PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Argenta set to commence operations at its new manufacturing facility in Iowa
December 19, 2015 – Argenta, a New Zealand-owned company dedicated to the development
and manufacture of products for the health of animals, will start operations at its new, state-ofthe-art manufacturing facility, AML Riverside, in Fort Dodge, Iowa on January 4, 2016.
Argenta purchased the facility at 141 Riverside Drive from animal health pharmaceutical
company Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc (BIVI) in July 2015. The company plans to hire 43
staff in the first year of operations, with the first 20 starting work on January 4.
“The Fort Dodge facility is world-class and the advanced manufacturing technologies we’ve
acquired means the facility produces some of the most high-tech products available in animal
health today. Interest from existing and potential clients has been stronger than we expected,
meaning a far more aggressive hiring plan has been adopted already,” says Doug Cleverly,
Argenta’s managing director and co-founder. “Originally, we committed to creating 30 jobs
within three years, but we will exceed this within the first year.”
“AML Riverside will also provide the additional capacity we need to meet the increasing
demand for quality animal health technologies and products in the US,” Cleverly adds. “The
local community has shown a great interest in what we are doing here and we are thrilled to
have been so warmly welcomed to the area.”
AML Riverside is a 145,000-square-feet facility, situated on a 15.3 acre site, and encompasses
innovative production spaces and several support laboratories. It is the third Argenta business
operating out of the US and the company’s first US manufacturing site.
The official opening of AML Riverside will be commemorated at an event on January 4th,
attended by Cleverly, city and state officials and Argenta staff. The on-site event will include a
formal presentation and a flag-raising ceremony.
Argenta is also celebrating its move into Iowa by setting up a trust fund to support local
charities. The first recipient is Almost Home and representatives of the no-kill animal shelter
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will be at the ceremony to receive an inaugural donation from Argenta.
“Global animal health is our focus and our priority, so it was important to us that we support
local animal initiatives,” says Cleverly. “But we are also keen to get involved and support a Fort
Dodge sports team!”
The successful acquisition and launch of AML Riverside is a credit to all involved, Cleverly says:
“There are many individuals and agencies that have helped our move to Iowa and we are
grateful for the commitment from these people in helping Argenta achieve its growth
objectives and fully utilize the Riverside facility.”
“I’d like to make special mention of Mark Laurenzo and Debi Durham of the Iowa Economic
Development Authority, and Dennis Plautz and Kelly Halsted from the Greater Fort Dodge
Growth Alliance, who have played pivotal roles in our move.”
“We are truly honored that Argenta chose Fort Dodge to establish its first US manufacturing
plant in our community,” says Dennis Plautz, CEO of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance.
“The management team of Argenta have been fantastic to work with over the last year to make
this project come to fruition. The Riverside plant and its employees were and continue to be a
true asset to our community. The animal health industry truly has a future in Fort Dodge and
the region. The synergies between Boehringer Ingelheim Vet Medica and AML Riverside create
a high value industry cluster.”
Founded in South Auckland, New Zealand, in 2006, Argenta provides drug product
development, innovative delivery technologies and contract manufacturing services to the
animal health industry. In 2008, Argenta acquired New Jersey-based clinical research provider,
AlcheraBio. In 2011, it opened a research laboratory in Lawrence, Kansas City.
Today, Argenta employs nearly 300 staff, both in the US and New Zealand, and works with nine
of the top 10 global animal health pharmaceutical companies, as well as several startups that
have appeared in recent times due to the burgeoning interest in the industry. The company
exports products and services to more than 40 countries including United States, Canada, Japan
and Europe.
For more information, or to organize coverage of the January 4th event, contact:
Dr. Doug Cleverly
Managing Director and Founder
Phone: +64 9 250 3100
www.argentaglobal.com
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About Argenta
Argenta provides formulations research and development, analytical methods development,
and pilot- and commercial-scale manufacturing of animal health products. Founded in August
2006, Argenta is the leading provider of new product development and manufacturing services
to the international animal health industry. www.argentaglobal.com
About AlcheraBio LLC
AlcheraBio LLC was founded in 2001. AlcheraBio works with biotechnology and life sciences
companies to help value, research, develop, and market animal health technologies and
products. It has helped companies find partners and negotiate licensing deals, and completed
due diligence for investors by evaluating specific therapeutic categories and writing
comprehensive reports that include technical and business information. www.alcherabio.com
About Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance
The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, which represents Webster County and is situated in
North Central Iowa, has been committed to serving as the region’s economic and community
development organization since 2012. Today, there are 500+ members ranging from
homegrown businesses to globally recognized companies. Through our mission to retain
existing businesses as well as recruit new business and industry we are enhancing our region as
a great place to live, work, and play. For ongoing information, please visit
www.greaterfortdodge.com
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