Advanced Cyclotron Systems, Inc. (ACSI) has broken ground on a new 48,000-square-foot purpose-built manufacturing facility in Surrey’s Campbell Heights area.

Located at 19145 34A Avenue, the development will expand ACSI’s operations and increase production capacity for advanced cyclotron systems used in nuclear medicine and cancer therapies. The new facility will replace ACSI’s existing 24,000-square-foot plant in Richmond.

“We built ACSI into a global leader in the nuclear medicine industry from a small facility in Richmond, and this move to Surrey is the next chapter,” said Richard Eppich, CEO of ACSI. “This facility ensures that the innovation, the jobs, and the intellectual property that will support the next era of cancer diagnosis and treatment remain in Canada. We will now have the room and infrastructure to serve our customers faster and continue to compete with anyone in the world.”

The facility is designed specifically for cyclotron manufacturing and will include dedicated assembly pads, engineered concrete pits and trenches, 28-foot ceilings with crane systems, and a dedicated BC Hydro substation to support simultaneous testing of multiple cyclotron units. The expanded operation is expected to more than double ACSI’s production capacity and reduce delivery timelines for customers globally.

ACSI said growing global demand for cyclotron systems and medical isotopes used in PET and SPECT imaging, as well as radiopharmaceutical therapies, is driving the expansion. The company currently has more than 80 systems deployed worldwide and describes itself as the world’s fourth-largest cyclotron manufacturer.

“ACSI’s decision to build in Surrey is a reflection of our city’s role in advanced manufacturing, health innovation, and high-skilled economic development,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “This facility brings investment and specialized employment to our community while supporting technologies that have an impact far beyond our city.”

The company said the project will also support continued commercialization of its TR-Alpha technology for targeted alpha therapy and Boron Neutron Capture Therapy, two emerging cancer-treatment approaches.

Once operational, the facility is expected to support more than 120 full-time employees within five years, adding about 70 new positions in engineering, applied physics, precision manufacturing, software controls, quality assurance and project management. The expansion is also expected to support indirect employment through B.C.-based suppliers, including Richmond-based Ebco Industries.

“Specialized industrial facilities like this require early collaboration, careful planning, and a deep understanding of the client’s operations,” said Joshua Gaglardi, president of Orion Construction. “This facility has been designed around ACSI’s highly technical manufacturing needs, from the crane systems and testing infrastructure to the precision environments required for cyclotron production. Delivering a project of this complexity speaks to the strength of the partnership and the importance of building spaces that support Canadian innovation, advanced manufacturing, and technologies used in cancer diagnosis and treatment around the world.”

ACSI is a Richmond-based manufacturer of medical cyclotrons used in nuclear medicine, medical isotope production and cancer therapy applications. Founded in 2003, the company designs and manufactures systems for hospitals, universities, research laboratories and isotope distribution centres worldwide.

(Pictured, left to right: Elizabeth Welch, ACSI’s corporate projects director; Richard Eppich, CEO of ACSI; Surry Mayor Brenda Locke and Orion Construction President Joshua Gagliardi participate in groundbreaking ceremony.)

(Photo: Courtesy of Orion Construction)