160 new jobs with Aphena expansion (Cookeville: storage, shop, rail)

[JMT]

Aphena Pharma Solutions, a home-grown company based in Cookeville, has bought the old Russell Stover building to consolidate two of its three Putnam County locations while accommodating future growth areas in biologic packaging, cold chain storage, and 3PL distribution services. Aphena currently employs more than 400 in Cookeville and will expand by another 160 with this acquisition.

https://tnecd.com/news/governor-lee-...le-operations/

[yellowcat123]

That is really exciting to hear. Glad they are growing. But now I cant help but wonder how this will effect traffic at the Chocolate Dr exit to 10th street. Its already pretty congested with the 111 exit and Doris Dr. and they want to expand to more lanes with the new shopping court there. I hope they factor this in with the 10th road expansion.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by yellowcat123

That is really exciting to hear. Glad they are growing. But now I cant help but wonder how this will effect traffic at the Chocolate Dr exit to 10th street. Its already pretty congested with the 111 exit and Doris Dr. and they want to expand to more lanes with the new shopping court there. I hope they factor this in with the 10th road expansion.

I wonder if this will spur the city to install traffic signals at Chocolate Drive. At its peak nearly 20 years ago the Russell Stover factory had something like 900 workers, but 10th Street wasn't nearly as busy then as it is today. I also wonder if Aphena will make use of the rail spur that goes right up to the facility.

Anyway, the UCBJ has more info on this expansion. Since the Russell Stover building is already an FDA-approved facility, this will allow Aphena to "enter the market of biologics, powerful medications that can be made of tiny components like sugars, proteins or DNA, that are often susceptible to light and temperature."

“This new facility will make Aphena a top contender in the pharmaceutical contract service space, starting with over 14,000 pallets of cold chain storage capacity,” said Eric Allen, Aphena’s EVP of sales. “Being able to offer turnkey packaging and distribution services for biologic products, plus expanding the current operations with newly innovated bottling and packaging lines, will continue to attract key pharmaceutical customers to the Middle Tennessee area.”

https://www.ucbjournal.com/aphena-an...-headquarters/

[JMT]

Aphena Pharma Solutions is helping with COVID vaccine distributions at its new Chocolate Drive location.

Vice President Eric Allen said the company has temperature controlled technology to keep vaccines chilled for shipping

“We do not manufacture those products here, but we are a what’s called a packager,” Allen said. “So, we actually put them all together. We label the products. We certify the products. We put them in the special kits that the doctors need or the hospital needs, and then, we will ship those out to distribution centers.”

This new line is adding another 100 jobs at Aphena in Cookeville.

Read more here:
https://newstalk941.com/aphena-adds-...lle-expansion/