New pMDI production facility for Bespak
Bespak has opened a new multi-million pound facility at its UK production site.
Bespak has opened a new multi-million pound facility at its UK production site.
The company, a leader in the design, development and manufacture of drug delivery technologies, has opened the 2000m2 facility at its King's Lynn, UK, site. The £10m (Euro 15m) extension is the latest development in a six year investment strategy that has seen £23m (Euro 34m) spent at the site. The new building was officially opened by Dr Monica Darnbrough, director of BioScience at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The new extension houses a 1,400m2 ISO Class 7 (10,000) clean room facility containing the latest electric moulding and assembly suites for the manufacture of pressurised metered dose inhaler (pMDI) valves and actuators. It also features dedicated packaging and storage areas in a continuous workflow patten that ensure clean room integrity.
Numerous innovative features have been integrated into the design of Bespak's extended manufacturing hall, enabling the company to maximise the space on site.
Moulding machines in the clean room stand on raised, reinforced platforms that match the surrounding level of the composite steel and concrete floor, and a final layer of vinyl creates a continuous surface which provides an easy to clean finish.
The machines are supplied with materials by individual service hubs, designed uniquely for Bespak, which deliver materials including air, plastic, electricity and water as well as IT links via pipes and electrical ducting hidden under the floor hall. This network provides Bespak with additional working space for machines and the area beneath the floor incorporates a sensor system that can detect service failures.
The flooring and raised platform system can also be reconfigured to house additional machines, giving flexibility to meet changes in customer production requirements as new pharmaceutical products gain approval in new territories. The facility is also fitted wth a sock system that allows for variable airflow rates in the clean room.
The manufacturing hall is supported by an extensive laboratory testing facility, which has also been expanded to meet the increased demand Bespak has seen after winning new pMDI valve and actuator business. The hall will provide the manufacturing capacity to meet customer demand as these new products are launched worldwide.
'More than 35 years ago, Bespak was involved in the development of one of the first asthma inhalers - Ventolin - with GlaxoSmithKline. Since then the company has established itself as a pioneer of drug delivery technologies. It therefore seems apt that the business is once again setting the standard for the medical device industry with best in class manufacturing processes and facilities' said Mark Throdahl, CEO of Bespak. 'The completion of this project will help Bespak meet the requirements of its global customer base for years to come and realises its vision of becoming one of the world's leading drug delivery device developers.'