Tools of the trade

New products unveiled at the BIOPHEX/INTERPHEX meeting include a cell culture centrifuge, new cleanroom equipment, a fluidised bed processor and an isolator for aseptic testing.

A swathe of new products have been unveiled at the BIOPHEX/INTERPHEX meeting in San Jose, California, USA, one of the highlights of the pharmaceutical technology calendar.

Alfa Laval has introduced the Culturefuge, claimed to be the first fully hermetic purpose-built cell culture centrifuge, at the exhibition. The machine boasts a maximum capacity of 2000 l/hr and is suitable for pilot plants and small-scale production, according to the firm. It can be sterilised and cleaned-in-place.

Cintas Cleanroom Services has launched an offensive on the cleanroom supplies market with the launch of a private-label line of gloves, adhesive floor mats, wipers and shoe covers, sold under the Novation banner. The range is priced well below other brands, according to the company.

Milliken is also revealing a new range of cleanroom equipment at BIOPHEX/INTERPHEX. The company has introduced a new line of sterile products that can be pre-saturated with a variety of cleaning solutions. The range includes the Anticon line of dry wipes, CleanSorb tubular mops and MilliMoist pre-saturated wipers.

Narakom, a specialist in powder processing for the pharmaceutical, food and chemical industries, has launched the OMNITEX Rotary Fluidised Bed Processor. The new machine has been designed to overcome difficulties in fluidising ultrafine particles - in the nano to fifty micron range - by combining rotation of the vessel and a radial airflow pattern. This allows multiple processes (such as drying and coating) in a single step, according to the firm. The processor can handle mixing, granulating, coating, drying, and synthetic reactions for drug delivery systems and sustained release technologies.

Containment and aseptic production specialist Carlisle Life Sciences has introduced a new product - the S-Class isolator, for aseptic product testing. The design allows for future expansion with additional segments and/or extension sections, according to the company. The can be configured for aseptic processing/testing and for containing/handling potent materials in the pharmaceutical and biotech Industries.