M+W Group starts building RB’s new Centre for Scientific Excellence in UK
Groundwork has already begun on the R&D Centre in Dansom Lane, Hull, that will provide a GMP development facility and pilot plant
RB,(formerly Reckitt Benckiser) has appointed global engineering and construction company M+W Group, as the main contractor to design and build its state-of-the-art R&D Centre for Scientific Excellence (CfSE).
The consumer health and hygiene company has been present in Hull since 1840. The £105m development is the single largest investment in the company’s history and represents a significant commitment to RB’s place in the heart of the East Yorkshire city.
Architectural practice rhp was appointed to complete the assessment of Reckitt Benckiser’s existing site, develop a masterplanning strategy and concept design proposals for the new R&D hub.
Designed to be highly sustainable and energy efficient, the CfSE will house a new Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) healthcare development facility.
A suite of new laboratories is being built to enable healthcare scientists to carry out formulation optimisation at the bench.
A large pilot plant facility will complement this allowing scale up studies, 1/10 scale manufacturing for regulatory submissions and preparation of clinical trial material.
A new stability testing suite, which will be one of the biggest in Europe, will enable the company to evaluate the performance of development products up to three years after manufacture.
The CfSE will also have facilities for analytical and microbiology teams housing the latest equipment that will provide supportive data during both product development and stability phases.
The new facility is due to become operational in 2018.
