Critical Environments Columns

  1. Modulus Brings Home Top Award At 2026 FOYAs 10/31/2026

    The ingenuity on display went well beyond the latest equipment. From technological innovation and operational excellence to sustainability and supply chain solutions, the FOYAs celebrated how facility design brings these pieces together to create a superior working environment.

  2. Designing Pharma Facilities For Change, Not Just Capacity 10/28/2026

    Pharmaceutical innovation is making drug manufacturing more complex—and placing new demands on facility design. Accommodating today’s processes is no longer enough. Facilities must also be able to change. Modular design offers a way to build that adaptability into the facility itself.

  3. 6 Reasons Pharma Manufacturing Has Eyes On Puerto Rico 8/1/2026

    Several advantages explain why Puerto Rico continues to attract pharma investment, especially as manufacturers reassess supply chain risk and look for options closer to the U.S. mainland.

  4. Bayer Adds A Spine To Modularity For Scale Without Disruption 7/16/2026

    Modular facility concepts offer a different path, giving manufacturers the ability to expand capacity stepwise, standardize core infrastructure, and adapt production environments as product portfolios evolve

  5. 7 Facilities Pilot PreCheck for Faster Approval 7/13/2026

    A more streamlined path to operational new pharmaceutical facilities in the U.S. may be on the horizon. Nearly a year after the PreCheck Pilot Program was introduced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2025, the first seven participating facilities have been announced.

  6. Engineering Challenges In Designing Pharmaceutical Isolators 7/7/2026

    Designing pharmaceutical barrier systems requires balancing strict cleanliness with practical engineering. Explore key factors for optimizing airflow and ergonomics.

  7. How To Avoid The Biggest USP <665> Compliance Trap 6/30/2026

    U.S. Pharmacopeia General Chapter <665> went into effect May 1. One expert explains why complex bioprocessing equipment trains present a greater obstacle than you might think.

  8. Inside Chugai's Digital Infrastructure Strategy 6/29/2026

    When a facility is fully automated and designed for manufacturing flexibility, it needs a digital infrastructure that pulls the systems together, reports data accurately and efficiently, and recognizes areas for continuous improvement.

  9. What Biopharma Often Overlooks In A Scheduled Shutdown 6/26/2026

    Shutting down an operating biologics facility upsets systems often designed for continuous operation. One expert shares his tips for preventing unnecessary problems.

  10. Chugai Accelerates Automation To Boost Operational Efficiency 6/3/2026

    What do you do when tasked with producing drugs of different molecular sizes, including highly potent compounds, in the same facility on a global scale? You tap technological advances in automation, modular design for flexibility, and tie it together with systems that enable real-time data.