Isolators / containment HOSOKAWA MICRON

Designs and Executions:

• High-end isolator: made of stainless steel with windows of safety glass, with safe-change filters in push-push design, with alpha/beta transfer systems, designed for WIP/CIP.

• Glovebox: glovebox(es) made of, for example, acrylic glass with simple filter and transfer systems.

• Flexible isolator: the isolator with flexible polymer skin and continuous tube transfer system. Developed in response to the demands for an inexpensive, flexible encapsulation of systems used for handling active materials in the laboratories of scientific research institutes or biotechnology and pharma companies, a flexible isolator offers excellent operator and product safety.

The isolator must be integrated into an existing product flow, meaning that special attention must be paid to the process steps upstream and downstream of the isolator. The method and shape of the feed or filling containers have a decisive influence on the transfer port concept. Dependent on the batch size or OEL, double-flap transfer ports (RTPs) or continuous liner systems are available.

One of the greatest challenges when integrating processes into isolators is to ensure that the entire system can be operated comfortably, i.e. ergonomically. This simple statement puts extreme demands on the manufacturers of complex systems in terms of design of both the process components and of the isolators.

After 3D-CAD modelling, a wooden mock-up is usually made which depicts the most important process sections and which serves to determine the final design.

One advantage of integrating processes into a containment system is that the contaminated cubic volume is significantly reduced. After all, it is not the complete clean room with the associated interior that is contaminated but rather "only" the inside of a steel box. And to counter this, isolators are equipped with cleaning systems. These systems generally comprise ductings that taper into spray nozzles on the inside of the isolator. In addition, a spray pistol is used in most cases.

The know-how gathered by the HOSOKAWA Group in this field over the years has put HOSOKAWA ALPINE in the position of being able to supply complete systems which considerably reduce the customer's planning and coordination complexity and which ensure reliable system operation. The realization of numerous containment projects as well as the close cooperation with the customer highlight the competence and experience of HOSOKAWA ALPINE on this sector.