Containment of potent powders
UK. Pharmaceutical manufacturer Aesica has chosen Buck® split butterfly valves from GEA Pharma Systems for contained transfer of potent powders at its new purpose-built, high-containment facility at Queenborough.
The site will include suites for blending, tabletting and blister packing along with HVAC, analytical and cleaning facilities. It will be completely separate from the rest of the company's manufacturing facilities to prevent any potential cross-contamination.
Buck's MC
(Modular Containment) Valve offers: passive-to-passive valve design with a
centralised actuation collar; free orientation to reduce operator docking
errors; modular containment - with 1 - 10 µg per cu m containment level as
standard; air cleaning actuator option to further improve containment
levels to less than 1 µg per cu m; elimination of vacuum clamping between
valve halves; simple maintenance - no lubrication of disc parts and fewer
component parts; and clean in place (CIP) (CIP) or Clean Out of Place
(COP) as standard.
The robust docking system utilises a new central actuator design to overcome potential misalignment from fabrication tolerances of container and docking station.
Valves were supplied by S3 Process, GEA exclusive agent for the UK market, who played a leading role in designing the materials handling solution and integration of valves into the processing line.
As the
contract manufacturing market for potent drugs continues to grow, Aesica believes that the investment in the new containment facility will enable it to significantly extend its formulation offering in the market. The new facility will be completed by June 2011 and, once operational, will enable the company to manufacture Schedule II controlled drugs such as opiates, as well as potent drugs typically classed as Safebridge category 3.
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15:57 07/04/2011
