Schist Processor™: Slurry to Powder Under Containment

The Schist Processor™ is being developed to explore a more integrated approach to API manufacturing — bringing multiple unit operations together within a contained processing environment and reducing the need to transfer product between separate pieces of equipment.

Perhaps the API plant of the future will contain fewer machines, but more capable ones.

In batch API manufacturing, a product may pass through several separate machines. Between each operation, the material itself must be transferred. For conventional APIs, this creates additional handling and process time. For potent APIs, it also introduces further containment requirements.

This led us to ask a different question:

What if, instead of repeatedly moving the product between processes, more of the processes could come to the product?

This thinking is behind the development of the Schist Processor™ — a concept exploring how multiple API unit operations can be integrated within a substantially more unified processing environment.

The potential benefits extend beyond reducing equipment footprint. Every eliminated product transfer could mean:

• One less connection
• One less potential product exposure opportunity
• One less intermediate container
• One less cleaning operation
• Reduced product loss
• Reduced operator handling

The engineering challenge is considerable. Integrating multiple unit operations must not compromise the individual performance of reaction, filtration, drying or particle processing.

However, as APIs become increasingly potent and manufacturing demands greater flexibility, integrated processing deserves significantly more attention.

The Schist Processor™ explores a new approach to API manufacturing: progressing from slurry to powder under containment within a more integrated processing environment.

To learn more about the Schist Processor™ and its potential applications in API manufacturing, contact our team for further information.