Pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Bayer marked a major milestone last Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of a $44 million, 70,000-square-foot expansion at its Myerstown facility — its largest consumer health plant worldwide.
The event brought together state and local leaders, including PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein, State Sen. Chris Gebhard (R-Lebanon), and State Rep. Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon), alongside local and county elected officials, Bayer executives, and employees.
As reported in the Lebanon Daily News, the new addition includes eight product packaging lines, automated logistics systems, and space for future rooftop solar panels. Bayer officials said the investment will strengthen the company’s ability to meet growing consumer demand and bring products to market faster and more reliably.
“This expansion brings advanced manufacturing, innovation, automation, and workforce upskilling together in one place,” Bernstein said in a social media post. “Bayer could have invested anywhere—but they chose Pennsylvania because of our people, our location, and our potential. That’s a win for current and future jobs, supply chains, long-term economic growth, and our communities.”
Bayer’s Myerstown facility manufactures over-the-counter brands including Aspirin, Aleve, and Claritin, and produces more than half of the company’s North American consumer health products. The site currently employs more than 585 full-time workers and plays a central role in the company’s supply chain.
Company leaders emphasized that while the expansion supported 78 construction jobs, the long-term workforce impact will be driven by market demand.
“Our trusted brands have been helping people live healthier lives for generations,” said Dave Tomasi, president of Bayer’s Consumer Health division in North America. “The expanded facility will further strengthen our commitment to providing safe, effective, and high-quality self-care solutions that our consumers and customers can depend on.”
The facility will also serve as a learning hub for the community. Bayer plans to host local educators this summer to tour the facility and explore ways to connect modern manufacturing with classroom instruction. Divakar Amin, vice president and site manager for Myerstown, said these efforts are part of Bayer’s broader strategy to equip the region’s workforce for the future.
Myerstown Mayor Dane Bicher called the plant part of the fabric of the community, noting its long history in the town and the lasting connections between the facility and local families. “Everybody who lives in the community knows somebody that works here,” he said.
The original Myerstown site dates back more than 75 years. With this latest expansion, Bayer is doubling down on its footprint in Pennsylvania and helping to drive the Commonwealth’s manufacturing economy forward.