St. Jude Medical expands.

St. Jude Medical, Inc. on Sept. 19 announced plans to expand operations here. SJM purchased a facility in Arecibo's Santana Industrial Park, which allows it to increase its operations here by 30% and create up to 1,200 new jobs within the next three years. It is expected to begin operating

by mid-year 2008. Initially, SJM in Arecibo will produce cardiac rhythm management devices, including pacemakers and pacing leads, which are currently produced at the company's Caguas plant. SJM also to begin manufacturing implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and corresponding high voltage leads at the Arecibo site at a later date. The Caguas site will continue to manufacture mechanical heart valves and Angio-Seal vascular closure devices, and also is expected to add new product lines in the future, said Daniel J. Starks, president/CEO. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., SJM employs 12,000 worldwide. Details: www.sjm.com.