Auckland BioSciences Opens Uruguay Facility, Expands Global Serum Production Network
Auckland BioSciences Limited (ABS), a New Zealand-owned life sciences company, has opened one of the largest animal-serum sterile-filtration facility in South America, MonteSera.
The company’s expansion into the Zona Franca (free trade zone) in Parque de las Ciencias, Uruguay strengthens its global supply network and ensures continuity of critical biological inputs. The new facility leverages Uruguay’s strong animal health systems and abundant cattle supply to process and export South American-origin serum.
Located within the Zona Franca allows ABS to import, process, and export animal serum and related biological materials from multiple South American countries under a controlled and duty-exempt regime. ABS gains cross-border material efficiently, can maintain strict biosecurity and quality standards, and streamline distribution to global markets while remaining fully compliant with Uruguay’s Free Zone regulations.
This complements ABS’s established filtration sites in New Zealand and Australia, creating a three-region footprint to enhance supply, product security, scalability, and cost efficiency. It enables ABS to deliver consistent, high-quality serum products to research, diagnostic, and biomanufacturing partners worldwide.
ABS has invested over NZ$4 million in constructing the state-of-the-art sterile-filtration site. The filtration site can process up to 250,000 litres a year and will employ about 12 full time staff. It has a 70-ton freezer capacity to store sera, which is approximately NZ$10m in inventory.
The facility will process and export South American-origin animal serum, with full traceability of origin, to global markets. ABS will supply critical biological inputs to biopharma manufacturers for use in the production of vaccines, biologics, diagnostics, and to life science research worldwide. In addition, the site will fulfil a logistical role, serving as a strategic export platform, enabling ABS’s South American-origin serum to reach new markets. ABS’s large multinational customers have already audited the facility and approved it for supply.
From left to right: Joyce Wang, ABS Group Financial Controller, William Gu, ABS Head of China Market, Daniel Maxwell, ABS Group GM and Director of MonteSera, William Lee, ABS Board Director, Yamandú Orsí President of Uruguay, Emiliano De Horta, MonteSera Operations Associate, Lucia Briosso, MonteSera Production Associate, and Jeremy Hitchings, GM of MonteSera and Group Head of Operations.
Its launch marks an important contribution to global biotech infrastructure, reinforcing New Zealand’s growing role in the international life sciences industry. Her Excellency Ms Kathryn Beckett, New Zealand Ambassador to Uruguay, and The Hon. Andrew Hoggard, New Zealand Minister for Biosecurity, will join the opening ceremony to celebrate this achievement.
ABS’s MonteSera investment follows its acquisition of Australian serum company CellSera in September 2021 and represents another milestone in the company’s growth. It featured in the Deloitte Fast 50 Index and won the NZTE Best Emerging Business award in 2018, was ranked #1 on the Deloitte Master of Growth Index in 2022, and was a finalist in NZTE’s International Business Awards for Best Large Business in 2023.
“MonteSera stands as a symbol of innovation and quality, highlighting ABS’s role as a trusted supplier and a leader in the global life sciences industry”, says ABS Chairman, Gary Paykel. “Despite global economic headwinds, ABS continues to expand. This sustained growth demonstrates how New Zealand’s scientific expertise and quality standards are being recognised and trusted on the global stage.”
The event was held on UYT 23 October at 3:00pm (NZDT 24 October at 8:00am) at the new MonteSera building.
Source - Scoop Business