Sylvara Labs, a cosmetic contract manufacturer and private label partner located at 330 S Warminster Road in Hatboro, is expecting to officially open in the near future.
CEO Lehman Li told Glenside Local his team has been setting up the space for the past year. The last step in their approval process is obtaining the Fire Marshal’s blessing.
Li, a Bucks County native, said he was drawn to Hatboro for its up-and-coming reputation and an available 40,000 sf facility— which now features six full assembly lines with a 15,000 sf manufacturing area.
“It really came down to finding the right location with the right space. The facility is exactly what we were shooting for,” he said. “We wanted to be a part of Hatboro.”
Sylvara Labs started about a year ago as a research and development-centric formulation lab in Bristol Township. Today, their bread and butter is contract manufacturing anything from hair care products to perfumery to pet formulas to skin innovations.
Sylvara Labs’ senior research and development consultant holds more than 60 issued patents and served as Global Vice President of R&D for Hair Care and Hair Color at Estée Lauder for nearly two decades, as Global VP of R&D Beauty Care at Revlon, and most recently as a senior science and technology leader at Unilever. Their lead formulation chemist & lab manager spent years at an innovation lab taking cosmetic formulations from lab to launch.
“We spend a lot of time on the science and the expertise behind cosmetics. Our top consultant has over 40 years of expertise,” he continued. “Everything we do passes through multiple experts’ eyes. We also work with a lot of very ambitious brand owners, and soon-to-be brand owners. We go step by step and provide recommendations. I think that’s what sets us apart.”
“The facility is divided into three major areas. The office portion, then a production and warehouse space in the back,” Li said. “The production area includes filling lines. We first make the product in our emulsifying tanks. After it’s made, it’s moved to our filling line.”
Li noted that the facility currently employs 10 people, and another 50 or so are projected to be brought on as business takes off. He expects manufacturing to begin by the end of the month.
Li also noted that his foray into the field began at Estée Lauder’s manufacturing facilities in Bristol.
“That’s how I got my introduction, inspiration and my interest,” he said. “We want to help out this community. We’re hoping to find local talents and invite them to join our team.”
We will be in touch with an opening date. In the meantime, you can check out Sylvara Labs’ website.
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Photos: Sylvara Labs