US medical device maker to shut Israel manufacturing plant, cutting 200 jobs
Becton, Dickinson & Co. plans to close its Caesarea Medical Electronics, a producer of infusion pump systems, by June and move operations abroad
Sharon Wrobel is a tech reporter for The Times of Israel.
US medical device maker Becton, Dickinson & Co. (BD) has decided to close its manufacturing plant in Israel and lay off 200 employees as part of an effort to streamline its global operations and cut costs.
BD started its manufacturing operations in Israel through the acquisition of Caesarea Medical Electronics, an infusion pump systems producer based in Caesarea. BD bought the company in 2017 to expand its infusion portfolio and include ambulatory, home, and specialty acute care infusion pumps. Caesarea Medical Enterprises employs about 200 people.
“BD reviews its global manufacturing and supply chain network to optimize operations and better serve our customers worldwide,” BD said in an emailed statement. “After a thorough review, BD has determined that we can more efficiently meet our customer and capacity needs by utilizing other facilities, and we have made the decision to transition all manufacturing from Caesarea Medical Electronics in Israel to other existing BD locations.”
“BD is committed to supporting any affected employees during the transition, which will continue through June 2025,” BD added.
The US medical technology firm said that it “will actively work to identify potential opportunities for them within BD’s other operations [abroad] or through job placement assistance.”
Founded in 1993 by Swi and Anat Barak, Caesarea Medical Electronics designs and manufactures infusion and syringe pumps alongside related accessories and disposable administration sets for both home care and hospital uses. The compact and portable devices are deployed for applications such as intravenous drug delivery and infusion therapy including epidural anesthesia and pain management, hospital uses, and home nutrition.
BD, which has marketing and sales operations in Israel, said that its “commercial operations will not be affected” by the decision to end its manufacturing in Israel and that the firm remains committed to serving its customers and “contributing to health care delivery in Israel.”
BD is listed on the New York Stock Exchange with a market value of $71 billion and employs more than 70,000 people. The medical device maker has 30 manufacturing and distribution facilities in the US, and operates manufacturing plants across Europe, and Asia.