3i creates single use bioprocessing platform

3i Group plc (“3i”) today announces that it has established a single use bioprocessing platform serving the biopharmaceutical sector with the acquisitions of Cellon, Silicone Altimex and TBL Performance Plastics.  Cellon, based in Luxembourg, and TBL, based in New Jersey, were acquired from their founder owners, who will continue to serve as key leaders of the platform.  Silicone Altimex had been a UK based subsidiary of 3i-backed Q Holding (“Q”) that was acquired in 2015 from its owners, who remain advisors to the company.

Cellon is a manufacturer of single-use products for bioprocessing, storage, and transport of sterile solutions for pharmaceutical and biotech companies in the production of biological drugs, vaccines and therapies. Its products include sterile bottles for the production of biologic drugs, custom tube and bottle sets and platinum-cured silicone tubing. The company has a 54,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Luxembourg.  Cellon serves leading developers of biologics, vaccines and cell & gene therapies.

TBL is a vertically integrated thermoplastic manufacturer of high purity tubing, sanitary fittings, over-moulded connections and other products for biopharmaceutical production facilities.  It operates a 20,000 sq. ft. facility in Sparta, NJ, where it provides injection moulding, extrusion and ISO Class 7 clean room assembly services.  TBL serves leading OEMs, as well as leading integrators and distributors serving the bioprocessing production market.  Silicone Altimex provides high quality, integrated elastomeric solutions to biopharmaceutical manufacturers.  Its products include a broad range of silicone tubing, clean room assemblies and other components. 

As the biopharmaceutical industry continues to transition to single-use bioprocessing technologies (“SUT”) given their flexibility, cleanliness and cost advantage in comparison to stainless steel equipment, manufacturers are seeking partners that can deliver flexible solutions, innovative products and faster turnaround times.  The newly established platform will offer industry leading products, such as the PharmaTainer^TM bottles and carboy product line, aSURE® fittings, Tri-Clamp® ends, Bio-Ease^TM clamps, a wide range of tubing solutions such as Cellgyn® and cleanroom bioprocessing assembly capacity in North America and Europe for custom solutions. These products support the research, development and commercial production of life saving therapies, accelerating production setup times and time to market with lower required capital investment.

Thomas J. Hook, CEO, Q, said:

“With Cellon and TBL, it became clear we had a unique opportunity to establish a standalone platform in the SUT market.  We believe a dedicated approach is in the best interests of serving the market and the combined customer base of leading biopharma and vaccine manufacturers, integrators and distributors.  Q Holding will be reinvesting proceeds to support a significant expansion of its production capacity for our cardiovascular and peripheral vascular catheter product lines.”

Richard Fry, CEO, Cellon, said:

“We are excited to work with 3i given its international team and shared vision for opportunities to support Cellon’s continued growth and complement its product offering and geographic footprint. We believe they will be a great partner for us as we look to expand our production capacity and portfolio of innovative and high quality products.”

Bob DuPont, CEO, TBL, commented:

“The partnership opportunity between TBL, Cellon and Silicone Altimex is very exciting and significantly expands the portfolio of products and solutions we can provide to the industry.  We look forward to discussing with our customers and partners how we can better serve their needs as a global organisation.”

Richard Relyea, Partner, 3i US, commented:

“3i has been looking for some time to build a platform serving the high growth SUT market. In combining Cellon, TBL and Silicone Altimex we are establishing a platform with a strong product suite of leading SUT solutions and clean room production capacity in North America and Europe.  We will continue to invest in innovation, production capacity and geographic footprint to better serve our customers.”

3i is actively looking for additional opportunities to grow the platform through further acquisitions and organic investment that would enable it to expand its suite of innovative products, increase its capacity and capabilities and better serve its market leading global customers.

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3i Group plc

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About 3i Group

3i is a leading international investment manager focused on mid-market private equity and infrastructure. Its core investment markets are northern Europe and North America. For further information, please visit: www.3i.com.

About Cellon                                                                                                                  

Cellon was established in 1987 to provide products and services to the vaccine production and bioprocessing industries.  Areas of expertise include mammalian cell culture processes and the storage & transport of sterile liquids.  Our success to-date has been built upon an understanding of the requirements this demanding business sector - which has lead to the formation of many collaborative relationships with our customers.  Such partnerships have enabled us to develop a range of products to meet specific industry needs - in unique, often revolutionary, ways.

About Silicone Altimex

Silicone Altimex Limited was established in 1976 as a manufacturer of silicone tubing and other rubber components for several markets in the UK. Since that time, the company has extended its capabilities and evolved into a leading supplier to medical, pharmaceutical and high technology companies worldwide.  Silicone Altimex was acquired by 3i-backed Q Holding in 2015. 

About TBL

TBL Performance Plastics manufactures non-metallic single-use products tailored for biopharmaceutical manufacturers, CDMOs, drug development companies and related OEMs. TBL offers industry-leading expertise in developing non-metallic fluid transfer and storage products with a heavy focus on quality, regulatory compliance, and meeting the application-specific needs of our clients.

About Q Holding

Q provides world class engineered and elastomeric solutions for the global life sciences, automotive, and industrial markets. With Centers of Excellence in North America, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, India and China, Q goes to market in the life sciences as Silicone Altimex and Q Medical Devices (Qure, Degania, Biometrix, Arthesys) and in electrical management as Quality Synthetic Rubber (QSR).

Regulatory information

This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Corporation, a US wholly owned subsidiary of 3i Group.