PerkinElmer has completed its acquisition of Cork-based SimoTech, bringing manufacturing automation and GMP IT expertise into its pharmaceutical services platform and strengthening its capabilities across the drug manufacturing lifecycle.

The deal, announced on 11 August and completed in September, brings SimoTech into PerkinElmer’s life sciences operations alongside OneSource and Project Farma. PerkinElmer said the combination will expand its ability to support pharmaceutical customers across manufacturing, engineering, automation and compliance. PerkinElmer acquisition announcement

Founded in 2011, SimoTech is an Irish specialist in life sciences automation and IT systems. Based in Cork, the company provides project management, systems integration and validation services covering technologies including distributed control systems, manufacturing execution systems, SCADA and GMP IT.

The acquisition gives PerkinElmer access to SimoTech’s manufacturing automation capabilities while adding them to Project Farma’s expertise in project delivery, commissioning, qualification and validation, quality, regulatory and compliance services.

For pharmaceutical manufacturers, the combination reflects the increasing integration of engineering, automation and digital systems within regulated production environments. Manufacturing facilities now depend on connected technologies to control processes, manage production data and maintain compliance throughout their operational lifecycle.

SimoTech supports half of the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, according to PerkinElmer. Its experience therefore gives the enlarged platform an established customer base within a highly regulated manufacturing market.

The acquisition also highlights the growing importance of digital manufacturing as pharmaceutical companies seek greater operational efficiency and flexibility. Automation and IT systems increasingly sit alongside physical infrastructure as core components of modern GMP production.

PerkinElmer said the combined capabilities are intended to support customers from project planning and facility development through to manufacturing operations and optimisation. The company described the acquisition as an opportunity to build a broader pharmaceutical services platform.

For Ireland’s life sciences sector, the transaction also demonstrates the international value of specialist expertise developed within the country’s pharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem. SimoTech’s Cork operation becomes part of a larger global platform serving life sciences customers.

For the sector, the lesson is clear: as pharmaceutical manufacturing becomes increasingly digital and interconnected, expertise spanning automation, GMP IT, engineering and compliance is becoming an increasingly important part of modern production.

Source: Manufacturing Chemist / PerkinElmer / SimoTech / Project Farma