Thermo Fisher Scientific Announces Expansion with 110 New Jobs in Asheville

Asheville, NC– In conjunction with the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County, Thermo Fisher Scientific announced its plans to expand operations in Asheville, with the creation of 110 new positions within the next seven months. These new positions strengthen the company’s significant presence in Buncombe County, with 580 employees in its Aiken Road plant, over 200 employees in its technical customer service center in Biltmore Park, and additional sales and service professionals throughout the region. 

Thermo Fisher Scientific, a global leader in serving science, set roots in Asheville over 25 years ago. Locally, the company manufactures ultra-low temperature freezers among other products supplied to pharmaceutical, biotech, and research institutions.  These new positions will support the manufacture and assembly of high-efficiency cooling pumps, used to control temperature in a variety of Thermo Fisher Scientific products. 

The continued growth and performance of the Asheville facility has strengthened its reputation both within the corporation and throughout its industry.  Company CEO Marc Casper noted his visit to Thermo Fisher’s “flagship laboratory equipment facility in Asheville, North Carolina” in an April 2011 earnings call.  The executive praised local leadership for their implementation of PPI (Practical Process Improvement) and Lean initiatives which allowed the team “to grow site capacity to keep pace with customer demand, while averting typical expansion costs.”  Excess site capacity and performance of existing workforce were influential in attracting the new product line to Asheville.

            The company was also selected in 2011 as the first E3 manufacturer in Buncombe County, a testament to its pursuit of continuous improvement. The E3 program, facilitated by NC State University’s Industrial Extension Service, emphasizes Economy, Energy and Environment, joining community resources with state and regional agencies to assist manufacturers in becoming more sustainable.  Thermo Fisher Scientific’s interest in becoming a zero-landfill manufacturing facility made the company a logical addition to North Carolina’s E3 community. 

“We’d like to offer our thanks and congratulations to Jeff Powers, Director of Manufacturing Operations, and the employees of Thermo Fisher Scientific here in Buncombe County.  Their dedication to world-class quality, environmental sustainability and continuous improvement yields a more skilled and productive workforce, a more profitable enterprise and more secure employment in the long-term for Buncombe County,” said K. Ray Bailey, Chairman of the EDC. 

Chairman of the Buncombe County Commissioners, David Gantt, commented, “Thermo Fisher Scientific is a Fortune 500 employer with operations in over 40 countries worldwide.  We’re grateful to local company leaders and staff for their strong work ethic and competitive spirit that brought this opportunity home for the citizens of Buncombe County.” 

For additional information on Thermo Fisher Scientific and job opportunities with the organization, please visit www.thermofisher.com.

The EDC for Asheville-Buncombe Countyis a public-private partnership committed to: creating and retaining high quality jobs, community leadership, and being a resource for better business decisions.  The EDC accomplishes this mission through its four core services: business retention & expansion, small business & entrepreneurship, research, and marketing & recruitment.   The EDC is funded by Buncombe County, the City of Asheville, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Advantage Asheville Campaign.

            The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce is a 2,000+ member organization representing 86,000 employees.  Chamber members collaborate with community organizations and coalitions to support the community and each other with the mission of increasing the region’s livability by advancing its economic vitality.  The Asheville Chamber works diligently to ensure that Asheville continues to prosper while also protecting the natural beauty of the area.  In 2006, the Chamber moved to a new location and is now home to the 4,000 square foot Visitor Center which welcomes 200,000 visitors per year.