New pMDI facility opens at Bespak
delivery, has opened a new £10 million (€15m) facility at its
King's Lynn site for the manufacture of pMDIs.
Bespak of the UK, a specialist in inhalation devices for drug delivery, has opened a new £10 million (€15m) facility at its King's Lynn site for the manufacture of pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDIs).
This is the latest development in a six-year investment strategy that has already seen £23 million spent on the site. The latest facility houses a 1,400-square-metre cleanroom facility containing electric moulding and assembly suites for the manufacture of pMDI valves and actuators. It also features dedicated packaging and storage areas.
"More than 35 years ago, Bespak was involved in the development of one of the first asthma inhalers - Ventolin - with GlaxoSmithKline," commented Mark Thordahl, the firm's chief executive. "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," he added.
Numerous innovative features have been integrated into the design of the manufacturing hall in order to maximise the space on site. Moulding machines in the cleanroom stand on raised, reinforced platforms that exactly match the surrounding level of the composite steel and concrete floor.
The machines are supplied with materials by individual service hubs, designed uniquely for Bespak. These hubs deliver materials including air, plastic, electricity and water as well as IT links via a complex network of pipes and electrical ducting hidden under the floor hall. This invisible network provides Bespak with additional working space for machines and the area beneath the floor incorporates a sensor system that can detect for service failures.
The flooring and raised platform system can also be reconfigured to house additional machines, giving Bespak the flexibility to meet changes in customer production requirements.
The new manufacturing hall is supported by an extensive laboratory testing facility which has also been expanded.
