Pharmaceutical Technology Europe - October 2012 - (Page 10)

Outsourcing Pharmaceutical Infrastructure Operations Implementing highly reliable energy solutions at research and manufacturing facilities is a significant challenge for pharmaceutical companies. The traditional model has been to run a facility with the company owning, operating and maintaining all equipment itself, thus assuming exposure to risk on issues such as equipment durability, fuel volatility and maintaining the expertise required to keep the system working properly in-house. Pharmaceutical facilities, however, are increasingly embracing the outsourcing model. The outsourcing service provider can be contracted to operate and maintain complex energy plants and ancillary equipment, such as on-site generation and cogeneration assets, steam, hotwater and chilled-water systems, mechanical refrigeration facilities, HVAC systems, electrical systems, safety systems, plumbing/sanitary systems and general building maintenance. Outsourcing maintenance allows the client to reduce costs without reducing core-business company headcount. Leveraging combined heat and power A key advantage of outsourcing energy management is that fullservice outside providers possess the expertise to evaluate, design, build and then operate technologies such as combined heat and power (CHP) to optimise energy efficiency. CHP, sometimes referred to as cogeneration, is an efficient energy technology that simultaneously generates power (i.e., electricity) and thermal energy, which is used for heating, cooling and production of high-pressure process steam, while typically consuming only 60% of the fuel required for separate processes. CHP technology is currently experiencing a resurgence in pharmaceutical facilities due to its many operational benefits. CHP can provide increased energy reliability, greater fuel flexibility and market responsiveness. CHP can also mitigate lost products and research projects due to utility grid failures. CHP reduces greenhouse gas emissions; the waste heat generated during the power production process can be captured, recycled and used for process applications without the need for boilers within each building. CHP is a proven solution for industrial manufacturing environments, in which reliable power is crucial. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Combined Heat and Power Partnership, 88% of existing CHP plants are utilised for industrial purposes. With a full-service outsourcing provider, designing, building and operating complex energy infrastructure may be achieved seamlessly. Mel Palmer David Lyon s An extended version of this article is available at: PharmTech.com/Troubleshooting10 Mel Palmer is business development director for Veolia Energy North America. David Lyons is client operations manager at Dalkia Ireland’s Pharmaceutical & Healthcare division. 2 OUTSOURCING 11 REGULATORY COOPERATION 7 QUALITY BY DESIGN 12 COCRYSTALS 8 NEWS 13 BLOGS 10 ENERGY EFFICIENCY 15 STAFF http://www.PharmTech.com/Troubleshooting10

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pharmaceutical Technology Europe - October 2012

Pharmaceutical Technology Europe - October 2012
Contents
Cover Story: CROs and CMOs Have Cause to celebrate Annual survey shows growth for outsourcing providers
Quality by Design: A Contract Organisation’s Perspective on Overcoming Obstacles to Implementing QbD
News Bites and Trends on Twitter
Outsourcing Pharmaceutical Infrastructure Operations
EMA Focuses on Greater International Collaboration
Producing Cocrystals
Blogs: Sanofi job cuts; confidential data risk; Alzheimer’s research; and patent cliff.

Pharmaceutical Technology Europe - October 2012