KING OF PRUSSIA, PA — CSL (ASX: CSL; USOTC: CSLLY) said it has broken ground on a $1.5 billion expansion of its manufacturing facility in Kankakee, Illinois, aimed at increasing production of plasma-derived therapies and expanding its U.S. operations.
The company said the expansion is part of its global manufacturing strategy and is expected to be operational by 2031.
CSL said the project will incorporate its Horizon 2 manufacturing process, which is designed to increase immunoglobulin output from the same amount of plasma.
“As the need for plasma-derived therapies continues to grow … expanding our Kankakee site further strengthens this key hub in our supply network,” said Gordon Naylor, chief executive officer and managing director of CSL.
The expansion is expected to create at least 300 permanent jobs and about 800 construction-related positions, according to the company.
CSL said more than 1,200 employees currently work at the Kankakee site, which will play a larger role in its global supply network following the upgrade.
Mary Oates, CSL’s chief operating officer, said the new manufacturing capabilities are intended to improve efficiency.
“These improvements will increase protein yield from each gram of plasma collected, strengthening Kankakee’s role as a vital site in our global network,” Oates said.
Illinois officials said the project is expected to support regional economic growth and strengthen domestic production of medical therapies.
“CSL’s $1.5 billion investment is a powerful vote of confidence in our state,” said Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.
The company said plasma-derived therapies produced at the site are used to treat rare diseases such as primary immunodeficiency, hemophilia, and hereditary angioedema, as well as emergency conditions including trauma and postpartum complications.
CSL said it has invested more than $3 billion in U.S. operations since 2018, adding more than 6,500 jobs and bringing its total U.S. workforce to nearly 19,000.
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