The Bayer SOLIDA-1 project was honored with two prestigious ISPE Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA). One award was presented in the “Operational Excellence” category, and the other in the “Pharma 4.0” category. This double recognition highlights both the facility’s outstanding operational performance and the high level of maturity in its digitalization and automation.

For the Glatt Group, these awards are an impressive confirmation of its role as a comprehensive solution provider for highly complex production facilities.

Early entry and compelling concept in the Bayer Design Contest

More than five years ago, engineers from Glatt Process & Plant Engineering Pharma + Biotech at Glatt Ingenieurtechnik GmbH began the conceptual development of the plant as part of a design contest initiated by Bayer. The submitted overall concept impressed Bayer. Glatt won the competition, thereby laying the crucial foundation for the subsequent successful SOLIDA-1 project.
In the subsequent project phases, Glatt’s process and plant designers provided continuous support for the project and were responsible for key elements of the facility.
These include the layout, system functions, and automation of the entire plant. In doing so, Glatt made a significant contribution both to the plant’s subsequent operational excellence and to the implementation of a Pharma 4.0-capable plant concept.

AMF module: Glatt as an integrated system partner

A central component of the project is the AMF module, for which Glatt was able to convince Bayer AG to equip it almost entirely with Glatt systems. Glatt handled the container logistics as well as the complete system integration of the involved plants.
Even at this early stage, a close and highly constructive collaboration across multiple Glatt locations was evident. Diverse expertise in engineering, plant construction, automation, and integration was strategically pooled. This was an essential prerequisite for the project’s overall success.

High demands. Strong commitment. Tangible success.

With the commissioning of the plants, numerous employees within the Glatt Group were closely involved in the project. SOLIDA-1 presented significant technical, organizational, and time-related challenges. The project demanded a great deal from everyone involved and was not always easy.
This makes the two FOYA Awards all the more significant today, highlighting Glatt’s quality, performance, and integration capabilities as a solution provider for sophisticated pharmaceutical and process plants.

PFC (G Connect): A milestone in process automation

As part of the project implementation, another important milestone was reached with the development of PFC (G Connect) as a central component of in-house process automation.
This solution enables the seamless integration of individual systems into a continuous end-to-end process. It is thus a key enabler for digital, networked production concepts in line with Pharma 4.0.
The experience gained in the SOLIDA-1 project also forms an important foundation for future automation and integration solutions within the Glatt Group.

Thanks to everyone involved

Bayer SOL1’s receipt of two FOYA Awards is above all a success for the people behind the project. A heartfelt thank you goes to all employees who contributed to this success with their great dedication, professional expertise, and team spirit.
It is a joint success.