Sector

Ambitious expansion plans achieved at Abingdon Health through delivery of cutting-edge wet and dry lab facilities.

In 2021, Merit was appointed to design and deliver a state-of-the-art wet and dry lab facilities for Abingdon Health in York, supporting their mission to produce life-saving lateral flow testing equipment crucial in the fight against COVID-19. This new facility not only enhances Abingdon Health’s pioneering advancements in rapid testing technology but also significantly boosts their manufacturing capacity, helping to meet the growing demand for critical diagnostics.

Our cutting-edge offsite manufacturing capabilities were key to meeting the tight 13-week project deadline and staying within budget. With over 90% of the project manufactured in our smart factory in Cramlington, we were able to streamline the process, reducing timelines and cutting costs, all while maintaining the highest quality.

This facility marks the first phase of Abingdon Health’s exciting expansion plans, further cementing their role as leaders in diagnostics.

Client: Abingdon Health
Location: York
Sector: Life Sciences
Project: Wet and dry lab facilities
Value: £2,200,000

Key Features

Delivery of a £2.2m wet and dry lab facilities
Installation of 29 Pre-Assembled Modules (PAMs) manufacted offsite at Merit’s Cramlington-based smart factory
Certified ISO 8 Dry Rooms
Enhanced infection control embedded solution
Health Building Notes (HBN) and Health Technical Memoranda (HTM) compliant in line with the agreed client scope

Challenges and Solutions

•Rapid project delivery: The targeted 13-week timeline was successfully achieved, enabling the client to commence operations promptly and seamlessly.

•Future-Proof Design: Despite initial client specifications limited to Phase 1 development, Merit's standardised platform design allowed for seamless reconfiguration, ensuring adaptability for future expansion and subsequent phases.

Key Outcomes

90% Pre-Manufactured Value (PMV): Indicates a high degree of offsite manufacturing, significantly reducing on site consumption, time and labour.
Guaranteed, early fixed price cost certainty: showcasing Merit’s commitment to adhering to project budget.
13 weeks project duration: Merit’s expert in-house team delivered the facility in a third of the time compared to traditional methods of construction.
Certified as Zero Scope 1 Carbon Enabled, BREEAM Excellent and EPC-A rated: The facility meets high environmental standards.

Oliver Gardner

Chief Operations Officer
Abingdon Health

“
Merit acted as a true partner, carrying out the build in and around our normal operations and minimising disruption for our Research and Development and manufacturing teams. ”