Custom Insulated Pressure Vessels for Pharmaceutical and Biotech

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing requires exceptionally high standards for pressure vessels to ensure product purity, process consistency, and compliance with strict regulatory requirements. Roben Mfg, Inc. specializes in producing custom insulated pressure vessels that meet the exacting needs of the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, from research-scale operations to commercial manufacturing facilities.

Contact Us

Our pharmaceutical and biotech pressure vessels

Our pharmaceutical and biotech pressure vessels are engineered to meet the highest industry standards, including ASME BPE, FDA requirements, and cGMP guidelines. These vessels provide the perfect balance of sanitary design, precise temperature control, and process integrity necessary for the most demanding biopharmaceutical applications.

Why Choose Specialized Vessels for Pharmaceutical and Biotech?

Specialized insulated pressure vessels offer numerous advantages for pharmaceutical and biotech applications:

  • Product Quality: Superior temperature control ensures consistent product attributes
  • Process Reproducibility: Stable thermal conditions for validated manufacturing processes
  • Regulatory Compliance: Equipment designed to meet FDA, EMA, and global regulatory standards
  • Energy Efficiency: Optimized insulation systems reduce utility consumption
  • Sterility Assurance: Design features that support aseptic processing requirements
  • Process Flexibility: Vessels adaptable to various production requirements
  • Validation Support: Features that facilitate cleaning and sterilization validation
  • cGMP Compatibility: Materials and design aligned with current Good Manufacturing Practices

Pharmaceutical and Biotech Vessel Specifications and Characteristics

At Roben Mfg, Inc., we offer comprehensive insulated pressure vessel solutions with features including:

  • Surface Finishes: Electropolished interiors with documented Ra values as low as 0.2μm (8μin)
  • Material Selection: 316L stainless steel with low carbon and sulfur content, documented metallurgy
  • Design Elements: Crevice-free construction with complete drainability and minimal dead legs
  • Insulation Types: Closed-cell foam, mineral wool, or vacuum jacketing for specific applications
  • Jacket Designs: Full, partial, or dimple jackets for precise temperature control
  • Connection Types: Tri-clamp and other sanitary connections meeting industry standards
  • Documentation: Comprehensive material certificates, testing records, and validation support
  • Sterilization Options: Compatible with SIP (Steam-in-Place) and CIP (Clean-in-Place) systems

Our pharmaceutical and biotech insulated vessels are available in different configurations, including:

  • Bioreactors and Fermenters
  • Media and Buffer Preparation Vessels
  • Mixing and Blending Tanks
  • API Processing Vessels
  • Chromatography Feed Tanks
  • Storage and Holding Vessels
  • Formulation Tanks
  • Sterilization Systems

We also offer various enhancements and accessories to meet your specific requirements, such as:

  • Magnetically Coupled Agitators
  • Specialized Sensor Ports
  • Enhanced Monitoring Packages
  • Custom Tri-Clamp Connections
  • Integrated Process Analytics
  • Spray Ball Systems for CIP
  • Sterilizable Vents and Filters
  • Sample Ports and Harvest Valves

Pharmaceutical and Biotech Applications

Our insulated pressure vessels are suitable for a wide range of pharmaceutical and biotech applications, including:

  • Cell Culture Operations
  • Microbial Fermentation
  • Vaccine Manufacturing
  • Monoclonal Antibody Production
  • Recombinant Protein Expression
  • Buffer Preparation and Storage
  • Media Preparation and Holding
  • Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Processing
  • Chromatography Feed Preparation
  • Viral Inactivation
  • Protein Purification
  • Aseptic Formulation
  • Final Product Storage
  • Freeze/Thaw Operations
  • WFI (Water for Injection) Storage
  • Clean Steam Generation
  • Solution Preparation
  • Product Neutralization
  • Cryogenic Storage
  • Pilot-Scale Process Development

Pharmaceutical and Biotech Sectors Served

Roben Mfg, Inc. serves a wide range of pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, including:

  • Biopharmaceutical Manufacturers
  • Vaccine Producers
  • Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturers (CMOs)
  • Biotechnology Research Organizations
  • Cell and Gene Therapy Developers
  • Blood Fraction Processors
  • Monoclonal Antibody Manufacturers
  • Sterile Injectable Producers
  • R&D Laboratories
  • Pilot Plant Facilities
  • University Research Centers
  • Government Research Institutions
  • Biologics Manufacturing
  • Pharmaceutical Ingredient Manufacturers
  • Process Development Organizations
  • Medical Device Manufacturers
  • Veterinary Pharmaceutical Producers
  • Bioprocess Engineering Firms
  • Clinical Manufacturing Facilities
  • Commercial-Scale Manufacturing Plants

Compliance and Standards

Our pharmaceutical and biotech insulated pressure vessels are designed and manufactured to meet rigorous regulatory requirements:

Pharmaceutical Standards

Design Codes

Material Standards

Testing Requirements

  • ASME BPE SF (Surface Finish) Verification
  • Riboflavin Testing for CIP Coverage
  • Surface Roughness Measurement
  • Hydrostatic and Pneumatic Testing
  • Material Certification and Traceability
  • Orbital Weld Documentation

Documentation and Validation

  • Material Test Reports (MTRs)
  • Surface Finish Certification
  • Welding Documentation
  • Passivation Certification
  • As-Built Documentation
  • IQ/OQ Documentation Support
  • FAT/SAT Protocols

Quality Assurance

Our comprehensive quality assurance program ensures that each pharmaceutical and biotech insulated pressure vessel meets the exacting standards required for regulated environments:

  • Material Traceability: Complete documentation from raw material to finished vessel
  • Enhanced Welding Program: Orbital welding with 100% documentation
  • Comprehensive Inspection Protocol: Multiple inspection points throughout fabrication
  • Surface Finish Verification: Documented testing of critical surface parameters
  • Passivation Verification: Testing to confirm effective passive layer formation
  • Enhanced Documentation Package: Comprehensive documentation supporting validation requirements

Custom Design Services

Recognizing that pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing requires highly specialized equipment, Roben Mfg, Inc. offers complete custom design services:

  • Process Requirement Analysis: Detailed assessment of specific process needs
  • Thermal Performance Optimization: Design for precise temperature control
  • CIP/SIP Design Integration: Features ensuring cleanability and sterilizability
  • Scale-Up Support: Design for transition from development to production
  • Regulatory Navigation Support: Guidance through equipment qualification
  • Process Integration Planning: Design for seamless incorporation into facility systems
  • Validation Support: Design features facilitating equipment qualification

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What surface finish options are available for pharmaceutical pressure vessels?

We offer a range of surface finish options for pharmaceutical applications, with electropolished finishes ranging from 0.2μm Ra (8μin) to 0.4μm Ra (16μin) for product contact surfaces depending on your specific requirements. Each surface finish is fully documented with measurement reports, and we can provide specialized verification methods including light reflection analysis and profilometry. Our standard mechanical polish before electropolishing ensures consistent and verifiable surface quality throughout the vessel.

2. How do your vessels support cleaning and sterilization validation?

Our vessels incorporate several key features to support validation, including spray ball coverage mapping, documented riboflavin testing, minimal shadow zones, complete drainability (typically with 1/8″ per foot minimum slope), strategically positioned vents for steam distribution, and temperature monitoring ports for heat distribution studies. We provide detailed documentation packages including weld maps, surface finish reports, and material certificates to support your validation protocols.

3. What measures are taken to ensure material compliance with pharmaceutical regulations?

We implement a comprehensive material management program including complete material traceability from mill to final product, material test reports (MTRs) for all product-contact components, specialized testing for alloy verification (PMI), sulfur content verification for welding quality, and USP Class VI certification for non-metallic components. Additionally, we maintain a rigorous supplier qualification program for all materials used in pharmaceutical applications.

4. How are temperature control requirements addressed in biopharmaceutical applications?

For precise temperature control in biopharmaceutical applications, we offer multiple solutions including dimple jacketing for uniform heat transfer, multi-zone jacketing for process-specific requirements, validated temperature monitoring systems, optimized agitation designed to eliminate thermal gradients, and specialized insulation packages. Our thermal design includes detailed heat transfer analysis to ensure temperature stability even during challenging process conditions like exothermic reactions or sterilization cycles.

5. What documentation is provided with pharmaceutical-grade pressure vessels?

Our comprehensive documentation package for pharmaceutical applications includes: ASME Data Reports with U-stamp certification, material test reports (MTRs) for all product-contact materials, detailed fabrication drawings with weld maps, surface finish verification reports, passivation certification, hydrostatic test reports, dimensional inspection reports, riboflavin test results for CIP verification, pressure test certification, and IQ/OQ support documentation. We can also provide enhanced documentation to support specific validation protocols.

Contact Information

For more information on our custom insulated pressure vessels for pharmaceutical and biotech applications or to discuss your specific requirements, please contact our specialized equipment specialists:

Roben Mfg, Inc.
760 Vassar Ave.
Lakewood, NJ 08701
Phone: (732) 364-6000
Email Justin Huhn: sales@robenmfg.com
Website: https://robenmfg.com

Request a consultation with our pharmaceutical and biotech equipment engineering team to discover how our custom insulated pressure vessels can enhance your bioprocessing operations while meeting the most stringent regulatory requirements.

Ask A Question

Fields Marked with * are required

Limit 2000 Characters


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact