LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE, BELGIUM, 19 June 2017 – IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A., EURONEXT), the world’s leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer, today announces it is holding a groundbreaking ceremony for its new International Logistics and Manufacturing Headquarters (the “facility”) at the site in Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium today. The previously announced EUR 16 million investment is part of IBA’s “scale up” program to increase production capacity to meet the growing demand for proton therapy solutions around the world.
Upon completion, the new building will include a state-of-the-art assembly line for the new superconducting synchrocyclotron, used for IBA’s single-room compact proton therapy system, Proteus®ONE*, with the capacity to produce 20 to 30 proton accelerators per year which is an increase from the current eight to ten accelerators per year. The Proteus®ONE* assembly line should be operational in the first quarter of 2018 and the rest of the center, including new offices and customer center will follow in the same year.
The new building will cover a total of 9,000 sq. meters and will include a dedicated visitor center and augmented reality product showcases. The high quality, environmentally friendly facility will combine user comfort, energy efficiency, responsible water management and biodiversity development. The zero-energy building will make use of innovative elements including heat recovery from the particle accelerators testing process, green roofs, passive type insulation and solar panels to reduce the impact on the environment.
Olivier Legrain, Chief Executive Officer of IBA, commented: “There is a growing demand for proton therapy solutions globally, driven by the lower cost of therapy, technology advances and greater clinical validation. IBA has a clear growth strategy to capitalize on these trends and our new International Logistics and Manufacturing Headquarters will ensure we have the capacity to meet this demand.”
About Proteus®ONE
Proteus®ONE is the compact intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) solution from IBA. It benefits from the latest technologies developed with renowned clinical institutions. Proteus®ONE is smaller, more affordable, easier to install and to operate. It is ultimately easier to finance, making this advanced radiation therapy modality available to more institutions and patients worldwide.
*Proteus®ONE is a brand name of Proteus 235
