Customized automation for efficient biopharmaceutical production processes

Begeistert von der Qualität der Messekontakte: Eckelmann feierte als Automatisierungspartner für Anforderungen der Pharmaindustrie, Biotechnologie und Medizintechnik auf der Frankfurter CPHI seine erfolgreiche Premiere. (Bildnachweis: Eckelmann AG / K. Ohlenschläger) / Impressed by the quality of the trade fair contacts: Eckelmann celebrated its successful debut at CPHI in Frankfurt as an automation partner for the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology, and medical technology. (Image credits: Eckelmann AG / K. Ohlenschläger)

Over 100 customized automation systems in medical technology worldwide, another 100 in biotechnology, and responsibility for 25 development projects: a track record that speaks for itself. The Eckelmann Group has established itself as an automation partner for the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology, and medical technology. At the Frankfurt trade fair, the highly motivated team presented its automation expertise with a wink: a control cabinet with a flexibly controlled cocktail bar.

With around 65,000 visitors and 2,400 exhibitors from over 166 countries, CPHI is the international platform for companies across the entire pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain. Eckelmann was an exhibitor for the first time – and made a big impression. 

"What makes us unique is our collaborative approach to developing customized automation solutions for and with customers in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical technology industries. This ranges from customized software solutions to the engineering, construction, and testing of customized control cabinets – we exhibited one example of this at CPHI. Even during the trade fair, we were able to initiate new customer projects in Germany, Egypt, Turkey, the USA, Canada, and Southeast Asia,“ says Jörg Thomas, Head of Sales for Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, and Medical Technology at Eckelmann, delighted with the success of the CPHI premiere. For him, one thing is certain: ”We'll be back in 2027!"

Cutting-edge technology for global health

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal aims to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” by 2030. Automation and digitalization technologies will play a key role in achieving this goal, combating poverty, and meeting climate targets. More than 250 Eckelmann engineers are passionately developing solutions for the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical technology industries in order to make a decisive contribution to achieving these goals.

In their day-to-day development work, Eckelmann engineers provide engineering, production, parameterization, testing, and commissioning from a single source. This includes control solutions for (production) machines and complete systems. The company's control expertise was demonstrated in concrete terms at the cocktail bar at the trade fair stand, which automated the mixing and filling process. Eckelmann offers end customers complete solutions for both brownfield plants and greenfield projects. Over a cool fitness drink, trade visitors and the sales team exchanged views on the key requirements in production and intralogistics.

Partner from batch size 1 to series production

Eckelmann engineers offer solutions from a single source: They develop manufacturer-independent, customized solutions for industries with special regulatory requirements for machines and systems in batch size 1 (custom-made) through to series production. 

Specific layouts developed by Eckelmann as a system integrator in partnership with and for customers were explained using examples in an interactive presentation.

Customized automation: Control systems from a single source

The Eckelmann team specializes in control systems, Eckelmann FactoryWare® Solutions, which are used more than 1,000 times worldwide for automated processes, from product creation to shipping. These include dosing, mixing, conveying, filling, packaging, and logistics processes. Safety is ensured by evaluation and monitoring via Eckelmann FactoryWare® Analytics.

Optimal scalability for bioreactors

Engineering teams at the Eckelmann Group provide bioreactors with complete hardware and software development from a single source, including installation of electronic hardware and system testing. This is combined with the ability to achieve consistent, optimal scalability. Eckelmann software is used to control pumps, gases, motors, sensors, and temperature in the reactor environment, for example.

Therapy control system in the fight against cancer

The Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT) was the first therapy facility in Europe to use heavy ions for high-precision tumor treatment of cancer and the first in the world to have a gantry. For optimal irradiation, the movable beam guidance system rotates 360° around the patient. Engineering teams from Eckelmann developed, implemented, and delivered the control systems for the particle accelerator and the therapy area and have been maintaining the system ever since—including further development of the existing systems.

The charged particles are accelerated to 70% of the speed of light and sent precisely toward the tumor. Over 100,000 different combinations of beam parameters can be set on the accelerator control system.

During treatment, the ion beam must be continuously monitored and analyzed; in an emergency, it can be automatically shut down within 200 millionths of a second.