In pharmaceutical development, speed is decisive. Shorter development and processing times translate into faster market entry, unlocking substantial value by extending the effective patent life of an API. One of the biggest time sinks is time-to-process. Modular manufacturing offers a powerful solution.
Instead of designing chemical synthesis plants from the ground up, modular manufacturing allows facilities to be built from pre-engineered, plug-and-produce units. This enables companies to assemble their processing plants from existing components rather than developing new infrastructure for each late-stage project or market launch.
Microinnovas FlowKiloLab簧 and FlowTonPlant systems show what this future looks like. By combining modular equipment with a modular automation concept based on the Module Type Package (MTP) standard, they enable faster, more flexible, and more sustainable chemical production. Standardized modules can reduce time-to-process by up to 50%, while supporting seamless scale-up from lab to full-scale production. This approach even opens the door to new business models, such as rapid-response production for emergency medicines. Go with Plug-and-Produce instead of building a plant system.
At the core of this strategy is modular automation. With the MTP standard, essentially USB for chemical plants, each module comes with its own automation layer. This eliminates the need for dedicated automation engineers and allows process engineers to configure systems directly. Recent developments, such as modular kilo-lab systems that fit inside walk-in fume hoods, demonstrate how compact and agile small-scale manufacturing can become.
Industry leaders are already moving. Hovione is serving as a development test partner, providing real-world feedback, while Merck has implemented the modular automation approach on the scale of an entire development building.
Its time to Plug, Produce, Customize, Repeat.
Or simply: Produce the next API.
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