Making it count: Key innovations on show at this year’s Interphex meeting, day 1

With a spring in their step, manufacturing experts from pharma and biotech descend on New York to enjoy the offerings from this year’s Interphex meeting. Here’s our brief round-up of what to see from exhibitors at the event on day one…

Instant biometric authentication

During this year’s Interphex congress, Integral Technology Solutions will be launching its new product, ‘Mobile — eye know you 1.0’ — instant iris biometric authentication for wearable augmented reality smart glasses and mobile devices.

Bringing iris authentication technology to manufacturing environments, streamlining logins, eSignatures and password management for gloved workers, this upgrade to the company’s current product offers seamless switching between fingerprint and iris biometrics, new AES encryption and innovative biometricauthentication and eSignatures for hands-free augmented reality training devices and tablets.

At the show visitors to the company’s booth will be able to wear the Microsoft HoloLens or use their own mobile device to experience instant biometric authentication. Also on display will be Integral’s Blockchain integrated Training Tracking Tool and Biometric Buttons.

“Integral biometrics is a unique solution for manufacturers because implementing our systems will increase speed, quality, security, productive output and compliance, while significantly reducing costs and risks in production,” says Marc Diament, Integral’s CEO. “With this introduction, we now offer a powerful combination of benefits that our customers often find elusive with IT solutions. Adding cost effective, fast, and reliable iris biometrics for gloved or hands-free users is a game changer, and we are excited bring this technology to our customers.”

Booth: 3671

Website: www.integraltechs.com

Cloud-enabled pumps

Global source of laboratory and industrial fluid handling products, instrumentation, equipment and supplies, Cole-Parmer, will showcase and demonstrate its new MasterflexLive cloud-enabled pumps at Interphex.

MasterflexLive is a secure, cloud-enabled platform for control and monitoring of select Masterflex L/S and I/P pumps. Pump operators can monitor and adjust critical processes running 24/7 without the need to be onsite. This new technology provides real-time control of all pump parameters, including speed, flow rate, dispense volume and more. Push notifications provide alerts for operating conditions and error messages. ‘Hands-free’ operation allows control of pumps operating inside cleanrooms, glove boxes or isolation chambers. Access is easy from a PC, tablet or smartphone (iOS and Android are supported).

At Interphex, visitors to the booth will be able to experience MasterflexLive for themselves.

Booth: 1763

Website: www.coleparmer.com

Enhanced machine for lyophilised products

Antares Vision, provider of serialisation-based pharma track and trace solutions and premium inspection equipment, will premiere an enhanced LYO-CHECK inspection machine for lyophilised products at Interphex.

Additionally, the company will showcase its enterprise -level ATS-Four serialisation software ecosystem.

To complement these offerings, the company will also be presenting a selection of inspection and serialisation modules, including those comprising Antares Vision’s Quick Compliance Programfor expedited compliance with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act, whose enforcement will begin this November. The programme guarantees a fully integrated, validated serialization system within just 10 weeks through the use of ready-to-go modules and a standardised package of software, documentation and services.

The LYO-CHECK inspection machine was developed to meet industry needs for a dedicated inspection system distinct from those applied to liquid parenteral products. The enhanced LYO-CHECK machine is based on unique vision architecture comprising a dedicated software and optical layout.

“We view our LYO-CHECK machine as a prime example of disruptive innovation in the visual inspection of pharma products,” explains Davide Sacchetti, business development manager for Inspection Machines for Antares Vision. “We believe the machine will have a significant impact on the lyophilised product sector in terms of prolonged storage possibilities, higher product quality due to improved inspection, and lower process costs compared to manual inspection.”

The company’sATS Fourserialization software ecosystem— enterprise-level (Level 4) track & trace solution — manages serialisation data flow connecting production plants, CMOs, third-party logistics and government agencies, and introduces new concepts of data storage and exchange. This database technology is engineered to run at high speed, guaranteeing the same stringent data safety whether operating on Cloud space or on premises within a corporate server infrastructure. The versatile, compatibility-minded ATS Four creates a unique point of connection, enabling interface with healthcare agencies, CMOs and other brand owners operating with a variety of software and hardware solutions.

“The ATS Four ecosystem integrates the Antares Tracking System architecture,” reports Andrew Pietrangelo, president, Antares Vision — North America, “and offers a comprehensive, scalable and cost-effective solution that enables the widest connection capability for any traceability framework.”

Booth: 2571

Website: www.antaresvision.us

Four-piston diaphragm pump

At this year’s show, Quattroflow will be exhibiting its new QF10k quaternary (four-piston) diaphragm pump.

Providing a maximum flow rate of 10,000 lph (44 gpm), the new QF10k pumpis equipped with an improved, patent-pending stainless-steel pump chamber design that provides excellent drainability to maximize product recovery. In addition, Quattroflow QF10k pumps incorporate a wide variety of other innovative features and benefits, including a maximum pressure of 6 bar (87 psi), 20:1 turn-down ratio, linear flow performance, and high-flow stability even at low flow rates. Furthermore, the pumps offer Clean-In-Place (CIP)/Steaming-In-Place (SIP) and autoclave capabilities.

The company will also be showcasing its QF4400HT model pumpat the show. The QF4400HT is the ideal solution for a wide variety of biopharmaceutical applications thanks to its high turn-down ratio and accuracy in controlling flow rates. Available in both single- and multiple-use variations, the QF400HT incorporates a space-saving design: the pump chamber, pump drive, motor and control box are all integrated into one unit. The elimination of a separate control box gives the QF4400HT a more compact design and a smaller footprint, which is ideal for applications that require a smaller pump that offers a wide flow range — from 50–5,000 lph (.22-22 gpm).

Furthermore, the Quattroflow EZ-Set Pump Chamber Replacing Systemwill be on display. With EZ-Set, users can replace a single-use pump chamber in 30 seconds by hand without the use of special tools or torque wrenches.

Booth: 2253

Website: quattroflow.com

Solutions for flexible manufacturing

Science and technology company, Merck, will introduce three new products for the flexible manufacturing of biologics during this year’s event.

On display at the booth will be:

• Pellicon Capsule with Ultracel Membrane. This single-use tangential flow filtration device is used for bioprocessing of antibody-drug conjugates and monoclonal antibodies.
• Millipak Final Fill Filter. These filters provide great product yield in high-value, small-volume processing.
• Mobius Power MIX 2,500-Litre and 3,000-Litre large-scale single-use mixers. These mixing systems combine high-performance technology with design elements that make them easy to use when mixing the most challenging buffers, media and biopharmaceutical ingredients.

Additionally, today the company will be presenting across a variety of pharmaceutical manufacturing topics at the following presentations and panel discussions:

• Formulation and Delivery of Biologics and Complex Small Molecule Compounds – Panel Discussion— 10.15 am,INTERPHEX LIVE!— Panelist: Jeff Shumway, associate director, Formulation & Drug Delivery

• A Molecule’s Journey – Breaking Down Roadblocks to Commercial Success – Navigating Through the Important Considerations Necessary to Successfully Bring a Biologic Molecule to Market— 10.30–11.15 am— Christian Cattaruzza, director, Global Services Marketing & Development, BioPharm Process Solutions

• Flexibility Without Compromise – A Novel Approach to Single-use System Design to Increase Speed, Reduce Cost and Enhance Supply Reliability— 11.30 am–12.00 pm —Sara Bell, senior marketing manager, Single-use Solutions

• Continuous Manufacturing for Biopharm, Visions of an End-to-End Approach – Panel Discussion— 2.15–3.00 pm— Panelist: Merrilee Whitney, head of Next-Generation Bioprocessing

• Single-use Product Recycling: Collaboration & Innovation to Address a Challenging Waste Stream— 3.00– 3.30 pm— Jacqueline Ignacio, global manager, Customer Sustainability Solutions

• Case Study: Capacity Expansion and Conversion to Single-Use Bioprocessing at an Existing cGMP CDMO Facility— 3.30–4.15 pm— Jerome Pionchon, engineering consultant, BioRelianceEnd-to-End Solutions

Booth: 2841

Website: www.merckgroup.com

Developments in PAT knowledge management platform

Optimal Industrial Technologies will be showcasing the latest developments in its process analytical technology (PAT) knowledge management platform synTQ at this year’s Interphex.

During the show, visitors to the company’s booth will be able to discuss with experts how PAT can reduce manufacturing costs and time-to-market for new compounds. Additionally, case studies will be available for analysis, discussing how to improve product quality by-design and the benefits of a holistic approach to product development.

The software is at the forefront of innovation in process analytical technology as it adds live flexibility to complex processes, in effect introducing aspects of Industry 4.0 to production and development by enabling automated real-time quality assurance.

“More than half of the world’s largest global pharmaceutical manufacturing companies are already using Optimal synTQ software in full GMP manufacturing as well as in research and development, so we believe that the product is well accepted and established as the clear leader in the field. What might be interesting to visitors is the opportunity to understand how stand-out achievements such as production cycle times being reduced from weeks to hours and massive productivity gains have been achieved in both small and large molecule production,” comments Martin Gadsby, director at Optimal Industrial Automation. “We are pleased to be part, once more, of this leading industry forum. We’re looking forward to showing how synTQ represents state-of-the-art technology for pharma small and large molecule applications. It is a vital building-block for implementing cost- and time-effective, fully integrated, regulatory compliant, continuous and batch PAT centric production techniques that also improve the consistency of quality.”

Booth: 3361

Website: www.optimal-ltd.co.uk