GEA is working on smaller, more flexible continuous processing technologies, intended to transform the future of pharmaceutical development and manufacturing. At this year’s ACHEMA trade experts from GEA — supplier of systems and components to the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries — highlighted how the company is advancing industrial manufacturing with new technology, as well as adapting processes.

Hovione and GEA Pharma & Healthcare recently announced an industry first collaboration for the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. Together, the two companies aim to increase the adoption of continuous manufacturing by providing enhanced capacity, flexibility, standardized equipment, improved quality and increased efficiency.

Based on a successful customer-supplier relationship spanning several years, the collaboration combines GEA’s engineering expertise with Hovione’s development and manufacturing experience. At the time, GEA Pharma & Healthcare’s Phillip Gabb, Strategic Business Director, Pharma Solid Dosage, noted: “Continuous manufacturing systems allow for leaner and risk-reduced development paths, leaner supply chains, increased built-in quality and, in general, manufacturing processes that are more flexible and less complex. In the context of this strategic collaboration, Hovione and GEA will combine their strengths to further advance the technology and contribute to the establishment of higher standards and new levels of market acceptance.”

For example, the ConsiGma CDC flex has been designed as a versatile system that can operate in both continuous and batch modes, offering both high and low throughput functionality.

The ConsiGma range will be further augmented with new developments to simplify routine operations, introduce automated workflows, and Smart control interfaces. This will empower operators to streamline production processes.

ConsiGma DB modules offer standalone continuous dosing and blending operations, either using a ribbon blender or a linear blender