In 2013, Ardmac was involved in the completion of the new mammalian cell culture (MCC) manufacturing facility at Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies in Billingham. Working alongside main contractor M&W Group, Ardmac provided a range of services at the facility, which is the first of its kind in the UK.
This was a modular construction project that involved the installation of Dagard products throughout the site, including SM60 walls, SE40 liner and PST60 walk-on ceilings for construction access. This was complete with fully flush lighting top and bottom to ensure cleanroom cleanliness and reduce trip hazards in the roof space.
Ardmac also provided bespoke design of stainless steel utility panels to bring services into the cleanroom areas. Portholes were installed along with pass-through hatches to ease transportation of materials for cleanroom staff. Large numbers of fully flush glazing panels around the perimeter corridor provide a more desirable working environment for operators as well as giving prospective clients the opportunity to see the quality of the facility, its equipment and process activities.
The new facility, which was built and commissioned in less than 15 months, is designed to utilise primarily single-use technologies for both upstream and downstream operations. Designed with input from regulatory authorities and key customers, it offers high flexibility for meeting customers’ needs. Commissioned with 200L and 1000L bioreactors, the facility has been designed for rapid further expansion to meet demand. The exceptional quality of the finish makes the facility the ideal site for Fujifilm to showcase to potential clients, with site visits organised on a regular basis.
The success of the project has also secured repeat business, says Ardmac, with additional works currently being carried out at the facility.
‘I am delighted that we have been able to build and commission our new GMP mammalian cell culture manufacturing facility in such a short time frame,’ commented Steve Bagshaw, CEO of FujiFilm Diosynth Biotechnologies.
‘This new capacity, using the latest single-use technologies, provides our customers with a full life-cycle offering for mammalian cell culture biopharmaceuticals from our UK site, and complements our offering in microbial-based biologics. It reinforces Fujifilm’s commitment to lead the global biologics CMO industry through continuous innovation and implementation of new technologies.’
Strategic Projects Manager at Fujifilm, Peter Large, added: ‘Fujifilm selected Ardmac to deliver a suite of cleanrooms as part of our MCC Project. Ardmac was chosen for its unique combination of product knowledge, design capability and installation excellence. The whole team ensured the project was delivered to the very highest of standards.’
