Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR) on Feb. 21 announced that Divi’s Laboratories (NSE: DIVISLAB), one of the largest active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) companies in the world, has selected Juniper to deliver a highly available, ultra-reliable, secure, AI-driven networking platform across its manufacturing operations, comprising the largest API manufacturing facilities in the world. Headquartered in Hyderabad, India, Divi’s Labs strategically partners with many of the world’s leading pharma companies, manufacturing and custom synthesizing APIs for products used in over 95 countries including antidepressants, blood pressure medicine, antihistamines and more. In addition, its nutraceutical division also makes vitamins and beta-carotenes used in supplements, food and beverages sold globally.
As recounted in a press release, Divi’s currently operates two manufacturing sites which run 24/7 near Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam in India, with a third under construction. Collectively, these operations make up the largest API manufacturing facilities globally, with a gross total of 14,500sqm of manufacturing space spread across over 64 buildings in the two sites. Due to its stringent quality-control processes, Divi's required an ultra-reliable network that could securely transfer data at line rate between its two plants without any packet loss. After experiencing difficulties managing and monitoring its network with its previous legacy solution, the pharma manufacturer decided to embark on a network refresh with Juniper that would future-proof several operational requirements.
Juniper Networks reports that the network refresh in provided included reliable Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) and PoE+ switching to drive Divi's wireless infrastructure, while providing for organization-wide network visibility, easy onboarding and manageability. Further, Divi's Labs required high-capacity uplinks and multigigabit downlinks to meet growing data exchange needs, as well as the ability to reduce power consumption to meet Divi's sustainability commitments. As such, within each pharma site, Divi’s Labs is utilizing the Juniper EX4600 series as core/distribution switches, while the company's EX3400 and EX2300 switches provide connectivity to critical network resources including Wi-Fi access points.
In addition, Divi's data center also fully runs on Juniper gear, driving critical manufacturing processes such as formula management, batch tracking, quality control, compliance tracking and production scheduling. Finally, across the network, MACsec encryption on the Juniper EX switches provide for crucial point-to-point security, while the Juniper Virtual Chassis technology allows Divi’s IT teams to swiftly and easily configure, manage and upgrade multiple EX switches as if they were a single device.
Juniper said the network upgrades have provided Divi’s Labs with a highly secure, highly available and ultra-reliable network to continue producing world-class APIs.
"This is crucial as its business continues to scale up, especially in the pharmaceutical sector where life-saving drugs are created round-the-clock and in which uptime is paramount to ensure the most stringent of quality controls. For Divi’s Labs, dropped packets and network interruptions are now a thing of the past," concluded Juniper's statement.
Sajan Paul, managing director and country manager, India & SAARC, Juniper Networks, commented:
“Especially in recent years, we have seen just how critical the pharma industry’s place is in our global ecosystem. We are excited to be able to partner with Divi’s Labs and to power a dependable, efficient, and highly secure IT infrastructure across their manufacturing operations. We remain committed to enabling them to deliver even more innovative services to their employees and customers.”
Manoranjan Jasti, chief information officer, Divi’s Laboratories, remarked:
“Quality is at the heart of our business. With our manufacturing operations running 24/7, network services are mission-critical with any disruptions having the potential to cause significantly negative impact on production. We are delighted to have found a partner in Juniper who can deliver a reliable, flexible, and secure network across our facilities. This has in-turn allowed us to focus on supporting our production, research, development, and quality control operations – all crucial towards delivering our world-class APIs for critical pharma products utilized across the world.”
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