Orion considers outsourcing Finnish pharma production
HELSINKI, FINLAND — Pharmaceutical company Orion Corporation recently announced plans to potentially outsource pharmaceutical production from its Kuopio plant in Finland due to competitiveness challenges and significant investment requirements.
The Finnish pharmaceutical company is in the process of evaluating the outsourcing of its Kuopio facility, which specializes in liquids and self-care products such as nasal sprays, cough medicines, and ear drops.
The decision stems from the plant’s low competitiveness, underutilization, and the increasing quality requirements in the pharmaceutical industry, which have led to limited growth prospects and the need for high investment that the company deems unjustifiable.
Orion has initiated statutory negotiations under Finland’s Co-operation Act, which may affect around 40 employees involved in operations and functions supporting production at the Kuopio plant. However, other employees at the site will not be impacted by these negotiations.
Despite the potential outsourcing, Orion intends to maintain the products currently manufactured in Kuopio within its product portfolio. The company estimates that the plant will continue operations until at least the summer of 2026.
Orion’s Global Operations and Quality Management employ approximately 1,900 individuals, with production facilities in Espoo, Turku, Kuopio, and Salo, as well as an external supplier network and Fermion Oy, which manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients in Hanko and Oulu.
