09.05.2023

Takeda's Belgian manufacturing site wins three major awards

Takeda was recognized for accelerating a shift to reduce environmental impact at its plasma-derived therapies production site in Lessines, Belgium.

Takeda’s Belgian manufacturing site wins three major awards

Takeda was recognized for accelerating a shift to sustainable facility design, intended to ensure the effective use of energy, minimize waste, reduce carbon footprint, incorporate green manufacturing techniques and reduce environmental impact at its plasma-derived therapies production site in Lessines, Belgium.

Transport & Logistics Award 2023 for the new net zero-carbon warehouse

The new net zero-carbon warehouse on the manufacturing site of Takeda Lessines, which is still in construction, was granted with the Transport & Logistics Award 2023 in the category Logistics Building of the Year. The construction of this building brings Takeda one step closer to a more sustainable future, as this warehouse will make it possible to centralize all the storage capacity on a single site and thus avoid 330,000km of truck trips annually. This initiative will help reduce the total footprint of the site with 1700 tons of CO² per year. This new building - fitted with the latest technologies once completed - will allow for an optimal supply and distribution of Takeda’s finished products to patients worldwide.

Facility of the Year Award 2023 for plasma-derived therapy production line

The newest plasma-derived therapy production line of Takeda Lessines - inaugurated in August 2021 - was granted the Facility of the Year Award 2023 in the category Social Impact by the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE). This state-of-the art facility produces a sterile, ready-to-use, liquid purified human Alpha-1 Antitrypsin protein that is used to make medicines to treat people with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, a genetic condition that may result in serious lung and/or liver disease. The facility operates with the latest digital and sustainable technologies. The jury highlighted Takeda's ambition in using innovative technologies to effectively reduce the use of energy, minimize waste, reduce its carbon footprint and environmental impact. “This project exemplifies how application of innovative technologies and the focus on delivering a NET ZERO ambition results in effective use of energy and resources and reduces environmental impact in a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility”, said members of the jury.

Prize for the Technical Team of the Year 2023 in Wallonia

The maintenance team at Takeda Lessines received the Prize for the Technical Team of the Year 2023 in Wallonia by BEMAS (the Belgian Maintenance Association). The prize was awarded to promote technological innovation and human management in industrial performance. The prize was dedicated to the maintenance team's performance this year, especially the challenge of managing a fivefold increase of a number of pieces of equipment, while at the same time increasing operational performance through the drastic reduction in emergency interventions and 99% of operations performed on time. Takeda Belgium’s maintenance team counts 130 people. They have shifted their way of working, from a project-based maintenance optimization process to a routine of continuous improvement, driven by cost-monitoring and bad-actor analysis. The company has also been integrating the most advanced technologies such as augmented reality, 3D printing, thermography, vibrational analysis, ultrasonic control, etc. in the process.

Sources: www.takeda.com, Linkedin
Photo credit: Takeda

Mithra and the University of Liège Secure Proof-of-Concept for Novel Manufacturing Process of Estetrol

Collaboration demonstrates Mithra’s commitment to innovation and sustainable drug supply in Women’s Health.

Work-study programs: a springboard to biomanufacturing jobs?

Wallonia is developing new work-study programs to enable students to learn biomanufacturing both through teaching and experience in the workplace.

Making mRNA vaccine production in Africa a reality

Together with Afrigen Biologics, Quantoom Biosciences is paving the way for African mRNA vaccine production with its Ntensify™ Midi system.

Interested in updates on our insights, news and testimonials?