Hovione, a Portuguese company that makes pharmaceutical ingredients, is expanding its New Jersey presence by more than doubling the size of its East Windsor facility, the township said Wednesday.The company’s plans will add 30,600 square feet to the 24,000-square-foot facility at 40 Lake Drive, and will bolster its workforce by approximately 60 jobs, according to a news release.

“The Hovione expansion plan is great news for the township, and another sign of our business vibrancy,” Mayor Janice S. Mironov said in a prepared statement. “This expansion marks a significant investment by Hovione in East Windsor, bringing new tax dollars, ensuring existing jobs and adding a large number of new jobs to our community.”

The expansion will include a new commercial spray dryer unit, and is planned to handle intermediate drug products. In addition, it will more than double the site’s drug substance capacity.

“Expanding our manufacturing presence in the U.S.A. highlights our commitment to our customers that want to manufacture their products in the U.S. and to support the development needs of our ever-expanding local customer base,” Dr. Marco Gil, Hovione New Jersey’s general manager, said in a statement. “The additional capacity will give us more flexibility and make us more agile to deal with our customers’ fast-paced projects.”

The groundbreaking for the project is expected in the first quarter of 2016, with the new capacity coming online in early 2017.

“We are gratified that Hovione has found East Windsor to be such a beneficial home for their business, and that their business is on such a positive growth pathway here,” Mironov said. “Hovione represents for East Windsor another high-tech, high-growth pharmaceutical-related company, in keeping with our Einstein’s Alley designation and vision.”