Catalan Mesoestetic Pharma Group exports 85% of its production and is present in 62 markets worldwide
The Catalan company Mesoestetic has built a new factory that multiplies by ten its previous facilities. Furthermore, the company will increase its staff by 30%. The Catalan Minister for Business and Employment has praised the company as a model for innovation and internationalisation. He has spoke of the long tradition of the pharmaceutical industry in Catalonia as well as the Catalan economy’s export capacity.
Viladecans (ACN).- The Catalan multinational company Mesoestetic Pharma Group has unveiled its new facilities located in Viladecans Business Park, next to Barcelona El Prat Airport. Mesoestetic’s new factory multiplies by ten the firm’s production capacity and will enable the company to increase its staff by 10%. The enterprise is leader in Catalonia for the production of cosmetic products using pharmaceutical active ingredients, the Catalan Minister for Business and Employment, Francesc Xavier Mena, pointed out. He also stressed that Mesoestetics is part of Catalonia’s pharmaceutical inductry tradition, which is one of Catalonia's main industrial expertise. As Mena emphasised, the sector is particularly focused on innovation and internationalisation, two values Mesoestetics shares. It exports 85% of its production to 62 countries worldwide and allocates 40% of its profits to R&D. Mesoestetics’ General Manager, Joan Carles Font, who founded the company in 1984, stated during the presentation that “budget cuts have not been an option” for them. The company’s recipe for success has been, according to Font “making new products, investing in innovation, prioritising growth and continue opening in new markets abroad”.
Mesoestetic Pharma Group presented on Friday its new factory, labs and offices to the press, which are located in Viladecans Business Park, near Barcelona Airport. Viladecans Mayor, who also attended the presentation, explained that since the business park was created four years ago, at the beginning of the financial crisis, 2,000 jobs have been created.
40% of Mesoestetic’s profits go to innovation
The new plant is 8,500 square metres and represents a €23 million investment. According to the company’s own information, Mesoestetics' annual turnover was €40 million last year, and invests 40% of its profits in Research and Development. As Mena and Font emphasised, innovation is one of the company’s strengths. Proof of this is the new clinical unit to develop experimental scientific studies, which are carried out prior to the release of new cosmetic products on the market. This unit is also the first of its kind to be built in Spain. The plant includes an investigation and development centre, from where the company will come up with new products for its four product lines. Mesoestetics develops cosmetic preparations, pharmaceutical products for the skin, sterile pharmaceutical products, and hygiene materials.
Developing products in cooperation with hospitals worldwide
At its new plant the Catalan multinational will make products developed in cooperation with hospitals such as Barcelona’s Vall d’Hebron, Geneva University, Marseille’ Dermatological Laser Centre, or clinics in Switzerland, France, Austria or South Africa. Mesoestetics is completely integrated within the global market, as it exports 85% of its production and sells its products in 62 different countries worldwide, with a particular focus on South-East Asia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
During the presentation of Mesoestetic’s new facilities in Viladecans, the Catalan Minister for Business and Employment, who is also in charge of industrial policy, stressed the Catalan economy’s export drive. “As you know, Catalonia is only 6% of Spain's territory, makes up 16% of Spain’s population, but the Catalan economy exports 27% of Spain’s total exports”, Mena said.
In addition, he also emphasised that “in Catalonia we have a good base for innovation, as Catalonia produces 1% of the world’s scientific production”. However, he recognised the need to invest more resources in Research and Development. “We have a challenge” he said, “to increase the R&D percentage within our GDP”. Font requested public powers “to continue assisting projects” prioritising innovation and internationalisation, “easing their path and removing obstacles”. Mena answered reaffirming the Government’s commitment. “The Government of Catalonia through the Ministry of Business and Labour is clearly committed to this joint strategy of innovation and internationalisation as a way for business competitiveness” he stated.