The investment is part of SAFC’s worldwide facilities initiative and is designed to better serve the biopharmaceutical industry by creating ‘Centers of Excellence’ for manufacturing and supply chain optimisation.
The project, supported by a $250,000 economic development grant from the Kansas Bioscience Authority, is expected to include expanded pin milling and blending capabilities, enabling an increase of approximately 30% in batch production capacity. The expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.
SAFC previously performed milling operations at three sites using differing milling techniques. Through its Center of Excellence program, SAFC plans to consolidate all milling activity at Lenexa, Kansas, using proprietary pin milling technology.
SAFC said that the expansion is expected to feature completely separate areas for animal component free (ACF) and animal component containing (ACC) manufacture, both featuring pin milling technology.
Reportedly, upon completion, two dedicated manufacturing suites are expected to have the capacity to produce batches of ACF dry powder media in batch sizes ranging from 25 to 4000kg, with customised packaging available for all quantities. A separate dedicated manufacturing suite for ACC dry powder media products will also come on line as part of the expansion.
Bruce Lehr, director of development of SAFC, said: “This grant will see the Lenexa, KS site become SAFC’s first global ‘Center of Excellence’ for dry powder media manufacturing, and is a clear demonstration of our commitment to our biopharmaceutical partners, as we look to reduce their manufacturing costs by minimising cell culture powder variability, while enhancing their supply chain integrity.
“We are extremely grateful to the Kansas Bioscience Authority for its generous grant, which demonstrates Kansas’ strong commitment to bioscience research, development and commercialisation.”
Tom Thornton, CEO of Kansas Bioscience Authority, said: “Our investments are making Kansas a national leader in bioscience, and this is possible thanks to the innovation, success and growth of companies such as SAFC. We congratulate SAFC on its compelling vision for this center of excellence.”