Pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies now have another option when it comes to buffer and media preparation – Terracon’s new bottom entry non-metallic mixing tank solution. The company introduced the innovative magnetic mixer – the first of its kind on the market – at the annual product show of the Boston Chapter of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) held today at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA.
According to Terracon president, Rob Jewett, his company’s industrial mixer offers significant advantages over stainless steel bottom entry mixers on the market today. “This mixer is the perfect alternative to high-priced stainless steel tanks for buffer and media prep at ambient pressure and temperatures,” said Jewett. “Comparable bottom entry stainless mixers cost up to twice as much and have considerably longer lead times.”
Though more expensive than top entry mixers, bottom entry industrial mixers offer a number of benefits over top entry models, among them: increased process purity (it’s a sealed process); better mixing at a faster pace (up to six times faster); design that promotes cleaning in place (CIP units are particularly critical for biopharma applications); greater chemical compatibility (less risk of latent particle contamination); and easier installation, handling, and operation (minus the bulky overhead motors of top entry models they’re particularly well-suited to tight spaces).
“Terracon has built a reputation for designing and manufacturing custom fluid management solutions that meet the specific needs of biotech and biopharma companies,” said Jewett. “This industrial mixer reflects the same kind of thought and ingenuity – it’s a complete solution that includes the non-metallic tank, the specially-designed tank agitator, the motor and drive system, and several impeller options. Our target user doesn’t have to cobble together a system to meet their unique requirements. I anticipate a strong response to this launch.”
Terracon is currently offering the bottom entry mixer in capacities up to 1,000 liters. All models include a cylindrical, cone-bottom molded polyethylene tank for ease of cleaning and complete drainage; magnetic mixer assembly unit with impeller design options for media preparation and high-shear mixing. Multiple stand options and mobile carriers are available. Terracon’s bottom entry industrial mixers are cGMP, FDA and USDA compliant.