Case Study
Trusted cleaning solutions for DFE Pharma’s pharmaceutical manufacturing facility
- The DFE Pharma Taranaki plant processes lactose-based excipients under strict hygiene standards
- Cleanliness is critical to prevent cross-contamination, especially in blueline zones that connect to sterile production areas
- CrestClean franchisees Dic Lumanglas and Flora Gaunt deliver tailored cleaning services, with daily attention to all internal blueline zones
- High-priority areas include control rooms, changing rooms, staff amenities, and the Environmental Load Out area
- Their consistent, detail-focused work has led to measurable improvements, with weekly testing showing reduced contamination risks
- Dic and Flora are praised for their professionalism, reliability, and strong communication, ensuring compliance and positive collaboration with plant operators
Our customer
DFE Pharma is a global leader in pharmaceutical excipient solutions, specialising in the development and production of high-quality excipients used in oral solid dose, respiratory, and parenteral formulations.
Their Taranaki-based plant focuses on processing lactose-based pharmaceutical excipients. The facility operates under stringent quality and safety standards, with a strong emphasis on hygiene and compliance. As a key part of DFE Pharma’s global supply chain, the Taranaki site supports innovation and high-performance formulations.
The challenge
As a supplier to pharmaceutical companies, DFE Pharma must uphold the highest standards of product quality. That starts with maintaining a clean, well-controlled manufacturing environment.
Key cleaning priorities include:
- Meeting strict pharmaceutical industry hygiene and compliance standards
- Adhering to rigorous health and safety regulations
- Maintaining consistent, exceptional cleanliness across all blueline zones, including the control room, offices, canteen, bathrooms, service corridors, warehouse, and changing areas. These transitional spaces connect general access areas to sterile production zones (the “redline”) and must be kept to the highest hygiene standards to prevent cross-contamination.
- Managing cleanliness of the Environmental Load Out area, a high-traffic logistics zone where finished pharmaceutical products are packed and prepared for dispatch.
The outcome
Since starting at DFE Pharma in February 2024, Dic and Flora have consistently demonstrated the professionalism required to maintain a pharmaceutical-grade environment. Key outcomes include:
Consistently high hygiene standards
Their exceptional attention to detail gives DFE Pharma confidence that hygiene standards are reliably met every day.
Measurable impact
Weekly testing of bacteria and yeast levels shows the clear impact of their thorough cleaning routines, with results consistently surpassing expectations and reducing contamination risks.
Positive collaboration and reliability
Dic and Flora’s approachable nature and commitment to going above and beyond make it easy for DFE Pharma operators to provide feedback and make additional cleaning requests.
Commitment to Health and Safety
Dic and Flora quickly adapted to the plant’s stringent health and safety protocols, ensuring their cleaning processes are fully compliant with DFE Pharma’s standards and industry regulations.
Site Manager Anita Scott highlight’s Dic and Flora’s positive impact, noting that the plant operators regularly acknowledge their exceptional work.
“The operators in the plant are very happy with them. They do a great job and communicate well.”
Anita Scott
“They’re always willing to stay if the operators ask them to do something extra.”
Site Manager, DFE Pharma
