Philip Morris International (PMI) started up its first pilot plant for reduced risk products and broke ground for a larger manufacturing facility that together have the capacity to produce 30 billion units a year, the company said.

Both plants are situated near Bologna, Italy. PMI reduced risk products include Iqos brand heat-not-burn sticks that the cigarette maker plans to begin test marketing in late autumn. Up to USD 500 million will be invested in the two plants, creating 600 jobs, PMI said.
Fifty of the jobs will be at the pilot plant formally opened on 10 Oct. The facility was built in less than one year and has begun manufacturing product for the test marketing planned for selected cities in Italy and Japan, PMI said.