Rapid Deployment of Vaccine Production Facility During COVID-19
Client: Confidential Global Biopharmaceutical Manufacturer
Project Overview
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, CIS was engaged as an essential contractor to support the rapid development of a UK-based vaccine production facility.
The project required the receipt, handling, lifting, and precision placement of approximately £170 million worth of highly specialised biopharmaceutical plant and equipment, all within an accelerated and constantly evolving programme.
The Challenge
The global urgency to produce vaccines created an unprecedented engineering and logistics challenge:
Tight, non-negotiable timelines driven by public health priorities
Continuous delivery of high-value, sensitive equipment
Requirement for millimetre-precision installation
A live, fast-paced construction environment with multiple disciplines working simultaneously
Key equipment included:
Large-scale lyophilisers (freeze-drying systems) weighing up to 32 tonnes
Specialist pharmaceutical processing and storage units
Critical infrastructure supporting vaccine production
Why CIS Was Selected
CIS was appointed based on:
A long-standing, trusted relationship with the Principal Contractor
Extensive experience in pharmaceutical and high-spec environments
Proven ability to deliver complex lifting and logistics under pressure
CIS was the sole provider considered for this scope.
Our Role & Responsibilities
As designated Essential Workers, CIS was responsible for:
Receiving and managing all incoming equipment deliveries
Planning and executing safe lifting operations
Positioning assets with extreme accuracy across the facility
Collaborating closely with multi-disciplinary engineering teams
CIS operated as a fully integrated part of the site delivery team, aligned to the shared objective of bringing a vaccine facility online in record time.
Adapting to a Dynamic Environment
The project was characterised by constant change:
Operations were highly fluid, requiring rapid planning and execution
Many lifts represented new or unusually complex challenges
Timeframes were often reduced to short-notice execution windows
CIS responded with:
Agile planning processes
On-the-ground problem solving
Continuous coordination with stakeholders
Equipment & Methods
To meet the demands of the project, CIS deployed a wide range of specialist equipment, including:
Forklift trucks and telehandlers of varying capacities
Machine skates and precision movement systems
A-frame gantries, slings, and lifting tackle
Mobile workshop support vehicles
Additionally, CIS managed and operated:
Two of the largest mobile cranes available in the UK
Specialist container-lifting vehicles for unique handling requirements
This combination enabled safe handling of extremely heavy, sensitive, and high-value assets.
Results
✅ Zero damage across all equipment installations
✅ Successful placement of all assets, including 32-tonne lyophilisers
✅ Delivered within a high-pressure, accelerated programme
✅ Supported the rapid establishment of a critical vaccine production facility
Client Feedback
“I have worked closely with CIS for over 15 years. They are known throughout the industry and are first on the lips for good reason. Their experience in this sector is second to none, and their ability to deliver difficult scopes to aggressive timelines safely and competently is exceptional.
My team and I have worked closely with David Leppenwell and the wider CIS group, who all have an agile, problem-solving ethos that fits perfectly with our Client’s expectations.
In essence, for difficult rigging, lifting and shifting, we don’t go to anyone else.”
Desmond O’Sullivan
Construction Director, Adamson Pharma
Key Takeaways
This project highlights CIS’ ability to:
Operate effectively within critical, time-sensitive environments
Deliver precision lifting solutions for high-value assets
Integrate seamlessly with multi-disciplinary teams
Maintain zero-damage performance under pressure
