EMD Millipore expands Biomanufacturing Sciences and Training Centre in Japan

EMD Millipore, the Life Science division of Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany, has opened a new 1,074m² Biomanufacturing Sciences Training Centre (BSTC) in Tokyo. The state-of-the-art facility is designed to help biopharmaceutical companies develop manufacturing processes and find solutions to processing challenges in collaboration with engineers from EMD Millipore.

'The new BSTC is designed to recreate an actual manufacturing environment allowing customers to operate equipment, evaluate processes and conduct training,' said Udit Batra, President and Chief Executive of EMD Millipore.

'Our goal for this facility, the ninth of its kind for EMD Millipore, is to enhance the customer experience by delivering innovation, quality products, and comprehensive technological support – all major components of our product and service portfolio offering.'

Through the simulation of manufacturing process with leading-edge products, EMD Millipore’s Biomanufacturing Sciences Training Centres allow customers to test equipment and devices, evaluate manufacturing processes, and conduct operator training. This training helps biopharmaceutical companies expedite system implementation and enhances the efficiency of manufacturing process development, while also providing quality assurance validations compliant with GMP standards and various regulations, thus lowering the risk when introducing new systems.

The new facility in Tokyo comprises a Pilot Scale Zone equipped with EMD Millipore’s Mobius series of single-use components for everything from culture to filtration and purification, allowing for total demonstration testing from upstream to downstream processes. There is also a Process Development and Application Test Zone for various types of testing for process development and optimisation, a Seminar & Training Zone, and a Gallery Zone with displays of EMD Millipore products. Staff members with expert knowledge provide multifaceted support to clients for biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

EMD Millipore now has BSTC facilities in Japan, US, Germany, France, Singapore, China, South Korea, India, and Brazil. The company has invested €1.3m in the project, which will relocate the existing centre in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture into the larger facility in Tokyo.

Headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, US, EMD Millipore employs around 10,000 people and has operations in 66 countries. The company reported 2013 revenue of €2.6bn.