Étampes, France – April 3, 2025 – Safic-Alcan, a global distributor of specialty chemicals, announces the opening of its Global Pharmaceutical Application Laboratory in Étampes, France. This new facility reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to pharmaceutical innovation, proximity, and technical excellence.
In a market defined by precision, speed, and regulatory pressure, Safic-Alcan is evolving from product supplier to strategic technical partner. The new laboratory is designed to help formulators overcome excipient variability, manage complex regulatory challenges, and accelerate robust formulation development.
A Space Where Science Meets Service
Equipped with state-of-the-art technologies—including the STYL’One Nano tablet press, INNOJET High Shear Mixer, and PROCEPT Fluidized Air Bed—the laboratory simulates industrial-scale conditions to help clients:
- Optimize formulations and excipient combinations
- Validate dual or triple sourcing strategies
- Simulate tablet compression and coating processes
- Generate regulatory-ready technical documentation
The facility is led by Fahad Mouhamad, Pharmaceutical Development Laboratory Manager, in collaboration with Safic-Alcan’s Life Sciences teams and technical experts.
“This lab is not just a facility,” said José Lora, Life Sciences Group Managing Director. “It’s the physical expression of our mission: to connect supplier innovation with customer formulation reality through proximity, responsiveness, and shared expertise.”
Supporting Customers and Suppliers Across the Value Chain
Through application testing, technical support, and formulation consulting, the Étampes lab enables Safic-Alcan to serve both ends of the pharmaceutical value chain—from evaluating new excipient grades with suppliers to troubleshooting formulation challenges with customers.
The laboratory also offers a growing portfolio of value-added services, including:
- Technical seminars on compression, coating, and granulation
- Customized client development visits and on-site support
- Fast-track data generation for R&D and regulatory submissions
“From the lab floor, we can now simulate actual production environments and de-risk decisions for our clients,” said Fahad Mouhamad. “We deliver consistent, validated solutions—whether reformulating due to supply issues or scaling up production.”
“Strategically, this changes the conversation,” added Gaël Garnaud, Group Business Development Director for Pharmaceuticals. “We’re not just recommending ingredients—we’re demonstrating performance, building trust, and shortening development timelines.”
A Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Innovation
Safic-Alcan plans to expand the Étampes facility’s capabilities in the coming years, reinforcing its position as a global center of excellence for pharmaceutical formulation and application testing.
“It’s already becoming a space where ideas take shape before they go to market,” said Garnaud. “And that’s exactly where we want to be.”
About Safic-Alcan
Safic-Alcan is an independent French distributor of specialty chemicals, headquartered in Paris La Défense.
The company supplies polymers, materials, and additives to industries including pharmaceuticals, rubber, coatings, adhesives, thermoplastics, polyurethane, lubricants, and cosmetics & personal care.
With 38 offices worldwide, over 850 professionals, and a 2024 turnover of €907 million, Safic-Alcan combines technical expertise, local proximity, and a global perspective to deliver tailored, high-value solutions to its partners.
🌐 www.safic-alcan.com