December 05, 2020
Contained and Flexible Granulation
Based on a long history of experience, thousands of
completed tests and with plants installed around the world,
we have established a solid base of manufacturing plant and
pharmaceutical process expertise. Highlighting the
importance of R&D, GEA offers three complementary
laboratory scale units, capable of processing batch
sizes from 50 g to more than 6 kg. GEA's completely contained
granulation line for R&D takes the process from dispensed
raw materials to finished tablet. The system offers unsurpassed
process flexibility - during high shear granulation,
pelletization and/or blending, etc. – in a totally contained
environment. It illustrates how GEA's inspired technology
can be used to provide a total solution that's tailored to
suit each user’s specific requirements, whether through integration
or split valve technology.
The system is aimed at producers of small quantities of highly
potent compounds. The intelligent contained handling systems
inherent in the GEA pilot plant allow it to be flexible,
efficient, clean and safe without the need for expensive,
bulky and difficult to clean isolator systems. Furthermore
the level of containment avoids the need for costly and
uncomfortable air-suits, allowing the users to focus on the
product, creating faster and more secure results.
Contained Product Transfer
The system includes examples of both rigid and disposable
product transfer technologies, offering containment down to
low nanogram levels. These options include
the disposable Hicoflex® system,
providing significantly lower capital and running costs
compared with rigid IBC technology and rapid product
changeover for improved plant utilization
the unique, modular Buck® MC Valve with
its simple design that enables complete container-to-container
transfer flexibility
the Buck® TC Valve, the highest performing
split valve available in the marketplace; by introducing a
wash step prior to valve separation, the Buck® TC Valve is
capable of low nanogram level performance.
Integrated Approach
All of these technologies are brought together in an integrated
process system that mimics the hundreds of large-scale
plants provided by GEA globally. It epitomizes the approach
of ensuring that customers receive the same technology from
the laboratory through to production, using the same containment
and process technologies to guarantee seamless scale-up and the
most flexible blend of process capabilities.