Automated clean-in-place project saves pharma firm £120.000 22 March 2011

Hydraulic controls firm Burkert says that by automating an unnamed "major pharmaceutical manufacturer's" CIP (clean in place) processes, it is saving the firm £120,000pa.

Burkert UK sales manager Neil Saunders says that the project involved automating 80 reaction vessels, using pressure transmitters, condition sensors and flowmeters – and resulted in a 40% cost saving.

Prior to installing the system, the reaction tanks were each cleaned for six hours, constantly flushing to drain with hot water at 700C. Energy costs were running at around £4,000, with water at approximately £1,000 and effluent costs approaching the same figure.

Burkert's solution was based on type 8311 pressure transmitters, type 8222 condition sensors and type 8041 flow sensors. These were first installed on a test group of vessels and linked to the plant SCADA system.

The CIP process was then undertaken in automatic, with the 8222 monitor providing feedback of when the water in the vessel was clean, in order to terminate the process.

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Burkert Contromatic Ltd

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