A new state-of-the-art glass tubing facility in Telangana, India, signifies a major step forward for pharmaceutical packaging, combining innovative technology with local manufacturing to meet rising global demand for injectables.
Corning Incorporated and SGD Pharma have jointly inaugurated a new state-of-the-art glass tubing facility in Telangana, India, marking a significant advance in pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities within the region. This collaboration brin...
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gs together Corning’s innovative Velocity Vial technology with SGD Pharma’s extensive expertise in vial converting, aiming to address critical capacity and quality needs in the primary glass packaging sector.
The facility, located in Vemula, Telangana, will manufacture high-quality Type I borosilicate glass tubing, an essential material widely used in injectable drug packaging, diagnostics, biologics, and direct injection delivery systems. By integrating Corning’s proprietary Velocity Vial glass-coating technology with SGD Pharma’s vial-converting proficiency, the joint venture promises to enhance vial quality, improve filling-line productivity, and expedite the delivery of injectable treatments. The co-location of tubing production and vial converting is also expected to deliver meaningful efficiencies in product quality and sustainability.
This collaborative venture, established formally in April 2023 with a groundbreaking in June 2023, began production of Corning’s Velocity Vials in March 2024. Pharmaceutical glass tubing manufacturing is anticipated to start in late 2025. The facility’s full production capacity targets up to 13,000 tonnes of glass tubing annually, capable of manufacturing approximately 2.2 billion vials per year by the end of 2025 or early 2026.
According to Chris Hudson, vice president and general manager, Corning Life Sciences, the facility addresses vital regional needs including expanded production capacity, enhanced proximity to customers, and the localisation of supply chains. He highlighted its role in accelerating the delivery of injectable medicines and supporting the growth of the local pharmaceutical industry while ensuring safer and more efficient access to critical medicines.
Olivier Rousseau, CEO of SGD Pharma, described the facility as a milestone in their global growth strategy that secures critical supply chain components and introduces world-class technology to one of the world’s fastest-growing pharmaceutical markets. He emphasised the investment’s reinforcement of SGD Pharma’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and local development, positioning the company as a global leader in premium glass packaging solutions.
The project, backed by an investment of around ₹530 crore (approximately 500 crore INR as reported), is also a significant economic booster for Telangana, projected to create around 150 local jobs and strengthen the region’s ambitions for self-reliance and sustainable industrial growth. Sudhir Pillai, managing director of Corning India, noted that the facility exemplifies the company’s long-term vision and strategy to localise manufacturing operations and expand their footprint in the pharmaceutical glass packaging industry.
Deepak Sood, general manager of SGD Pharma India, expressed pride in the new facility’s capacity to bring Corning’s Velocity Vial technology to the local market, enhancing product quality and operational efficiencies to meet the evolving needs of pharmaceutical partners.
This collaboration also aligns with broader industry trends emphasizing regional supply chain resilience and technological innovation in pharmaceutical packaging. With growing global demand for injectable drugs and biologics, such capacities are crucial in enabling faster, safer delivery of critical medicines. The localised manufacturing of both glass tubing and vials provides a more integrated and efficient production chain that could respond faster to market dynamics in India and other international markets.
The joint venture between Corning and SGD Pharma is poised to set new benchmarks in pharmaceutical glass packaging quality and sustainability. Their combined efforts will likely support India’s ambitions to become a significant player in global pharmaceutical manufacturing while catering effectively to domestic healthcare needs.
In summary, this expansion is not only a testament to Corning and SGD Pharma’s commitment to innovation and quality but also a strategic move that promises to enhance India’s pharmaceutical manufacturing landscape, with potential global repercussions for the supply of injectable drug packaging solutions.
Source: Noah Wire Services
