Project Biogen Pharmaceutical Plant

Location Luterbach, Switzerland

Client Biogen Switzerland AG

Consultants Jacobs Engineering Cincinnati

Date of completion June 2017

Market Sector Chemical & Industrial

PXPCPCH606This document is © Pipex px®

V2 Hannah Wright May 2017

Pipex px® PIPE SYSTEMSPipex px® BONDSTRAND® GRE

(Pipex px® composite pipe factory during fabrication of the Biogen pipe systems)

The Project

Biogen is one of the world’s most advanced biotechnology companies, developing therapies for serious neurological, autoimmune and rare diseases.

In 2015, work started on a brand new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Luterbach, Switzerland. The facility will host two manufacturing cells, house laboratories, office buildings, utility buildings and a warehouse - allowing for the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals on a large scale. The $1 billion Pharmaceutical plant is due for completion late 2018, with operations starting by 2019.

Scope of Works

In 2016, Pipex px® were awarded the project to design, supply and fabricate approximately 7km of BONDSTRAND® Glass Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) pipe systems for the new Biogen facility, including 0.7km of dual contained GRE & Polypropylene (PP-H) Chemsafe® pipework and 18 no. dual contained gullies.

The highly corrosion resistant pipe systems were installed in three sections of the facility, spanning across a total of 14 floors. Two sections of the facility featured a biowaste system complete with vent system and a process waste system complete with vent system. The dual contained pipework was also installed as part of a process waste system.

Pipex px® were able to provide an advanced design & manufacturing solution for the client to ‘fit & forget’. This international project was managed completely in-house by Pipex px® to ensure seamless transition through the design, manufacture and delivery phases.

BONDSTRAND® 4000 series pipe was used for this project due to its corrosion resistance and ability to withstand temperatures of up to 120°C. The BONDSTRAND® 4000 series pipe has a 1.3mm resin-rich reinforced liner, with Quick Lock (QL) adhesive bonded joints, and is suitable for working pressures up to 20bar.

The single contained GRE pipework ranged from 2” to 10” in diameter and up to 6m in length. The dual contained GRE & PP-H pipework ranged from 3” to 8” in diameter and up to 12m in length.

In-house fabrication of the pipework started in January 2017 and took approximately 10,500 fabrication hours to complete. The pre-fabricated pipe-systems were tested prior to shipment and delivered to site in line with the customers requirements to aid a quick & easy installation for site engineers.

(Right: Artist impression of the new facility)

(Right: Pipex px® technical drawing of GRE & PP-H gully)

Engineering Services

The in-house Pipex px® Engineering Services Department (ESD) were heavily involved throughout the duration of the project, providing expert technical services and design consultancy.

Piping Design Assistance & Verification

The general arrangements and routing design were provided by the client. Our experienced team completed the preparation of over 900 isometrics for GRE, stainless steel and dual containment GRE & PP-H piping using CADworx® plant design software together with BONDSTRAND® GRE product libraries.

The team also completed over 900 support designs and details using Hilti PROFIS Installation design software.

Piping Stress Analysis

In-house stress analysis of GRE lines using CAESAR II software was also completed, evaluating and confirming structural and operational integrity of the piping systems to ensure compliance in accordance with international piping codes and standards ISO14692, B31.3, UKOOA, BS7159, API610 and AWWA.

Advantages

Pipex px® Future Thinking

Pipex px® are wholly and demonstrably committed in our business operations to the protection of the natural and built environment locally, nationally and globally. Pipex px® provide a range of high quality and environmentally safe construction products and services.

(Artist impression of the new facility)

(Imagery of Pipex px® biowaste and process waste systems in Navisworks)

• Easy to handle, resulting in low installation costs• Design life expectancy of 60+ years dependant on application• Pre-fabricated & tested off-site to enable fast track installation• Corrosion resistant - 1.3mm resin-rich reinforced liner• Extremely lightweight, typically 1/6th the weight of metallic equivalents• Maintenance-free & durable• Bespoke design to suit client requirements• Working temperatures up to 120°C & working pressures up to 20bar• Fit & forget - trusted & proven solution

(Pipex px® dual contained pipework & gullies during fabrication)

(Pipex px® GRE & PP-H pipework prior to delivery)

(It took approximately 10,500 fabrication hours to complete the project)

(Pipex px® BONDSTRAND® GRE pipework installed)

(Pipex px® GRE/PP-H dual contained pipework & gully during installation)