2008-11-11 - Provided major support for recent PAT conference with Validation Academy at BTEC
Raleigh, North Carolina, November 11, 2008 – As part of its ongoing mission to educate the next generation of biotech workers, the North Carolina Community College System’s BioNetwork Validation Academy recently held a seminar that focused on the practical use of Process Analytical Technology (PAT) for Life Science manufacturers. ABB co-sponsored the one-day event, which was part of Validation Academy’s 2008 Excitement Series; ABB PAT expert Thomas Buijs presented a seminar on “Turning Data into Knowledge.”
As an emerging quality control concept in the biopharma industries, PAT is increasingly gaining worldwide acceptance as a proven method of ensuring product safety and quality by many industry experts. ABB has established expertise and has been at the forefront of developing solutions and standards for the implementation of PAT. ABB’s Buijs joined other international experts, as well as representatives from life sciences companies, and biotech students at the event.
Held at BTEC (Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center) on Centennial campus at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, the conference was part of an educational initiative to present new and emerging technologies that will affect the region’s rapidly expanding Life Sciences industries.
“ABB is committed to sharing our expertise and best practices with future generations of Life Science industry professionals, to show them that this an incredibly interesting and dynamic industry and to give them the technical foundation that they will need as they go forward in their careers,” said Mark Reed, ABB Principal Account Manager for the Life Sciences industry. “Our continued support of the BTEC training facility underscores this commitment.”
ABB has been actively working with BTEC since it first opened in 2007; the training and education center includes a state-of-the-art pilot scale biomanufacturing facility to provide advanced hands-on training for its students. The facility uses ABB’s System 800xA Extended Automation, as well as ABB instrumentation, analyzers and variable speed drives to control the process and provide the real time data management, retrieval and recordkeeping needed for release of batches and to meet regulatory requirements. The use of ABB technology at the site helps to educate the students within a current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) environment, and show them the benefits offered by the next generation of manufacturing technology.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 120,000 people. The company's North American operations, headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, employ about 12,000 people in 20 manufacturing and other major facilities.
ABB PAT expert Thomas Buijs discusses "Turning Data into Knowledge" with a group of students.