Trade press release

GEA pathfinder GMP: a success story. Skid system for pharmaceutical technical centers

14 Jun 2018

anniversary at ACHEMA 2018. In June at the leading international exhibition for the process industry in Frankfurt am Main (June 11-15, 2018, hall 4, stand F46) GEA will be presenting a real success story: the GEA pathfinder GMP. Since its market launch one year ago, this skid-mounted separator has been implemented in pharmaceutical technical centers and pilot plants around the world for the development of new products.

Centrifuge - GEA pathfinder

There are good reasons for this: the module that was specially designed for this use and produced in accordance with GMP guidelines comes with all the functions of large pharmaceutical GEA centrifuges. This allows the results achieved to be upscaled easily to any desired production size. Thanks to its compact construction and plug & play concept including all pre-installed connections and control modules, the skid can be integrated quickly into a test system while also saving space. The GEA pathfinder GMP also masters the most difficult tasks extremely reliably.

Three bowl sizes for solutions that meet requirements

To ensure that the skid system can be perfectly designed to meet specific requirements and specifications of technical centres or pilot plant stations with low volumes, GEA offers a selection of three bowl sizes for the separator with throughput capacities of 15 l/h to 300 l/h. Together with a g-force of up to 20,000, which is unique worldwide, the skids allow highly efficient plant operation by separating extremely fine particles with minimal differences in density.

A milestone for the industry: including GMP basic certificate

With its package of GMP basic certificates, the skid-mounted separator reached a milestone in terms of meeting hygiene requirements when it was launched on the market; for example, with material certificates for components in contact with the product, general welding and surface quality certificates, GAMP5 documentation and a general test certificate (FAT).

Reliable test results thanks to optimised hygiene and cleaning properties

All GEA pathfinder GMP materials that are in contact with the product are made of high-alloy stainless steel with a surface quality of 0.8 μm – a requirement that is becoming increasingly necessary in basic GMP plants. This guarantees maximum hygiene as it is extremely easy to clean. GEA skids are fitted with gaskets in class EPDM/FDA and USP-VI, thereby meeting all specifications for clean production processes. Furthermore, unpressurized vapor is used in the system up to 100°C, in order to reduce the bacterial load.

High hygiene standards for added safety and fewer additional costs

Before the GEA pathfinder GMP was launched, it was only possible to implement continuous hygiene standards for safeguarding production and employees in technical centres with complex individual measures and correspondingly high additional costs. This all belongs to the past now: users today can focus on creative development and continuous production of their products in an efficient compact system.

Comprehensive service and support across the entire life cycle

The service concept “GEA Service – For your continued success” offers GEA customers tailored options for optimum support with their systems and components across the entire life cycle, from project planning, installation and commissioning through to maintenance and increasing the system performance.

Media Relations

GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft

Peter-Müller-Str. 12


40468

Düsseldorf


Germany

+49 211 9136-0

About GEA

GEA is one of the world’s largest suppliers of systems and components to the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. The international technology group, founded in 1881, focuses on machinery and plants, as well as advanced process technology, components and comprehensive services.

With more than 18,000 employees, the group generated revenues of about EUR 5.4 billion in more than 150 countries in the 2023 fiscal year. GEA plants, processes, components and services enhance the efficiency and sustainability of customer’s production. They contribute significantly to the reduction of CO2 emissions, plastic usage and food waste. In doing so, GEA makes a key contribution toward a sustainable future, in line with the company’s purpose: ”Engineering for a better world“. GEA is listed on the German MDAX the European STOXX® Europe 600 Index and is among the companies comprising the DAX 50 ESG, MSCI Global Sustainability as well as Dow Jones Sustainability World and Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Indices.
 
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