Production Systems

Automatic Future

Christopher Procyshyn at Vanrx Pharmasystems Inc looks at high mix, low volume manufacturing of aseptic parenteral dosages, and considers how robotic applications may lead to a more effective production cycle.

Construction & Technology

Setting the Scene

The first instalment of a two-part article sees Tim Sandle at Bio Products Laboratory and Madhu Raju Saghee atGland Pharma discuss the structure and air management of cleanrooms for pharmaceutical production, giving insight into the best process for their construction.

Air Filtration

On Air

Rob Flaherty at Trion looks at the fan filter unit (FFU) – an important technology for effective cleanroom filtration – and points out the need for more energy-efficient FFUs in the face of higher environmental standards.

Contamination Assessment

Need for Speed

Rapid microbial methods are showing themselves to be the superior form of contamination assessment in pharmaceutical product manufacturing. Cindy Lieberman at Celsis International Ltd highlights the timeline benefits that these techniques provide.

Device Manufacturing and Production

The Whole Proof

A thorough and well-designed proof-of-principle test for pharmaceutical manufacturing machinery can ensure longterm equipment performance, and avoids undesirable labour and expensive remedial action, concludes Tobias Zill at Sortimat, an ATS affiliate.

Automation and Robotics

Fixed Agenda

Peter Cavallo at DENSO Sales California presents the benefits of small assembly robots, which offer a level of adaptability above and beyond that of fixed solutions, allowing manufacturers to cut costs and enjoy a more flexible workflow.

Device Manufacturing

The Right Idea

The skills and experience required to create a high level inhalation device are extensive, and the search for the right partner must be undertaken with several requirements in mind, explains Louise Righton at 3M Drug Delivery Systems.

Cool Chain

Monitoring Value

The special treatment required by parenteral products creates a significant challenge for the cold chain management company. Olivier Simonnot at Sensitech Inc identifies factors that can assist the process, including good warehousing practice.

Temperature-Controlled

Packaging Simplicity Rules

Andrew J Mills at Intelsius analyses the changing trends in drug development and how these will affect the logistics process, resulting in packaging that is tailored to smaller volume but higher value products.

Delivery Devices

Health and Safety

Ludwig Weibel at Treff AG explores patient requirements for parenteral drugs, and considers how a user-friendly approach can influence the specification for the ideal reconstitution device.

Controlled Release Technology

Sphere of Influence

An expansion in the market for extended release products is expected in the near future, with technologies such as biodegradable PLGA-based microspheres playing a considerable role. Márcio Temtem and José Luís Santos at Hovione SA describe the key characteristics of this delivery platform.

Injectable Drug Delivery Systems

Eye on the Needle

The growing demand for advances in fully automatic needle handling systems is leading to real progress in injectable drug delivery device design, as Thomas Jakob at RAUMEDIC AG explains.

Coding and Labelling

The Elephant in the Room

Several problems with the management of serialisation data have come to the fore recently but, as Magnar Loken at Kezzler AS explains, delivering a system that can combine zero latency, high-volume data management and quick query response times may provide a solution.

Primary Packaging

Material World

Stephen J Duckworth at Clariant International gives a breakdown of material change in primary packaging, and looks at the effect of extractables and leachables, while balancing the need for packaging to branch out in a competitive market.

Powder Processing

Site Secrets

Paul Stanway of Powder Systems Ltd discusses how strong powder processing systems are enabling API manufacturing to become more powerful and streamlined, with reference to pertinent realworld applications.

Dosage Forms

Smarter Particle Sizing

As Carl Levoguer at Malvern Instruments shows, the latest particle sizing systems offer ideal resolution levels across broad measurement ranges, effi cient dry dispersion and a small footprint, enabling a higher level of particle assessment than ever before.

Dehydration Technology

High and Dry

Parastoo Yaghmaee at EnWave Corporation presents an alternative to lyophilisation that promises to handle larger dehydration projects in shorter timeframes, cutting manufacturing costs in the process.