Emerson to Automate China Pharmaceutical Plant

Emerson Process Management has been chosen to design and install its PlantWeb digital plant architecture to digitally automate Shanghai CP Guojian Pharmaceutical Company’s new API production suite, which it claims, will have the largest mammalian cell-culture system in Asia. Located in the Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park in Shanghai, the new plant is expected to begin producing the first monoclonal antibody drugs in China by August, 2008.

Emerson was selected by M+W Zander of Shanghai, the engineering procurement contractor, to design the plant’s automation approach to take advantage of PlantWeb architecture with FOUNDATION fieldbus instrumentation for networking intelligent process instrumentation. The PlantWeb approach will use its DeltaV digital automation system to also integrate variable frequency drives using DeviceNet, and all On/Off valves using Asi bus. Emerson claims integration with the DeltaV systems speeds installation and commissioning, and also includes DeltaV Batch software for process optimization and streamlined compliance.

Emerson is also supplying its AMS Suite software that communicates with smart field devices. Later, AMS Suite will be used to monitor diagnostics running in field instrumentation and alert plant personnel to issues. The instrumentation includes Emerson’s Rosemount temperature transmitters, pressure transmitters, and flow meters as well as Fisher control valves with FIELDVUE digital valve controllers are also being deployed in key locations throughout the process.

“Emerson has demonstrated high capability in pharmaceutical applications, and their engineers are very experienced in adapting the fieldbus technology to batch production systems,” said David Liu, project manager for M+W Zander. “Our customer has great confidence in their ability to deliver an advanced solution for this unique process.”