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J. Knipper and Company Inc., a supplier of end-to-end samples management services to the U.S. pharmaceutical industry, announced plans today to establish operations here, creating up to 56 new jobs by 2021.
“We are proud to have Knipper joining Indiana’s growing life sciences industry, which accounts for nearly one-third of the state’s total exports,” said Victor Smith, Indiana Secretary of Commerce. “Companies that specialize in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, medical devices and equipment contribute $59 billion to the overall Hoosier economy each year, and that impact continues to climb as firms like Knipper choose Indiana for growth and new jobs.”
Knipper, which distributes and re-packages drug and medical device samples, will invest $20.56 million to establish a 300,000-square-foot pharmaceutical warehouse and distribution center at 1250 Patrol Road at River Ridge Commerce Center. The new state-of-the-art facility will be equipped to manage prescription, controlled substance and cold chain products to meet the company’s high volume Direct to Practitioner (DTP) fulfillment business. The fulfillment center will allow the company to reach more than 75 percent of the U.S. population with two-day ground service, extending Knipper’s daily shipping window and reducing transit times for pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device customers.
Headquartered in Lakewood, New Jersey, Knipper plans to open the facility next May. The company currently employs 600 associates and plans to hire warehouse and production positions in Indiana. Interested applicants can learn more online at www.knipper.com/careers-at-knipper.aspx.
“Our East Coast facilities continue to provide the high quality and exceptional service that our customers have come to expect. But this new Midwest expansion provides unique opportunities to go beyond current expectations, providing even greater specialization in DTP and broader flexibility in logistics,” said Jim Knipper, owner and chief executive officer of Knipper. “Experiencing continued year after year growth, and on the heels of many recent acquisitions, further expansion of our distribution capacity is a natural step. Expanding westward however is a very strategic decision. One that we have very carefully planned, and that we are confident will provide the greatest added value to our customers.”
Established in 1986, Knipper provides a broad array of healthcare marketing solutions, including comprehensive direct-mail, fulfillment, sampling, database and salesforce management. The company currently operates five facilities which together total more than 600,000 square feet, including 12,000 square feet of refrigerated space and 15,000 dedicated to controlled substances.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered J. Knipper and Company up to $385,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $40,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. One Southern Indiana will assist the company in securing additional incentives through the River Ridge Commerce Center’s Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ).
“We welcome J. Knipper and Company Inc. to Charlestown and are pleased they have chosen to build and invest in our community,” said Charlestown Mayor Bob Hall. “The addition of a distribution center with the latest technology in the River Ridge Commerce Center and the employment and training that will be provided is an incredible investment. We look forward to working with the leaders of J. Knipper and Company in a partnership that will continue to grow the economy of our city and the region.”
As the Crossroads of America, Indiana is home to logistics firms and distribution centers statewide. Knipper joins a growing list of companies such as Tenneco and Amazon.com choosing Southeast Indiana and River Ridge for its operations. The 6,000-acre site supports more than 10,000 Hoosier jobs and generates an estimated economic impact of $1.3 billion to the state. Earlier this month, Governor Pence joined local officials to break ground on a $30.4 million heavy haul corridor linking River Ridge to water and rail access at the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville. |
