"Centrifuges used in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing"

Matsumoto Machine centrifuges are widely used at manufacturing sites for active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates, generic drugs, and other pharmaceuticals.

We manufacture centrifuges in accordance with ISO 9001, the international standard for quality management systems used by more than 1 million organizations in more than 170 countries around the world. We deliver high quality centrifuges with GMP and GAMP compatibility available. Consequently, by using centrifuges from our company, it is possible to manufacture safe and reliable pharmaceuticals according to the quality standards required by customers involved in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Matsumoto Machine centrifuges have an easy-cleaning mechanism, a sealing process, and computer-controlled flexible scheduling. Therefore, they have been installed widely not only in production of a sole product, but also in high-mix low-volume, multi-purpose plants. In high-mix low-volume, multi-purpose plants, even fine washing residues can become foreign matter, so the machine interior must be cleaned reliably and efficiently, and cleanliness ensured.

Matsumoto Machine offers a variety of options to meet the needs of users at pharmaceutical manufacturing sites.

For example, the CIP cleaning system can automatically clean the inside of the equipment with cleaning agents without disassembling the centrifuge. While installation of nozzles that match the shape of the equipment and the characteristics of the user's product ensures excellent cleanability and greatly reduces the workload of equipment cleaning. And, depending on the product to be filtered, the immersion cleaning system allows more reliable cleaning than the spray nozzle.

Embodying Japanese manufacturing quality, Matsumoto Machine centrifuges are used at many manufacturing sites of major pharmaceutical companies around the world.


"Centrifugal Settler"

In the centrifugal settler, which separates liquid from liquid or fine solids using the difference in specific gravity, there is no hole in the rotating body for the filter and liquid to pass through. Therefore, a heavy liquid is formed on the surface of the wall of the rotating body, and a light liquid is formed on the heavy liquid. These liquids are then each discharged to recover the separated liquid.

① Feed the slurry, a liquid that is thick before filtration, into the rotating basket.

② A centrifugal force is applied and the slurry clings to the inside surface of the wall of the basket.

③ If the speed of rotation of the basket is increased, due to the difference in specific gravity, the material with the greater specific gravity moves toward the wall of the basket under the centrifugal force.

④ At the stage when the substance with the larger specific gravity and the substance with the smaller specific gravity are separated, they are each discharged through pipes, and clear water and crystals are recovered.

Crystals that move to the wall and accumulate are termed cake. Separation of solid and liquid is termed solid-liquid separation, and separation of liquid and liquid is termed liquid-liquid separation.


"Centrifugal Filter"

① In the centrifugal filter, a filter material (cloth/metal filter) is attached to the rotor, and the solid and liquid of the processed product are separated by passing through the filter material.
Place the filter inside the basket with a hole in the wall opened and rotate the basket.

② Feed the slurry, the liquid that is thick before filtering, into the basket.

③ A centrifugal force is applied and the slurry clings to the inside wall of the basket.

④ As the basket rotates faster, the crystals in the slurry move outward due to the centrifugal force, and sediment accumulates on the basket wall.

⑤ The sediment is retained in the basket by the filter material, and moisture smaller than the holes in the filter material is discharged from the hole in the basket.

⑥ The remaining powder that is completely drained of moisture is termed cake or crystal.

In this way, centrifugal filtration is performed in a centrifuge.

Centrifuge for use in clean rooms

A centrifuge with a partition wall to separate the interior and exterior of the clean room

This centrifuge’s separation of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and intermediates in the purification process of pharmaceutical manufacturing is extremely efficient, and the rotation speed can be controlled to match the product for best results.

It is recommended for use in clean rooms.

Centrifuge for use in mass production

A centrifuge capable of rapid processing of large quantities as its basket capacity, filtration area, and centrifugal force are all large.

This centrifuge’s large basket capacity, large filtration area, and large centrifugal force (800 ~ 900g) enable rapid processing of large quantities. Its separation of APIs and intermediates in the purification process of pharmaceutical manufacturing is extremely efficient and the rotation speed can be controlled to match the product for best results.

Centrifuge for medium capacity, automatic use

A centrifuge for medium capacity, automatic use capable of operating automatically to prevent contamination by foreign matter

High washability and automatic operation prevent contamination, making this centrifuge suitable for manufacturing multiple products (multipurpose).

Centrifuge for unmanned operation and power saving

A centrifuge capable of conducting all steps automatically in a completely sealed state

All processes, from slurry input to crystal recovery, are fully automated operations and are conducted in a completely sealed state, resulting in improvements in production efficiency due to labor saving and power saving. This centrifuge can perform all processes in a completely sealed state, ensuring a safe work environment and increasing production efficiency.

As it can also fully automatically clean the inside of the machine after operation, safety is ensured, and the time taken to switch products can be shortened, so the work environment can be improved dramatically.

Affordable centrifuge

A centrifuge with a simple structure and the minimum required functions

This centrifuge performs the separation of APIs and intermediates in the purification process in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals with the minimum required functions. The casing opens wide toward the top for easy cleaning.

Centrifuge for use with experiments

A centrifuge designed for use with experiments capable of performing filtration with just two liters of liquid

This centrifuge designed for use for experiments is used in drug development. Filtration time is reduced to about 1/5, greatly increasing development efficiency. A small sample in the early stages of development can be tested under a variety of conditions, contributing to a shorter development period.

■Cost of test samples can be reduced
・Since a filtration experiment can be carried out with a small amount of test sample (400 ml to 2000 ml), the experiment can be carried out with 1/50 of the amount for conventional experimental basket-type centrifuges (20 liters).

Centrifuge for use with low-cost, highly pharmacologically active drugs

A centrifuge that protects operators from highly pharmacological substances, sealing only the necessary parts at low cost

This centrifuge protects operators from highly pharmacologically active substances. When handling active substances such as active pharmaceutical ingredients, the centrifuge must be contained within the isolator to ensure operator safety. The B-CONTE covers the centrifuge with a gloved bag to enable collection of the product with the gloves so that the product is not touched directly.
This centrifuge is a fit with any industry and can be sealed only where needed at low cost. Work can be performed at a low cost and in a contained state while ensuring operator safety.

We accept new designs customized according to the processed items. Please feel free to contact us about such designs.

Centrifuge for highly pharmacologically active pharmaceuticals

A centrifuge specialized for containment

When handling active substances such as active pharmaceutical ingredients, the centrifuge must be contained within the isolator to ensure operator safety. Newly designed centrifuges for the separation of highly active substances are equipped with isolators for all levels up to OEL levels of 0.1 ~ 100 μg/m3. Work can be performed in a contained state, so that the safety of the operator is ensured.