Framingham Firm Has Big Growth Plans
Years ago, biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms had in-house engineers to design production facilities to manufacture drugs.
But those in-house services have been cut back. Now, many companies outsource the work of designing a new or expanded manufacturing system to independent consultants.
Almost two decades ago Stephen Fitzpatrick, who has a doctorate in chemical engineering, recognized the trend and started his own firm, Biometrics, out of Waltham.
Last year, DPS Engineering, which is based in Ireland, purchased Fitzpatrick's company , created DPS Biometrics, and moved the company to Framingham.
Now, after a recession-spurred lull in business from the last few years, Fitzpatrick said pent-up demand has created a solid pipeline of work in the next year-and-a-half. To compensate for the growth, the company expects to hire up to 100 new workers in the next 18 months, and could possibly look to move to a larger facility as well.
Back To Being Busy
State and local officials gathered at DPS Biometrics earlier this month to honor its move to Framingham, where the company now has about 25 employees.
Fitzpatrick said he was looking for a suitor for the company and was approached by DPS last year. The purchase by DPS of Biometrics seemed to make sense as both companies specialize in consulting biotechnology and pharma companies on manufacturing production facilities, he said.
While the last few years have seen a significant drop-off in business, Fitzpatrick said work is starting to pick up once again. The firm works with various clients, from small startups to some of the major pharmaceutical companies in the state, such as Genzyme, Biogen and Pfizer, he said.
While those companies develop the actual drug or therapy, when it comes time to scale up production of the drug, that's when a firm like DPS Engineering is hired.
Many companies have held back on new projects in recent years, he said, but now they're beginning to get active once again.
"We've seen a big uptick in business," he said. "It's sort of pent-up demand in a way. In uncertain times managers seem reluctant to make investments, but it seems to be coming back now."
Large biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies seem to be looking to buy out young startups or companies that have potential in an effort to build up their own pipelines, he said. Massachusetts is a hotspot specifically for that activity, he said, referencing French company's Sanofi's recent purchase of Genzyme.
"Massachusetts is somewhat of a spawning ground for these companies," he said, with firms of all different niches and sizes located in the area.
For that reason, Fitzpatrick said DPS Biometrics, which is now a subsidiary of the Irish-based DPS Engineering, is committed to staying in Massachusetts, and specifically MetroWest.
By the end of the year the company hopes to double its workforce, and double its staff again by the end of next year.
As that growth happens, Fitzpatrick said he'd like to stay in the Framingham area, where he lives, or remain close by. But, he's not sure if the company's current Concord Road offices will be big enough to handle the influx of workers he expects to add.
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