Baxter to Build Manfacturing Plant in Covington, Ga.

Baxter International Inc., a large US medical-products company, will invest more than $1 billion over the next five years to build a large manufacturing plant in Covington, Ga.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the move is expected to bring more than 1,500 full-time positions to Georgia and a total of 2,000 across the US. Construction is expected to begin this year with commercial production expected by 2018.

The Covington facility is a new plasma fractionation plant that reportedly will add up to 3 million liters of new capacity annually once fully functional. This will boost the company's plasma-based treatments for immune disorders, trauma and other critical conditions.

where Baxter is headquartered, is reporting that Baxter's stock was expected to rise and Market Watch reported that revenue is up with solid first quarter financial results.