Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Custom-made Machine Tools

Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Custom-made Machine Tools

A custom-made machine tool, whether dedicated to the biotechnology or pharma, is created for sterile processes. Unlike traditional standard machine tool, it is distinguished by its specificity and technical originality. Generally, it is manufactured as a single once-off tool in order to meet specific assembly, test, manufacturing, packaging or distribution needs for specific products. Tailor-made machine tools can be semi-automated or fully automated.

Custom-made Machine Tool Usefulness

 

The aim of designing a custom-made machine tools for biotechnology and pharmaceuticals  is to limit manual handling and simplify handling. Risks of errors or contaminations are reduced or even brought down to zero.

The tool is also designed to allow the realization of one or more specific actions on parts for their future treatment: tests, controls, cuts, gluing, sanding, punching, assembly etc.

Tailor-made machine tools allow companies benefit in terms of cost, efficiency, productivity and time gains. Being specially made for a single purpose, it helps production management.

 

Custom-made Machine Tool Operation

 

A tailor-made machine tool that meets to a particular requirement in a specific context is generally created to perform precision mechanical and general mechanical tasks. However, its design brings together different expertise in different industrial fields: automation, robotics, mechanics, electricity, pneumatics…

There are as many custom-made machines as many as there are requirements. These machine tools can be used in many industries (food, automotive, biotechnology, pharma, aeronautics etc.).

Tailor-made, unique, reliable and solid; tailor-made machine tools are suitable for handling various products that require special treatment.

As part of a sterile process in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, different types of machines are produced, such as the automatic stripper – harvester line for the manufacture of influenza vaccines, a machine dedicated to the impregnation of a liquid pharmaceutical process or an automatic tailor-made homeopathic dilution machine. These examples of custom machines have already been designed and produced by MGA Technologies.

The applications encountered by MGA are varied, from dilution to impregnation through the mixing or dosing of sterile products (liquids or solids) to the collection of primary process liquids as well as the assembly of sterile parts in a clean environment.

 

Use of a Custom-made Machine in Biotechnology

Within the framework of a sterile process and in the biotechnology industry, various special machines can be installed, such as the automatic shucking and harvesting line required for the production of flu vaccines.

 

When is an Automatic Shucking and Harvesting Line useful?

This machine is useful in the collection of the primary liquid indispensable in the manufacture of flu vaccines. The embryonated eggs are partially matured in the middle and inoculated with the virus which the vaccine is intended to combat. The eggs are then peeled by a special machine to recover the allantoic fluid. This liquid is the equivalent of the remaining white of a developing egg.

A mechanism is integrated within the sides of the central conveyor of the line to enable it to move the trays of eggs on side rollers. The trays are then transported to a harvesting carousel with 25 places to be inserted into a harvesting box. A harvesting tube is placed at the prismatic bottom of the harvesting box.

The assembly is then turned upside down to allow the allantoic liquid to flow into a harvesting channel which in turn flows into a tank which is connected to the downstream purification, cell culture and filtration processes required for further vaccine production. The collection box is then turned upside down and the tray containing the collected eggs is removed and inserted into an incinerator.

In order to prevent the generation of mechanical particles, the mechanical assembly driving the machine is confined to technical areas. The machine is the subject of a complete aeraulic study in order to place it inside a closed enclosure. The latter is under laminar flow to guarantee a depression in relation to the classified production room in order to protect the operators and ensure an air speed above the product.

 

Use of a Special Machine in the Pharmaceutical Industry

In the pharmaceutical industry, it is possible to use a special machine such as the machine for impregnating pharmaceutical granules with a process liquid.

 

Operation of the Machine for Impregnating a Pharmaceutical Process Iiquid

The granules which are to be impregnated are contained in a container which is automatically loaded, tilted and set in rotation. The process liquid is installed inside a closed glass cell. In the glass cell, a plunger is installed to transfer the liquid to the rotating container. By pressuring the cell head, the liquid is forced upwards through the plunger.

Using a backlight, the meniscus formed on the surface of the liquid is tracked by a shadow vision. The impregnation, hot air drying and homogenisation cycles can be alternated by dosing the right amount of liquid.

These special machines for biotechnology and pharma are manufactured by MGA Technologies and target a variety of applications, from dilution and impregnation to mixing or dosing of sterile products, liquids or solids, to the collection of primary process liquids and the assembly of sterile parts in clean environments.

 

The design of special machines by MGA Technologies

MGA Technologies has developed specific know-how in the design and manufacture of custom-made machine tools dedicated to sterile biotechnological and pharmaceutical process applications. The company has been in constant contact with pioneers in the medical, mechanical, biotechnological and pharmaceutical industries for more than thirty years.

Now, machines manufactured by MGA Technologies integrate collaborative robotics enabling another way of producing in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. The company also provides solutions for specific applications, taking care of the integration of specific constraints related to the process or new technology integration for sterile processes.

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