Rockwell Medical Technologies (Wixom, Michigan), a manufacturer of hemodialysis concentrate, reported leasing a "turnkey" concentrate manufacturing facility in Hodges, South Carolina, serving the Southeast. This is the company's third regional production facility, adding to one in Michigan, serving the Midwest, and one in Texas serving the Southwest. The new business in the Southeast calls for Rockwell to supply dialysis concentrate to about 12,000 patients in 160 clinics.

The 61,000-square-foot facility is set to be operational by the end of the first quarter. Rockwell said it anticipates shifting existing Southeast business now serviced from the other two plants to South Carolina.

The company said the new facility provides it with an interim Southeastern presence while it evaluates "the potential to establish a long-term Southeastern regional facility." Rockwell said it added substantial business in the Southeast in 4Q04 and last month reported signing multiple supply contracts in the region.