Amgen, a biotechnology company, is expanding in Rhode Island with a new $160-million next generation biomanufacturing plant that will be the first of its kind in the United States (Amgen previously built a next-generation biomanufacturing plant in Singapore).

The plant will be built on the current 75-acre Amgen Rhode Island campus in West Greenwich. The facility will incorporate multiple innovative technologies into a single facility, which will allow it to be built in half the construction time with approximately half of the operating cost required of a traditional plant.

Next-gen biomanufacturing plants require a smaller manufacturing footprint (traditional plants require as much space as 12 football fields) and offer greater environmental benefits such as reduced water and energy consumption and lower levels of carbon emissions and solid waste. Instead of large, stainless steel storage tanks that are welded together in place, next-gen equipment is disposable, modular, and reconfigurable.

The new plant is expected to produce 150 manufacturing jobs and is expected to add $3.7 million in net revenue to the state over the 12-year commitment period.