Gwent-based pharmaceutical manufacturer Penn Pharma has won an international award from The 2014 ISPE Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) programme.

Penn Pharma, which is based in Tredegar, won the Facility Integration category for its recently completed oral solid dose contained manufacturing project.

The Facility Integration award recognises excellence in conceptual planning, good design practices, excellent processing outcomes and functional excellence. FOYA is a premier global awards programme that recognises innovation and creativity in manufacturing facilities serving the healthcare industry.

ISPE, the sponsor of the Facility of the Year Awards program, gave the following rationale for selecting Penn for this honour : “The judging panel was impressed with Penn’s quick and focused results in the creation of a new solid dose facility that could manufacture 1kg to 120kg batch sizes, using full containment with an ability to process multiple products at the same time.

“As the pharmaceutical industry is going for more targeted and niche medicines instead of blockbusters, flexible facilities are of critical importance to the pharmaceutical industry.”

Penn Pharma officially opened its new contained manufacturing facility at its site in South Wales in September last year and has since seen the world class facility draw in clients from around the world.

Penn Pharma chief executive Richard Yarwood said: “We are very proud of our new facility which showcases state-of-the-art technology and manufacturing processes. For it to be given this Facility of the Year category award is true recognition of the innovation, dedication and technical expertise that has led to its success.”

Mark Dean Netscher, chief operating officer, said: “The most outstanding aspect of this project, is the commitment of the core project team from Penn. A small number of subject matter experts, with empowerment and great teamwork, have demonstrated a ‘best in class’ delivery of a complex and demanding facility design and build.”