Neste Jacobs, the engineering partnership made up of Norway-based Neste Oil and US-based Jacobs Engineering, and GE Healthcare, the medical technology division of energy conglomerate General Electric, signed a strategic alliance on Monday to assist countries in the manufacturing of blood plasma products by providing an approach to building plants to separate and study blood plasma.
The concept behind the partnership involves combining GE’s experience in bioprocessing for plasma fractionation – the process of separating blood plasma, with Neste Jacobs’ bio-engineering and construction expertise.
Olivier Loeillot, general manager of enterprise solutions at GE Healthcare Life Sciences, said: "GE Healthcare is known as a leading provider of technologies for plasma fractionation. The alliance with Neste Jacobs means we can combine our expertise and our extensive process equipment, consumables and project management services with the world-class capabilities of one of the foremost engineering companies in this field."
Loeillot continued: "By working together to bring an integrated offering – from financing and construction of the plant, right through to training of the operational staff – we can make it much easier for governments and other healthcare providers to acquire these essential capabilities. This is a big step forward in bringing simple yet vital healthcare to people who, up to now, have been denied these treatments."
Jarmo Suominen, managing director of Neste Jacobs, added: "Neste Jacobs has over 30 years’ experience in the design of plasma fractionation plants, all over the world, and we’re delighted to form this alliance with GE Healthcare. We have a shared vision of bringing an integrated approach to plasma fractionation, to drive efficiency and simplicity in the construction of new plants."