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Athenex update: Concrete, steel nearly done

OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford Construction of Athenex’s new biopharmaceutical plant in the town of Dunkirk continued Tuesday morning

Athenex is rapidly taking shape, with concrete and steel construction 95 percent complete.

That’s according to information given by Mark Geise, Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency CEO, to the IDA’s board Tuesday during a project update.

Geise spoke over video that a drone took of the Athenex site. He said panelling is going in at the biopharmaceutical production plant, and that will continue into January, weather permitting. Roof work has also begun and that will also continue into early 2019.

There are already 10 Athenex employees who work at the Dunkirk project, Geise said. In February, the company plans to hire a plant director and plant quality control director, and then will proceed with hiring department heads and the rest of the staff.

By December 2019, there should be more than 80 Athenex workers on the site. There are 125 to 150 employees expected at the plant when it opens in 2020. When at full production in three years, the plant is to employ more than 400 people.

Meanwhile, construction will continue throughout 2019. Geise said there should be between 400 and 450 construction jobs on-site next summer.

According to Geise’s update, June 2020 is envisioned as the start date for commercial production of some products. Depending on equipment arrival, the production lines should be fully open in December 2020.

The drone video of the Athenex construction can be accessed online at ccida.com/athenex-project-news. It’s the one under the December 2018 headline, and it’s titled “Athenex Development Update December 7, 2018.”

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