Note: Names of organizations, offices, departments, etc. in the article are as of when the article was first published.
Hello, my name is Keisuke Katafuchi from the T&D UK office.
In my first article, I would like to introduce our visit to Biofarm, a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Poznań, Poland.
The visit was arranged in connection with our participation in LABS EXPO 2026 (read our exhibition report), which was held in Poznań. Taking advantage of this opportunity, we were able to speak with representatives of Biofarm, which uses T&D products for temperature monitoring, and hear their valuable insights.
The first things I noticed when we visited Poznań were the beauty of the city and the friendly attitude towards Japan. On several occasions, people spoke to me in Japanese in cafés and restaurants, which made me feel a strong sense of familiarity with the people of Poland.
At the same time, I wondered why there was such a positive feeling towards Japan. During this interview, I was able to hear an explanation from Mr. Łukasz Konwicki and Mr. Grzegorz Smardz of Biofarm.
| Date | 20 March, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Place | Biofarm in Poznań, Poland |
| Models in Use | RTR-500NW, RTR-507, RTR-505Pt |
| Purpose | Temperature monitoring in pharmaceutical laboratories, storage rooms and refrigerators, and preparation of reports for audits |
Could you briefly introduce Biofarm?
Biofarm
Biofarm is a family-owned pharmaceutical company headquartered in Poznań, Poland, and has been operating for more than 30 years.
The company researches, develops and manufactures pharmaceutical products, mainly generic medicines, and has a strong corporate culture focused on quality.
What types of pharmaceutical products do you mainly manufacture?
Biofarm
Biofarm mainly develops and manufactures generic medicines.
Its products are primarily designed to treat lifestyle-related and other common diseases in modern society, covering a wide range of therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular and neurological conditions.
The company’s product portfolio includes more than 180 products, approximately 80% of which are developed in-house. Biofarm also manufactures specialised medicines for hospital use that are not distributed through the general consumer market.
The company develops approximately three to four new products each year, and the development process generally takes around four to five years.
What would you say are your company’s main strengths?
Biofarm
Our greatest strength is our people. In addition to the passion and dedication of our employees, we place strong emphasis on investing in education and employee development. Our core values are “people, family and health”, and Polish and Ukrainian employees work together across the organisation.
We are also actively involved in humanitarian initiatives. Following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, we provided approximately 10 tonnes (about 11 U.S. tons) of medicines shortly after the conflict began and have continued to provide support to this day. We also contribute to society by employing Ukrainian people. This people-centred corporate culture is one of the main strengths supporting the manufacture of high-quality products.
For what purpose was the temperature monitoring system introduced?
Biofarm
Biofarm introduced its temperature monitoring system between 2019 and 2020. In the pharmaceutical industry, maintaining product quality and complying with regulatory requirements are extremely important. The system was therefore introduced to improve the accuracy of temperature monitoring and reduce risk.
The main objective was to prevent problems from occurring in manufacturing and storage environments and to establish a stable quality management system. The system was also intended to automate data recording and improve the efficiency of regulatory compliance and audit preparation.
What led Biofarm to introduce T&D data loggers?
Biofarm
The process began when Biofarm learned that a major Polish pharmaceutical company had already introduced a large number of T&D data loggers. Through technical explanations and detailed operational proposals provided by Piotr from ACHEM, the local distributor, Biofarm determined that the solution was well suited to its requirements and decided to introduce it. When selecting the system, the relationship and communication with the distributor were extremely important. Despite the difficult circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic, Piotr provided extensive support throughout the entire implementation process.
Did you compare the system with products from other companies before making your decision?
Biofarm
Before introducing the current system, Biofarm had been using several different data logger systems. However, the company was looking for a comprehensive monitoring system with automatic measurement and automatic data transmission functions. Among the options considered, Biofarm highly valued the suitability of ACHEM’s SENSODIS software for its operational requirements, as well as the completeness of its management functions. Combined with the reliable hardware provided by T&D, the overall solution was considered the best fit for the company’s needs.
How do you evaluate the current temperature monitoring system after using it in practice?
Biofarm
The system has been in use for approximately six years and has operated without any problems. Biofarm highly values both the SENSODIS software provided by ACHEM and the T&D hardware. The company is planning to update the system in the future. However, in the pharmaceutical industry, even a small change may require validation and risk assessment, so the process will be carried out carefully.
T&D is a Japanese manufacturer. Was this a factor in your purchasing decision?
Biofarm
Biofarm was aware that the products were made in Japan. The general perception in Poland that Japanese products are of high quality was one of the factors considered during the product selection process. After Poland’s transition to democracy, the country’s first president spoke about building “a second Japan”, presenting Japan’s economic development as an ideal model.
Although this expression was later used in various ways in political discussions, it shows how strongly Japan was regarded at the time as a symbol of economic success. Because of this historical background, many people in Poland continue to have a positive and respectful view of Japan.
Reflections on the Visit
Through this visit and interview, I strongly felt how much Biofarm values people. The company is thoroughly committed to product safety and quality control, and we could clearly sense its strong desire to support the health and well-being of the customers who ultimately use its products.
It was also impressive to hear how highly Biofarm values the enthusiasm of Piotr from ACHEM and his sincere commitment to providing good service, and how this relationship contributed to the decision to introduce T&D products. These points also gave us a clear insight into Biofarm’s corporate culture.
We would like to thank everyone at Biofarm for taking the time to show us around the facilities and participate in this interview.
