Thermo Fisher Scientific Opens New Manufacturing Facility in Mebane

Photo Credit: Chapelboro.com

Thermo Fisher Scientific has officially opened a new 375,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Mebane, North Carolina. A ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 22 brought together state and local leaders, employees, and community members to celebrate the milestone.

Production will begin in the coming weeks, with the site dedicated to manufacturing precision pipette tips used in laboratories around the world. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to produce more than 40 million pipette tips every week.

Strengthening North Carolina’s Biotech Sector

Governor Josh Stein underscored how the project reflects North Carolina’s growing prominence in the life sciences.“We are home to a burgeoning biotech cluster here in North Carolina,” Stein said. “The vibrancy of this cluster now serves to attract, nurture, and expand life science businesses across the state. That’s what brings us here today.”

He also noted that the expansion will improve the nation’s ability to respond to future health challenges.“The opening of this facility is a testament to the strengthening of our supply chain, especially in light of the vulnerabilities we all experienced during the COVID pandemic,” Stein said. “By ensuring a reliable domestic supply of pipette tips, this facility will help us overcome hurdles in the future.”

Local Impact

Mebane Mayor Ed Hooks emphasized the importance of the new facility to the city’s continued growth.“This partnership marks not just the arrival of a world-class company, but a significant chapter in Mebane’s history,” Hooks said. “We welcome Thermo Fisher Scientific as our newest community partner and corporate citizen.”

The event drew about 100 attendees, including Thermo Fisher leaders, elected officials, and community representatives.

Expanding Careers and Opportunities

Thermo Fisher expects the facility to add 150 to 200 jobs, with hiring focused on local talent and partnerships with universities and community colleges across the state.

Sandy Pound, the company’s chief communications officer, said the investment reflects Thermo Fisher’s commitment to North Carolina.“This is important to us to both support manufacturing careers in the area and to encourage greater diversity in the state’s life sciences sector,” Pound said. “We are so proud to have a legacy of innovation, manufacturing excellence, and community partnership here.”

Building on a Strong North Carolina Presence

Thermo Fisher already operates nine other locations in North Carolina, employing about 7,800 people in cities such as Durham, Raleigh, Greensboro, High Point, Greenville, Wilmington, and Asheville.

The Mebane facility is located in Buckhorn Industrial Park, part of Orange County’s Buckhorn Economic Development District. The park is home to other major companies including Medline Industries and ABB Inc.

The new facility is part of a $192.5 million co-investment contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced in 2021, reinforcing Thermo Fisher’s commitment to domestic manufacturing and North Carolina’s role in the global life sciences sector.