IChemE Pharma Award recognises fully automated sterile filtration unit

At the IChemE Global Awards Ceremony for 2018, which was held recently in Manchester, Suncombe – along with GSK, ITT, PM Group – was delighted to be announced as part of the winning entry for the Pharma category. At the evening, to celebrate excellence, innovation and achievement in the chemical, biochemical and process industries, the Pharma Award went to the collaborative project to design and commission a fully automated sterile filtration unit; eliminating the risk of contamination, which can happen before or after sterilisation with a manual process. The objective was to design an automated, sterile filtration system, to transfer products in to a Grade C clean room. The system needed to allow for integrated and automated, filter integrity testing, with complete protection of the sterile system boundaries during the testing, carried out post-filter sterilisation. Suncombe was selected to undertake mechanical design and fabrication. Over 6 months, the team designed a fully automated, fully CIP and SIPable, skid with hard-piped, in-situ integrity testing, with no potential routes for contamination during post-sterilisation, pre-use, or integrity testing, with only the filter change remaining as a manual operation. Commenting on the Award Steve Overton, technical director at Suncombe said, “To be recognised with such a prestigious award is simply incredible. The makeup of the team was crucial to the success; it was a group of engineers who just clicked! Plus the client was totally supportive throughout the whole project. The great result is largely due to the combination of all the expertise, which brought out the best in everyone. We would like to thank the other team members involved for making this magnificent achievement possible,” he added. The unit offers several other benefits, including improved operational efficiency and cost effectiveness, as well as lowering the site's overall energy and utility resource requirements. For further information please contact: Dave Adams – Director Suncombe Ltd Tel: +44(0) 208 443 3454 E-Mail: mail@suncombe.com Web: www.suncombe.com About Suncombe: formed in 1961, the company designs and manufactures high quality cleaning, BioWaste Decontamination and critical processing systems for the Processing Industries. Expertise includes Cleaning In Place and Sterilising, Washers, BioWaste Effluent Treatment, Liquid Processing, Tanks and Vessels, Filter Skids, Processing Skids/Modules and bespoke processing solutions and projects for the BioPharma, Personal Care, Food & Beverage, Medical, Research and other critical processing Industries. The company has a worldwide network of agents and distributors. All machines are designed and built in the UK.

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