SCHOTT Pharma expanded its ready-to-use (RTU) vials manufacturing facility in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, US, to support the growing demand for its products.
The expansion project was announced in 2022 and involved an investment of $60m (€52.72m), supported by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority under the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response.
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Opened in June 2026, the upgraded facility tripled SCHOTT’s manufacturing capacity for its core and speciality vials in the US.
The project underpins SCHOTT’s RTU offering, as these solutions are increasingly selected for containing high-value medicines. It also bolsters domestic medical supply resilience in the US, improving the ability to scale quickly during public health incidents.
The company has indicated it may broaden its RTU vial manufacturing network further worldwide, depending on demand trends.
Location of SCHOTT Pharma’s RTU vial facility
SCHOTT Pharma’s RTU vial production site sits in Lebanon Valley, within the city of Lebanon.
Operating since 2003, the plant focuses on primary packaging and delivery solutions for injectable medicines and currently employs 200 staff.
The site’s enlargement strengthens Pennsylvania’s established life sciences base, valued at $50bn and expected to continue expanding.
SCHOTT Pharma’s RTU vials facility expansion details
SCHOTT Pharma’s RTU vials facility involved the installation of advanced manufacturing equipment including numerous high-end converting lines for core borosilicate glass vials.
The project also covered extensive site and infrastructure upgrades, alongside production line enhancements and the introduction of cutting-edge technologies. These changes are designed to boost high-value solutions output including the adaptiQ® RTU vial platform and EVERIC® pure vials.
These speciality vials are essential for packaging and protecting a broad range of high-sensitivity medicines including biologics and biosimilars, mRNA-based therapies, emergency drugs and vaccines. They are also suited to novel treatments that need lyophilisation to maintain stability, such as antibody-drug conjugates used in targeted oncology.
By supplying vials in an RTU format, SCHOTT Pharma is also supporting the sector’s move towards RTU primary packaging. For pharmaceutical manufacturers and contract manufacturing organisations, this enables quicker changeovers and more efficient filling operations while improving product safety and helping streamline regulatory requirements.
SCHOTT Pharma’s RTU vial portfolio
SCHOTT offers an extensive range of RTU vials, with more than 750 possible product configurations. This wide portfolio gives biopharma manufacturers a broad choice across sizes, formats and performance options, helping them identify the most suitable container for today’s diverse and technically demanding medicines.
Within the SCHOTT iQ® platform, these RTU vials are supplied pre-washed and pre-sterilised. This enables pharmaceutical companies to concentrate on their core activities, developing and filling critical therapies, while supporting faster, more efficient timelines.
SCHOTT’s adaptiQ vials are produced from FIOLAX® Type I borosilicate glass, widely regarded as the benchmark material for pharmaceutical packaging. During filling, the vials stay secured in a standardised tub that is also used across other containment and delivery formats, including pre-fillable syringes and cartridges. Using a common tub format streamlines filling operations and makes it easier to switch between packaging types, reducing both operational costs and time to market.
The range is available in ISO standard sizes from 2R to 50R and can be specified with a selection of advanced performance features. Options include EVERIC pure for strong drug compatibility and improved resistance to delamination; SCHOTT Type I plus® for particularly sensitive biologics; SCHOTT TopLyo® for enhanced performance with lyophilised products; and amber glass to shield light-sensitive pharmaceuticals.
About SCHOTT Pharma
Based in Germany, SCHOTT Pharma designs and produces advanced packaging and drug-delivery solutions for injectable therapies. The company operates 17 good manufacturing practice-certified production sites across North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.
Worldwide, SCHOTT Pharma has a workforce of 4,800 people, including scientists and technical specialists. In 2025, the company delivered around $1.1bn in revenue worldwide.
SCHOTT Pharma USA, which represents the group in North America, concentrates on speciality glass, glass-ceramics and other high-performance materials. The division operates two plants in Pennsylvania: an RTU vial facility in Lebanon and a site in Duryea, which manufactures speciality materials and optical components.
