Engineering Firm CRB Named ISPE Company of the Year

The Kansas City-based firm is the first to win the award four times, setting a benchmark for technical manufacturing standards.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Healthcare

Engineering Firm CRB Named ISPE Company of the Year

The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) has named Kansas City-based CRB as its 2026 Company of the Year. This marks the fourth time the professional services firm has received the honor, a first for any company in the organization's history.

Why it matters

For firms in the life sciences and food and beverage sectors, this recognition serves as an industry benchmark for engineering and consulting partners. It highlights the growing importance of technical expertise and best-practice adherence in high-stakes pharmaceutical manufacturing environments.

CRB has received the ISPE Company of the Year award four times, including previous wins in 2000, 2012, and 2019. The firm was the first professional services company to ever receive this honor, which is awarded based on support for technical best practices in manufacturing.

The players

CRB

A Kansas City-based engineering, architecture, and construction firm serving the life sciences and food and beverage industries.

International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering

An industry organization that establishes technical standards and best practices for pharmaceutical manufacturing.

The details

The ISPE award recognizes service providers that demonstrate a commitment to advancing technical standards in pharmaceutical manufacturing. CRB provides an integrated suite of engineering, architecture, construction, and consulting solutions. By aligning their internal operations with these industry-vetted best practices, the firm helps its clients navigate the complex technical and regulatory demands of production environments.

CRB first won the ISPE award in 2000.
The firm received subsequent honors in 2012 and 2019.
The 2026 award was announced on October 28, 2026.

Market Landscape

This award cements CRB's standing within the ISPE Company of the Year tradition as the first firm to secure four wins. The achievement tracks with the firm's historical leadership in the life sciences engineering space, distinguishing its service model from peers in the sector.

Operators in life sciences should monitor service providers that align with established technical best practices to reduce operational risk. Evaluating vendors against professional standards like those recognized by the ISPE can improve manufacturing project outcomes.

The takeaway

CRB's repeated recognition by the ISPE signals the high value the market places on standardized technical consulting in facility development. Facility managers should audit their current engineering partners for active participation in industry-led technical associations to ensure they stay current on evolving manufacturing protocols.