Hosokawa Micron Limited has completed a significant expansion of its Daresbury contract development and manufacturing site, tripling its cGMP-grade processing capacity and enabling multiple pharmaceutical processing projects to run in parallel for the first time.
The company has grown from a single cGMP suite to three, moving into a larger footprint within the same building.
The upgraded facility supports outsourced powder processing, micronisation, classification and particle design for active pharmaceutical ingredients, excipients and medical device materials. It also provides formulation development, powder testing and production of materials for toxicity studies, stability work, clinical trials and commercial supply.
The expansion was driven by sustained demand from cGMP customers, whose requirements differ from Hosokawa’s chemical and food sector clients. cGMP work typically involves lower volumes but demands dedicated, compliant environments and stringent process control. Previously, the Daresbury site could only run one job at a time; the new configuration allows three independent workstreams.
Each suite has been built from a blank starting point, with bespoke layouts and dedicated nitrogen and compressed air supplies. According to the company, this approach ensures the controlled conditions required for cGMP manufacturing.
Kathryn Hipkins, Technical Operations Director, said the expansion reflects the realities of regulated pharmaceutical work. “cGMP processing demands a level of segregation, traceability and control that you can’t easily replicate alongside other sector work,” she said. “Moving from one suite to three means we can take on parallel projects without compromising on the standards our customers rely on.”
Managing Director James Moore said the investment signals Hosokawa’s long-term commitment to the UK’s cGMP sector. “This expansion reflects where we see the UK cGMP market heading and the role we want to play in it,” he said. “Expanding our capacity at Daresbury is a clear signal that we’re committed to that side of the business and to supporting UK cGMP manufacturing for the long term.”
The Daresbury site forms part of a global Hosokawa Micron Group network that includes facilities in Germany, the Netherlands, the USA and Japan. To mark the expansion, the company will open the site to visitors on 7 July 2026, offering tours of the new suites, equipment demonstrations and opportunities to meet the technical team.