THE next time someone says something along the lines of "we don't make anything in this country anymore" you could do worse than remind them of the Actavis factory on the outskirts of Barnstaple.

To say Actavis "makes things" is about as absurdly understated as saying we might see the odd drop of rain in North Devon.

Tablets pour in their billions from the Whiddon Valley site, with its Willy Wonka-esque subterranean caverns, many thrumming with revolving metal medicine machines.

In the heart of the plant, men and women in white overalls, plastic shoe-covers and goggles are busy making all manner of remedy, from the antidepressant amitriptyline to the "sleeping pill" zopiclone.

Built and opened by Cox Pharmaceuticals in 1979, the factory has enjoyed an upward trend in production scale, employee numbers, and profits, in the 30 years since. And this week the factory officially celebrates its three decades in North Devon.

The company's success is down to the profitability of addressing many human maladies, be they major physical, illness such as angina, or minor inconveniences, like cold sores.

The taxpayer – in the form of the NHS – provides a large chunk of the profit for the Iceland-based global drug giant by buying many tonnes of the generic medicines supplied, on prescription.

In the smart offices above the manufacturing plant, the

Journal

spoke to managing director Sara Vincent who said there were now some 680 workers at the factory, making Actavis one of the largest employers in the district. And not all the workers make tablets: there are a large number of other back office roles.

The firm is an international player in the pharmaceutical industry with an annual turnover of about £120 million, Sara said. Reports earlier this year of a possible takeover came to nothing and there is no indication of a sale in the near future, she said.

Founded in 1956, Actavis has more than 10,000 employees in more than 40 countries. The local numbers tell their own story. Sara said one in 10 of all generic (unbranded) medicines in the UK is made by Actavis in Barnstaple. There are 470 products in production, including some over-the-counter products such as an insomnia remedy.

Generic medicines are made to be interchangeable with an existing brand name medicine. They are chemically similar and are subject to licensing by the Government. Generic companies like Actavis do not do research and development so their products are cheaper for buyers such as the NHS.

The company spends significant sums advertising new products in the media and between 15% and 20% of the output is exported to places like the middle east.

Growth is the message. "We used to launch between eight and 10 new products each year. This year we launched 41," said Sara.