Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals

South Cumbria's chemicals and pharmaceutical industry directly employs around 1,500 people. It is part of the large concentration of chemical companies found in north west England.

The main products are: Antibiotics and pharmaceuticals; Building chemicals; Condensate processing; Detergents.

GlaxoSmithKline ,Ulverston, own and operate a bulk active primary pharmaceuticals plant on a 55 acre site which undertakes bulk sterile finishing, wax encapsulation. The site opened in 1947 as a penicillin fermentation facility and has focused on antibiotic manufacturing. More than 70% of the Ulverston plant's production is produced for export. A site review is underway. Glaxosmithkline support our delivery of a new enterprise fund to create jobs in Furness.

Robert McBride Barrow, manufactures detergents. They employ a large number of people. A major £13.5 m investment opened on 16 June 2000 has been followed by further automation to enable the site to service supermarket own label powder detergent demandin Uk and export customers.

Elf Atochem's Sovereign Chemicals in Barrow and Kingfisher Chemicals at Ulverston  produce building preservatives.

Centrica Energy at Rampside Road, Barrow handle and process condensate. The site processes natural gas condensate the East Irish Sea gasfields H2S from the Rivers gasfield. Both items are then exported as liquid fuel and bulk sulphuric acid.

Candle making by Blyth Industries at their Partylite Manufacturing Barrow, Sandscale Park site and Colony at London Road, Lindal complete the chemicals processing activity in Furness.

These main producing companies give rise to a wide range of electrical, engineering, transport, maintenance companies providing supporting services. These include Agrilek, Handmark Engineering, Amtrak, Process Pipework Services and Eddie Stobart Ltd.

If you are interested in developing a chemical business in Furness we have a total business support package for you.

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