T
he concept for the production of
infusion solutions for the new
three chamber bags is standard
automation. The same automation
solutions are used for as many machines
and systems as possible, from the mixing
system through to filling machines,
sterilisers, inspection and packaging
machines. In its new “Life Nutrition”
plant, the company wanted to extend
standardisation to cover both the primary
and secondary zones of pharmaceutical
production. In other words, the complete
value creation chain.
“For us, this is a great advantage,”
explains Cristina Molina, Project Leader at
B. Braun. “Our systems are less complex.
We need fewer spare parts, our costs for
training maintenance personnel are lower
and we have only one contact point for
pneumatics.”
Seamless and paperless
What is more, the automation solution
makes it possible to monitor and
document the entire production process
seamlessly, paperlessly and fully
automatically. This enables B. Braun to
meet legal standards such as the US FDA
regulations. A process control system
records measured values and signals
these to a master EDP system.
At the beginning of the project, a team
from Festo worked together with the
pharmaceutical manufacturer’s staff to
analyze the types of pneumatic
components previously used at B. Braun.
In order to be able to develop customised
valve terminal cabinets, they
recommended a standard, created a
recommendation for working equipment
and coordinated the project with all the
companies involved.
Standardisation from the manufacturing
process right through to packaging
The core automation component at the
sensor/actuator level is the valve terminal
CPX/MPA in the control cabinet. Thanks to
its flexible control concept, it was
possible to connect all position sensors,
drives and process valves to the bus
driven valve terminal as an I/O module.
Today, this terminal controls 4,000
diaphragm and other process valves in
B. Braun’s pharmaceutical production
operations. The company can rely on
uniform product technology from the
process systems through to the
packaging machines.
During the project, B. Braun summarised
the pneumatic components and
subsystems which had been used in an
approved product list – from valve
Standard automation
is the concept used to
produce infusion solutions for the new three
chamber bags in the company’s “Life Nutrition”
plant. The modular control cabinets, all with the
same configuration, make it easier to carry out
maintenance and diagnostics.
“Given the time
pressure in the
machine
construction
industry,
ready-to-install
solutions are ideal.”
Cristina Molina, Project Leader at B. Braun
trends in automation
Synergies
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