The Drug Delivery plant is the sole large-scale producer within Baxter of premixed, aseptically filled drugs. These drugs are aseptically filled because they are unstable at the temperatures required for a terminal sterilization process. In most cases they also require freezing to preserve stability and are stored and distributed in the frozen state.
We took a giant step in 1989 when we introduced the Galaxyä process. This revolutionary process represents state of the art technology in aseptic filling by removing human interaction in the actual filling process. It also significantly reduces packaging material and improves durability of the container system. Further reduction in packaging occurred when the Finishing rooms were converted to the Downstream Automated Packaging (DAP) process. Patient safety is enhanced through premixed formulations.
Today, Drug Delivery is considered the leading aseptic solution manufacturer in the U.S. and Galaxy is still the only commercially available aseptic filling process for premixed drugs in flexible IV bags. As such, we have grown to become the Aseptic Technical Center for Baxter's Medication Delivery Division.
Our employees work in two facilities that encompass a total of 240,000 square feet. We run a three shift, round-the-clock operation five days per week, with the ability to operate seven days a week, if necessary. We employ approximately 500 people, and are located in the culturally diverse Lake County area of Illinois.
Drug Delivery has won five Baxter Quality Awards. This prestigious award is won by those organizations that have achieved superior performance in meeting objective standards that represent business and quality excellence on a worldwide basis. It is patterned after the nationally recognized Malcolm Baldridge award. We were also recipients of the Environmental State-of-the-Art Award in 1993, the Governor's Pollution Prevention award in 1996, and the Lincoln Award for Progress Toward Excellence in 1999.
