Huntington, WV—Alcon Inc. broke ground on an expansion of its medical device manufacturing facility in Huntington, WV, Sept. 19.

To accommodate the expansion, the company purchased 21 acres in Cabell County with an option to purchase an additional 8 acres in the future. Alcon expects to spend more than $25 million during the first phase of development on the new, 74,000-square-foot building, which representatives said should be fully functional by 2011 and provide more than 350 jobs during the next 10 to 15 years. The current facility produces millions of IOLs and surgical delivery systems annually, according to the company.

“Alcon is a world leader in this field, and this expansion will keep them at the forefront of IOL technology and manufacturing,” said West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin III at the groundbreaking ceremony. “We’re delighted our strong workforce and business climate have played a part in their growth, and the entire region will benefit from even more good jobs that Alcon brings with this announcement.”

Cary Rayment, Alcon’s chairman, president, and chief executive officer, told attendees, “We are very excited about our expansion and what it will mean for our customers, employees, and the community. With this additional capacity and growth in our skilled workforce, we will be able to meet the growing global demand for advanced cataract surgical products.”

In conjunction with the groundbreaking ceremony for the new facility, Alcon is celebrating its 30th year of IOL manufacturing in the state of West Virginia.