Sanford, NC – STERIS plc, a global healthcare leader, announced on Wednesday, August 5th, 2026, that it will locate its new Chemistries Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Sanford, Lee County, North Carolina. The 600,000-square-foot next-generation campus will be responsible for the manufacturing, research & development, warehousing, and distribution of state-of-the-art healthcare products. STERIS has chosen to locate at Helix Innovation Park at the Brickyard, one of North Carolina’s premiere new life sciences and advanced manufacturing hubs, joining Japanese pharmaceutical manufacturer Kyowa Kirin.
Founded in 1985, STERIS has established itself as a global leader in products and services that support patient care with a focus on infection prevention. STERIS operates in more than 35 countries, employing more than 18,000 people at approximately 250 locations.
STERIS’s project in Lee County will include more than $600 million in capital investment in our community and will create at least 335 full-time jobs with median salaries of $68,704. The project is expected to be completed and fully staffed by 2030.
Response from Local Leaders
Lee County Board of Commissioners Chair Samantha Martin: “The new investment in our community by STERIS isn’t just bringing 335 good-paying new jobs to Lee County; it’s creating 335 opportunities for our residents to have meaningful careers and prosperous lives without leaving home. While many smaller communities in our nation struggle to find good job opportunities, forcing some locals to search elsewhere for work, Lee County is instead adding to its roster of high-quality employers. This announcement by STERIS is great news for this generation of job seekers, and a signal to all who come after that Lee County has strong prospects right here at home.”
Sanford Mayor Rebecca Salmon: “We are excited to welcome STERIS to Sanford, which is quickly establishing itself as one of the premiere destinations for major healthcare manufacturing projects in North Carolina and on the East Coast. Our city is thrilled to partner with a company so strategically focused on providing products and services that support patient care with an emphasis on infection prevention. This project brings significant capital investment and hundreds of good-paying new jobs. We have worked hard as a city to create a community that is both business-friendly and a place where company team members can live, work, and flourish, and this announcement validates that effort. Best wishes and a heartfelt welcome to Sanford. We look forward to a strong and lasting relationship.”
Sanford Area Growth Alliance (SAGA) Board of Directors Chair and Sanford Contractors Senior Vice President Richard Oldham: “We are thrilled to welcome STERIS to Lee County. A healthcare manufacturing project of this scale, bringing more than 300 jobs and an investment of at least $600 million, represents a significant opportunity for our community and local economy. STERIS’s decision to expand here also reflects Lee County’s growing presence in the life sciences industry and our continued attractiveness as a place to invest and do business. We look forward to seeing [the company] grow and thrive in Lee County for years to come.”
SAGA CEO Jimmy Randolph: “The decision by STERIS to locate in Sanford and Lee County is further proof of our community’s strength as an emerging hub for healthcare and related manufacturing. STERIS is the latest company to recognize the value of our skilled workforce, business-friendly environment, high quality of life, and proximity to the Research Triangle, following in the footsteps of Pfizer and recent additions Astellas Gene Therapies and Kyowa Kirin. We thank all of the partners who made this decision possible, and look forward to getting to know STERIS as a community partner and working with them in the years ahead.”
About Our Partners
In addition to the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, other key partners in this project include the North Carolina General Assembly, Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions, the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Rail Division, North Carolina Biotechnology Center, the North Carolina Community College System, Central Carolina Community College, the North Carolina Railroad Company, Norfolk Southern, County of Lee, City of Sanford, TriRiver Water, Duke Energy, Enbridge Gas North Carolina, and Helix Ventures.
About the Sanford Area Growth Alliance
The Sanford Area Growth Alliance is a private not-for-profit organization leveraging public and private investment to expand and diversify the economic base of Lee County, the City of Sanford and the Town of Broadway. Sanford and Lee County’s strategic location in the geographic center of NC is less than 40 minutes from the Research Triangle Park, Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and NC State University, and a vital part of both the Research Triangle Regional Partnership and the NC Carolina Core.