DAYTONA BEACH — German medical products manufacturer B.Braun, which expanded its existing plant and opened a distribution center here last year, is now considering adding more facilities in Daytona Beach, a top executive has confirmed.
In addition, the company, which currently employs just under 140 workers locally, expects to increase its Daytona Beach workforce to at least 300 as it gears up to begin full production next year, said Bruce Heugel, a senior vice president with B.Braun who oversees the company’s U.S. operations.
The plant could potentially grow to as many as 500 workers should more manufacturing facilities be added, he said.
“We’re not done expanding in Daytona Beach,” Heugel said.
The B.Braun executive, in a phone interview on Friday, confirmed that his company intends to develop a portion of the 35 acres it recently acquired immediately east of its Daytona Beach plant at 1845 Mason Ave.
But with wetlands accounting for at least half of that wooded property, Heugel said it has yet to be determined exactly what his company will be able to build there.
“It could be more manufacturing facilities or it could be office space or used as a parking lot,” he said of the portion of the land that is buildable.
Even if the land were used for the latter, Heugel said, any new construction would allow the company to expand its existing plant, possibly by converting the current paved employee parking lot into manufacturing facilities.
Heugel spoke with The News-Journal to clarify an announcement B.Braun made at an event in Washington, D.C., earlier this week.
At the event, CEO Caroll Neubauer announced a $1 billion “Solutions for Life” investment his company was making in “new and enhanced IV therapy manufacturing facilities” in North America.
That investment included a “new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Daytona Beach,” as well as “modernizations to existing facilities in Irvine, California and Allentown, Pennsylvania,” according to the news release.
Heugel told The News-Journal that the $1 billion has already been spent and includes the $340 million it has already invested in Daytona Beach to date.