OSD Facility Expansion Project

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Expansion for Oral Solid Dose Production

A Canadian pharmaceutical client needed to expand manufacturing capabilities for oral solid dose production. Cheme provided design and engineering services, project management, and commissioning and qualification (C&Q) services to support our client’s execution of the manufacturing expansion. Cheme was responsible for several processes and systems including:

• A custom-engineered bulk (>4000 gal) solvent storage and distribution system with temperature control 
• A Wash-in-Place (WIP) system for the cleaning of process equipment
• Critical Utilities systems expansion for the production suites and process equipment

Our client sought to eliminate drum-based handling of methanol through implementation of a bulk storage and distribution system to improve operator safety, increase quality and reliability, as well as reduce costs. The bulk solvent storage and distribution system was designed to meet local fire and building codes. The storage tank was equipped with a nitrogen blanketing system and an automatic marshaling system for methanol dispensing to users throughout the facility.

The WIP system was designed for cleaning process equipment including a fluid bed, coating pan, transfer lines, and associated peripherals such as dip tubes, mixers, and transfer panels. The system was automated and equipped with recipe management utilizing ISA S88. Cheme was also responsible for the critical utility systems expansion to increase production capacity in various new suites. The development of compact solutions was necessary to fit within tight spatial constraints while ensuring coordination with all project stakeholders. 

Our experienced team anticipated many potential risks which were avoided through detailed and often creative planning.