Fluidized bed system GPCG 10

The ideal cleaning – or: How clean is clean?

The answer is up to you! Especially in the pharmaceutical industry, a fluid bed system is typically used to produce multiple products. With every product change, a significant cleaning effort is required, often combined with extensive personnel protection measures. Cleaning in Place (CIP) has therefore become a key topic for the industry. However, under the label CIP, systems are often offered that at best provide a pre-cleaning step and still require additional manual final cleaning.

Washing In Place – WIP

Washing In Place (WIP) means thorough pre-cleaning, but manual post-cleaning is still required to achieve the desired cleaning result. It requires opening the machine. The WIP process is also validatable. In a WIP process, the pre-cleaned filters are generally removed from the machine, and the closed machine is then further cleaned using built-in special washing nozzles. Minimal residues are removed manually.

Cleaning In Place – CIP

Cleaning In Place (CIP) is a fully automatic, reproducible cleaning process with a defined cleaning result. The machine does not need to be opened at any point. This process is also validatable. Filters of conventional design – whether filter bags or standard cartridge filters – are not CIP-capable.

CIP Cleaning SC SuperClean®

The fully automatic cleaning. Many questions. One solution.
The SC SuperClean® design is Glatt’s superior answer to all questions regarding CIP in fluid bed systems. How are critical areas such as seal gaps or sight glasses cleaned? What happens in the product container bottom during cleaning? And above all: How are filters cleaned in a defined way? How can optimal personnel protection be ensured?

For every detailed issue, Glatt has developed a perfect solution, all combined in the SC SuperClean® series.

Many requirements. A true challenge.

Glatt offers modern, future-oriented control systems. Their modular design allows the use of standalone machine controls as well as the integration of complete process lines and the connection to associated logistics and auxiliary processes. The development of the systems was carried out consistently according to GAMP guidelines. All systems with Electronic Records and Electronic Signatures (ER/ES) comply with the requirements of 21 CFR Part 11.

Explosion protection is a core competence of Glatt. For use in Ex zones, Glatt offers ATEX-compliant solutions. Glatt control systems are logical, clearly arranged, and easy for operators to use.

Total Containment – Comprehensive protection. For personnel, product, and environment.

The processing of highly active substances requires extensive protective measures for operating personnel, the product, and the environment. To avoid the need for full protective equipment for personnel, special requirements are placed on the plant technology. This includes compliance with the OEL level as well as closed-system cleaning of the equipment after a process – for maximum safety.

The Plant Technology

Only closed, 12‑bar pressure-shock-resistant systems are used. All seals are designed and optimized for this purpose. The integration of upstream and downstream process equipment is essential and requires corresponding expertise. The integration of process systems from well-known equipment manufacturers is generally possible.

With NOxGuard, Glatt has developed a technology that reduces NO₂ in fluid bed and coating equipment.

By integrating prevention, real-time monitoring, and control into one solution, NOxGuard transforms nitrosamine risk management from a reactive task into a controlled, reliable process. It minimizes the risk of nitrosamine formation, can be integrated into new equipment or as a retrofit, and helps you to future-proof your processes.

SmartID automatically verifies the GMP-critical configuration of equipment components before each production run, ensuring that the correct parts are installed and the system is ready for operation.

By reducing manual checks, it minimizes the risk of setup errors, increases process safety, and streamlines production preparation. Integrated electronic documentation provides full traceability and supports compliance with 21 CFR Part 11 requirements.

Designed for granulation and coating processes, the Glatt LD  (Light Design) Top Spray Nozzle combines high performance with easy handling.

Its robust, well-thought-out and lightweight design ensures optimal spray rates, prevents clogging, guarantees easy handling, and excellent cleanability. Operating on the binary principle, it can be ideally adapted to any granulation process.

The Glatt HS Wurster Nozzle is a patented solution for high-performance bottom spray coating of pellets and particles.

Designed for the proven Wurster process, it enables exceptionally high spray rates while maintaining excellent coating quality and reproducibility. The technology is ideally suited for aqueous and organic coating formulations, polymer solutions and dispersions, controlled-release and enteric coatings, as well as active ingredient layering. Thanks to its optimized design, even very fine particles (> 50 μm) can be processed efficiently and reliably.