Courcelles, March 27, 2007  -  Johnson & Johnson’s Medical Devices and Diagnostics (MD&D) group today officially inaugurated its new European Distribution Center located in Courcelles, in the Walloon region of Belgium. This state-of-the-art facility serves as the MD&D product distribution hub for hospitals throughout Europe.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Mr. Elio Di Rupo, Minister President of the Walloon Region, Mr. Jean-Claude Marcourt, Minister for Economic Affairs, Employment and Trade of the Walloon Region, as well as a host of other invited dignitaries. Speaking at the event, Dr. Guy Lebeau, Company Group Chairman of Johnson & Johnson, EMEA MD&D, said, “I am very satisfied with this achievement. I wish to thank all partners involved and I want to emphasise the fact that, thanks to this important strategic investment, hospitals and patients all over Europe will benefit from the added value of the new distribution center.”

Minister President Di Rupo commented: “We are extremely happy with the opening of this European Distribution Center of Johnson & Johnson. The Walloon Region actively participates in this venture, and it also illustrates that the Marshall Plan which we started implementing one year and a half ago, actually works. Life Science and logistics are two key components of our Plan, and they come beautiful together in this enterprise”.

Minister Jean-Claude Marcourt added : “This also shows that, beyond the Wallonia’s privileged location at the heart of Europe, its crucial available real estate space and logistical assets, the creation of operations, especially from a fiscal point of view, make it possible to truly put our region on the map for the most important international groups”.

The European Distribution Center reflects the growing importance of the life sciences industry and the considerable role MD&D plays within it, as well as Johnson & Johnson’s continued focus on high standards and the constant improvement of patient care.

The 33,000m2 facility provides a faster and more efficient distribution of medical device and diagnostic products to be processed and shipped to hospitals throughout Europe.

Johnson & Johnson MD&D segment develops and manufactures life-altering devices including knee, hip and spine implants, drug-eluting coronary stents and other medical products for the open and minimally invasive surgical management of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, orthopedic, neurological and spinal conditions.

The technologically-advanced European Distribution Center enables a common unified distribution platform that provides for important economies of scale, substantially reduces duplication of inventory across Europe, greatly improves efficiency, and increases product availability, for enhanced client service, and to help ensure MD&D’s competitive position for the future. This also leads to a significantly simplified customer ordering process , and an improvement of the average delivery times.

Already, an average of 1,800 customer orders are currently dispatched daily from the Center direct to hospitals across Europe, both by air and road. The facility has the capability of handling a peak of 3,500 customer orders an hour and will be achieving this shortly. The total terrain covers more than 80,000 m2, allowing for future expansion.

The European Distribution Center boasts advanced technologies and incorporates the latest design in material handling systems.

Its location in Courcelles allows Johnson & Johnson and its clients to benefit from excellent infrastructure, including airports and key European roads, as well as significant local skilled population. Currently, more than 100 local residents work at the facility.

The construction of this innovative facility began in October 2005.

MD&D is one of the segment within Johnson & Johnson which consists of a number of autonomous specialized medical device companies that develop and manufacture medical devices, including knee, hip and spine implants, drug-eluting coronary stents and other medical products for the open and minimally invasive surgical management of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, orthopedic, neurological and spinal conditions. The unit has grown substantially over the past years, largely as a result of the acquisition of various medical equipment companies that specialize in complementary medical products, and the construction of the distribution center is one result of this growth.

MD&D within Europe, the Middle East and Africa employs more than 15,000 people in 50 countries.

The company is a leading employer in Belgium, with more than 10 operating companies employing over 5,000 staff workers. With over 150 million euros of annual investments in buildings, infrastructure and new technologies over the past five years, Johnson & Johnson is one of the country’s leading investors.

Press Contacts
Stefan Gijssels – Vice President Public Affairs
Tel. +32 (0)14 60 30 30
E-mail: sgijssel@janbe.jnj.com

Teresa Mueller – EMEA MD&D Director Communications
Tel. +33 (0)1 5500 4433
E-mail: TMueller1@jnjfr.JNJ.com