Banner Pharmacaps celebrates 30 years

Local drug manufacturer Banner Pharmacaps celebrated 30 years in Olds last week, throwing a party for its more than 100 employees.

While the company has had many long-term employees, Deb Richardson was singled out for special recognition, as she was among the small group of employees that came through the doors on March 23, 1981.

In a few brief remarks to fellow employees, Richardson said her first assignment as receptionist was to buy office furniture and “state-of-the-art” typewriters.

“The plant was a big empty building,” she said, noting that most of the production equipment arrived in trucks beginning later that day. It wasn't until May 12 that production actually started.

Back then, inventory was counted manually, which took 10 to 15 employees an entire day to do, followed by a couple of days to reconcile the ledger sheets.

“The last few months has been a trip down memory lane,” she said.

In an interview, Richardson said the only piece of equipment that was in the plant on the first day was the gel reactor. Everything else came in by truck after the first day.

In addition to pharmaceuticals and nutrition products, the plant has also produced cosmetics and paint balls at one time or another.

Richardson said the best part about working at the plant for 30 years has been the people she's worked with. Although she's had numerous opportunities to go elsewhere, the people she's met while working at Banner have made her job worthwhile.

“I've learned things from them and hopefully I've taught them things too,” she said.

Logan Naidoo, plant manager at Banner Pharmacaps, said due to every employee buying in to the company culture, Banner has made a turnaround. He also paid tribute to the leadership team.

“We have many, many long-serving employees here with us today,” he said.

Kate Willoughsby, director of human resources, said being in Olds for this long has had its challenges, but also its rewards. She said because most of the pharmaceutical industry is located in eastern Canada, Banner is on an island in Alberta.

“We certainly have our challenges. But through the commitment and dedication of, I would say, all of the employees, we've been able to create a niche for ourselves. We're known throughout Canada, we're … certainly known internationally, and it started 30 years ago, so it's a progression,” she said.

Willoughby said employees have had to learn the pharmaceutical and vitamin industries from scratch.

Banner has four plants around the world: the headquarters in High Point, North Carolina, Mexico City, Tillburg, The Netherlands and Olds.