When a major pharmaceutical producer in Holland wanted to both replace and expand steroid micronising facilities to include over 120 discrete products, they chose Atritor Ltd, Coventry, England as their key supplier.

2 levels of containment were required for 2 micronising suites - the smaller M8 - 200mm - unit - 180Nm³/h N2 - was to be built to an OEL (Operator Exposure Level) of 0.1µg per m³ / 8 hour period ; the larger M12 - 300mm - 380Nm³/h N2 - to an OEL of 1µg per m³ when operating but with a more relaxed OEL for clean down using a cross flow booth.

To achieve the former level only a limited number of isolator manufacturers can  claim  to have

the necessary expertise, one of whom is Applied Containment Engineering - ACE - of Dewsbury, England. Atritor supplied one of the micronising systems, working alongside ACE, and the other as overall supplier with ACE as sub-supplier. The crucial element of the success  of  this  project

was to make sure that both companies were accustomed to working flexibly with a multi-disciplined team from both the customer and the customer's chosen project management company.

Microniser suppliers who insisted they were able to provide the overall package from their own in-house isolator designs were unsuccessful   in   persuading  the

customer to take that risk. This is not to say that they were not capable, but that their main business was in spiral jet micronising mills and their secondary acquired expertise was in isolation equipment.

In choosing Atritor and ACE the customer was confident that 2 companies dedicated to engineering excellence in their fields would be working together to achieve a successful result.

• Accustomed to designing for application rather than selling standard units



• Applied design team at early pre-order stage to develop crucial features



• Responded to request for lighter unit for disassembly with isolator gloves on



• Experienced in working with several isolator suppliers prior to this project



• Able to accept customer's best practice on collection filter designs



• Total commitment to pharma GMP design development



• Good track record in other pharma mill plant supply - e.g. to AstraZeneca



• Stable, well financed company able to handle projects in excess of €1m