Pfizer, Kent (UK)The European Headquarters for Research & Development, and the Global Manufacturing main site.
Pfizer, Kent (UK)
The European Headquarters for Research & Development, and the
Global Manufacturing main site
Pfizer discovers1, develops and manufactures life enhancing and life saving pharmaceuticals for both humans and animals. The company has sales in over 150 countries, and operates in over 30 countries with a combined workforce of over 90,000 people. The company's portfolio of pharmaceuticals includes a number of products that have made significant contributions to healthcare in the areas of diabetes, heart and lungs, mental health, sexual health and pain relief.
In the UK, the scientist at Pfizer have constantly discovered and developed over 30% of the companies' portfolio worldwide. This has included some important drugs discovered at Sandwich facility.
Pfizer Ltd directly employs 6,000 people throughout the UK across five divisions:
. Research & Development (PGRD)
2. Production (PGM)
3. Pfizer animal health
4. Consumer group
5. Sales & marketing (PGP)
Pfizer Global Research & Development (PGRD)
The Research & Development division for Pfizer Ltd is located at Sandwich facility in Kent, Where scientists are engaged in the scientific discovery and development of new pharmaceuticals.
The company is undertaking research in a range of therapeutic disease areas and is involved in developing future potential medicines including cancer, cardiovascular disease and smoking cessation. The companies' span for full research and development process includes identification of potential therapeutic compounds, laboratory and pre production scale development and trials to prove the efficacy and safety.
The organization occupies a 340-acre site close to the ancient cinque port of Sandwich in Kent. There are approximately 3,600 staff based at this site, 2,700 of whom are currently employed in research and development. The remaining 900 people work in the manufacturing division who produce human and animal medicines as well as consumer health products in bulk and final dosage form.
Pfizer's first research operation at Sandwich was established in 1957. Since then, the site has expanded in three waves of investment, in 1972-78, 1988-94 and the current phase, which began in 1996. This investment has led to a strong track record in drug discovery and development. Four of Pfizer's most successful medicines were discovered in Sandwich. In addition to the products discovered and developed by Pfizer in the UK, staff at Sandwich play an important role in the development of products discovered by other Pfizer locations.
At a local level, Pfizer is an important employer and the creator of community programmes concerning education, employment and the environment.
The current building project at Sandwich will fuel Animal Health and Medicinal discovery as well as development efforts in a variety of therapeutic areas. These include urology, cardiovascular, allergy & respiratory diseases, antifungals & antivirals, sexual health and pain.
Pfizer hopes the facilities at Sandwich enhance employee interaction in order to engender teamwork and innovation, so the site can remain at the forefront of pharmaceutical research and development.
Management of Waste Material at Pfizer: -
Efficient Water Reuse System needed in its drive towards making the plant a zero discharge facility2, Pfizer originally installed a reverse osmosis (RO) to treat process water before returning it to non-potable water uses. The RO system was installed to reduce the volume of discharge water - 50,000 gallons per day.
In 2002, Pfizer contacted ITT Industries Aquious unit to discuss their wastewater treatment scheme. Ultrafiltration system followed by a dual reverse osmosis system was installed in Pfizer plant. The ultra-filtration system would provide a quality of feed water for the RO system that will allow for ease of operation and the best life cycle cost of the equipment.
At the Pfizer plant, the wastewater originates from the sanitary processes, the cafeteria and the cooling towers. There are many concerns when trying to recycle wastewater. For the RO system at this site, one of the biggest concerns was the level of silica in the waste stream. The waste stream is first sent through a 13,000-gallon capacity clarification process. From that clarification process, the wastewater moves into a secondary effluent tank. In many facilities, this is where the waste treatment process would stop and discharge would take place into local waterways or be sent for further processing at a municipal wastewater treatment plant, depending on local regulations. From the secondary effluent tank, the wastewater is processed through a multilayer sand filtration system.
The sand filtration system was there to make sure that the media loads inside the tank were correct and that all valves for the automatic operation of the system were operating correctly. From the media filtration, the wastewater enters ITT's UF system.
The system ITT installed at the plant included a 50,000-gpd UF system and a 30,000 per day RO system. The UF system takes care of suspended and colloidal matter and acts as a barrier to provide a quality of water to where the RO membrane system can operate properly. The UF system contains hollow ...
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The sand filtration system was there to make sure that the media loads inside the tank were correct and that all valves for the automatic operation of the system were operating correctly. From the media filtration, the wastewater enters ITT's UF system.
The system ITT installed at the plant included a 50,000-gpd UF system and a 30,000 per day RO system. The UF system takes care of suspended and colloidal matter and acts as a barrier to provide a quality of water to where the RO membrane system can operate properly. The UF system contains hollow fiber style membranes that go through a series of flush cycles during the day (up to 200 cycles per day) to keep the dirty water from sticking to the UF membranes. The result of the UF treatment is to lower the SDI and provide good quality water to the RO membranes.
From a previous total of 50,000 gallon of wastewater per day, the reject from the RO - now only 8,000 gallons per day - goes to a holding tank and from there into a tanker that takes it to a larger waste treatment facility. With a fraction of the wastewater now being disposed, the Pfizer is seeing a tremendous reduction from the half a million dollars a year that they were spending on tanker truck collection.
With growing zero discharge regulations, Pfizer plant at sandwich provide solutions for treating effluent that provides excellent water quality for non-potable water uses." In addition to providing systems for water reclaim, the unit has installed numerous microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and RO system to purify water for use in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals.
Pfizer plant at sandwich provides a complete global membrane treatment solution for desalination, surface water and industrial process solutions. The products and technologies used include desalination, treatment of surface water, reuse and industrial process separation.
ICT :-
The information technology group supports PGM by implementing solutions that facilitate communication between plants, collaboration between individuals as well as IT support for the day to day operations of PGM1. This includes the establishment and maintenance of databases and Intranet or Internet solutions for business applications. Example applications delivered by PGM's Information Technology Group include:
* An innovative accounting and control system now in use in plants worldwide
* Web-based Drug Product and Drug Substance Registration Database
* Web-based Metrics Reporting
* "Best Practice" publishing
* Web-based Packaging Bill of Materials
* Change Control and Documentation
* Inventory Management Solutions
BT/IS applies information and technology to the fulfillment of PGP's business goals. Pfizer operate on the principle that the purpose of technology is to serve the business.
At Pfizer, BT/IS focuses first on the business problem, then on the best technology to address it, and it define technology broadly. ICT at Pfizer is responsible for all the business processes, data, and technological tools that are the foundation of a world-class company.
Energy Consumption at Pfizer Plant at Pfizer:-
A key part of the electrical strategy at Pfizer was to establish optimum distribution arrangements, including numbers and location of substations, while ensuring a resilient supply to critical items of laboratory equipment and mechanical plant2. Initially, time was spent establishing the building's maximum demand; the load centers; the internal low voltage (LV) distribution; and zoning arrangements to maximize the efficiency of the main electrical plant and minimize cable lengths.
The electrical loads were split into different categories and areas in the building, which resulted in a maximum ultimate demand figure of 6.25MVA. To accommodate this, one substation (substation A) was located on the ground floor and a second in the roof level plant room (substation B), each equipped with two 2.5MVA transformers. Under normal conditions each substation supplies approximately 2.5MVA across the transformers, with the loss of one resulting in the other supplying the entire load. To allow for future growth and the potential 6.25MVA maximum load, the transformers are designed for a 30% overload using forced cooling. Critical laboratory equipment is supported by a 400kVA UPS unit in a controlled environment within the roof level plant space.
The power supply system is monitored via the dedicated power management system interfaced to the building management system (BMS). The lighting is an important element of the interior design, with the brief requiring full functionality and a pleasant working environment in all areas. The design team used 3-D lighting software programs extensively to demonstrate that the required lighting levels were achieved; these also provided a visual simulation of the illuminated space. Due to the amount of services in the ceiling voids and their depth, a VESDA(tm) system serves these areas.
Pfizer committed to UK:-
Pfizer Limited is the principal subsidiary in the United Kingdom of Pfizer Inc. Following the acquisition of Pharmacia in 2003; Pfizer has become the largest Pharmaceutical Company in the UK. The Company is the top supplier of medicines to the NHS and every month in 2005, over two million patients in the UK were prescribed a Pfizer medicine.
Pfizer - Major Investor in UK R&D:-
Pfizer is a research-based global pharmaceutical company with the strategic focus of investing in the discovery3, development and marketing of innovative products that address major healthcare needs. To fund a discovery and development pipeline that is often considered the most innovative in the industry, Pfizer invested £600m on R&D in the UK and more than $7bn globally during 2005 - one of the largest R&D amounts of any healthcare company in the world.
Pfizer - A World-Class Innovator and Exporter:-
Innovative thinking has enabled Pfizer to provide disease management programmes that treat both illness and the patient. Four of the company's top ten products are world-leading pharmaceuticals discovered by scientists at the Pfizer discovery and development campus, at Sandwich in Kent.
The spirit of innovation has propelled every success; it pervades everything, from finance and manufacturing to information technology and product distribution.
In April 2001, Pfizer Limited, the UK subsidiary of Pfizer Inc, received its sixth Queen's Award for Enterprise. This award for innovation was given to Pfizer for the discovery and development of VIAGRA(tm) (sildenafil) used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Two other Queen's Awards, both for Technological Achievement through the discovery of new medicines, were received by Pfizer in 1979 for MANSIL(tm) (oxamniquine) a treatment for a parasitic disease and in 1991 for DIFLUCAN(tm) (fluconazole) a treatment for fungal infections.
These products earn substantial royalties on their worldwide sales, as well as these, for every £1 earned by Pfizer from its UK sales, a further £2.66 was earned from export markets in 2001.
Pfizer has been presented with Queen's Awards for International Trade (formerly Queen's Award for Export) in 1993, 1997 and 2000.
Careers in Pfizer Global Research and Development
Pfizer - Major UK Employer:-
Pfizer Limited has been in the UK since the 1950's. Currently 6,000 people are employed in the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of human and animal medicines, 3,600 of whom are based at the Sandwich site, in Kent3. This makes Pfizer one of the largest employers in the area and the backbone of the local economy. As a result, the total number of jobs supported by Pfizer, either directly or through the effects of its expenditure, is over 30,000 people. Thus, for every one person who is directly employed by Pfizer Limited, there are nearly five more jobs supported by the company's activities in the UK.
The average number of people employed directly by Pfizer between 1996 and 2001 increased by 53%, with Pfizer's total salary costs in 2001, amounting approximately to £226 million.
In April 2005, Pfizer achieved a prestigious new accolade when the company was chosen by the Sunday Times as one of the UK's ten "Best Big Companies to work for".
Pfizer - Investment in UK infrastructure:-
Pfizer's expenditure in the UK economy is substantial. Between 1996 and 2001, Pfizer Limited invested more than £1 billion in the UK. For every £1 Pfizer earns from UK sales, £1.90 is spent in the UK economy.
Some £240 million has been spent on new research and development facilities at the Sandwich site over the last five years. The new facilities won an 'excellent' rating under the BREEAM scheme (Building Research Establishment Environment Assessment Method). BREEAM is the world's most widely used means of reviewing and improving the environmental performance of office buildings.
Pfizer has also recently built a new UK business headquarters at Walton Oaks, near Reigate, Surrey. It was the coupling of the innovative design and construction quality of Walton Oaks that led to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) presenting their prestigious design award to Pfizer Limited in June 2002. The RIBA jury commented,
"We felt that this was an exceptionally good piece of commercial architecture and that the conviction and commitment to quality which it demonstrates should be firmly encouraged". (RIBA Journal, July 2002).
Environment Health and Safety Performance
Environment Compliance:-
Certain of company processes are regulated by the Environment Agency, and are required to operate within prescribed limits with regard to releases to the environment.
Operator Performance and Risk Appraisal (OPRA) System:-
The Environment Agency4 operates a risk based rating system to assess the environmental performance of authorized processes. On an A best to E worst ranking, the system assesses both potential environmental hazards and environmental management. The current ranking stand of the company stand at C for potential hazards and at B for their management, demonstrating that Environmental agency considers that the company manage the potential environmental impacts to high standard.
Green Chemistry:-
As part of a Pfizer global initiative in 2004 they have established a Green Chemistry Team in the UK.
Recycling:-
Since 1998, Pfizer have recycled over 3,500 tonnes of general non-hazardous wastes such as paper, metal, drinks cans and plastics
The graphs above give a breakdown of the non-process materials (e.g. office and other consumables) recycled by Pfizer during 2004. Presently about 50% of these waste streams recycled at Pfizer sites.
Pfizer site are significantly self sufficient in their waste management capability with about two thirds of their waste being self managed or recycled/recovered and significant achievement is recovering/recycling in quantity is organic solvent used in their manufacturing processes. The site directly recycled 25% of their process solvents and recycled or recovered energy from over 50%.
The drive to minimize the use of resources and maximize the recycling of company's waste has included:
* Sitewide awareness campaigns
* Additional recycling opportunities for cans and plastic bottles from site retail outlets.
* Pilot projects to increase use of recycled paper and reconditioned printer cartridges.
As a direct result there has been upward trend in the amount of office related wastes segregated for recycling during 2004 as seen below-
Effluent Management: -
The more significant liquid effluents arise from the R&D and production activities and are therefore centered on their sandwich facility. The effluent steams arise from production, non-hazardous laboratory wastes, foul drainage and rainwater runoff.
Environmental perspective: -
Following treatment, effluent is discharged (under Authorization of Environmental Agency) to the river Stour. It is therefore essential that the quality of the discharge is high in order to protect ecosystem in the river.
Management: -
The waste water treatment facility (WWTF) provides protection to the river Stour. This facility was commissioned in Pfizer site to meet the expanding requirements of the sandwich site and well in advance of UK and European Union water quality requirements.
Performance: -
Pfizer constantly monitors the effluent discharge for a number of constituents, including pH, suspended solids, ammonia, temperature and biological oxygen demand. Monitoring is carried out daily on representative samples and in some cases, on a continuous basis. The overall environmental impact is excellent.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): -
Both R&D and production processes use organic solvents to undertake chemical reactions4 and Control of VOCs is important because they have the potential to be lost relatively easily to the atmosphere and have a variety of complex environmental impacts depending on the specific material.
Environmental Index: -
The Environment Index (EI) is a comparative measure based on four key releases. This measures takes into account releases to air, water and land. Since 1995, Pfizer have reduced impact on the environment by over 50%
Transport and Communication Systems: -
Due to the size of the organization, the primary source for environmental impact relating to transport is from travel to work and business-related travel. In a year, employee typically travels approximately 50 million miles by air and 30 million business miles by road*.
Environmental Perspective: -
Travel by air or by car results in global warming and impacts on local air quality and as traveling to work involves a large number of employees traveling to the same location, it can add to local traffic congestion.
Management
Companies primary focus on travel management has been the introduction of a nationally recognized Green Transport Scheme. They encourage their employees to leave heir cars at home and travel to and from work by alternative methods of transport y offering a financial incentive. This is supported by company bus services covering a wide radius from the sandwich and Walton Oaks sites and a site database for car sharing opportunities. As a part of an overall and integrated transport policy, they also subsidies their employees on selected public transport routes and have provided excellent facilities for cyclists.
Although travel is still essential for many face-to-face meetings, they have made significant investment in state-of-the-art videoconferencing facilities. This maintains some of the benefits of personal interaction, while reducing the need for travel.
In addition, the company has negotiated attractive discounts with both stagecoach and South Eastern trains for their employees. This has resulted in a 73% increase in monthly train journey and a 58% increase in journeys taken to meet connecting Pfizer services. This is great example of an integrated transport policy working to reduce the number of single occupancy car journeys used by Pfizer employees.
During 2005 at their sandwich site, they entered into a five-year contract with their partner Buzz lines for the provision of a high quality bus service that included a reassessment of their bus routes. During 2005 they saw a significant rise in employee uptake in these services with average daily passengers journeys increasing by 14% to nearly 900 everyday. During 2004 they saw an additional 10,034 passengers take advantage of a clean, safe, reliable and environmentally sustainable method of commuting to work.
Contribution to charities and societies of Local Community :
Pfizer has been in for praise for its policy and local community work and involves in many local events, such as;
. Encouraging people to cycle to the sandwich site with a sustainable travel award given by the Thanet Local Action 21 group. The award was one of 39 presented to local organizations celebrating work to make the area a greener and more sustainable place in which to live.
2. The Pfizer social club held a sports taster event for October's World Health Day in collaboration with Health promotion, a service run by the East Kent Coastal primary care Trust, to demonstrate the links between physical exercise and mental well being.
3. Local schools were benefiting from school's projects success sponsored by Pfizer at sandwich Kent where one of the schools named Margate secondary school is benefited from new facilities donated by Pfizer and dozens of its volunteers4. A spacious IT suite, a fully equipped radio station and family center are housed Portakabins at Hartsdown Technology College.
4. Mini fairs organized by Local organizations like Headway, Thanet Disabled Riding Center, National Autistic Society, Health walks and the East Kent Social & partnership NHS trust seeking volunteers to help in their work was organized at Pfizer's sandwich site and recruited Pfizer colleagues to help them. The events were the latest of its kind held as part of the Pfizer reaching out programme. This enables people to help local community organizations by giving them an additional 5 days leave/ year to perform tasks.
5. Pfizer is one of the main fundraisers for a new cancer care center in Margate celebrated breaking the 1 million pound barrier during October 2005 and continuing to support the appeal by giving technical advice on equipping the seminar room, which has been sponsored by the company, and encouraged others to find ways of assisting the appeal.
6. Pfizer at sandwich is helping older people stay active and healthy and helped in opening sandwich center for the retired.
7. Pfizer contributed to the Orangutan Foundation, a charity that aims to protect the animals in the country's rainforest and national park in Borneo.
8. Pfizer is keen to partner education and support education, particularly aimed at supporting maths and science teaching in communities where employees live and prepares future scientists for employment.
9. The volunteers from Pfizer have been involved in Seashore Safaris and beach cleans with the Thanet Coast project in the past few years.
Overall in recent years 40% of the budget was devoted to supporting health related projects. Another 5% is spent on sports based schemes. Also the company has supported the Kent Bus initiative in a number of schools, it sponsors an award programmee or Kent school governors and is major sponsor of the Marlowe Academy in Ramsgate.
References:
. Web source http://www.pfizer.co.uk/
2. http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news
3. Environment, Health & Safety, Annual report, 2005
4. Community news Pfizer, sandwich edition,30, 2005
