Medical and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in Minneapolis
The medical and pharmaceutical industries are among the few industries that continue to manufacture domestically rather than overseas. Complexity of product, stringent quality requirements, certification and documentation requirements are some of the reasons that companies choose to keep manufacturing in the US. Medical Device OEMS need to have maximum assurance that their supplier is conforming to exact product specifications and standards. The Minneapolis/St. Paul area is ideal for medical and pharmaceutical manufacturing for the following reasons:
Convenient location
Supportive of high technology manufacturing
Local resources with demonstrated capability to meet stringent quality requirements
Adequate supply of a technically competent work force
Cost effective manufacturing
The Twin Cities is centrally located in the US and has a major airport with access to light rail. There are plenty of hotels that will meet any taste or price within 10 miles of the airport. The airport is rated the 15th busiest airport in the nation yet convenient as it has plenty of flights, but not the overcrowding issues that the larger airports have. In general, airline costs to fly in and out of Minneapolis is well below the national average.
Minneapolis is considered one of the hot bed locations for Medical and Pharmaceutical manufacturing. Medtronic, St. Jude Medical, Boston Scientific, Upsher-Smith Laboratories and Cargill are just a few of the major companies located in this area. Rochester Mayo Clinic is located about 60 miles south of the Twin Cities and the University of Minnesota is located right in the heart of Minneapolis. There are 100s of ISO certified and FDA registered suppliers in this area that can support any medical device manufacturing requirement. Any manufacturer who locates in Minneapolis/ St. Paul area will have a vast network of world class local suppliers and resources to support their needs.
Minneapolis is ideal for attracting high caliber employees. This area is highly rated for its quality of life. Eden Prairie MN and Chanhassen MN are rated among the best places to live in the USA. The area is full of museums, cultural centers, theaters, and clubs with music and entertainment. Sports enthusiasts have plenty to choose from as there are professional sports teams in football, basketball, hockey, and baseball. The outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy parks with biking/ hiking trails, lakes, rivers and some of the best hunting and fishing just an hour’s drive away. Minnesota is highly rated for its education system with award winning colleges throughout the area. One would have little trouble finding highly trained talent to fill skilled positions in manufacturing.
In summary, the Minneapolis/St. Paul area is an ideal location for medical or pharmaceutical manufacturing as it has great infrastructure support, high caliber suppliers and a technically sophisticated workforce that is available at reasonable costs.