AUSTIN, TEXAS (May 26, 2009) – Emerson Process Management Asia Pacific has been selected by Switzerland-based Lonza Group Ltd. to provide engineering and design services and PlantWeb® digital automation architecture with DeltaV™ digital automation systems and control technologies for a new Lonza biopharmaceutical plant in Singapore. This new facility is intended to expand Lonza’s ability to meet the needs of its leading pharmaceutical customers, and its design is leveraged heavily on that of Lonza’s first Singapore Biopharmaceutical plant, which will be operational in 2009.
The win is part of Emerson’s growing portfolio of life sciences companies that rely on digital automation with predictive intelligence to reduce overall costs, improve reliability, ensure product quality, meet regulatory requirements, and optimize operations.
“Emerson has an excellent track record in managing and controlling the highly complex processes involved in the biopharmaceutical industry,” said Steve Sonnenberg, president, Emerson Process Management. “This win is yet another example of how companies like Lonza can leverage our global resources and expertise to meet their objectives for safe, reliable, and on-time start-up of new manufacturing facilities.”
In the Asia-Pacific region, Emerson also has been awarded automation contracts by Shanghai CP Guojian Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. in China; Reliance Life Sciences, DSM Anti-Infectives India Ltd., and Biocon in India; and Lonza for a prior facility in Singapore.
Having installed the automation architecture in Lonza’s first biopharmaceutical plant in Singapore, Emerson was chosen to implement its innovative PlantWeb® technologies in the new plant that is expected to be completed in 2010 at a cost of US$320 million. By following the original project models, employing best practices, and applying the experience gained during design and construction of the original facility, Emerson is expected to reduce Lonza’s overall costs for the new plant.
The new facility will have up to four mammalian bioreactor trains, each with a capacity of 5,000 to 20,000 liters inclusive of the respective purification units. When fully completed, it will operate with a skilled labor force of 300+ employees. The highly flexible manufacturing operation, featuring a wide array of processes and biological technologies, will make possible the types of products and yields needed to serve Lonza’s customers in the Asia Pacific Region.
Lonza will employ an array of Emerson products and services, including: PlantWeb digital automation architecture; DeltaV™ digital automation system; and intelligent digital devices, including Fisher® and Baumann™ control valves with FIELDVUE® digital valve controllers, Rosemount® flowmeters and analyzers, Micro Motion® Coriolis flowmeters, and Fisher pressure regulators
Once the new plant is in operation, field device monitoring and predictive maintenance, managed from a designated central location via AMS® Suite predictive maintenance software is intended to reduce downtime. The AMS Suite software will be configured to monitor and access data online from some 4500 field devices.
Lonza is the world's leading contract manufacturer of monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins. Lonza undertakes highly specialized development and manufacturing services for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries based on more than 25 years of experience in mammalian cell culture and proprietary technology for large-scale manufacture of innovative biopharmaceutical products. Biopharmaceuticals are one of the key growth drivers of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Lonza Group Ltd. is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and is listed on the SWX Swiss Stock Exchange.
Emerson Process Management (www.emersonprocess.com), an Emerson business, is a leader in helping businesses automate their production, processing and distribution in the chemical, oil and gas, refining, pulp and paper, power, water and wastewater treatment, mining and metals, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and other industries. The company combines superior products and technology with industry-specific engineering, consulting, project management and maintenance services. Its brands include PlantWeb®, Fisher®, Rosemount®, Micro Motion®, Daniel®, DeltaV™, Ovation®, and AMS® Suite.
Emerson (NYSE:EMR), based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions to customers through its network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and appliance and tools businesses. Sales in fiscal 2008 were $24.8 billion and Emerson is ranked 94th on the Fortune 500 list of America’s largest companies. For more information, visit www.Emerson.com.
