Sekisui Diagnostics expanding again and adding more jobs

Creating jobs for Islanders

Sekisui Diagnostics in Charlottetown is expanding again to add capacity and jobs which will benefit Islanders and the province’s economy. 

The company expects to add 15-20 new jobs through this expansion, bringing total employment at the facility to over 130.

“Sekisui is an anchor company in the province’s rapidly expanding bio-science sector, with a growing workforce and ever-increasing export capacity,” Economic Development and Tourism Minister Chris Palmer said. “This is the fourth expansion to the facility in the last four years. It will allow the company to increase capacity for the manufacture of chemical diagnostics currently produced in Japan for North American markets, and add jobs.”

The Province owns the facility occupied by Sekisui in the West Royalty Business Park. Government will fund this next expansion to a maximum of $1.1 million and will provide $200 thousand to assist with fit up of the new space. The Province expects to recover its investment through its lease with the company.

“This expansion is a huge milestone for our PEI facility in that we will now have the same capability as our sister factory in Japan,” plant manager for Sekisui Diagnostics PEI Eugene Howatt said. “This allows us to transfer additional products and grow our volume and revenue out of the Charlottetown site. It is a testament to the dedication our parent company has for PEI and for our hard working and talented employees.” 

The Bio-Science sector has grown dramatically over the last ten years on Prince Edward Island. It contributes $220 million to the provincial economy and employs over 1500 Islanders.

Media contact:
Andrew Sprague
Department of Economic Development and Tourism
902-368-5535
asgsprague@gov.pe.ca