At this year’s ACHEMA trade show (10–14 June, Frankfurt, Germany), experts from GEA — one of the world’s largest suppliers of systems and components to the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries — will highlight how they’re advancing industrial manufacturing with groundbreaking technology and adapting processes for a better future.
For their freeze-drying customers, for example, specific highlights include innovative solutions to reduce the environmental impact of the lyophilisation process, such as the LYOAIR cooling system.
Using 100% natural refrigerants and highly efficient compressors, the combination of an air cycle system with a carbon dioxide booster significantly reduces energy consumption compared with traditional systems.
In addition, Atmospheric Freeze Drying is a technique that can be used to produce so-called lyospheres without needing a vacuum.
Early prototypes, although not yet optimised for energy efficiency, have demonstrated the potential to reduce total energy consumption to less than 50% compared with conventional vacuum freeze-drying methods.
GEA experts can also talk to you about the implementation of rapid and energy efficient freeze drying with solid-state radio frequency (RF) energy.
Not only does this technology deliver benefits in terms of cost and utility efficiencies, but it also enables continuous mode processing instead of traditional batch handling.
And, to address the high energy consumption associated with freeze dryers, GEA has introduced the LYOVAC ECO Mode, which optimises the lyophilisation process using dynamic condenser temperature control and mushroom valve regulation.
This innovation delivers substantial energy savings without compromising product quality.
In addition, key opinion leaders such as Thomas Beutler and Prof. Alf Lamprecht from the University of Bonn will be taking to the Live Stages to discuss “Making Pharmaceutical Freeze-Drying More Sustainable: A Two-Pronged Approach.”
