Steve Ruston PhD

Head of Pilot Plant Operations and Chemical R&D, Glaxo 1992-1996

Head of Chemical R&D and Chair, Pilot Plant Project Board, Pfizer R&D, 1996-2002

In Total Control (ITC) have made a major contribution to the design, commissioning, validation and successful operation to the two industry - leading chemical R&D Pilot Plants built for Glaxo and Pfizer during the last ten years.

The first, on the then brand new ca. $1billion Medicines Research Centre at Stevenage (UK), broke new ground with its design requirements for safe, segregated, multi-stream and regulatory compliant operation and therefore required a process control system commensurate with meeting the very challenging User Requirements set down at the start of the project.

Dave Bull led the in-house development team, and then successfully commissioned the plant taking it through to full operation. ITC's commitment, technical excellence and team working ensured that the plant was able to meet all chemical process control requirements from day one and provided a unique capability to the world-wide Glaxo research organisation of the time.

The second project, successfully completed in 2002, was built at Pfizer's European R&D headquarters at Sandwich (UK). Dave Bull and ITC were key members of the project team from the outset and through a creative application of existing and novel technologies, a hands-on approach to the design and commissioning process as well as a total focus on meeting or exceeding the client's requirements meant that this facility has set the benchmark for projects of this type. It should also be noted that the selection, design, installation, commissioning and validation components of the project were delivered on time and under budget.

In light of ITC's contributions outlined above I would strongly recommend they be considered for future process control projects of this nature.