Sterilising Tunnels
These laminar airflow tunnels are designed to continuously and efficiently sterilise and depyrogenate pharmaceutical glass containers, in a Class 100 environment at 320ºC. At this temperature, it takes only 9.5 seconds to reduce the bacterial endotoxin level by 1-log. A 4-log reduction will take 38 seconds, whilst a 6-log reduction will take 57 seconds.
Heat is generated by silicon controlled rectifier elements. Depending on the format vials stay inside the sterilising chamber for approximately 6-10 minutes. The recirculated hot air is blown at a speed of approximately 0.7m/s over the vials, and remains within 2°C of its setpoint. SP i-Dositecno sterilising tunnels are fully compatible with SP i-Dositecno vial handling solutions and trayloaders and can be integrated into other existing or new installations.
Benefits
• Highly effective sterilisation: Guaranteed thermic cycle regardless of pressure fluctuations
• Efficient automatic processing: Fully automatic, continuous aseptic processing offers increased efficiency for batch processing
• All manufacturing requirements: Modules available for small and large batch sizes
Features
- In fewer than 30 minutes, an untreated vial goes from vial washer to sterilising tunnel to cleanroom, entering in a sterilized microorganism- and pyrogen-free state
- Requires no operator intervention or recontamination
- Typical operating temperature of the tunnel is 320°C
- At this temperature:
- It takes 9.5 seconds to reduce the bacterial endotoxin level by 1-log
- A 4-log reduction will take 38 seconds
- A 6-log reduction in bacterial endotoxin 57 seconds
- Heat is generated by silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) heating elements
- Depending on the format, vials stay inside the sterilizing/depyrogenation chamber for approximately 6-10 minutes
- The recirculated hot air is blown at a speed of approximately 0.7 m/s over the vials and remains within 2°C of its setpoint
- Keeping control over the vials at all times, vials are fed from the vial washer via a sanitary conveyor before gently being pushed into the tunnel by an oscillating pusher
- No format parts are required
- This is essentially a set-it-and-forget-it automatic process
- There are 3 chambers: pre-heating chamber, sterilising chamber, cooling chamber
- Chambers of the tunnel are separated by gates and the height is automatically set by the PLC as part of the vial recipe
- HEPA filters are tested for efficiency by the “DOP” test procedure (each chamber of the tunnel has provisions to conduct the DOP)
- Each chamber is equipped with a pipe below the filters to allow for particle counting
- Dimensions
Varies depending on the model - Purpose
Fully automatic sterilization/depyrogenation tunnels for vials, syringes and ampules - Vial Range
2-100ml - Output
Varies depending on the model - Changeover
Varies depending on the model


Get in touch today
Tel: +44 (0) 1962 841092 | bps@biopharma.co.uk