Centrifugeuses pour production biopharmaceutique Augmentez votre rentabilité avec le bon système de séparation
La récolte de cellules est une étape clé dans la production de médicaments basés sur la fermentation. Nos systèmes de séparation sont destinés à tous les types d'applications de l'industrie biopharmaceutique. Ils permettent d'obtenir la qualité du produit, le rendement et le coût du traitement en aval souhaités depuis plusieurs décennies. Quels que soient le type de cellule utilisé par votre procédé et la taille de votre projet, notre équipe de spécialistes en applications comprendra vos défis et vous aidera à concevoir le système de séparation biopharma parfait.
Meeting the challenges of the biopharma industry
Rapid innovation is transforming the biopharma industry. Higher cell densities, advances in single-use processing, and the growing use of mammalian cell cultures are just a few examples of developments creating both opportunities and challenges for producers.
At Alfa Laval, we are at the forefront of cell harvesting technology. Regardless of process type, we help you select the optimal solution to fully leverage upstream and downstream innovations. This includes:
- Solutions that enable very high cell density processes.
- Cell harvesting systems that maximise yield and minimise downstream processing through gentle, low-lysis separation.
- Super-efficient single-use solutions that eliminate the need for primary filtration and significantly reduce plastic waste.
- Equipment designed for low water and energy consumption, supporting more sustainable operations.
- Systems that meet the highest hygiene standards, ensuring maximum patient safety.
Episode 1 – "The proof is in the pudding"
In this vodcast, learn how single-use disc stack separators enable high-speed, continuous cell harvesting for biopharma. Learn how stacked discs and high G-forces deliver faster separation, higher yields, and reduced waste compared to traditional depth filters.
Coming soon: Episode 2 – "Set it and forget it"
In this vodcast, we talk about high-density fermentation, and the challenges this pose to biopharma industry. Explore how advanced disc stack separators support continuous, gentle, and highly efficient separation, helping improve operational performance and profitability in biopharma while giving operators added peace of mind.
Let’s find the perfect separation equipment for you
There are many factors to consider when choosing cell harvesting centrifuge: the type of cells, cell concentration in the broth, system capacity, future production scale-up, the biosafety level and possible confinement requirements. Our experts can help you select the perfect separation system for your process. We make sure your new equipment meets all your requirements and deliver optimum product quality, production yield and performance. Learn more about our separator models below.
Stainless steel processes
Alfa Laval offers an extensive portfolio of stainless-steel separators for biopharma production, including both steam-sterilisable and CIP-capable models. We provide application-optimised solutions for everything from cell cultures and microbial fermentation to vaccine and probiotics production.
Single-use processes
Alfa Laval is leading the development of centrifugal separators for single-use processing. Introducing a separator into your process eliminates the need for primary depth filters, reduces product loss, shortens processing times, simplifies downstream operations, and dramatically reduces the amounts of solid waste.
Full support from our experts
Choosing the right cell harvesting separator requires careful consideration of factors such as cell type, concentration, fermentation broth characteristics, system capacity, and future scale-up plans.
At Alfa Laval, we understand these challenges. No matter the size of your operation or the cells you work with, our application specialists help you configure a separation system tailored to your process. We ensure your equipment meets all performance requirements and delivers reliable, long-term results.
Patient safety comes first
Our first priority is always the safety of the patients, and every detail of our biopharma separation systems is designed with this in mind. Our solutions comply with the highest manufacturing standards for hygiene, cleanability, traceability, documentation, system changes and validation. We have long experience of supplying centrifugal equipment to the pharmaceuticals industry and have the regulatory expertise and organizational tools to manage all requirements for cGMP compliance. We provide validations, certificates and documentation that comply with the most stringent industry demands. Our in-house Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) lab lets us validate each system before delivery and we can also provide additional validation services if required.
Culturefuge range
Culturefuge is a range of unique bottom-fed hermetic separation systems developed especially for mammalian cell cultures, microbial cells and precipitated proteins. The resultant gentle and efficient acceleration of the feed in the centrifuge helps to avoids destroying shear sensitive cell wall membranes. This makes downstream purification of the target proteins easier and more cost effective.
BTPX
BTPX is an automatic centrifugal separator for precipitated proteins, microbial broths, hormones and other biopharma applications. This separation system embodies more than 100 years of technical know-how and development and delivers the performance of centrifugal machines in pilot or medium scale set-ups. Designed for excellence, this solid-liquid separator can be used as a clarifier or a purifier and concentrator.
MBUX
MBUX industrial centrifuges are well suited to the recovery of yeast and other microorganisms in pharma applications. Available in different sizes, these separators require relatively little energy to recover concentrated solids. The closed configuration of the system enhances high hygiene.
FESX
These nozzle centrifuges are ideal for separation of micro-organisms with high cell content and with or without solids impurities. The cells are continuously discharged through nozzles placed in the bowl periphery. Thanks to its design, the separators can handle larger micro organisms, e.g. yeast, with high cell content.
FEUX
The FEUX separators incorporate a unique combination of design features to ensure optimum separation and concentration efficiency in industrial fermentation applications. These machines are designed for automatic ejection of washed-out solids during the cleaning cycle, which makes the separators particularly suitable for process lines equipped with automated cleaning-in-place (CIP).
MBPX
MBPX is a range of pharma centrifuges with high bowl speeds especially adjusted for microbiological applications. These centrifuge systems are well suited to the separation of suspended solids with particle sizes of approx. 0.5 to 500 μm. This range of separators includes small lab machines as well as large scale industrial centrifuges. They are offered in two versions: a traditional top entry open, non-hermetic version or a hollow-spindle fully hermetic version.
BTUX
This nozzle centrifugal separator is designed for a wide range of biotech duties, such as high density fermentations that require continuous discharge of solids. It is a proven separation solution as you prepare for full-scale production. The separator bowl is equipped with Alfa Laval´s unique vortex nozzles, which offer performance unmatched by conventional nozzle centrifuges. Due to its high efficiency this nozzle centrifuge can be run close to clogging point.
Key technologies for cell harvesting separators
Improve separation performance with Hermetic Design™
Separators featuring Alfa Laval’s unique Hermetic Design are the ideal choice for harvesting shear-sensitive cells from fermentation broths. Gentle acceleration, combined with a fully air-tight design, minimises cell lysis and ensures outstanding separation performance, resulting in higher yield and optimised downstream processing.
Exceptional solids handling with TopStream™ / Bactofuge®
TopStream technology (also known as Bactofuge) enables gentle, continuous removal of solids from fermentation broths with high cell concentrations, without the risk of clogging. It improves separation efficiency and yield, while preserving cell integrity – a key advantage in applications where cell viability matters, such as probiotics and starter culture production.
Development of a single-use, hermetic centrifuge system
This whitepaper presents the development and validation of Alfa Laval’s single-use hermetic centrifuge system. Designed for harvesting mammalian cell cultures in high-density processes, the system enables gentle, efficient separation with high yields, even at very high cell densities.
This unique technology can significantly reduce filtration bottlenecks, improve downstream performance, and support production flexibility.
Reliable performance
With Alfa Laval as your service partner you have the full support of our global network of dedicated service experts. We offer a wide range of services spanning the entire lifetime of your separation system, such as upgrades that increase separation performance, monitoring systems and audits. Our experts train your operators to run and maintain your system in an optimal way to maximize its performance. When needed, our distribution network quickly supplies spare parts with all the necessary compliance certificates.
Learn more about Alfa Laval Service
Comprehensive testing opportunities
To facilitate your evaluation process, Alfa Laval offers extensive testing capabilities that allow you to verify performance under your own process conditions.
You can rent test equipment for on-site evaluation, enabling trials with your actual raw material and setup. Alternatively, you are welcome to our fully equipped test centre in Sweden, where you can explore new ideas, produce trial batches, or validate full-scale performance, all with the support of our biopharma experts.
Take advantage of Alfa Laval features
All Alfa Laval separators are developed with the benefit of more than 130 years of experience with disc stack separation technology and our deep knowledge of customer processes. Find out how all that expertise has gone into unique features for improved separation performance.
Explore our innovations
Alfa Laval invented the first disc stack separator and has led the way in the development of centrifuge technology for over a century. We are glad to share with you the expertise we have gained along the way. Visit our knowledge base to learn more about advancements in separation and the steps Alfa Laval is taking to continue revolutionizing the technology.
> Learn more about our separator innovations
