Agilent to set up healthcare manufacturing plant in Singapore

New healthcare manufacturing plant from Agilent is expected to boost Singapore's growing life-sciences industry.

SINGAPORE, 13 June 2000 - Agilent Technologies today announced that it will set up a production plant in Singapore to manufacture healthcare products.

The plant will manufacture a range of products from Agilent's markets worldwide. The first products expected to ship from the plant in January 2001 will include defibrillators and ultrasound imaging equipment.

"The healthcare business worldwide is growing steadily, with innovative products creating new markets," said Ned Barnholt, president and CEO of Agilent. "Singapore is an ideal place to invest in healthcare product manufacturing because of the availability of skilled engineering and management manpower, its excellent infrastructure and easy access to low-cost contract manufacturers in the rest of the region."

The Singapore government is keen to develop the country as a life sciences hub, with world-class capabilities across the whole value chain of activities.

"Our goal is to be the regional center for product and process development, clinical trials, and manufacturing of healthcare products," said Liew Heng San, managing director of the Singapore Economic Development Board. "Agilent's new facility is a major milestone that will strengthen Singapore's position as a major supplier of high-quality products for the global medical device market. It will also generate significant spin-offs for the medical device supporting industry."

Agilent's Healthcare Solutions Group provides clinical measurement and cardiology solutions for the healthcare industry, including portable cardiology and monitoring equipment, out-of-hospital defibrillators, cardiovascular ultrasound imaging, critical-care information-management systems and related professional services and support.

"Investments like the new Singapore plant can help us achieve our ultimate goal which is lower cost and higher quality patient care," said Barnholt.

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