Pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced its intention to extend production facilities in the UK.
The expansion will create 1,000 new jobs within the firm, 600 of which will be allocated to its biopharmaceuticals sector with the remaining 400 vacancies distributed elsewhere in the company, the Times reports.
GSK’s chemical handling sites will require machinery relevant to the processing of powders such as hoppers, weighing systems and big bag dischargers.
Biopharmaceuticals will also require safe handling and storage facilities, potentially pushing up the demand for flexible bulk containers and stainless steel containers.
The company’s announcement comes after the chancellor Alistair Darling revealed plans for the so-called "patent box", which will see tax on revenues from patents developed in the UK cut to just 10 per cent.
GSK chief executive Andrew Witty told the news provider the patent plan was a great step forward for the UK in attracting investment from the live sciences sector.
If other pharmaceutical companies look to take advantage of the tax cuts this could create new development facilities across the UK, boosting the demand for hoppers and other chemical handling machinery. 