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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Maintenance spending cuts at Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s Paltan manufacturing facility have led to a rise in equipment failures and production disruptions, Seoul Economic Daily reported exclusively on March 3.
According to the report, Hanmi Pharmaceutical reduced annual maintenance spending at the plant to approximately KRW 3.7 billion last year, down from an average of around KRW 5.6 billion between 2022 and 2024. Following the reduction, equipment breakdowns reportedly increased by about 27% year-on-year.
Sources cited by the newspaper said delayed building maintenance caused water leaks in an automated warehouse, resulting in product damage and potential quality issues that could be flagged during regulatory inspections. A packaging laser printer reportedly failed well before its expected lifespan, leading to a month-long production halt and additional capital expenditure. Suspension of investment in automated transfer systems also contributed to delays.
The Paltan plant is one of the country’s largest oral solid dosage manufacturing facilities, with annual production capacity of up to 10 billion tablets. Industry observers warned that postponing necessary facility upgrades—typically requiring two to three years—could limit future production capacity and efficiency.
The report added that concerns have also emerged over a proposed change in the supplier of rosuvastatin, a key ingredient in Hanmi’s blockbuster cholesterol drug Rosuzet, which accounted for more than 14% of the company’s sales last year.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
