International high-tech materials maker opens multimillion-dollar facility in Phoenix

PHOENIX – An international manufacturer of point-of-care diagnostic and life-science devices cut the ribbon on its North American headquarters in Phoenix on Monday.

Schott Minifab’s almost 40,000-square-foot facility near 40th Street and Roeser Road joined Jena, Germany, and Melbourne, Australia, on the company’s list of diagnostics production centers, according to a press release.

The state-of-the-art fabrication lab will produce custom DNA and protein biosensors and other microarrays on glass, semiconductors, and polymer microfluidic consumable devices will create 150 jobs in the Valley over the next few years.

The Phoenix Business Journal reported Schott invested $10 million in the project.

Phoenix is the new home for @SCHOTT_AG North America headquarters where microchips for MRNA technology advance the speed of disease treatment. #TheFutureisPhoenix pic.twitter.com/g3Jk7SGxqV

— Mayor Kate Gallego (@MayorGallego) January 9, 2023

The Valley site will be the first of three to emphasize the Germany-based company ‘s bioscience capabilities using high-density arrays for diagnostic and life science research.

We were thrilled to have @mayorgallego, members of @senmarkkelly and @reprubengallego offices tour our new state-of-the-art fabrication lab during the opening event of our first #diagnostics facility in the #US pic.twitter.com/1oSqhkHTzD

— SCHOTT (@SCHOTT_AG) January 9, 2023

“Enhancing our global footprint with a manufacturing base in Phoenix not only expands our reach, but also caters to the fast-growing and dynamic diagnostics market in North America,” management board member Dr. Heinz Kaiser said.

“We are eager to build a unique pipeline for this market in the U.S.”

Schott said diagnostic tests for infectious disease, autoimmune disease and cancers are increasingly being performed at point of care, such as medical clinics, rather than central laboratories.

The facility’s parent company, Schott AG, makes high-tech materials based on specialty glass and other advanced materials used in fiber optics, electronics, pharmaceutical tubing and glass-ceramic cooktops, among others.

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