German conglomerate Siemens is expanding an Ottawa facility where it manufactures a cutting-edge blood-testing system that can help detect the presence of conditions such as kidney disease and heart failure.
Siemens announced Thursday it is building additions totalling 5,000 square feet to its facilities at 2060 Walkley Rd. and 855 Brookfield Rd. that manufacture its epoc blood analysis system. The plants are operated by Siemens Healthineers, the multinational firm’s health-care arm.
In a news release, the company said the expansion will “support new manufacturing lines and accommodate growth of the health-care business worldwide and in Canada.” Construction is expected to be completed by June 2021.
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“This investment is a critical step toward enabling the growth of our medical technology business in Canada and Ontario by ensuring we have the manufacturing capacity in place to support continued development,” said Eric LaFleche, general manager of Siemens Healthineers in Canada, in a statement.
“We are proud that the skills and experience of staff are recognized, and Canada continues to be known for its technology, skills and favourable innovative business environment.”
The company did not divulge how much it is investing in the project. About 300 employees currently work at the facilities.
The epoc system is a handheld, wireless solution that can analyze human blood samples and provide “laboratory-quality” test results in less than a minute, the company says.
The system measures components such as the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream as well as levels of electrolytes, including potassium and sodium, along with other substances such as lactate and blood urea nitrogen. Siemens says the tests can indicate the presence of conditions such as kidney disease, heart failure, diabetes, chemical poisoning and sepsis.
