Start of Construction on the New Quality Building (biopharmaceutical analysis facility) at the Takasaki Plant
November 10th, 2020
TOKYO, Japan, November 10th, 2020 -Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (TSE: 4151, President & CEO: Masashi Miyamoto, "Kyowa Kirin") started construction on the New Quality Building (biopharmaceutical analysis facility) at the Takasaki Plant (Takasaki City in Gunma Prefecture, Plant Manager: Hitoshi Arai) in October 2020.
The Takasaki Plant manufactures mainly biopharmaceuticals, and this New Quality Building will be responsible for quality control and quality assurance in relation to the manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals and raw material quality analysis. The quality control and quality assurance functions that are currently dispersed throughout the Takasaki Plant will be consolidated to the new quality building with the aim of streamlining the operations, promoting communication and realizing rapid, accurate implementation.
The new quality building will be equipped with the most advanced biopharmaceutical analysis equipment in Japan, including an automated colony counter, rapid microbial testing and robot technology. In addition, equipment to automate the processes and reduce manpower, including a liquid handling system and automated sample picking system, are being planned. Also, along with installing a sterility testing isolator to minimize the number of false positive results during microbial tests and realizing a laboratory design that satisfies current regulations, the PCaPC* construction method, which enables flexible layout designs and changes, was adopted based on consideration for the installation of new equipment in the future. Moreover, by designing large rooms that allow for social distancing and creating workspace areas that have spatial continuity, it will be an environment in which everyone can work "healthily", "creatively" and "based on mutual understanding", as well as an optimum workplace for cultivating a good "culture" among the employees.
The investment amount in the construction of the new quality building is expected to be about ￥14.0 billion. The building is planned to be completed in July 2022 and fully open in October 2022.
The Kyowa Kirin Group companies strive to contribute to the health and well-being of people around the world by creating new value through the pursuit of advances in life sciences and technologies.
You can see this table by scrolling horizontally.
| Name | New Quality Building (tentative) |
|---|---|
| Construction method / size | Earthquake-resistant PCaPC* structure with 1 underground floor and 7 aboveground floors; Total floor space: Approx. 12,630 m² |
| Investment amount | About ￥14.0 billion |
| Functions | Analysis and quality assurance for biopharmaceuticals |
| Scheduled completion | July 2022 |
| Features | 1）Compliant with GMP regulations in Japan, United States and Europe 2) Biopharmaceutical facility with the most advanced analytical equipment in Japan |
- *Precast Prestressed Concrete. The use of forms that are cast in molds at the factory (precast) enables the construction time to be shortened. In addition, by applying pressure to the concrete during forming (prestressed) increases the strength of the completed forms. This makes it possible to reduce the number of pillars required, thereby allowing the effective use of space and flexible layouts.
