Pharmacy

In the Dunkirk territory, technical training centres, day release courses and specific institutes also train future workers in logistics, security, non-destructive testing, the environment, maintenance…  essential skills for all sectors of activity!  

Dunkirk is aiming to be carbon neutral by 2050, that’s why we’re training young talent who can support this approach. Graduates from the two engineering schools specialising in energy engineering will be able to help you improve your carbon footprint and reduce your energy consumption.  

A large university city, Lille rounds off the offer and is home to the Ecole Nationale de Chimie de Lille (National Graduate School of Engineering Chemistry of Lille), which is just 30 minutes away by train.

These are two definite assets for any health sector or pharmacy industry business activity!

The Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca has been established in Dunkirk since 1990 and employs almost 500 people.  

• The site is world number one for the production of inhaled drugs. It manufactures dry powder and aerosol products and exports them to around 40 countries.
• In 2009, the group sold the chemical branch of its site to the neighbouring Minafin group (Minakem) to refocus on pharmaceutical production, i.e. aerosols for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

• Today, the site manufactures 33 million units of aerosols per year on its 8 formulation, assembly and packaging 99.9% are exported, a large part of which goes to the United States.
• In a growing market, the group invested 135 million euros in Dunkirk between 2016 and 2019 in order to open two extra production lines and modernise production equipment. In 2021 and 2022, an investment of 141 million euros was also made, again with a view to increasing production and modernising the equipment.  

Why did Astrazeneca choose Dunkirk?  

1. Its strategic location at the heart of Europe
2. The Grand Port Maritime of Dunkirk 
3. The proximity of extensive logistics areas

Founded in 1987, Laboratoires Pharmaceutiques Rodael are independent French pharmaceutical labs that manufacture non-sterile dry forms.  

It is a family company based in Bierne, not far from Dunkirk. The company boasts exceptional conditions to support its growth:

• The site is located in close proximity to the A25 motorway, at the crossroads between Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Great Britain and Scandinavia.
• They employ around 50 people.

Key points about Laboratoires Pharmaceutiques Rodael:

• The lab can accommodate production for other stakeholders. From formulation to the finished product, in compliance with good manufacturing practices, thereby guaranteeing a high level of quality.
• The modularity of their production equipment guarantees agility, flexibility and speedy execution. This means they can handle the production of small batches for clinical studies but also provide industrial production.
• Laboratoires Pharmaceutiques Rodael’s capacity for innovation is a real asset that has helped them secure funding as part of the France Relance economic recovery plan.