Enhancing Filling Accuracy with Clamp-On Flow Meters
Automated Filling with SONOFLOW® CO.55 V3.0 Improve Process Flexibility
Company Single Use Support has become the market leader in the accurate filling of very small volumes in single-use bags in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. By implementing its automated filling solutions with non-contact ultrasonic flow meters of the SONOFLOW CO.55 V3.0 series, process flexibility can be substantially increased.
Challenges in Aseptic Filling
Accurate and efficient filling of biopharmaceuticals in single-use bags, bottles, or vials is crucial. Even the smallest deviations in the filling volume can have a huge impact on the production process, or finally on the patient‘s therapy.
For example, if a liquid needs to be frozen for transport, overfilling or an inconsistent volume of single-use bags seriously increases the risk of bag leakage and product loss. In most cases, it is absolutely important that a patient receives exactly the same volume of the medication per injection.
Operational errors in aliquotation processes often occur due to manual intervention or limitations. The major challenges in aseptic filling are:
- Accuracy
- Consistency
- Flexibility
- Scalability
By implementing automated filling solutions with leading flow measurement technology, product and material loss, human errors, as well as the risk of contamination can be significantly reduced, while process flexibility can be substantially increased.
Solution Provider: Single Use Support
Innovative automated fluid management solutions provided by the company Single Use Support set a new standard in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
The company offers specific expertise and fast solutions in processes regarding cell and gene therapies (CGT) but also commercial bulk drug substance handling and vaccine manufacturing transfers, and drug productions. With its expertise and advanced bioprocessing solutions, Single Use Support has become the market leader in the accurate filling of very small volumes in single-use bags.
“The improved level of filling accuracy when aliquoting small volumes of biopharmaceuticals is a significant advancement in fluid management.“
Brian Moloney
Director New Products & Innovation
Single Use Support GmbH
Enhanced Process Flexibility with Automated Filling
Highest Accuracy for Better Operator‘s Control
With its fill & filtration platform RoSS.FILL, Single Use Support offers unlimited scalability for aseptic filling from laboratory to commercial production. The modular platform is designed for filling multiple smaller and larger volumes between 1 mL and 1000 L into single-use bags or bioprocessing containers.
For low volume dispensing at a commercial scale, accuracy and repeatability are essential. To achieve a filling accuracy range of even less than ± 1 mL with the RoSS.FILL platform, Single Use Support decided to implement SONOFLOW CO.55 V3.0 ultrasonic flow meters. The sensors are easily clamped on the tubing and measure without any contact and therefore without any risk of contamination or leakage.
Designed with a special focus on low flow applications, SONOFLOW CO.55 V3.0 clamp-on flow meters combine excellent measurement accuracy over a wide flow range and highest clamp-to-clamp repeatability. Hence, the non-contact sensor is perfectly suited for single-use environments with regular tubing replacements.
With the smallest footprint in the market, the compact and reliable flow meter with built-in electronics has been easily integrated into the RoSS.FILL platform. All non-gravimetric small volume filling lines are equipped with an ultrasonic SONOFLOW CO.55 V3.0 sensor to precisely measure and subsequently control the dispensed fluid. Thus, Single Use Support guarantees exact filling in bags from laboratory to commercial production.
Unlimited Scalability and Flexibility
In biopharmaceutical manufacturing, it is crucial to maintain accuracy while also acknowledging the importance of flexibility. If bag sizes or batch volumes vary due to scale-up or scale-down requirements, the filling system must do so accordingly.
The modular RoSS.FILL platform can be adapted to the customer‘s needs: increase or lower the batch volume or bag size per rack. The highly accurate SONOFLOW CO.55 V3.0 flow sensor ensures the configured filling volume in the single-use bags or bioprocessing containers.
Advanced Process Safety with Bubble Detection
To ensure stable and safe filling processes, proactive and well-considered fluid management is necessary. With the integrated air bubble detectors of the SONOCHECK ABD06 series, Single Use Support guarantees airless filling of biopharmaceuticals in single-use bags or containers. The non-contact clamp-on SONOCHECK ABD06 sensor detects air bubbles via ultrasound in the tubing.
Hence, RoSS.FILL users benefit from advanced process safety, flexibility, and scalability with accurate and airless volume dosing.
Key Findings
More Information about Ultrasonic Flow Meters
Do you have any questions?
Feel free to contact us! We will be happy to help you.
SONOTEC US Inc.
SONOTEC US Inc.
10 Newton Pl., Ste. 100
Hauppauge, New York 11788