Trade press information
04 Oct 2021
Presented the new kytero® Single Use Pharma Separator at the Single Use Conference in Leiden, the Netherlands: (from left to right): Andreas Biewald, GEA Product Manager Sales and Rüdiger Göhmann, GEA Product Group Manager and Edwin Telgenkamp, GEA Netherlands, Account Manager. (Photo: GEA)
The GEA kytero® single-use separator is designed for obtaining fermentation solutions and cell cultures and is equipped with the proven GEA Westfalia Separator disk stack technology for maximum yield, high separation efficiency and gentle product handling. The GEA kytero® combines the high performance of larger GEA stainless steel pharmaceutical centrifuges with the features and benefits offered by disposable separation. This type of equipment is in high demand for animal cell and gene therapy processes, as well as for pilot plants, university laboratories, in R&D environments and small-scale production, and by biopharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide, as it relies on centrifugation to significantly reduce filtration dependency. In centrifugation, unlike filtration, separation of the medium is not achieved by filter media (filter plates and filter cloths), but by utilizing the centrifugal force that occurs in conjunction with the disc pack for increased clarification efficiency. The mobile plug & produce unit also fits into any clean room.
GEA presents the kytero®Single Use Pharma Separator, a world first for single-use biopharmaceutical processing. (Photo: GEA)
The GEA experts responsible for the new technology very deliberately chose the conference in Leiden as the premiere venue in Europe. Here, (bio)process technologists, (bio)pharmacists, (bio)chemists, life scientists, biotechnologists, process engineers and process managers met to exchange ideas on technology and product developments in the fields of "continuous bioprocesses", "cell culture systems" and "microbial systems". Andreas Biewald, GEA Product Manager Sales and Rüdiger Göhmann, GEA Product Group Manager and Edwin Telgenkamp, GEA Account Manager from the Netherlands, were highly satisfied with the response. "Immediately after our presentation, there were many inquiries. The response showed us that with the GEA kytero® we are entering a real gap in the market and can cover an application that is new to us," Rüdiger Göhmann summed up with satisfaction.
The GEA kytero® is user-friendly and easy to handle. All elements in contact with the product, such as hoses and containers, are made of recyclable material and are replaced after use. This prevents any cross-contamination and ensures hygienic harvesting of the cells. The change of the single-use parts is very easy due to aseptic connector systems. The design of the aseptic connector system makes the exchange of single-use components fast and very easy.
The small footprint of the GEA kytero® for single-use processing makes it highly mobile and minimizes the need for expensive storage or production space. Buffer tanks are not required. The elimination of CIP (clean-in-place) and SIP (sterilize-in-place) also eliminates the cost of chemicals and water, especially water-for-injection (WFI). In addition, the energy and labor required for cleaning and sterilization are eliminated.
Set-up and changeover time (only five to ten minutes for preparation) is minimal. No auxiliary equipment such as water, buffers or tanks are required.
The noise level is very low at less than 69 dBA. The unavoidable temperature increase of the product during centrifugation is minimal at less than two degrees.
In the end, a 500-liter batch of animal cells is processed in about four hours - an excellent result in an excellent time.
Dr. Michael Golek
Media Relations
GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft
Peter-Müller-Str. 12
40468
Düsseldorf
Germany
+49 211 9136-0
GEA è fra i principali fornitori dell'industria di processo alimentare e di una vasta gamma di altri settori. Nel 2019 ha realizzato un fatturato consolidato di circa 4,9 miliardi di euro.