Precis engineers author chapter, “Addressing Sustainability in Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Facility Design” in the Encyclopedia of Industrial Biotechnology, published in June.

Four engineers from Precis Engineering, Inc. authored the chapter “Addressing Sustainability in Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Facility Design” in the Encyclopedia of Industrial Biotechnology: Bioprocess, Bioseparation, and Cell Technology published online 22 June 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. The print edition of the encyclopedia will be available later this year.

Precis Engineering Director of Project Management Josh Capparella, PE, LEED AP BD+C; Principal Sam Colucci, PE, CEM, LEED AP BD+C; Mechanical Engineer Daniel Conner, EIT; and Principal Robert Dick, PE, coauthored the chapter with AGW Communications Principal, writer, and frequent Precis collaborator, Amanda Gibney Weko.

The chapter focuses on the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) aspects of biopharmaceutical facility design and how these contribute to more efficient building and process operations and manufacturing. Sustainability guidelines are driven by the triple-bottom-line approach – supporting people, planet, and profits.

“Our engineering approach supports our clients’ business operations and profitability,” explains Precis founder and co-author Dick. “We design systems and utilities where functionality within specific parameters isn’t just a guideline – it’s a requirement. In our focus on technically challenging engineering, we found that sustainable design is not only good for the environment, but is also good for business.”

From the chapter:

The engineering approach to sustainable biopharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing facility design examines holistic optimization and integrates two primary concerns – using the least amount of energy and resources while generating as much biopharmaceutical or vaccine product as efficiently as possible. Sustainable engineering design is quite simple: evaluate consumption; maximize efficiency of output. The integration of sustainability into both process technology and business productivity yields the most positive outcome for the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profits . . . Regardless of justification for sustainability, a biopharmaceutical facility can achieve significant process improvement by evaluating energy consumption. The complex engineering systems integrated into biomanufacturing facilities present depth of opportunity. 

Chapter Reference

J. Capparella, S. Colucci, D. Conner, R. Dick, and A. Weko, Addressing Sustainability in Biomanufacturing Facility Design, in M.C. Flickinger (ed.), Encyclopedia of Industrial Biotechnology, Published Online: 22 JUN 2017, DOI: 10.1002/9780470054581.eib667, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. For more information, visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9780470054581.eib667/abstract.

About the Encyclopedia of Industrial Biotechnology

The Encyclopedia of Industrial Biotechnology: Bioprocess, Bioseparation, and Cell Technology is a key, up-to-date resource for the global biotechnology industry. It is based on the Encyclopedia of Bioprocess Technology (Flickinger and Drew, 1999) and the Encyclopedia of Cell Technology (Spier, 2000). The content was fully revised, updated, and expanded to present all vital aspects – theoretical and practical – of industrial biological processes, techniques, equipment, products, as well as ethical and regulatory issues. For more information, visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/book/10.1002/9780470054581.

About Precis Engineering

Precis Engineering offers strategically sensitive and technically complex engineering services to support clients’ business goals. The Precis team provides mechanical, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, fire protection, life safety, and process automation engineering and commissioning services for clients in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, university, utility, and research and development markets. The firm has been honored for its engineering leadership and sustainable approach, with project recognition including the LEED Gold Morphotek Pilot Plant, winner of an ISPE Facility of the Year Sustainable Design award. 2017 marks the company’s 12th year in practice. For additional information, visit www.precisengineering.com.