API Extension FCC Lonza AG

A further production facility for the manufacture of pharmaceutical end products and active agents is planned on the Lonza AG factory campus in Visp very close to the Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing – BPM plant previously built Burckhardt+Partner AG.

According to the strategy of Lonza AG, only the complete superstructure with a tight outer casing will be build in an initial phase and then partially completed by installing only the production facilities needed at the time. The most flexible building structure possible must be designed to ensure the completion of the building with production equipment in stages.

After the positive experience with the neighboring BPM building, a cement modular construct was largely used for the supporting structure again that fulfilled the requirements for the desired variability and short construction time.

Additional demands for earthquake-safe structures were met through structural measures corresponding to the requirements for an earthquake zone 3b.

The façade is a cost-optimized industrial wall made with heat-absorbing boxed metal coffers and rear-ventilated corrugated steel sheeting along with tightly glazed metal-framed windows.

The schedule objective at Lonza AG is moving the facility into production with the first unit as quickly as possible. Therefore a very tight timeframe is foreseen for planning and realization: planning work begin in June 2005; construction begin in September 2005; superstructure complete and building enclosed in May 2006; start of first phase production equipment in October 2006.