said.
Based in the Stockholm region, SHL Healthcare manufactures products such as medical patient slings, pressure ulcer prevention mattresses, pumps and patient-handling goods for hospitals, care homes and home use. The company, set up in 1989 and employing some 4,800 staff, already has a manufacturing facility in China.