July 5, 2022 the topping out ceremony and the completion of the first stage of works related to the construction of the Center for Development and Production of Oncological Drugs Polfa SA in Tarchomin took place. It is a unique project in Poland and Europe and at the same time the largest investment of Tarchomińskie Zakłady Farmaceutyczne Polfa SA.
Under the contract, Budimex was responsible for the implementation of the shell of the building. The construction works lasted from November last year to June 2022. The new Centre for Development and Production of Oncological Drugs will have three main purposes – i.e. production of sterile molds and research and development (R&D) and quality control (KJ) laboratories.
– The period of implementation of the shell works, defining the scope of the current Budimex Agreement, and falling from November 2021 to June this year. He revealed how much the entire macroeconomic situation of the country is concentrated in a single construction project. Despite the prestige and size of our project of the New Centre for Research and Development of Sterile Forms, problems with supply and supply chains, intertwined with design difficulties, confirmed that crises severely affect every construction project, regardless of its parameters. The problems we encountered confirmed Tarchomińskie Zakłady Farmaceutyczne in the belief that in uncertain times it is worth having reliable business partners, and Budimex turned out to be such in this situation – says Robert Chabros, Project Manager of TZF Polfa SA.
As part of the first stage of work on the facility, Budimex carried out a number of activities consisting m.in. on the performance of earthworks, reinforced concrete, steel structure on the roof and the execution of a technological underfloor installation.
– The work was carried out during a very difficult economic period caused by the war in Ukraine, which resulted in interrupted supplies of materials both from Ukraine and through the embargo imposed on Russia and Belarus. This situation directly affected the availability of materials, employees as well as very large changes in the prices of building materials. Joint actions, a partnership approach to problems and flexibility in decisions made by the Ordering Party of TZF Polfa allowed for the implementation of the entrusted scope of the Contract. For the construction of the building, we made 12 thousand m3 of excavation, 10 thousand m3 of foundation backfill, 8,500 m3 of concrete and we built in 840 T of reinforcing steel and 60 T of steel substructure – comments Paweł Wróblewski, Contract Manager at Budimex SA.
The value of the works carried out under the contract, including additional works, amounted to over PLN 22 million. The contract was implemented in BIM technology, enabling control, editing of the construction project and operation in virtual space.
“The most difficult stage of the work was to keep the water table below 7 m from the ground level. For this purpose, it was necessary to pump water from the trench in the amount of 12,000 m3 per day. We performed the work in the winter in a two-shift system. Despite the aforementioned difficult economic and geopolitical situation and the related outflow of employees from Ukraine, we were able to ensure continuity of work and even increase employment under a contract. It was also quite a challenge to ensure the continuity of supply of materials, which forced the search for alternative sources of supply – adds Paweł Wróblewski.
– The completion of shell works is a special time for each investment, it closes the separation of potential problems from external factors, but opens a new one – particularly important, proper coordination of design works and internal and installation works. This is also the stage at the end of the works, which are usually distinguished by the highest pace of implementation. Therefore, all possible deadline accelerations have already been made, and we have a more difficult task ahead of us – to choose the right business partner and bring the project to completion within the assumed deadlines and budgets – sums up Robert Chabros.
