Redipor Success Drives Cherwell Cleanroom Expansion

Cherwell Laboratories, leading supplier of microbiology media and instruments for pharmaceutical and related industries, is continuing with the investment and expansion programme of its cleanroom production facilities. To increase capacity for future demand from Cherwell’s ever growing customer base, Phase II of the expansion programme will boost Redipor microbiological prepared media plate filling and bottle production capabilities. The new cleanroom facility will be further extended by 230 m² to more than 950 m².

Once Phase II is completed in early 2014, Cherwell’s facilities will have doubled in size since July 2012. Phase I delivered new inspection and packing facilities to maintain stringent quality requirements in media preparation prior to Phase II’s increase in Redipor production facilities. Uniquely, to ensure utmost quality Cherwell do not package Redipor products straight from the filling line but first hold them to condition, additionally all products then undergo 100% inspection before final packing.

Demand for Cherwell’s Redipor products continues to rise as new customers experience the benefits of a flexible and reliable supply of these exceptionally high-quality prepared media products. Cherwell’s ability to deliver high volume efficiency with small volume flexibility has helped to increase its market share and develop more export markets, such as Poland. Careful selection of new partners in mainland Europe, has also contributed to securing new customers keen to benefit from a full adaptable service for their industrial microbiological prepared media.

Andy Whittard, Managing Director, Cherwell Laboratories, provided further insight into the reasons for Cherwell’s expanding market. “Despite growing interest in rapid methods, the traditional methods for environmental monitoring are still the most widely used and will continue to be for many years to come. This, coupled with some customers’ movement back to UK and European-based manufacturing, is seeing demand for prepared media continue to increase.”

As Cherwell’s production volumes increase from the current 6.5 million agar plates annually, the company will continue to add to its workforce to maintain its efficiency in supply. Cherwell has already recruited five new staff members since the completion of Phase I, with three additional new starters anticipated before the end of 2013.

“Phase II of our cleanroom extension will provide additional manufacturing space to allow us to invest in further production equipment, such as large scale plate filling systems, media preparators and autoclaves,” added Andy Whittard. “By carefully planning and controlling the works around our own production schedules and with our contractor, Envair Projects, we aim to minimise any impact to customers and product lead times.”