Merck Animal Health invests $895M to expand manufacturing facility in Kansas
Merck Animal Health has announced plans to expand its manufacturing facility in De Soto, Kansas. The company, which develops and manufactures veterinary vaccines and pharmaceuticals, is investing $895 million into the project, creating more than 200 new jobs.
The expansion includes a 200,000-square-foot facility that will enhance filling and freeze dryer capacity for large molecule vaccines and biologic products. The project will be a Center of Excellence for Merck Animal Health, supporting the company’s broader manufacturing network across the U.S. and internationally. Site preparation and facility design will begin immediately, with commercial manufacturing slated to start in 2030.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Richard DeLuca, President, Merck Animal Health, said, “Our De Soto manufacturing facility is strategically located in the heart of the Animal Health Corridor. This region is renowned for its concentration of animal health companies, fostering an unparalleled ecosystem for innovation, collaboration and industry leadership. This investment in our site is designed to increase Merck Animal Health’s ability to meet the growing customer demand for its portfolio of animal biologics products and ensure the company remains at the forefront of innovation in the animal health sector. This initiative also reflects our dedication to advancing animal health and our on-going investment in the communities where we operate.”
Laura Kelly, Governor, State of Kansas, added, “This extraordinary investment by Merck Animal Health underscores my administration’s commitment to securing a strong economic future for our state and ensuring prosperity for generations to come. Public-private partnerships that lead to major global projects, such as those with Merck, Fiserv and Panasonic – just to name a few recent successes – are occurring because people believe in Kansas. They believe in who we are, what we are doing, and the direction we have taken.”
Manufacturers investing in Kansas
Marvin to open new window and door manufacturing plant in Kansas
Initially, the facility will employ 100 workers, but Marvin hopes to increase that number to 600 workers by 2028.
GAF to build new plant in Kansas to manufacture roofing materials and shingles
The plant will be used to manufacture roofing products, including GAF Timberline HDZ and GAF Timberline ArmorShield II shingles.
Elite Harness invests $14 million to refurbish Kansas manufacturing plant
The 50,000-square-foot plant will be used to manufacture wiring harnesses and custom cables for a variety of industries.
Investing in American manufacturing in 2025
This map shows where manufacturers are choosing to invest their resources, whether they are building new production facilities or expanding existing plants.