Perth company creates 200 jobs to produce test tubes for Covid-19 crisis

Millions of Covid19 test tubes will be produced in Pe r t h every week under a f i r m’s expansion plans that will create 200 new jobs.

Perth will become one of the key global sites in the fight against the pandemic as Thermo Fisher Scientific ramps up production.

Based at Auld Bond Road, the life sciences company plans to expand its facility to manufacture eight million tubes used for test samples each week.

The tubes ensure samples collected from a Covid-19 nose swab maintains its viability while it is sent to a laboratory for processing.

“With the expansion of our site in Perth, we are continuing to rapidly increase production of sample collection products to meet an urgent national and international demand for Covid-19 testing,” said Stewart Blair, site leader and director of European prepared media operations for Thermo Fisher.

“We are investing in the United Kingdom, for the United Kingdom, and our employees are honoured to support the national effort to reinforce current testing operations.”

Thermo Fisher supplies tubes, analysers and logistical support to the Lighthouse Lab in Glasgow and NHS labs in the UK.

The expansion plans are due to be completed by the end of March.

It will see the footprint of the factory rise by 39,000sq ft over two floors that will contain automated manufacturing and warehousing equipment.

The size of the financial investment has not been disclosed by the company.

Scottish Government Innovation Minister Ivan McKee, said: “This announcement by Thermo Fisher shows the importance of continuing to attract such investment to Scotland, creating high value jobs across the country.

“Thermo Fisher is a huge par t of Scotland ’s life sciences industry and plays a key role in our response to the C o v i d -1 9 crisis supplying test kits, analysers and logistical support to the Lighthouse Lab in Glasgow, and NHS labs across the country.

“The planned expansion in Perth will help to meet future demand for testing supplies, and will support S c o t l a n d ’s economic growth by creating skilled jobs in the life sciences sector.”

Linda Hanna, managing director at Scottish Enterprise, said the jobs boost for Pe r t h was “welcome news in the current economic climate”.

She added: “This increased production capacity helps demonstrate that Scottish manufacturing can mee t the growing demand for C o v i d -1 9 testing at home and overseas.

“More importantly, it means Covid-19 samples can continue to be collected and transported safely as part of the global pandemic response.”

In support of the site expansion, Pe r t h and Kinross Council helped the project through the planning and building warrant process, getting planning in place in record time.

Council leader Murray Lyle said: “I am delighted that Thermo Fisher are expanding their production facility and investing in Perth, boosting the local job market and economy.’’

Per th and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart said: “This investment in the facility at Auld Bond Road, but also in local jobs, is hugely welcome.

“It is fantastic to know the site in Perth is playing a key role in our fightback against Covid-19.”

WE’RE DOING OUR BIT: Thermo Fisher Scientific life sciences company is expanding its operations in Scotland as part of a global response to the Covid pandemic, with the plans due to be completed by the end of March.