Governor Hochul Celebrates Completion of IMA Life North America’s $30 Million Expansion Project in Tonawanda

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that manufacturing company IMA Life North America has completed its $30 million, 120,000-square-foot facility in Tonawanda to increase its production of freeze-drying equipment for the pharmaceutical industry. IMA Life's equipment is shipped all over the world and its customers include pharmaceutical giants such as Pfizer and Moderna.

"The expansion of IMA Life's Tonawanda facility advances New York's leadership in medical manufacturing by providing essential equipment for life-saving treatments and creating high-quality regional jobs," Governor Hochul said. "The completed project reinforces the state's ability to attract premier investments and talent, securing Western New York's role in the global pharmaceutical supply chain."

IMA Life North America is part of IMA Group, an Italian company that is a global leader in the field of aseptic drug processing and freeze-drying equipment, with about 7,400 employees worldwide. The company offers a wide range of technologically advanced machines, which preserve the integrity of pharmaceutical products, ensuring the maximum level of sterility and protecting both the operator and the environment.

The new building includes 90,000 square feet of production space and 30,000 square feet of office space on a 15-acre parcel located at 700 Colvin Woods Parkway, replacing IMA Life's existing 60,000-square-foot facility at 2175 Military Road.

The large freeze dryers manufactured there can rapidly convert vials of liquid medicines and other pharmaceutical products into a powdered form that is shelf-stable and easy to transport. The product range includes blowers, washers, depyrogenation tunnels, liquid and powder fillers, freeze dryers, automatic loaders/unloaders, labelers and isolation systems.

IMA Life North America President Ernesto Renzi said, "IMA Life offers a broad range of technologically advanced machines, which preserve the integrity of pharmaceutical products, ensuring the maximum level of sterility and protecting both the operator and the environment. IMA Life's equipment is shipped all over the world and its customers include the main multinational companies in the industry."

IMA Life has 195 employees based in Tonawanda and is actively adding 70 more personnel as the newly opened expansion project unlocks production increases. New York State, through Empire State Development (ESD), the State's economic development agency, will provide up to $1.1 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits in return for IMA's job creation commitments.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "The completion of IMA Life's expansion cements Upstate New York as a premier hub for advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing. By delivering on this state-of-the-art facility, we are leveraging our highly skilled workforce and strategic partnerships to drive economic growth and secure Western New York's position on the global stage."

Montante Construction President Doug Elia said, "Helping great companies grow in Western New York is at the heart of what we do at Montante. We are grateful to IMA Life for their partnership and confidence in Montante Construction, and I am incredibly proud of our employees, trade partners and project team whose dedication and expertise made this complex project a success while helping ensure IMA's continued growth and investment in Tonawanda."

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, "I thank Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to supporting good jobs across New York and strengthening our communities. Medication represents hope for patients and their loved ones. IMA Life's investment will help support that work while creating new employment opportunities for New Yorkers."

State Senator Jeremy J. Zellner said, "This is exactly the kind of investment we want to see in Western New York. A company choosing Tonawanda, creating 70 new jobs and putting down deeper roots in our community. What makes this especially significant is that the work being done here reaches far beyond Western New York. The equipment built by workers in Tonawanda plays a role in producing medicines and treatments used around the world. I'm proud to welcome this next chapter for IMA Life and grateful to Governor Hochul for helping make this continued growth possible."

Assemblymember William Conrad said, "The construction of this facility signifies another major boost to Tonawanda's long and well-earned reputation as a hub for industry. The business community we have in Colvin Woods sits at the cutting edge of manufacturing, fabrication and engineering; in other words, this is a center for the best and brightest our region has to offer. It's a celebratory day when we as a collective, and with Empire State Development's keen direction, can facilitate the growth of a Colvin Woods partner like IMA Life. A company known for setting the standards for aseptic processing and freeze-drying, IMA Life is forever exploring the technology of the future, the applications of which seem limitless. This is another corporate entity we can be immensely proud of, from the Town of Tonawanda and beyond."

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarzsaid, "Erie County is the proud home of IMA Life's North America headquarters. We are thrilled to see the significant growth and new job creation in our community from a large, diverse global company. As a board member of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency, I gladly supported all phases of this project, and the $5.1 million in IDA incentives will pay dividends for years to come. Once again, another global manufacturer has shown that Erie County can compete with anywhere."

Town of Tonawanda Supervisor John Flynn said, "The Town of Tonawanda is incredibly proud to celebrate the completion of IMA Life's state-of-the-art facility at Colvin Woods Parkway. I thank Governor Hochul and ESD for supporting this $30 million investment that not only retains nearly 200 high-quality positions in our community but opens the door for 70 new, forward-thinking jobs. IMA Life's commitment to our town reinforces Tonawanda's standing as a prime location for innovative global companies to plant roots, expand and thrive."

About IMA Life North America

IMA Life North America is one of six IMA Life production sites. IMA Life is part of IMA Group, a world leader in the design and manufacture of automatic machines for the processing and packaging of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, tea and coffee, as well as in automation solutions. IMA Life, which includes the production sites of IMA Life North America, IMA Life Calenzano, IMA Life Pharmasiena, IMA Life Beijing and IMA Life Shanghai, offers a comprehensive product portfolio to process liquids and powders in aseptic and non-aseptic environments. Its offering includes vial and ampoule washers, depyrogenation tunnels, decontamination technologies, filling and closing machines for ampoules, Ready-To-Use vials, syringes and pre-capped cartridges for medium and high-speed production. The portfolio also encompasses gloveless technologies for ATMPs, Cell & Gene therapies and radiopharmaceuticals, as well as powder microdosing and macrodosing systems, capping machines and a full range of containment solutions, including Restricted Access Barrier Systems and isolators, further strengthened by IMA ProSys technologies for containment and isolator systems.

IMA Life also offers lyophilisation process development and continuous aseptic spray freeze drying technology, together with industrial, pilot and laboratory freeze dryers and automatic or semi automatic vial loading and unloading systems for freeze dryers. The range is completed by assembly and labelling machines for syringes, and labelling machines for vials, ampoules, shaped containers, pre-filled pens, Blow Fill Seal single dose containers and cartons with the latest serialization technologies. Blowing machines, depackers, tray loaders and other ancillary equipment further enhance the portfolio, ensuring truly comprehensive coverage of pharmaceutical processing and packaging needs.

For more information, visit: www.imagroup.com and www.imagroup.com/pharma

About Empire State Development

Empire State Development is New York's chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state's 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state's world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.