The ISO: 9001-certified Shanghai plant will manufacture TrimTec and InsoCap closures for intravenous solution bottles, the company said in a news release. West expects the closures to help pharmaceutical companies meet the challenging drug safety standards in China.

West will also export the closures to other markets in Asia, Europe and South America. West manufactures TrimTec closures in Stolberg, Germany, as well.

West has to date invested $30 million in the Shanghai plant, a spokesman for the company told Plastics News, higher than the $20 million estimate of initial investment the company announced when West broke ground for the Shanghai plant on Jan. 30, 2008.

“The dollar amount of future investment has yet to be determined,” the spokesman said in an email.

The Shanghai factory is approximately 129,000 square feet on a 7.8 acre parcel. The company had previously estimated the site to be 259,948 square feet, which would encompass both the injection molding facility as well as an adjacent compression molding facility.

“The plans for the compression molding facility are currently being reviewed, and West will reach a decision on the specifics of its investment and construction at some point in the future,” the spokesman said.

The Shanghai factory currently employs 52. West expects the number to grow as the plant starts operating at full capacity.

“West is experiencing an exciting period of growth in the Asia Pacific region and we are proud to open our first manufacturing operation in China,” said Donald E. Morel Jr., West’s Chairman and CEO. “This facility was established in direct response to client demand, and we are committed to supporting the growth of our pharmaceutical customers in China.”

In addition to the new facility in Shanghai, West’s presence in the Asia Pacific market also includes a factory in Singapore and sales offices in Australia, China, India and Singapore. West is also an equity partner of Tokyo-based Daikyo Seiko Ltd.